Collected Insights and Ideas

This whole semester, I have been updating quotes on my Google Chat. In fact, people started to ask from where they came. They stem from friends, books, Dove Dark Chocolate Promises, and class. Quotes often change the way I view the world, and in that changed perspective, I am inspired to innovate. As the semester winds down, I have summarized the quotes and experiences that I collected throughout this module.

29 October: "Defying Gravity" - from the musical Wicked
"I'm through accepting limits, cause someone says their so. Some things I cannot change, but till I try, I'll never know. Too long I've been afraid of losing love I guess I'd lost. . . . I think I'll try defying gravity, kiss me goodbye, I'm defying gravity, and you can't pull me down. . . .So if you care to find me, look to the Western Sky, as someone told me lately, everyone deserves a chance to fly. And if I'm flying solo, at least I'm flying free. To those who ground me, take a message back for me: Tell them how I am defying gravity."

Not only were we appropriately discussing Wicked problems, I realized that this song reflects what people want to do once they realize they have been too afraid to try. One must dare to defy gravity, knowing they might fail, in order to solve this Wicked problem.

4 November: The Notre Dame Symphony Concert Performance of Aaron Copland's Rodeo Suite. I have played the trumpet for 12 years in various musical organizations. This week Daniel Pink discussed the importance of storytelling for innovation. What I love about the arts is the integration of various arts into various forms. There is one movement of Rodeo that tells such a story. Copland weaves the traditional nighttime sounds into a late-night Waltz. This Waltz is one that for me tells a tale of two lovers who circumstances continue to separate. Music composition uses the right side of the brain, because only when you can hear the music in context, can it play the story for you. It is in that story that one can find meaning. Copland then integrates musical play within his Rodeo suite to help better tell the story in a beautiful symphony. Music that is not innovative is forgotten. Copland is definitely not forgettable and his suite moves me to stretch my right brain and see the entire picture.

11 November: The film Linda, Linda, Linda. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CQQUEicr6d8. This Japanese film about 4 Japanese girls that decide to perform in a rock concert within a week, focused on the Korean foreign exchange student that the girls have asked to be a ringer in the band. Speaking very limited Japanese, she quickly demonstrates 'corporate anthropology' within the band. She 1) gains respect for cultural differences between cultures, 2) quickly identifies the core organizational Japanese rock band culture, and 3) recognizes natural leaders. The film follows her throughout her discovery of Japanese culture and shows how she is able to both assimilate to, influence, and finally exalt in the joy of innovative success. These girls did not innovate the song, but they innovated their culture.

18 November: The film Mr. Magorium's Wonder Emporium. This week we discussed brainstorming success strategies and pitfalls. This film imaginatively illustrated what the Art of Innovation expressed: we all crave experiences and the key to designing a new experience is about figuring out a way to connect to people. Usually this method is via story. This film playfully explored a manner of meaningful connection. Children never limit their imaginations. They continually dream, express, draw, and explore. This Wonder Emporium fulfills a child's imagination. All the main character must do is believe in her idea. It is in this concept that she is able to make complex items possible. Innovation requires that one not limit themselves by constraints. Believe in the impossible. That belief creates 'magic' in innovations.

25 November: "Our greatest prejudice is against death. It spans age, gender and race. We spend immeasurable amounts of energy fighting an event that will eventually triumph. Though it is noble not to give in easily, the most alive people I’ve ever met are those who embrace their death. They love, laugh and live more fully." ~ The Way I see it #251 Starbucks. This week we discussed the importance of failure and trying to seek it. This quote very much speaks to that concept. People who seek failure, or in this case, embrace death, are able to better innovate because they no longer fear risk. Too often our lives are inhibited by fear of failure. If those close to death can embrace it, why can we not embrace failure? It is only then that we may be able to succeed.

"Happiness is sharing chocolate with a friend." ~ Dove Dark Chocolate Promise. Happiness not only raises your sugar levels, enhancing mental levels of creativity, but happy people are more likely to innovate. This week we discussed intrinsic motivation. For people like me, my effective manager is one who knows that it does not take a lot to motivate me and make me feel happy. Happiness, for me, really is as simple as sharing a chocolate with a friend.

3 December: "Self Destruction is inherent to letting go of the future you imagined" ~ My friend Heba. This week we discussed how to tap into employees' intrinsic motivation to inspire creativity. As we previously discussed in class, happiness and meaning are key to inspired innovation. My friend Heba asked me what I thought about this quote. As we discussed, I realized exactly how critical it is to understand what motivates people and to help inspire them to reach the future that they imaged. People who feel that future is unattainable and who are unable to find meaning in their current job, slowly do self destruct. The quality of the work may not be there. They may cause low morale throughout the office. The less obstacles in their way and the more attainable that future, the better an employee will perform. The more creative the future, the greater the obstacles. If we can remove those obstacles, think of the impact it could have on employees and their resulting ideas impact on society.

9 December: Free Hugs Campaign. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vr3x_RRJdd4. This week we discussed how to pitch a creative idea. This man in England decided he wanted to bring more love to the world and started offering free hugs. When ordered to cease, he obtained thousands of signers to a petition. After the competition of this YouTube video, Free Hugs spread throughout the world. I believe that people need to feel love in order to find meaning, meaning, design, symphony, play, and empathy. This video demonstrates all of those. Here is a man who is an artist who successfully inspired a hugging trend.