InnovatorsDigest

Twitter-ate-to-Innovate: 6,000 People Join New Linkedin Group for Twitter Innovators

You can learn a lot about Twitter and Tweeting by joining one of the fastest growing Linkedin Groups.

Over 150 educational discussions have already been posted, including over 100 comments answering the question, "How might Twitter foster more creative and innovative thinking?"  To join the new Linkedin Twitter Innovators Group Click HERE.

Follow The Tweeter.  Gerald "Solutionman" Haman is just getting started with his 3 new Twitters. Click on each of the 3 links below, and select "follow" under the pictures to subscribe.
www.twitter.com/Solutionman
www.twitter.com/SolutionPeople
www.twitter.com/KnowBrainerTips

 

Creativity at Obama's Inauguration: Presidential Puppet Pitch YouTube Video!

Solutionman's week in Washington, DC for President Barack Obama's Inauguration was memorable in many ways. Millions of people were persuaded by thousands of street vendors to buy hundreds of interesting souvenirs.

Solutionman was accompanied by his 8 year-old daughter Olivia, who was intent on shopping for the most interesting things to share with her 3^rd grade class at Francis Xavier Warde School in Chicago. What was one of Olivia's favorite souvenirs? A hand puppet of Barack Obama!

Click HERE to watch a YouTube video of the passionate Presidential Puppet Seller persuading people to buy!

Know The Difference: Smarter Definitions of Creativity & Innovation

Many people misunderstand, misuse, and make mistakes when trying to define creativity and innovation. A Google search revealed 64,800,000 links for creativity, 120,000,000 links for innovation, and thousands of different definitions!

How do people define creativity and innovation? Research revealed thousands of complex and inconsistent definitions. Many gurus, experts and authors do not agree on what the words actually mean. Some people view creativity and innovation as the same thing. Many definitions are lengthy, verbose, and complex and require a consultant for translation and application.

How does SolutionPeople define creativity and innovation? What may be the best and clearest definitions of those frequently-used and misunderstood words? While speaking at an conference in Washington DC, Gerald Haman shared the following easy-to-understand definitions:

"CREATIVITY
is developing
new, interesting, or different
IDEAS"

"INNOVATION
is the process of transforming creative ideas
into valuable or profitable
SOLUTIONS"
Gerald "Solutionman" Haman

Creative Ideas Provide Energy for Innovative Solutions
It appears that many people are more comfortable talking about innovation than creativity. Their discomfort in talking about creativity may be rooted in the perception that that creativity is just fun and games. However, creativity is necessary for innovation to occur. Creative thinking yields the ideas that fill the pipeline of innovation. Innovation cannot happen without the energy generated by creativity. Haman's definition also has makes a subtle, yet important distinction between IDEAS and SOLUTIONS. Creativity produces the ideas and once they yield value or profit, they become solutions.  Below is Haman's other "creative" definition to help people define the relationship between creativity and innovation.

"Innovation is how people make money or create value from creativity"
Gerald "Solutionman" Haman

Affiliate-to-Innovate: 60,000 LinkedIn Innovators in Groups Can Use NEW Discussion Forums

 LinkedIn just released a valuable new feature that allows Group members to engage in discussions about innovation, creativity and other interesting topics. Articles from Innovator's Digest will be linked to some provocative questions in Group Discussion areas. 
Get ThinkedIn by joining in our innovation conversations via the LinkedIn Groups that now include over 60,000 innovative minds.

Click Below to Join Our Top 24 LinkedIn
Innovation Groups & Join the Discussions!

1. InnovationPeople Network Group
2. Marketing, PR, Word of Mouth & Buzz Innovators Group
3. Green & Sustainability Innovators Group
4. Sales & Selling Innovators Group
5. New Product & Service Innovators Group
6. Meeting & Event Design Professionals Group
7. Experience Economy "Pine & Gilmore" Innovators Group
8. Fundraising & Philanthropic Innovators Group
9. Learning & Education Innovators Group
10. HealthCare, Medical, Pharma & Biotech Group
11. Brand Innovators & Branding Leadership Group
12. Technology & Mobility Innovators Group
13. Communication Innovators Group
14. Innovation Idols Group
15. Futurists & Anticipatory Scientists Group
16. TRIZ Innovation Tool Group
17. Portfolio Magazine's ThinkTank Panelist Group
18. Leadership & Change Management Innovators Group
19. Chicagovators Group of Chicagoland Innovation Leaders
20. SolutionPeople Innovators Group
21. Thinkubator Creative Meeting Environment Innovators
22. David Allen's "Getting Things Done" Group
23. illumination.com Innovators Group
24. InnovatorsDigest.com Innovation Network

Do you want your free subscription to Innovator'sDigest? Click HERE to subscribe and receive innovation news that includes questions used for LinkedIn Innovation Group Discussions.

Communicate-to-Innovate Using 21 Persuasive Words That Work

Innovators know how to "communicate-to-innovate" by using persuasive language that engages people to support their ideas. Presidential speech-writer Frank Luntz wrote Words That Work, a book that contains his recommended list of persuasive words. Consider using his recommended words when preparing your next presentation or communication.

21 Words & Phrases
for 21^st Century Innovators
1. Imagine
2. Hassle-free
3. Lifestyle
4. Accountability
5. Results / Can-Do Spirit
6. Innovation
7. Renew, Revitalize, Rejuvenate, Restore,
   Rekindle, Reinvent
8. Efficient, Efficiency
9. The Right to
10. Patient-Centered
11. Investment
12. Casual Elegance
13. Independent
14. Peace of Mind
15. Certified
16. All-American
17. Prosperity
18. Spirituality
19. Financial Security
20. Balanced Approach
21. Culture of

Notice that "imagine" is first, "innovation" is number sixth, and the six "R" words came raml as number seven on the list.  If you are looking for more words that may be especially appealing to some people, check out Solutionman's Politicator List and Worksheet that was inspired by the persuasive language of American presidential candidates.

Click to Order Frank Luntz Words that Work Book at Amazon.com 

The Best Question to Be Asked by An Innovator

For over a decade, I've been asking people, "What's your favorite question to be asked by innovative people?" I've studied hundreds of responses and the trend is undeniable. The 3 most frequently used words in most of the questions are NEED, WANT and WISH. As a result, I've developed a simple, yet powerful question that I frequently ask people when I first meet them. I think this is the ultimate question to ask people in order to discover how you might help them. Six simple words can provoke and inspire some deep thoughts.

"What is NEEDED, WANTED or WISHED?"

Needs Are Different from Wants.
Three words (Needs, Wants, Wishes) may seem synonymous but they can provoke very different responses. What people think they need may not be what they want, and conversely, what some people want may not be what they need. Therefore, it is important to ask people what they need and want.

The WISH Word Inspires Dreaming.
When I attended a Synectics workshop I discovered the importance of phrasing problem headlines that began with the "I wish…" phrase that connects with desired experiences.

The Question is a KnowBrainer.
For graduates of my innovation training workshops and owners of the KnowBrainer innovation tool, you now know how I've incorporated the "Needs, Wants, Wish" question into the Stage 1 of the Accelerated Innovation Process and card #10 of the KnowBrainer.

Investigate-to-Innovate Exercise:

1. Identify 3-5 people you want to help
2. Ask them, "What do you need, want or wish?"
3. Take notes and distinguish the differences between needs, wants, and wishes
4. Create ideas to help them address their needs or wants, or make their wishes become reality

Idea-lly, Gerald "Solutionman" Haman