Yesterday I mentioned the importance of LOVE in driving a team to push beyond the competition in designing spectacularly lovable products. Paul Graham wrote a recent post ("Think For Yourself") that touched on this idea, at least superficially…

I have been absolutely spellbound reading Walter Isaacson's "Steve Jobs." It's an incredible piece of living history that pulls back the curtain on so many of the innovations that have shaped the world in my own lifetime…

In case you missed the post from Thanksgiving Day (and who can blame you? Certainly not this guy, who allowed a guest post from a science fiction writer who died nearly 30 years ago), I wanted to underline one portion in particular, as it has special bearing upon an idea I mentioned earlier in the week: the rules of engagement that Ben Franklin laid out for his Junto. I’m more and more persuaded that such gatherings are an indispensable tool for individuals seeking to drive fresh thinking in their own unique context…

I've written a couple of times about the phenomenon that quantity tends to drive quality when it comes to idea generation (see posts here and here if you're new here... really, they're not that long. We can wait...).

For Thanksgiving I figured I’d do something a little different and allow a guest post. :-)

Fascinating research by Dartmouth’s Kevin Dunbar reveals why gatherings like Franklin’s Junto spark fresh insights and fuel innovation.

Benjamin Franklin is one of history’s most prolific innovators — with breakthroughs ranging from science to civic life. A simple but profound weekly ritual sparked consistent fresh thinking.

In his delightful memoir, "A Curious Mind," famed Hollywood producer Brian Grazer describes his commitment to what he calls "curiosity conversations…”

Legendary designer Charles Eames shares a foundational insight on the purpose of design. It goes much deeper than we might expect.

There’s solid research that suggests that Thomas Edison and Salvador Dalí were onto something when they determined to “nap into their subconscious…”

David Ogilvy said, “The majority of business men are incapable of original thinking because they are unable to escape from the tyranny of reason.” Here’s a highly effective means of escape.

Here's a riddle to illustrate the power of cognitive biases: "When does Christmas come before Thanksgiving?" Give it a minute…Keep thinking... try harder...

I still remember the day I read my friend Charles O'Reilly's fantastic (and now award-winning) paper on the stages of disruptive innovation. He had asked me and Perry for comments on an early draft, and almost instantly, I felt like Neo…

I still remember the day I read my friend Charles O'Reilly's fantastic (and now award-winning) paper on the stages of disruptive innovation. He had asked me and Perry for comments on an early draft, and almost instantly, I felt like Neo…

It is broadly established that creativity is a function of unexpected connections. As legendary researcher Arthur Koestler once said, "Creativity is the collision of two apparently unrelated frames of reference." It's a…

I’m always getting asked for recommendations for books that have influenced my thinking about innovation. Here’s a not-comprehensive-but-close list of the ones I reference most…

It is broadly established that creativity is a function of unexpected connections. As legendary researcher Arthur Koestler once said, "Creativity is the collision of two apparently unrelated frames of reference." It's a well-documented phenomenon that many scientific breakthroughs and inventions have come from outside the field, as both Dave Epstein mentions in "Range" and Steven Johnson mentions in "Where Good Ideas Come From" (both highly recommended, and both will be on my reading list, whenever I get around to publishing that...

I've been thinking more about the tendency I've observed, of folks prematurely declaring victory when it comes to divergent thinking. One simple but effective tactic is to hold oneself to an idea quota. A somewhat-arbitrary quantity target that forces you to keep going, even after you think you've gotten the right answer…

I've observed that a divergent mindset is something that many folks like to get out of as quickly as possible. As soon as a reasonably good idea comes up, there's almost a collective sigh of relief which says, "Whew! We did it! Mission accomplished!" …

I've been thinking more about the challenge of "escaping the tyranny of reason," and was delighted to come across an example of a noteworthy innovator. Thomas Edison was credited with over 1,000 patents and is widely viewed as one of the most influential inventors of the last century. Twyla Tharp recounts an amazing anecdote about his idea generation process in "The Creative Habit"…