Sunday, August 26, 2012

How to Improve Your Innovative Skills

Start by deliberate innovation practices

Don't wait for innovation to strike you as you go about your daily life. Innovation is a skill that needs you to practice it all the time. If you read these tips and make yourself a promise that when you wake up tomorrow you will try and do all of them, you will have started being innovative.

Challenge the ways things are done

This is a big one and is the easiest way to identify innovative people because they are always looking to see if things can be done better. They are always challenging the traditional way of performing and unfortunately fired from their jobs because of this.

Employers should embrace these people because it is only by challenging how things are done that we can do them better. If you hear anyone tell you "It has always been done this way." then you know this is an area that desperately needs some innovation.

Practice by looking at all the steps involved in the activity and see if any are wasted or done better with current technology.

Become a child again

Children have a great knack for getting to the heart of the matter quickly, and so can you. If you follow this simple technique.

When faced with an activity or task ask why it is done this way. Then for each answer they give you, ask why at least four more times.

This will drill down to the real reason why something is being done and surprisingly it is not always what you think. This type of questioning is useful in uncovering and removing the "always has" responses.

In some cases even giving the product or items to children and allowing them to play with it can highlight factors that adults miss.

Break your own routines and habits

To become innovative you need to freshen up your creative juices and experience new things yourself. This means you need to stop doing what you always do and apply the following practices in your daily activities.

    Change the way you go and leave work
    Travel to another nearby town for the day and just watch people do what they do
    Eat at different restaurants or dining rooms
    Find a recreational activity that you haven't done before and go do it this weekend
    Read a book that you normally would not ever read
    Open the dictionary to a random page and memorise at least five new words you did not know
    Join a social group that you wouldn't normally join and listen to their ideas

Overall innovation is about experiencing different and new ways of doing activities so you can see if any will cross over to your activities.

Get involved in learning for life and challenge yourself to do at least thirty new things every year.

Information supplied by Paul Baker

Over twenty years of business development & change management strategies successfully used in National organisations across Australia. The focus is on continuous improvement of business systems to stimulate growth through our principles of Initiate, Inspire, Innovate.

Customer-centric focus using our extensive experience in consumer behaviour and business process operations to find ways to help business owners manage their organisations.

Sunday, August 19, 2012

Should Every Couple Have A Breeding Limit?

Should we exercise restraint in our breeding practices?

Should there be a limit on how many children we should each have?

Should we follow the policies of China with their one child per household limit? Two if you are from a single female bloodline...

Yes. Probably. Possibly.

I am well aware that many humans feel that the only reason we are here on earth is to procreate - to ensure that the human race survives.

I am also aware that most humans have a need to protect their genetic immortality - which is why the need to breed is so powerful.

Women who do NOT wish to breed often tell me that they are scorned when they express this view - as if they are wasting their time on this planet by not ensuring the survival of the species.

From where I stand, it appears that the best way for us to destroy this species is to keep on breeding at the rate we are.

I have often expressed my view that humans are the most efficient bacteria on this planet - and like any good bacteria we are destroying our host without regard for the consequences.

In fact, I would go so far as to argue that the best thing that could happen to this planet would be the destruction of human beings all together - if you were Mother Nature, you would agree, but as a human being you might think that this view is a little extreme... until you think about it. I did not say it would be the best thing for you, I said it would be the best thing for this planet.

Looking at this subject objectively, it is easy to see that the biggest problem the earth faces is over-population - it is also the biggest problem that humans face because the rapid growth of our species is not only destroying the environment, the water supply, the climate, the animals and the overall pattern of nature; it is destroying our ability to actually think about what we are doing and why we are doing it.

As much as we scorn China for imposing a one child per household rule, if we step back a little we can see that this idea is not so bad after all - it is just the consequences that have proven to be so devastating and disastrous.

With a population of over a billion, China has to do something to slow population growth - this is their duty.

The sad part of this rule is that most families want boys, not girls, in order that the 'family heritage' is preserved - and because of this, many baby girls are murdered or abandoned to provide the parents with the option to try again and hopefully 'procure' a baby boy.

As disgusting as this is, there is an explanation for this horrific behavior - the stupidity of society.

The stupidity of society can be further diminished into one word - marriage.

For, it is marriage that causes these families to murder and abandon their children - if it was not for the fact that marriage is what we base our heritage upon, if it was not for the fact that most women change their last name to their husband's last name thereby losing their identity and their ancestry, then these babies would not be so disposable.

It is marriage that creates the problem of needing a boy rather than wanting a girl.

If humans were not so hell-bent on their own importance, then the gender of a child would not matter.

Unfortunately, society teaches that a male heir continues the family tree and a female is only the transportation for that family name, heritage and importance - we have children being murdered to protect the ancestry of one family over another.

But if we actually took a moment to think about it, we would realize that a child is inherently more a part of its mother than of its father - the child is carried in the mother's belly, attached to an umbilical cord and dependent upon her for survival even after birth... The logic of a child taking it's father's name is illogical at best.

In the end, all of this boils down to ego, and stupidity.

It is not only stupid, it is sick.

If the children of the Chinese did not carry one name over another, then it would not matter whether the child was a boy or a girl.

If, for example, the child's name was an amalgamation of each parent's name, then the child would be a combination of each partner, not just a limb on the family tree of the male side of the family.

Nobody cares about your ancestry apart from your family - unless you are the member of a royal family, in which case some historians might care, along with some other people who refuse to live in the present and continue to look backwards for answers to current problems.

Do you care about my family history? I hope not. Because I do not care about yours (in the nicest way possible).

With this massive problem facing the human race which the human race is creating, perhaps we should have some limit on how many children each family is permitted - perhaps we should take action and deal with the reality of over-population rather than the fantasy, the history, and the fallacy of a family tree.

Whether we like it or not, each one of us, and every family unit is as messed up as the other - take your pick on which brand of lunacy you prefer...

Bearing in mind that every child born is an environmental disaster on its own, let's have a scenario where we put a limit on how many kids we can each have (especially if you claim to be an environmentalist).

Let's say the limit is 2.

In my experimental scenario, each family is allowed to breed twice - seems fair to me (of course it would, it's my scenario).

We do not really need more than 2 children in this day and age, it's not like the mortality rate is as high as it once was...

Now, stick with me here -

Let's say a couple has 2 children, both boys; and yet they want a girl (an understandable desire).

What's the solution when this couple has used up their 'quota'?

Solution - adopt.

If you already have 2 kids and you want more, then you have to adopt - you have to help a child in need without adding to the population problem.

Now this should not be a problem to any rational human - after all, parenthood is about raising a child, and raising a child is about nature and nurture. Every child on this planet is effected by its genetic make-up, but it is also severely effected by its upbringing, surroundings, opportunities and possibilities.

So, before you use the argument that you don't want to raise some kid whose parents you do not know - stop and ask yourself, "What's so great about me that I need to keep reproducing?" And then ask yourself, "If I am so great, then shouldn't I offer those benefits to a child in need, a child without parents, a child that is already here, before I create another environmental disaster?"

Think about that for a second, would you?

We have a massive environmental problem.

We have an enormous population problem.

We have millions of children without parents, homes, food and shelter.

Should we not deal with the problem at hand rather than reproduce, and thereby produce more problems we cannot handle?

Although I am not much of a fan of communism, and I do believe in freedom of choice, I am a proponent of insisting that the choices we make are made with an eye on the bigger picture - not just on the individual's point of view, wants, or stupidity.

Choices we make should always be made in consideration of others - if you are causing harm to others with your choices then you should reconsider your actions.

Sunday, August 12, 2012

Ways to React When Someone Has Stolen Your Idea

Chances are that at some point in your life, someone is going to steal a great idea that you have. This happens to people from all walks of life and in various fields of work. Perhaps this has happened recently to you, and you're wondering about some of the ways to react.

Be Respectful

When someone has stolen your idea, it's easy to get upset. You may even feel angry or resentful towards the other person. While it's healthy to feel emotional over such a situation, it's not okay to attack them or be disrespectful in any way. Unfortunately some people react this way, which I do not recommend.

I'm a firm believer in the saying, "an eye for an eye makes the world go blind." It's important that you treat them with respect, no matter how grand or profitable your idea was. You should be the bigger person and accept what happened, granted that it's not grounds for a legal dispute.

Talking it Out Might Help

Depending on the type of idea you had, you can approach the person to discuss it with them. I don't know if you're concerned about a "million dollar idea" that was going to be a new invention or some kind of business idea at work that may land the other person a promotion. You're going to have to use some discretion when deciding whether or not you should talk to them. It's appropriate in some situations, and in others it's not. When in doubt, ask some trusted friends for advice.

If you decide to talk to the person involved, keep in mind they may not have realized they stole your idea. It's best to keep the approach neutral rather than confrontational. Your goal isn't to make them feel bad, change their mind, or reward you. By talking to them, you give yourself the opportunity to be heard and the other person a chance to be aware of your feelings.

Take Personal Responsibility

I think the most important thing for you to take away from this article isn't necessarily how to resolve the act of someone stealing your idea. This may not be something that's "fixable," as so to speak. How you react internally and continue to do in the future is what matters the most, not what the other person does or gains.

You may have lost the potential for your own idea to go far because you didn't speak up when you had the opportunity. Many people experience this at work. When it comes time for group meetings, professional evaluations, or brainstorming sessions, be sure to share your ideas with everyone openly and formally.

Don't hold back in fear of judgment, and don't be selective with whom you share your ideas. That's when others have the chance to use the idea for themselves or share what you've been thinking all along, which makes you feel like it was stolen. If you're concerned that someone will take your idea and run with it, document it first before telling anyone else.

Sunday, August 5, 2012

Rejected Design

Clearly you have been rejected before, but the fear never leaves you. Why? The answer is Emotion. Often people can't control their personal emotion or how they feel towards a particular event. Pessimist in nature and demoralized after being rejected as all the time invested on the single project just vanish in thin air.

At that moment, the feeling of giving up sets in. As humans, we just can't stomach the fact that what's ours is ours, what's not ours we have to let it go, and that's my personal motto. It's the reality. The funny thing is, when we see others being rejected, we give them advice like a professional but often don't take our own advice. The reason why I am writing this is because we need to be aware that every single second, somewhere in this world someone just got rejected, even for the most unfair reason for instance biasness or worst, race. Sometimes, meritocracy just don't happen when you need it.

This is actually a blessing in disguise. As we often hear this cliche statement "getting rejected makes us stronger", it is true to some extend but only if you think so. The only people who get stronger over rejection are people with high level of self motivation. They have the drive because they are ambitious and they need to reach their goal/dream. Hence it is one way to overcome rejection, have a goal and stick to it. If you design for the sake of salary, it shows that you don't enjoy what you do. If you don't enjoy what you do, when you get rejected, it only encourage you to be more unhappy with the already deteriorating state you are in.

We need to know why we are rejected, might be due to lack of workmanship. Maybe the workmanship is excellent but the work does not meet the client's criteria.There is always an answer, or solution to everything. The worst thing you can do is to discard the rejected idea. It may be good to other client hence you never know when you need it. Just keep it to date even if it was rejected 3 years ago. At the end of the day, it's still your idea.

Keep it in your portfolio. All these rejected projects shows your capabilities and skills in the industry. If it is not good enough to be placed in your personal portfolio, well maybe you get the picture on why it was rejected in the first place. Improving your work is also a form of self-improvement so, keep the spirit high and do not get demoralized over rejection. Because you will be rejected again.

Wednesday, August 1, 2012

The Innovator: Passion, Pain, Process and the Purpose

All through the course of history, innovators and entrepreneurs have had reason to change the world by reaching into the invincible through their dreams to produce the tangible.

It has always been attributed to sheer passion- the drive that keeps the innovator going; even in the face of seeming impossibilities and stacked odds, the belief in possibility enhances eventual achievement.

Passion can be compared to the blood that flows in the vein; as long as it exists, the belief remains alive. Although it must said that whist passion can keep the momentum going, it would take more than passion to achieve the goal.

There would always be the low time, when everything looks bleak and blank; at that point the innovator must understand perspectives. A right perspective would be to figure out the experience as a process which does involve various high and low moments like anything ever progressive in life.

The process of innovation is never an easy one, as there are various stages involved: From the point of deciding to tow this path, to trying to work out a beginning point; with some many other things on the way before clawing your way to the top where you can finally shout Eureka.

The unique thing about innovation is the fact that the inventor has to figure our all of the logic in his mind, as it would not be possible to go and ask around on what to invent when it has never been done before; and people do not even know if they need it or not.

The same process would move from the point of conception, to trying out the idea before full implementation can be embarked upon. Even after implementation, the market would have to be convinced that there is a need for the product; a hurdle if scaled adequately could eventually signal successful achievement.

The process is never without its own pains as there would be times of frustration, lack of finance, self-doubt, seeming failure and brick walls. All of these would only go further to test how resilient the innovator can be. It is not wrong to fail, but it can be catastrophic if you do not learn from failure and pick yourself up.

Winning might be a destination, but preparation is the vehicle that gets you there, as it pictures the process involved. Never forget that the will to win is important, but the will to prepare is also extremely vital.

Again, passion is truly important, but an in-depth understanding of purpose gets you over the finish line. Purpose tells you that there is a much larger picture involved so backing out easily is not an option. A good understanding of purpose helps you put things in right perspective; encouraging you to find the flow of the fight and take control of it.

There would be storms and trials almost definitely. There might also be times of discouragement and doubt, but purpose gives you a sense of satisfaction even when it seems like there is no reward forthcoming. It might take time, but it only makes the victory much sweeter.

The wait can be trying, but the process must never be idle; seek information, find all the knowledge you can, do research, make yourself better, and prepare for the big break believing that it will eventually come. Remember the big stage is not a place for preparation but performance, the back-stage is adequate enough for as many trials as your preparation would allow.

In the midst of all of these, another very vital thing is the positive mindset. When we say we can then we can; whenever you think otherwise, it goes a long way to influence the outcome. Never deny reality, but remain optimistic; in the face of it all, do not chase the ideal but inculcate pragmatism. Keep finding a way to work around the problem as there is a solution somewhere in there; just stay the course and find it.
All through the course of history, innovators and entrepreneurs have had reason to change the world by reaching into the invincible through their dreams to produce the tangible.

It has always been attributed to sheer passion- the drive that keeps the innovator going; even in the face of seeming impossibilities and stacked odds, the belief in possibility enhances eventual achievement.

Passion can be compared to the blood that flows in the vein; as long as it exists, the belief remains alive. Although it must said that whist passion can keep the momentum going, it would take more than passion to achieve the goal.

There would always be the low time, when everything looks bleak and blank; at that point the innovator must understand perspectives. A right perspective would be to figure out the experience as a process which does involve various high and low moments like anything ever progressive in life.

The process of innovation is never an easy one, as there are various stages involved: From the point of deciding to tow this path, to trying to work out a beginning point; with some many other things on the way before clawing your way to the top where you can finally shout Eureka.

The unique thing about innovation is the fact that the inventor has to figure our all of the logic in his mind, as it would not be possible to go and ask around on what to invent when it has never been done before; and people do not even know if they need it or not.

The same process would move from the point of conception, to trying out the idea before full implementation can be embarked upon. Even after implementation, the market would have to be convinced that there is a need for the product; a hurdle if scaled adequately could eventually signal successful achievement.

The process is never without its own pains as there would be times of frustration, lack of finance, self-doubt, seeming failure and brick walls. All of these would only go further to test how resilient the innovator can be. It is not wrong to fail, but it can be catastrophic if you do not learn from failure and pick yourself up.

Winning might be a destination, but preparation is the vehicle that gets you there, as it pictures the process involved. Never forget that the will to win is important, but the will to prepare is also extremely vital.

Again, passion is truly important, but an in-depth understanding of purpose gets you over the finish line. Purpose tells you that there is a much larger picture involved so backing out easily is not an option. A good understanding of purpose helps you put things in right perspective; encouraging you to find the flow of the fight and take control of it.

There would be storms and trials almost definitely. There might also be times of discouragement and doubt, but purpose gives you a sense of satisfaction even when it seems like there is no reward forthcoming. It might take time, but it only makes the victory much sweeter.

The wait can be trying, but the process must never be idle; seek information, find all the knowledge you can, do research, make yourself better, and prepare for the big break believing that it will eventually come. Remember the big stage is not a place for preparation but performance, the back-stage is adequate enough for as many trials as your preparation would allow.

In the midst of all of these, another very vital thing is the positive mindset. When we say we can then we can; whenever you think otherwise, it goes a long way to influence the outcome. Never deny reality, but remain optimistic; in the face of it all, do not chase the ideal but inculcate pragmatism. Keep finding a way to work around the problem as there is a solution somewhere in there; just stay the course and find it.