Creating meaning

I gave blood the other day & thought it would be great if the Blood Donor Centre told the donors how the donation was used.

I would feel more motivated if I knew my blood made a positive difference in another person's life. It would create 'significance' for the donation.

This could be an automated e-mail that said something like:

Hi Tony

Thanks for taking the time to donate some of your valuable blood.

It was used to help a young burns victim.

We look forward to seeing you next month.

Stay healthy!

Regards

Dr ......

City transport solutions

Here's an idea I put to the authorities & they loved it!

Your city might be able to use this idea too.

I had heard on the news that (back in the old days) entry tickets to the Royal Easter Show in Auckland, New Zealand used to include the cost of a rail ticket.

I thought this would be a great idea for our modern city, if stadium event tickets included the cost of public transport. I'm sure more people would use the bus & train, and those who didn't would still pay, as a form of penalty, for not using the public system.

This would decrease congestion, and the additional cost would be very minimal, which wouldn't affect stadium sales. This idea could also be applied for other big events in the city.

The death of the information age

I received this e-mail from Matt Church which I thought was worth sharing with you...

Dear Tony,

The ages so far…..

The Old Ages - Bronze, Stone, etc
The Agrarian Age - (Done)The Industrial Age - (Done)
The Information Age - (Done?)
The ……… Age - Starting

What is the next ‘Age' going to be called?

Some would want to call it the ‘Age of Transformation'. I think that's a stage ahead of its time. Others are calling it the ‘Age of Engagement'. We will find out soon enough I guess…

Here is my two cents worth!

I reckon we are entering the IDEA age, the ‘Age of Concepts'. With any piece of information one Google click away, who needs data any more? Not me. What I need is people who can create meaning, relevance and engage me to what the data means.

Matt Church

CATS - the 9 lives of innovation

I attended Dr Stephen Lundin's workshop and enjoyed his practical, insightful approach.

Life 1 - CATS create a quiet mind - Create the necessary physical & mental space to allow creative energy flow.

Life 2 - CATS will always be prepared - Learn techniques to assist innovation. Check out http://www.thinksmart.com/ or http://www.mindwerx.com.au/

Life 3 - CATS understand that innovation isn't normal - We are hardwired to follow routines & patterns, to be innovative we need to get outside the box.

Life 4 - CATS promote real provocation - What provokes or stirs you? What are the problems? Get somewhere different, new or even uncomfortable.

Life 5 - CATS promote imaginary provocation - Dream, think, ask why? Adapt? Modify? Magnify? Minify? Substitute? Rearrange? Reverse? Combine?

Life 6 - CATS say "How facinating" - when things fail. What can you learn?

Life 7 - CATS fail well - We grow & learn from failures. Perfect is the enemy of good enough - Meg Whitman, CEO, ebay

Life 8 - CATS pounce on change - By nature innovation = change. Go with the flow.

Life 9 - CAT wrangling - Support, foster, invite, tolerate, envision, strengthen

CAT belts. There are 5 cat belts to earn that will take you to become a lifetime master of innovation and allow you to use the term WHISKERS!

For Dr Lundin's own blog about this tour click here

Dr Stephen Lundin, PhD, author of FISH! & Top Performer

Today I had the pleasure of hearing this top author & public speaker share CATS - the nine lives of innovation.

In addition to the 9 lives, he shared his learnings on innovation:

• The goal is to simplify, not complicate


• Everything starts with an idea, then taking a risk, then the action


• Mind mapping is a powerful tool


• Innovative firms are playful & light-hearted


• Innovation happens on the 'edge' (different disciplines getting together)


• Be uncomfortable


• Engaging with others builds energy


• Use "provocation" to create energy


• Mix with unlikely partners

Next blog: summary of CATS - the 9 lives of innovation

Do the work others hate to do

People are prepared to pay good money to avoid doing the work they hate.

This could be house cleaning, picking up doggy doo, mowing lawns, going shopping, washing cars, cleaning windows, ironing, computer maintenance, dog walking, rabbit hutch cleaning, house painting, washing, commercial cleaning... the list is endless.

If you are looking for pocket money ideas or even a full time job, have a look around and ask people what they don't like doing and you could uncover a gold mine!

Med 2 go

Ever had a headache and need relief fast?

I went to the chemist & bought the smallest pack of pain killers and the smallest bottle of drink to wash it down. It cost me $6 and I have a drink I don't want to finish and pills I have to carry around.

How about a sachet (like a fast food ketchup sachet) or a small pottle of water with the dissolved medicine already in that I could buy for $2, use and then get on with my day? I'm sure it would be profitable and much more convenient!