Innovation Insights
From the desk of Braden Kelley 
February, 2008 - Vol 2, Issue 2
In This Issue
Innovate Thyself
Commodity Marketplace for Employees
Personal Innovation - Shine Your Star
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Heading into a recession, finding innovative ways to do more with less will be on every manager's agenda. 
 
Some of us may also find ourselves looking for a job, so this month we present a selection of articles on personal innovation.
 
Innovate Thyself
  Innovate Thyself                                                                         
Many people have written previously about how difficult it is to innovate within an established organization. Trying to transform oneself can be just as incredibly difficult. I wouldn't call it a re-invention, per se, because of the distinction I draw between invention and innovation.

The distinction is that invention is all about coming up with useful products and services, while innovation truly occurs when a person or group of people take that useful invention the last mile to make it truly valuable. As a result, I like to call this incredibly difficult transformation "Personal Innovation" instead, because transforming oneself is also about more than coming up with a useful idea. Personal Innovation is more about creating a new existence that is even more valuable to you and those around you. So, why is Personal Innovation so incredibly difficult?

Read more
Commodity Marketplace for Employees
 
Commodity MarketplaceThere is a plethora of articles and books out there about how difficult it is to be in a commodity business. Books like "Blue Ocean Strategy" talk about it in terms of swimming away from the red ocean to the blue ocean, or that the blood of fierce competition in a commodity marketplace has turned the ocean red.

Innovation is such a hot topic right now because an increasing number of industries that used to be places where differentiation existed, have suddenly turned into commodity industries. When differences between the offerings of different companies become small, competition increasingly turns to price, and the product is commoditized. The customer becomes ambivalent about which offering they choose - there is a number of choices good enough for their purposes.

 
Why don't we see the same plethora of articles and books out there about Personal Innovation?
 
 
Personal Innovation - Shine Your Star
 
Personal InnovationI had a nice conversation with a friend from London today that I haven't spoken with in a while and we got onto the topic of careers. We started talking about my article on Personal Innovation and how in most professional occupations there are the stars and then there is everyone else.

We talked about how stars in certain professions might only be 5% better at something than their peers but get paid 5x to 50x more than the rest. There are certain professions like professional athletics where this is particularly true. But at the same time in many professions including lawyers, consulants, managers, speakers, even cooks and hair stylists, the stars are those who are best at marketing themselves. So if you really want to become a star, you have to hone the skills necessary to market yourself and/or your ideas.
 
Well, it is difficult for the exact same reasons that innovation in established organizations is difficult:
  1. Limited Resources (money and time)
  2. Existing Jobs/Interests
  3. Resistance to Change

Read more

 
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All the best,
Braden Kelley
Chief Innovator
Business Strategy Innovation
(206) 349-8931
http://blogginginnovation.com
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As a thanks to those who subscribe to this newsletter, I will waive my speaking fee for the first five mutually interesting speaking requests I receive this year.

* Speaking fee is waived for chosen engagements, but necessary travel expenses still apply
 
Offer Expires: December 31, 2008 (or after the first five free speaking engagements are booked)