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Innovation Insights | Stephen Shapiro Blog - Innovation
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New Subtitle for PIVOTAL - Stephen Shapiro
As we got one step closer to the publication of my seventh book, we decided at the last minute that we needed a new subtitle. The old one, “Mastering Depth in an Era of Perpetual Pivoting,” was confusing and too hard to say. Try saying “perpetual pivoting” ten times without spitting on someone! Over the […]
Book Cover Reveal for PIVOTAL - Stephen Shapiro
As we get one step closer to the publication of my seventh book, it is time to reveal its cover. Over the coming weeks, I will be sharing some awesome endorsements the book has received. We are targeting mid-2024 for the book’s release. I hope you like this!
The Resolution Myth - Stephen Shapiro
Welcome to 2024. We’ve been told that because it’s a new year, it’s time for a new you. But before you set those resolutions, consider the fact that only 8% of people are always successful in achieving the desired results. 92% fail! 24% (one in four people) NEVER succeed and have failed on every resolution […]
AI Generation of Audio and Video - Stephen Shapiro
I’m playing around with Pictory, an AI software that generates voices from text, and then selects videos that match the text. The first version of the video was generated with no edits. I used the defaults for everything. It literally took less than one minute to create it. I uploaded a text summary of my […]
AI Inbreeding - Stephen Shapiro
AI is creating massive amounts of content quickly. And a lot of this ends up getting posted on the internet. This got me thinking about the future of Large Language Models (LLMs). At some point, a large percentage of content on the internet will be AI-generated. And if the LLMs continue to be trained using […]
A Full Virtual Studio that Packs in a Briefcase - Stephen Shapiro
I recently delivered a speech for a client who held their retreat in a remote location several hours away from the nearest airport. Another client wanted me to speak at their innovation conference the following morning, but my travel schedule wouldn’t have allowed me to arrive at the second event on time. Fortunately, they were […]
Tip 8: There's No Such Thing as a Know-It-All - Stephen Shapiro
Summary of Tip 8 (of 40) from Best Practices Are Stupid. There’s No Such Thing as a Know-It-All The late great Will Rogers once said, “There is nothing so stupid as an educated man if you get him off the thing that he was educated in.” No one person can know everything. And no organization […]
Two Years of Hard Work - Stephen Shapiro
Two years ago today – October 18, 2022 – I sat on a park bench overlooking a river. I was reflecting on what was next for my business. It was a calm and peaceful day. As it turns out, that was my last truly peaceful moment at work. Because at that time, I decided to […]
My Best $1 Travel Must Have Item - Stephen Shapiro
What is your most used travel item that costs less than $5? When I ask people this question, I hear ideas ranging from ear plugs and eye shades to nail files and a travel-sized screwdriver kit. Mine is a $1 travel-sized spray bottle. That might not sound very exciting, but it serves many purposes. The […]
The New Personality Poker® Online Game - Stephen Shapiro
We just released a new version of the online Personality Poker® game. If you’ve not played it before, definitely check it out. In 30 seconds, you will learn how you contribute to a team, how you might detract from a team, and whom you need to partner with to be successful. And now, it automatically […]
Best Practices Are Stupid #1 New Release - Stephen Shapiro
The Kindle version of Best Practices Are Stupid is now available for order on Amazon. And I guess it’s currently pretty popular in Canada. It hit the best-seller list and was the #1 Hot New Release in the Management Sciences category. Woohoo! If you decide to buy, be sure to order the version with the […]
Get Best Practices Are Stupid on Kindle Today! - Stephen Shapiro
The Kindle version of Best Practices Are Stupid is now available for order on Amazon. Today is the 12th anniversary of the book’s original publication. Today marks the formal release of the updated e-book edition. The paperback version will be available very soon! Note that the original version (with the yellow lightbulb on the cover) […]
Tip 7: The Goldilocks Principle - Stephen Shapiro
Summary of Tip 7 (of 40) from Best Practices Are Stupid. The Goldilocks Principle Today, we delve into a simple yet critical aspect of problem framing: The Goldilocks Principle. When attempting to solve a problem, we often frame it either too broadly (e.g., solving world hunger) or too narrowly. A prime example of the latter […]
Penn Jillette's Innovation Advice - Stephen Shapiro
Penn Jillette (of Penn & Teller) has some brilliant advice on how they develop their act. “(We) knock around ideas. We are not in any way supportive. As soon as the germ of an idea comes up, the other person tries to crush it, because if there’s something bad about it, we want to find […]
Pre-Order Best Practices Are Stupid! - Stephen Shapiro
Woo hoo! The Kindle version of Best Practices Are Stupid is now available for pre-order on Amazon. The updated editions of the ebook and paperback will launch on September 29th – the 12th anniversary of the book’s original release. Note that the original version (with the yellow lightbulb on the cover) is available from resellers […]
Tip 6: The Difference Between a Pipeline and a Sewer is what Flows Through It - Stephen Shapiro
Summary of Tip 6 (of 40) from Best Practices Are Stupid. The Difference Between a Pipeline and a Sewer is what Flows Through It With tip 6 (of 40), we move into the “process” portion of the Best Practices Are Stupid book. We explore the need for diversification. Too many safe bets, in the long […]
Best Practices Are Stupid Summarized on One Page - Stephen Shapiro
How do you summarize a 40,000-word, 200+ page book into one page? When the book was originally released, Sacha Chua created this wonderful infographic that summarizes each of the tips. Although a few of the names have changed in the updated edition, the concepts remain the same. To save this document, right-click and save on […]
FAST Innovation® Trademark Approved - Stephen Shapiro
After 16 months of waiting, the USPTO has finally approved my FAST Innovation® trademark. FAST Innovation is more than a buzzword. It stands for the four key steps of the innovation process I have been using for over a decade: F = FOCUS: Innovate where you differentiate. Focus on the parts of the business that […]
Tip 5: Expertise Is the Enemy of Innovation - Stephen Shapiro
Summary of Tip 5 (of 40) from Best Practices Are Stupid. Expertise Is the Enemy of Innovation Today’s tip is about finding breakthrough solutions. My perspective is that our past experiences can limit our ability to see new and different futures. In other words, expertise is the enemy of innovation. This was validated by Lee […]
Tip 4: Don't Think Outside the Box; Find a Better Box - Stephen Shapiro
Summary of Tip 4 (of 40) from Best Practices Are Stupid. Don’t Think Outside the Box; Find a Better Box This tip is the reason I wrote the book Invisible Solutions. The concept is so important yet overlooked. Leaders often encourage employees to “think outside the box” to boost creativity. However, this unbounded approach can […]
Tip 3: Asking for Ideas is a Bad Idea - Stephen Shapiro
Summary of Tip 3 (of 40) from Best Practices Are Stupid. Asking for Ideas is a Bad Idea This is a favorite of mine and one that so many organizations get wrong. Companies often seek innovation by soliciting ideas from employees, but this approach typically yields impractical, low-value suggestions, cluttering the innovation process. This inefficiency […]
Tip 2: Avoid Becoming a One-Hit Wonder - Stephen Shapiro
Summary of Tip 2 (of 40) from Best Practices Are Stupid. How Can You Avoid Becoming a One-Hit Wonder? Lipps Inc, The Sugar Hill Gang, and Haddaway, known for hits like Funky Town and What is Love, exemplify “one-hit wonders.” This phenomenon parallels businesses that shine momentarily but later fade. To prevent becoming a corporate […]
Tip 1: Not Survival of the Fittest – Survival of the Adaptable - Stephen Shapiro
We are about 40 days away from the relaunch of Best Practices Are Stupid: 40 Ways to Out-Innovate the Competition. Therefore, each day leading up to its publication, I will share highlights from one of the tips. So let’s start at the beginning. Tip 1: Not Survival of the Fittest – Survival of the Adaptable […]
Strive for Clarity, Not Cleverness - Stephen Shapiro
We live in a world of clickbait and hyperbole. Although this might catch someone’s initial interest, it may have a negative long-term impact on your customer. Equally, businesses have been told to shoot for creativity, but often this only leads to confusion. I recently had dinner at a restaurant in a boating community. I needed […]
Interview with Roche About Innovation in Healthcare - Stephen Shapiro
I was recently interviewed by Roche for a two-part series about innovation in healthcare. Interview #1 – Create a Culture of Innovation: The primary focus of this interview was on how to create a culture of innovation. My definition of innovation Why thinking outside the box can reduce innovation A video with my “brick” exercise […]
My Interview with Trusted Magazine - Stephen Shapiro
I was recently interviewed by Trusted Magazine. They asked me four questions about my career: How could you describe your career path in a few words? What was your most challenging experience and has it changed your mindset? Based on your experiences, what skills should an entrepreneur develop in 2023? Based on your recent experiences, […]
Publishing Checklist - Stephen Shapiro
Although I have six published books under my belt, there is always something new to learn. In the past, I would write the manuscript and then have the publisher complete the editing, layout, and cover design. After that, the book magically appeared in bookstores. Readers only saw the book when it was in finished form. […]
My Next Innovation Book: PIVOTAL - Stephen Shapiro
For the past few years, organizations have been reactively responding to disruptions caused by the pandemic. This has led to another pandemic, one of perpetual pivoting. Organizations have been spinning in circles, dissipating energy, causing confusion, and burning out employees. It is for this reason that I have been writing my seventh book. It is […]
How to Embrace Phygital - the Blending of Physical and Digital - Stephen Shapiro
Combining the digital and physical worlds enhances both. Let’s get phygital is not a song by Olivia Newton-John. It is about how your organization can leverage the blending of the physical and digital worlds. For most of history, we were a physical society. We met in person and all interactions occurred with physical products. Then, […]
Organize Your Writing Retreat - Stephen Shapiro
In my push to get the manuscript done for my next book, I (once again) locked myself in a hotel room to stay focused. People have asked me what I do during these sessions and how I get organized. The process is really very simple. I choose a place that has a full kitchen. For […]
Innovative Book Editing with Audio - Stephen Shapiro
This is post #4 about the writing process for my next book. And today I want to share a process that I’ve not heard anyone else discuss: AI generated audiobooks for editing purposes. As mentioned in earlier posts, I frequently lock myself in a hotel for a week to crank out manuscript updates. Typically, I […]
Finding Time for Writing - Stephen Shapiro
This is post #3 about the writing process for my next book. Here’s #1 and #2. Sometimes a challenge for people in writing is making the time or having the support. Admittedly, I’m a pretty good self-motivator. I make the time. Quite often I lock myself in a hotel for a week or two so […]
Getting Book Feedback - Stephen Shapiro
Given my last post about my next book generated so much interest, I’ve decided to document my journey here in the hopes that it benefits others. This is book number 7. Although I have published books as far back as 2001 (with an even earlier one from 1996 when I was at Accenture), I am […]
Want to Help Me Write My Next Book? - Stephen Shapiro
Yesterday I submitted the manuscript for my next book to early readers. Although this is book number seven, I am using a different strategy than I have in the past. The big influencers were two books I read on the writing process: Write a Must Read by AJ Harper is a truly fantastic book. The […]
Can AI Help Reframe Business Problems? - Stephen Shapiro
Like millions of others, I have been playing around with ChatGPT. In an earlier post, I asked it some generic questions and got some generic responses. So I decided to put it to the test and see how it would do with my Invisible Solutions content. Can the AI system reframe problems better than the […]
Why I'm Not Setting Resolutions for 2023 - Stephen Shapiro
2023 is around the corner. Time to make some changes in your life. Right? Ready to set some resolutions? Before you do, did you know that only 8% of people are always successful in achieving the desired results. 92% fail! 24% (one in four people) NEVER succeed and have failed on every resolution every year. […]
ChatGPT's Thoughts on Innovation - Stephen Shapiro
It seems like everyone is playing around with ChatGPT right now. It is an AI based chatbot that can answer a wide range of text-based questions and commands. College students are writing papers using it. Authors are playing around with it to generate titles, subtitles, and even content. People are writing social media posts using […]