Creativity & Innovation

How one idea leads to another.

What was the original inspiration for the modern computer? Some say it was the Chinese abacus, invented in 300 BC. Others say it was the “Difference Engine”, conceived by J.T. Muller in 1786. Still others point to the Zuse Z3 created by Konrad Zuse in WWII.

In reality, the modern computer is the direct result of several million years of human experimentation and contribution by untold millions of humans just like you and me. Sure, today’s computer is a beautiful and complex thing, but it’s made up of many parts, each of which can be considered a separate breakthrough, invention or precursor. The primitive wheel, lever, needle, awl, pulley, diode, vacuum tube and transistor all built on one another over countless centuries to eventually lead us to the powerful and elegant little laptop on your desk today. Continue reading →

Keep the rebel artist alive in you.

You were a kid once, full of hope, curiosity and creative rebellion. Your imagination knew no boundaries. You made up stories and pretended. You broke the rules here and there, and you colored outside the lines.

In those days you marveled at just about everything, and felt seduced—seduced to have fun, to take a dare, to wander and wonder, to question the way things have always been done, to yearn and to learn, and to seek new quests and half-crazy adventures.

What happened? It’s time to be there again. Continue reading →

The story has been passed on from generation to generation: It is said that in 1855, the great Niagara Suspension Bridge was built by flying a kite across the 855-foot chasm. From there, the workers on the other side started pulling on the kite string.

Attached to the kite string was a cord. Attached to the cord was a rope.  Attached to the rope was a wire. Attached to the wire was a cable—strong and sure.

Our world needs more kite flyers and bridge builders right now. If you have a big idea or social project in mind, have confidence that you can bridge the gap between the dream and the reality. Step one is to take step one. Just fly your kite to the other side and go from there.

Big positive changes are seldom accomplished all at once; it’s usually a matter of one small step leading to another. What are you waiting for? Go fly a kite!

An excerpt from the best-selling book, One (How many people does it take to make a difference?) by Dan Zadra and Kobi Yamada. To see the One book and video, go here: http://zadracreative.com/dan-zadras-books/

Procrastination and second-guessing are the mortal enemies of spontaneous brilliance and action.

Do you hear that noise? It’s the sound of windows of opportunity slamming shut all around you. In today’s fast-paced and competitive world, ideas and opportunities won’t keep. You either do something with your best ideas—and fast—or someone else will.

Does this mean that we should rush our ideas to market, whether they are ready or not? No, but it does mean that speed to market is more important than waiting around for total perfection. To put it another way, a good idea delivered today may be way more valuable than a perfect idea delivered next year. Continue reading →

Don’t just create what the market needs or wants—create what it will love.

It’s a fact: beautiful designs make money. Why? Because they speak to our heart as well as our head. That’s true of big-ticket items such as cars and houses, but it’s also true of little everyday gizmos such as cell phones, running shoes or picture frames. Continue reading →

I didn’t write that headline. J.R.R. Tolkein wrote it for Lord of the Rings. He was referring to a wandering chieftain named Aragorn. While exploring Middle Earth, Aragorn came across The Fellowship of the Ring in a tavern—a meeting that would eventually lead him to become one of the greatest men of his time.

“Not all those who wander are lost.” Above and beyond the Lord of the Rings, that line has become a treasured proverb for entrepreneurs, inventors, product developers and creatives everywhere. I have it taped to the bottom-left corner of my keyboard where it affirms my wandering ways every day. It reminds me that those who are curious and adventurous—those who are willing to get off the beaten track and explore the unknown or the unexpected—will be rewarded with discoveries. Continue reading →

What the world needs is more finishers.

There’s a big difference between creativity and innovation. Creativity is having an idea; innovation is doing something terrific with it.

Lots of people can come up with new ideas. What’s in short supply are innovative people—persistent mavericks who believe so strongly in an idea that they are willing to do whatever it takes to make the great idea a working reality.

Are you thinking about quitting on your idea? Anyone can quit. It takes no talent or creativity to give up on an idea, or turn your back on your quest. And the sad part is that so many quit just inches from their biggest breakthrough. Continue reading →