Last week in our How to Be an Innovator series, we talked about how strategic planning can help in the innovation process. This week we’ll go a step further and talk about how to get the information you need to choose the right problems and build a solid plan. Part 25: Get Your Facts Straight When it comes to strategically growing an organization or an idea, many times we feel like we have a good, general idea of where things are out – how productive we are, or how profitable, or how successful. But to develop an effective strategic plan, you …

Thanks so much to everyone who has downloaded the Get Your Creative Groove on eBook in the last few weeks. It means more to me than I can really express to see people from literally all over the world downloading it. You guys are amazing, and I feel so grateful for you. Can I ask just one favor, though? If you downloaded the eBook, I would love to hear from you! Would you mind sending me your feedback? I’m preparing an “in print” version, and I would love to hear your thoughts on the digital version. The hardcopy will include …

Last week in our How to Be an Innovator series, we discussed identifying real needs and choosing the right problem/opportunities for your organization. This week we’ll go a step further and delve a little bit into the strategic planning process. Part 24: Prepare to Plan At first glance, the whole idea of strategic planning seems counterintuitive to the creative process. And maybe the actual planning part of it is – or can be. But preparing to plan is like preparing a creative brief. The process gives you the tools you need to create a framework by identifying the problem you …

Every Monday is Tip Day! Grab a cup of coffee and get over the Monday morning bump with tips, tools, and inspiration from Perch. This Week: Open the Back Door Not long ago a reader commented that muscle-memory activities help her tap into her creativity by allowing the more active parts of her mind to rest. I was thankful that she made the comment, as she put terminology to an idea I have been trying to express regarding the process of idea incubation. I am still researching the scientific foundation for this principle, but it seems that simple activities like folding …

How to Be an Innovator is an original series by Creative Perch. Last week we discussed how trendwatching can reveal new and untapped possibilities. This week we’ll learn how to take a cue when when we receive repetitive answers. Part 20: Look for Repetition I admit it, I’m a researcher. Google is my friend. So is the library. I’m also a do-it-yourselfer. Nine times out of ten, I would rather figure something out and do it myself than ask someone else to do it for me. For example, when it came to building this blog, or creating my own Twitter …

How to Be an Innovator is an original series by Creative Perch. Last week we discovered how asking questions and looking for loopholes can unveil unique opportunities for creative problem-solving and innovation. This week we’ll look at how uncovering a given product, idea, or challenge’s back story can provide clues to the answer. Part 18: Uncover the Back Story If you’re unfamiliar with the term, back story refers to history, or the “story behind the story.” For example, you may meet someone who seems to have achieved overnight success. However, the individual’s back story may be years of of living …