Let’s Get Some Terms Straight!

Last night I was at an event where I woman said, “I want to get in touch with my creativity.  I used to paint and play music, but no longer do that.”

This got me thinking about how we throw around a lot of terms with no real clarity around what they mean.

Here are four terms that people use interchangeably.

• Invention, from my perspective, invention is the creation of something that previously was not in existence.  The focus is not on commercial value but rather on novelty.
• Innovation, on the other hand, is an end-to-end process that starts with a specific problem, challenge or opportunity and results in commercial value (however that is defined for the organization).
• Creativity is one step in the innovation process.  When you have a defined problem/opportunity, creativity is the act of finding a solution.
• Artistry involves things like music, painting, and photography.  Although there may be commercial value, the primary focus is often on the experience.

You might think I am splitting hairs discussing the differences between these terms.  But language is important to any culture.  And distinguishing these words can be quite useful in helping an organization grow.

Commercial organizations (including non-profits) really want innovation.  Putting people through creativity training is interesting, but if the resulting solutions are not relevant to needs or are not ultimately implemented, there is no point.  In fact, it can create extra work that detracts from the real opportunities.

Invention can be great.  But I know a lot of broke inventors.  Developing something new does not mean there is a market need.

Equally, I know a lot of great artists who never want to “sell out” and as a result are struggling to get by.

Innovation is the key.  The resulting change does not need to be radical, it only needs to be relevant to the needs of the market.  It does not need to be fancy, as long as the solution is commercially viable an implementable.

Getting clear on these distinctions can help you focus your energies on what matters most.

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The Key to Immediate Happiness

Imagine the following scenario. You are single and live just outside of New York City. Your employer wants you to work in London for a few years. You are excited about the prospect of living overseas and are interested in the job. Assuming that the costs of living for New Jersey and London are roughly equivalent, which option would you choose?

Option 1

You stay an employee of the NYC office and are “on loan” to London. You continue to pay your mortgage/rent in New Jersey, but can rent/sublet your place to someone during your absence. The company pays all of your expenses in London: housing, food and travel to and from the U.S. They cover the difference in taxes between the US and UK. Basically you have no expenses for the three years you are there, affording you the chance to sock away 100 percent of your salary. Your stay is temporary. After your time overseas, you will return to the U.S.

Option 2

You transfer from the NYC office and become an employee of the London office. You are paid in British pounds just like all other British employees and you pay U.K. taxes—which are higher. Although you sell your house in New Jersey and have no expenses in the U.S., you need to cover all of your expenses in London. There is no guarantee of a job in the NYC office should you decide to return to the states.

Financially, option No. 1 is a significantly better deal. But when faced with this situation in real life, I chose option No. 2.

Why?

While I recognize that finances are important, I place a higher value on my happiness. And the best way to effectively leverage that happiness is to live life fully immersed in the present.

What does that have to do with my choosing scenario No. 2?

I have found that when we engage in a temporary or transitory activity, the mindset is different than when we are settled into a seemingly more permanent option. Temporary situations can create a “holding pattern” where we wait for a “better” option down the road. Temporary employment is not your real job. Temporary housing is not your real home. These give the illusion of “here today, gone tomorrow.” Why take it seriously? Why invest your heart and soul into activities when you will eventually be leaving. Living in the moment can be difficult when you are waiting for your “real” life to begin.

Although from a financial perspective, the permanent option may not have been a great decision, it was the right one for me. I had the most spectacular three years of my life. London felt like my home. I lived there like a native. I acted as though there was no return to the U.S. This forced me to be present to what I was doing and to take full advantage of England.

I am not sure that I would have had the mental conviction to live in that same manner had I chosen the temporary solution. I may never have felt settled. The thought of leaving might have lingered in the back of my mind, negatively impacting my experience.

Instead, I formed new social circles. I dated. I lived as though I would be there forever. London became my home. A little more than three years later, I was back in the U.S., without a traditional job and salary (this is when I launched my own business).

“Permanent” situations tend to give the illusion of future stability, even though that is an illusion.

Where are you living like you are in a temporary situation?

Have you ever been in a job that you didn’t like? Did you daydream continuously about leaving, yet three years later you are still in the same job? How might your perspective change if you thought this were a permanent option? Perhaps instead of dreaming about the future, you would be present to what you can do today in your job. Look for new opportunities internally. Do the best job you can. Find ways of adding more value. If you are focused on leaving, seeing this job as a temporary option, you will be miserable. And the odds are, you will lose your job because of poor performance. That’s when you will begin to daydream about how great your job used to be.

We see this phenomenon in relationships as well. While there are many reasons why people marry, there is a psychological shift that many undergo upon saying those two little words: “I do.” It creates a more predictable and stable life with a clearly defined future. And many marry for that reason—for the perceived stability they gain. To love, honor and cherish till death do us part. It gives us the appearance of certainty. But of course, that too is an illusion.

How often do you live with uncertainty? How much of that uncertainty is created by you in your mind? How much does this uncertainty ruin your present moment experiences?…

Read the rest of this article on the American Express OPEN Forum

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Ask the Wrong Question, Waste a Lot of Money

Innovation is accelerated when you “ask the right question, the right way, of the right people.”

It may seem obvious, but if you ask the wrong question, you may be led down a futile path.

An example of this comes from Colgate-Palmolive (shared at a recent open innovation conference).

While asking customers what they wanted in their dental care products, one thing they consistently heard was that consumers wanted a mouthwash without alcohol.

This led C-P to explore various alternatives that were alcohol-free yet had the same level of effectiveness.  Needless to say, this was a daunting task the required a large investment of time and money.

However, when they stepped back and really understood what customers wanted, they discovered that consumers only wanted a mouthwash that did not burn.  Alcohol was not this issue.

Creating an effective, non-burning mouthwash with alcohol proved to be a much easier endeavor.

Where are you attempting to solve the wrong problem, and as a result are needless wasting time and money?

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