Innovation Insights
From the desk of Braden Kelley
November, 2008 - Vol 2, Issue 7
In This Issue
Other People's Money
Innovating Through Downturns
Ask the Consultant
Join Our Mailing List!
Quick Links
Greetings!
Braden Kelley Photo 100wide
I hope this newsletter finds you eager to exercise new and exciting innovation possibilities that challenging periods in history demand. 

In October I attended the fourth annual Business Innovation Factory in Providence, RI. I have posted blog articles with videos of the speakers and my key takeaways from the sessions here.

My 5-day seminar on Mastering Value Innovation in Dubai, UAE is in the process of being rescheduled for May 2009 due to the current economic uncertainty.
 
This month's newsletter features articles on innovating through a downturn and more. Enjoy!
 
Magazine Time Shares
 
QuestionMarkI came across an interesting online/offline service called MagHound yesterday that probably falls into the category of useful but not valuable.

Translation - While it may be a good idea, it is likely to fail to make money.

Why do I think it will fail?
 
 
Innovating Through Downturns
 
Big Red BusWhile most individuals and organizations natural reaction to an economic downturn is fear and retrenchment, they also present a time of great opportunity.

Where would Microsoft be if they hadn't continued investing through the downturn of the early 90's?

Microsoft may never have finished the hugely successful Windows 95.

Where would Apple be if they hadn't continued investing through the technology crash of 2001-2003?

Apple may never have fully realized the promise of the iPod and subsequent iPhone.
 
 
Less is More
 
Big Red BusI came across an InfoWorld article the other day that warmed my heart.

For far too long, especially on the PC, software developers have been building applications with a feature arms race mentality. Because of rapidly expanding memory and hard disk space on customers' machines, developers have not had to write tight code in the same way they had to in the early days of the PC.

Now, hopefully Symantec's focus on creating Norton applications that install in under a minute and consume far less memory will spread to other industry players. Just because I have 4gb of RAM and 160gb of hard disk space does not give software developers the right to consume it thoughtlessly or to make my computer run slower.

Why can't software developers give us adaptive software?
 
 
Please introduce others to this newsletter using the "Forward email" link at the bottom.
 
If I haven't heard from you in a while, please drop me a line or comment on my blog.
 
I'm always happy to hear from my good friends and colleagues.  

Or, if you would like, please feel free to follow my thoughts and my blog on Twitter.

All the best,
Braden Kelley
Chief Innovation Officer
(206) 349-8931
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Would you like me to come and speak on an innovation topic to your corporate, non-profit, or conference event for FREE*? 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 travel expenses still apply 
Offer Expires: December 31, 2008 (or after the first five free speaking engagements are booked)