- This is Richard and I want to welcome you to the Proven, Practical, Profitable Innovation Podcast. As always, I greatly appreciate you taking time out of your busy day to listen to this podcast. My promise is that in every podcast I do my best to share information that will help you in your business – any business and at any time.
- As you know by now, this podcast shares the very best practices available today for you to be successfully innovative and creative. I draw from my decades working in and with both very large and small businesses. As an innovation entrepreneur I’ve been hired by major corporations and small businesses to help them become much more innovative. Please remember that we publish at least three podcasts every week.
- This podcast begins this podcast begins a series with one of the most innovative people in America today – Kari McNamara. In this series of interviews with her, we explore some five very intriguing idea generating exercises. This first interview explores a creativity exercise she calls grab bag. In the second series we dive into some actual case studies with well-known companies where she has been the key external leader.
- Please be sure to listen to the end of this podcast where I give you an exciting preview of future podcasts.
- If after listening to this podcast you feel a need for more help, please contact me directly—my email is richard@i2ge.com. You can also go to my website—i2ge.com– where you can explore many innovation topics, especially check out the DIY Innovation Training on the menu bar. We customize all the training programs to our clients’ unique needs and circumstances.
- As background, Kari McNamara graduated with a mechanical and electrical engineering degree. Soon after graduation she joined Doug Hall at Eureka Ranch. Over more than 15 years she handled increasing levels of responsibility until her last seven years when she was the managing partner. During this period when Eureka Ranch was an important place that major companies hired to invent new products, she led well over 100 inventing sessions, many of which led to the introduction of products that sold more than $100 million in their first year.
- In the series on quantum idea generation, talked a lot about how the process with its core elements generates at least 12 times more ideas than range. In this series of podcasts, Kari shares with us some of her favorite specific idea generating exercises that work within quantum idea generation.
- So let’s get into our interview with Kari about an idea generating exercise she calls “grab bag.”
Grab Bag.
- Go to the store with a set amount of money…wander the aisles purchasing anything that catches your eye until you hit your dollar limit. Try to buy at least 5 items.
- Remove the items one at a time from the bag. Analyze each items – look at the good things, the bad things, the design elements, the copy (e.g. how they sell it) – break it down and look at all the part and pieces, taking notes as you go.
- Step back and ask yourself how each element can help you solve your innovation challenge. How could it be applied to your problem/challenge…and what new solution does it lead you to?
- Before sharing information on the next podcast, if you would like to see the notes from this podcast just go to i2ge.com/blog.
- I have been fortunate enough to publish six books on a variety of topics – one of those books was also published in China and Germany. My book on innovation is Proven Practical Innovation That Delivers Results. Like these podcasts, it easily and quickly delivers truly proven and practical information you can use to sell more and make more. This book is available at Amazon in paperback and as a Kindle book.
- Don’t forget if you need more help go to i2ge.com and click on DIY Innovation Training, which is on the menu bar.
- If this podcast has helped you, you can help us by giving the podcast a five star rating…..it helps us to get the word out about the help we provide for free.
- I am particularly excited about the next podcast because we continue our series on some of the most productive idea generating exercises. Even if you’re not a great cook – and I certainly am not – you will want to listen to the next podcast that Kari calls Kitchen chemistry.
- I know that your time is valuable and I greatly appreciate the time you spend with me today. I look forward to reconnecting with you very soon. Please have a great day.