The other day at the gym I overheard a snippet of a conversation. “For Lent I’ve decided to practice random acts of kindness.” Now, I’ve heard of people giving up chocolate for Lent. I even heard news broadcasts about a…
Everyday Mindfulness
I felt eyes boring into my back as I walked along the wooded bike trail near my home. It was early morning, the air crisp and clean. There was no noise other than the sound of my steps and the…
Creativity Killers and Defenders
We’re faced with a slew of creativity killers every day—many of our own making. Here are some of the most common ones. Procrastination as a Creativity Killer How often do you have great ideas you’ll get to “someday”—the infamous “tomorrow?”…
Product Platforms: Definitions and Pros and Cons
There are two very different types of platforms: digital platforms in technology, and physical platforms in other fields. Digital Platforms A digital platform is an ecosystem designed to enable different groups to co-create value through “plug-and-play” capabilities. The technology infrastructure…
Scenario Development: A Tool for Strategic Foresight
What is strategic foresight? It’s the disciplined study of the future. It’s a strategic thinking process rather than a strategic planning process. As such, it goes beyond traditional economic, statistical, and business forecasting. It goes beyond extrapolating current and past…
Better Posture, Better You
Did anyone ever tell you to “stand up straight” or “sit up straight”? Check your posture right now. Are you slumping? Modern living is having a dramatic (and mostly negative) effect on our posture. Being hunched over computers and cell…
Myths and Realities about Creativity
People have a lot of different beliefs about creativity. And some are just plain myths. Here are some common myths and realities about creativity. The Right-Brain Myth Which side of the brain is responsible for creativity? If you said the…
Developing the Business Case for New Products
Developing and defending a new product business case can be an intimidating task for many product managers. Let’s start with two common myths. Myth One: The more a precise business case is, the more accurate it is. Ironically, this is…
What is Pronoia?
Pronoia? What’s that? I heard the term for the first time in a yoga class. It was introduced as an antonym to paranoia. Here is Wikipedia’s definition: Pronoia is a neologism coined to describe a state of mind that is…
The Gift of Gratitude
In an online meditation series, Oprah Winfrey talked about her experience keeping a gratitude journal. Each day she would note several things for which she was grateful in the prior 24 hours. So, I dabbled with my own diary. And…