March 31, 2021 | by Chris Kalaboukis
THE YEAR OF LIVING CREATIVELY: New Cohort Begins May 23rd
The Year of Living Creatively is a highly engaging, eight-week online course (May 23 – July 18) that helps aspiring innovators transform their bold ideas into new products, new services, new forms of expression, new businesses, and breakthrough ways …
March 31, 2021 | by Chris Kalaboukis
Bill Gates talks about the Green Premium, and what innovations are going to save the planet
Bill Gates is an icon of innovation. Not only did he build up Microsoft to be one of the most innovative companies in the world, he has recently focused his efforts on philanthropic work to address some of the future’s greatest challenges, including eradicating diseases, poverty and climate change. In a recent extensive TED interview […]
March 31, 2021 | by Chris Kalaboukis
Increase Your Innovation Reputation and Velocity with an Innovation Evangelist
Building upon my popular article Rise of the Evangelist, I wanted to create an article for the global innovation community focused specifically on the importance of the innovation evangelist role.
The post Increase Your Innovation Reputation and Veloci…
March 30, 2021 | by Chris Kalaboukis
That stressful feeling you may be experiencing due to Lockdown is loss
Have you recently seen the end of the tunnel of COVID lockdowns, only for it to get worse? This recently happened in Germany, and it is causing depression in a lot of people. Throughout December, January and February, nearly the entire country was in a lockdown, and people have been patiently waiting for the infection […]
March 29, 2021 | by Chris Kalaboukis
Planned Obsolescence: How companies are deliberately making their products worse
If you ever had the feeling that products don’t last as long as they used to, you might be right. It turns out that in order to keep consumers buying products year after year, some companies are actually deliberately reducing the quality of their products. In some especially nefarious situations, these companies may be updating […]
March 28, 2021 | by Chris Kalaboukis
are you afraid to have an eye to the future?
One of the key elements of my 25 steps “Foresight Leadership” process is determining inclination towards the past and the future. I get both a cultural and personal read of both individuals and the team’s sense of “time” &…
March 26, 2021 | by Chris Kalaboukis
Generative Design: A new form of computer creativity
Up until recently, most of the things we bought were designed by humans. Cars, computers, cans, chairs and cathedrals. Everything could be traced back to an individual or team who set out to design products with the ideal the combination of form and function. However, recently software has begun to find new ways to design […]
March 24, 2021 | by Chris Kalaboukis
Can One Make a Living in Creative Photography?
Photography is one of the most important media in contemporary society. It has the power to capture moments for posterity, give us insights into lives very different from our own, and make a permanent record of vital aspects of our shared history. It can also make for a viable and rewarding career choice. Some of […]
March 23, 2021 | by Chris Kalaboukis
Idea Brahmacharaya
In India, spiritual adepts who give up sex to pursue God are known as “brahmacharyas.” They believe that their vital power (i.e. kundalini) needs to be completely intact in order for them to have the ultimate experience.
What does this have to do …
March 23, 2021 | by Chris Kalaboukis
New research shows being bored might make you more creative
Sometimes being bored can seem like the worst thing in the world. In fact, I’ve previously written about research which shows that people (especially men), would rather electrocute themselves than be bored. But a new piece of research indicates that being bored may have an unexpected benefit: Being bored can make you more creative. A […]
March 22, 2021 | by Chris Kalaboukis
Video: How Pixar’s movement animation has evolved over the years
I’ve always been fascinated by movie production, especially special effects and animation. And when it comes to animated movies, the studio which stands above all others is Pixar, the original pioneers of 3D rendered animated films and creators of some of the most beloved family films of the past few decades. What many people don’t […]
March 22, 2021 | by Chris Kalaboukis
THE QUESTION: Who Created “The Year of Living Creatively?”
If you are thinking about subscribing to The Year of Living Creatively, one question you are likely to ask is this: “Who created it — and what are his credentials?”
Your caution is totally understandable, especially if you are about to invest …
March 22, 2021 | by Chris Kalaboukis
How Do Organizations Typically Gather New Ideas?
Even the most fledgling innovation program have a research component. Innovation research guides decision making, problem statements, idea generation, solution sourcing, and several other points in the innovation lifecycle. And when it comes to researc…
March 21, 2021 | by Chris Kalaboukis
You Should Be An Optimistic Futurist
What kind of futurist are you? I was actually asked this once at a job interview. I replied, “Is there more than one kind?” A futurist should envision a positive future and then actively forge that future. Unlike most futurists, I’m o…
March 19, 2021 | by Chris Kalaboukis
Nobody should be forced to work until they collapse
I just read the results of a survey which genuinely shocked me. First year analysts at Investment Banking firm Goldman Sachs have been sending around the results of an internal survey which shows that they are being forced to work an average of 95 hours per week. Many are threatening to quit if the company […]
March 17, 2021 | by Chris Kalaboukis
This part of the brain is the source of improvisation
How is it that some people are able to be creative on command, while other people find it so challenging to come up with new ideas? It is partially down to how much those people self-censor. Take for example the skill of improvisation, where an individual performs something spontaneous in front of a crowd which […]
March 16, 2021 | by Chris Kalaboukis
Is Zoom video a competitor to Hugo Boss?
Last weekend, I went into a clothing store for the first time in months. And I noticed that the cost of suit jackets, even for luxury brands like Hugo Boss, was significantly lower than I remember. Yes, there are sales on everywhere to try and get people to spend money at retail again, but this […]
March 16, 2021 | by Chris Kalaboukis
How Innovation Management is Radically Transforming in 2021, and What It Means for You
Every new year I create a series of personal and professional resolutions. Sure, many fade into (foggy) memory, but this year I was determined to once again focus on building out my professional network. So I’ve been getting out there and having some g…
March 15, 2021 | by Chris Kalaboukis
Balloons and Sandbags: a technique to identify things holding down your innovation efforts
If you are looking for a simple innovation exercise to do with your team, try “Balloons and Sandbags”. It’s simple. For this, you will just need a large surface to write on, either a whiteboard, or a large piece of paper. At the very top, write down the title of the innovation project or ambition […]
March 15, 2021 | by Chris Kalaboukis
how to handle constant disruption
How can you stay calm when there is one disruptive thing happening after another? This year is shaping up to be just as disruptive, if not more disruptive, than last year. The “new normal” may be us finally realizing that life is change and…
March 14, 2021 | by Chris Kalaboukis
THE YEAR OF LIVING CREATIVELY: Unlock and Unleash Your Brilliance
Here’s a sobering statistic: Out of every 100 people who start writing a book, only three complete it. Ouch! The other 97? Stuck by the side of the road, spinning their wheels, out of gas, or waiting for a tow truck that never comes.
And writers ar…
March 12, 2021 | by Chris Kalaboukis
This piece of digital art just sold for $69 million using NFTs
The value of fine art has always been up for debate: It is worth what someone is willing to pay to hang it on their wall. But what if you bought a piece of art which didn’t even exist on canvas? If it was purely digital? Until recently, the risk with digital art is that […]
March 10, 2021 | by Chris Kalaboukis
Shocking: 67% men will electrocute self rather than ‘just think’ or be bored
Women on the other hand appear much more comfortable with their own company, with only 25% choosing a mild shock. A new study just published in Science has given a shocking insight into how uncomfortable most people find it having nothing to do but think by themselves. The study, led by Timothy Wilson, originally asked […]
March 9, 2021 | by Chris Kalaboukis
Growth Mindset vs Fixed Mindset
Why is it that throughout life, some people seem to be comfortable going up for new challenges, and growing as a result, while other people want to stay exactly where they are? It may be partially down to what sort of mindset these people have. Carol Dweck is a researcher who studies mindset, and her […]
March 8, 2021 | by Chris Kalaboukis
work both expands (and shrinks) to fit the time allotted
One of the most interesting things I find about project management is that many of the supposed “myths” regarding time and work are true. Work indeed expands to fill the time allotted – if you give a team 2 weeks to complete a project…
March 8, 2021 | by Chris Kalaboukis
How Does an Employee-Owned Fortune 500 Company Manage Their Innovation Lab?
Graybar is a Fortune 500 corporation and one of the largest employee-owned companies in North America. They are a leader in the distribution of communications and data networking products – even if you don’t know Graybar off the top of your head, you’v…
March 5, 2021 | by Chris Kalaboukis
Regain the Lost Art of Reflection
Are you getting enough time, these days, to reflect or are you rushing from one task to another, swamped by information overload knee jerk responses. Here’s a thought-provoking article on the phenomenon from the Harvard Business Review.
Another way …
March 5, 2021 | by Chris Kalaboukis
Conan O’Brien quote on doing great creative work
It’s all about the struggle Great things, there is a mentality in showbusiness where people will say “That was great! Do that all the time.” And you think “No”. By its nature the really great stuff has to be rare. You can even really love Monty Python, but the really great things, it’s not just […]
March 3, 2021 | by Chris Kalaboukis
Sarcasm can boost creativity in teams (well yeah, obviously…)
“I was just being sarcastic” A dangerous statement in most workplaces, and often the sign of minor conflict between team members. It is often seen as being hostility disguised as humour. However, recent research reveals that in the right circumstances, sarcasm can actually enhance people’s creativity. A 2015 study by Francesca Gino, Adam Galinsky and […]
March 2, 2021 | by Chris Kalaboukis
Don’t be a Superfluous Man
In 19th Century Russian literature, there is the wonderful archetype of the Superfluous Man. This is an individual who represents being unnecessary and not achieving what they could with their position. According to Wikipedia: It refers to an individual, perhaps talented and capable, who does not fit into social norms. In most cases, this person […]