Innovation Insights
From the desk of Braden Kelley
November, 2008 - Vol 2, Issue 7
In This Issue
Missing Mobile Innovation
My Hopes and Fears of the Black Swan
Will Clearwire survive until its market appears?
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Greetings!
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Happy Holidays!

2008 has been tremendously successful. As my current project wraps up, I'm anticipating fantastic new challenges to tackle over the coming year.

If you find yourself in-between roles, I'm sure opportunity will show itself in the most unlikely of places. Innovation is all about seeing opportunity where others don't. If there is anything I can do to help you identify such an occasion, please let me know.

In 2009 I hope to launch Extended Bench to assist major consulting firms be even more successful. This venture will be launching in Seattle, but looking to expand to other cities quickly. If anyone is interested in becoming involved, please reply.

I hope everyone has a joyous holiday season and a very prosperous new year!
 
Missing Mobile Innovation
 
Mobile TelevisionI came across an interesting article about mobile television takeup.

Verizon, Sprint, and AT&T have all tried to launch mobile TV in the United States, but with takeup at only 1% of cell users it's pretty easy to say that mobile TV has failed to prove itself to be an innovation.
 
 
My Hopes and Fears of the Black Swan
 
Black SwanLast week I came across an interview with Nassim Taleb, author of "The Black Swan." Mr. Taleb went on to talk briefly about the main thesis of the book - that every so often events come along that change our vocabulary and our way of thinking about the world around us. The example given, related to the title of the book, was that people in England used to sometimes say "I'm as likely to see that happen as to see a black swan." That of course was before the discovery of Australia, and before the discovery of - black swans. The point being that people always seek to explain the world around them using the past as a guide, but "black swans" always come along that don't fit people's previous understanding of the world.
 
 
Will Clearwire survive until its market appears?
 
Clearwire WiMax ArticleClearwire recently completed the acquisition of Sprint's WiMax assets. Sprint's assets merge together with Clearwire's original WiMax assets to create the nation's largest WiMax operator.

I hate to beat up a local business, but Clearwire/Sprint represents a perfect case study of the perils of:

1) Letting ego drive strategy instead of market fundamentals
2) Launching into the marketplace too soon
 
 
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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)