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Good Morning Thinkers!
Archive: September 11, 2000

"Human intelligence awakens only to challenge."
-- James Hillman, author of The Soul's Code

Innovation DNA™

The future is uncertain.
Technology is uncertain
Customers and competitors are uncertain.

The only thing that IS certain is that it will take innovation (creative ideas + superb implementation), and lots of it, to survive and flourish in the coming years.

We in the business world have been talking about innovation for years (Peter Drucker, of course, has been talking about it for decades) but in most organizations, it's still just a word. Even organizations that are being innovative often don't know what the formula is and what to change to get more innovation (and what not to change in order to not get less).

As a way to help people better understand this nebulous thing called innovation, we developed the Innovation DNA model that shows the complex interweaving of the elements of innovation. A graphic of this model is shown at: http://www.thinksmart.com/dnaposter.html.

The first dimension is "Challenge." There is nothing that pulls innovation as much as a challenge that captures the imagination of every person in the organization. It happened when John F. Kennedy challenged us to walk on the moon. It happens everyday at Interface Carpet Company, the largest carpet manufacturer in the world, as it finds ways to completely eliminate carpet waste going into our landfills. And, it happens in organizations big and small every time people are excited by the possibilities of creating better products and services and to make a difference in the world.

We will continue to talk about these dimensions in the coming weeks.


Kudos to all of you who responded to the learning contract challenge. We salute you and support your continued learning and sharing efforts.

From: Prof. Aleardo Manacero jr., aleardo@dcce.ibilce.unesp.br
1. I will learn about learning styles
2. I will share my knowledge about running

From: Steve Lundin, SLRUNNER@aol.com
I will learn the right balance of silence and speech.
I will teach about the preciousness of life.

From: NYturralde@aol.com
I will learn to make tighter bonds with my 1st grade students and to try to feel how they think and perceive so as to better teach them.

I will share what I know about being empathetic, caring and striving for a more humble attitude.

From: Marc Bridgham, thebridghams@home.com
I will learn about the history of the ground under my feet, places that I can reach on foot from my front door.
I will teach others to lead their organizations on the journey of whole systems transformation, shaking the ground from their feet.

From: Wendy Campbell, wendy@clancampbell.wattle.id.au
My deepest Learning just now is:
To learn to truly understand my relation ship with our Mother Earth.

To share this with others, that they may find their own relationship with our Mother Earth.

Thank you SO much for this opportunity to share such a deep longing:)

From: #tony, tony@cef-cpsi.org
I wish to learn how others are using the information on their computer networks to enhance and benefit their own work.

As an event producer with over 15 years of exciting experiences, I will share information on how to build and manage a successful event.

From: Tom Drucker, tom@corporateinnovation.com
Joyce, thanks for the question. I have used this model for some clients and it is a good way to highlight the value of everybody teaching as well as learning. As I am deeply into the "community building" experience my answers are focused on that at the moment. I will learn as much as possible about how to support and provide value from on line communities with a common purpose. I will share that learning with others and help others to start communities of their own.

From: Organizational Learning Group, Orgcons4u@excite.com
I would like to continue to learn more about me so I could help others learn more about themselves so that we could all make a difference. Lauren Jones

From: "Jarman, James Henry", JarmanJ@missouri.edu
Just last week I was to attend a training conference in a remote corner of our state. I really could not justify driving my car by myself, so I arranged to ride in one of the vans to be used during the tours. The vans turned out to be almost empty since few people were attending from my region.

The van driver and I were in the front of the other wise empty van. He was a new employee and we shared little in common from our backgrounds and training. He was a civil engineer and I was an Agronomist. Our common interest is water quality. I had thought that the trip would be a chance to nap and read an article or two. Instead, we spent the 4 plus hours of travel asking each other questions from our areas of expertise. It was a great learning experience for both of us. The same thing happened on the trip home.

We both learned a lot from each other. For once, I felt really okay about counting travel time in my work report which equaled more than a full 8 hour work day.

From: HightwrRes@aol.com
I will learn everything I can about: ways to use the internet more effectively to do my speaking business even more from home.
I will share life skills on designing a Creative, Joyful Life with women's groups and wellness programs around the world through my speaking and writing.

From: Jackie Branagan, jbranagan@voanw.org
I will share what I know about drummaking and rattle making.
I will learn to speak Spanish as well as I can.

From: FrankKoepcke@aol.com
This year I will share my experience with interculturally related innovation processes with everybody who is interested.

This year I will learn more about true international cooperation in the field of creativity and innovation.

From: Edward Golden, goldene@cwu.EDU
I would like to learn how to read and write Chinese characters (Mandarin).

I am willing to share my knowledge about marketing in China.

From: jason.crawford, jason.crawford@tinyonline.co.uk
I will learn more about myself - my emotions, how to be more effective in life and how to recognise and enjoy the good things in life I already have.

I will devote more time to helping my 5 year old daughter to learn how to read and write.

From: "Swisher, Curtis (CN)", CNSWISHER@dow.com
I will become certified to administer the Myers Briggs Type Indicator.
I will teach what I learn about type and temperament.