We’ve been working like mad dogs on not only a host of new product concepts but a thread of continuity between all of them that will provide an incredible “solution” to the publisher’s most basic and most felt needs.
And I’m proud to say that it might just be my best and most original idea that I’ve ever had. But here’s the truth: It didn’t become great until the rest of the team spoke into it. In fact, my idea was just a vision of what might be while the team systematically scrutinized it, put “meat on the bones” so to speak, and really gave it life.
Without a team we’d never have a clear picture of execution. Without a team my small seed of an idea wouldn’t be keeping most of us up at night. Without my team I’d never be able to see it work.
The best ideas that you and I have are pretty poor until we share them with others – the act of refinement is so critical to innovation:
All great inventions emerge from a long sequence of small sparks; the first idea often isn’t all that good, but thanks to collaboration it later sparks another idea, or it’s reinterpreted in an unexpected way.
Collaboration brings small sparks together to generate breakthrough innovation.
Thanks Mihaly Csikzentmihalyi for that truth. It was once theory but I’ve seen in work empirically. Win.
Glad to see this vision, leadership, and teamwork playing out for you guys.
thx hans!
Can’t wait to hear more about this idea!
we’re re-examining the publishing industry as a whole.
All you need is a team around you with cans of gasoline while you make the spark.
Just tell them when it is time to step back a little.
It is always good to keep the eyebrows. Unless your Mona Lisa!
Awe, now “Mona Lisa” by IZ is playing in my head.
That is cruel.
To mention you had the best idea you have ever had and not tell us what it is.
I am standing by with my can of gasoline.
It is getting heavy.
Now it is sitting on the ground.
Now I am sitting on it with my chin in the palms of my hands.
A dude just walked by and offered me $10 for it.
I told him no, because it is a 5 gallon can!
Then I told him if he gave me the $10, I would tell him why I was sitting on it.
Woo hoo!!!
I just got $10 from a stranger.
Poor dude, he still doesn’t understand 8Bit and Tentblogger.
He walked off mumbling something about … what is a blogger… and why do they live in tents.