The Idea Hunter

ISBN-13: 9780470767764 / Angielski / Twarda / 2011 / 192 str.

Andy Boynton

Opis

A different way of discovering and developing the best business ideas Jack Welch once said, "Someone, somewhere has a better idea." In this myth-busting book, the authors reveal that great business ideas do not spring from innate creativity, or necessarily from the brilliant minds of people. Rather, great ideas come to those who are in the habit of looking for great ideas all around them, all the time. Too often, people fall into the trap of thinking that the only worthwhile idea is a thoroughly original one. Idea Hunters know better. They understand that valuable ideas are already out there, waiting to be found - and not just in the usual places.

• Shows how to expand your capacity to find and develop winning business ideas
• Explains why ideas are a critical asset for every manager and professional, not just for those who do "creative"
• Reveals how to seek out and select the ideas that best serve your purposes and goals and define who you are, as a professional
• Offers practical tips on how to master the everyday habits of an Idea Hunter, which include cultivating great conversations

The book is filled with illustrative accounts of successful Idea Hunters and stories from thriving "idea" companies. Warren Buffet, Walt Disney, Thomas Edison, Mary Kay Ash, Twitter, and Pixar Animation Studios are among the many profiled.

Spis treści

Preface:Why Hunt? xi

Introduction: Brilliance Not Required 1

Already Out ere 3

Ready to Unlearn 7

1 Know Your Gig 11

The Discernment 13

The Circle of Competence 17

Gigs Matter 19

The I D E A Principles

INTERESTED

2 Be Interested, Not Just Interesting 25

Curiosity at the Trading Post 28

Learning Machines 29

Your Brain Is Open 33

DeBning Your Own Hunt 36

IDEAWORK #1: SELLING THE BEST HOUR OF THE DAY TO YOURSELF 39

DIVERSE

3 Diversifying the Hunt 47

The Color of Your Ideas 49

WhenWeak Ties Are Strong 51

Widening Your Intellectual Bandwidth 54

Bridging DistantWorlds 58

Ideas Are Everywhere 61

IDEAWORK #2: THE I S AND T S 65

EXERCISED

4 Mastering the Habits of the Hunt 71

The Practice of Ideas 73

Begin with an Eye 75

Observing at the Ritz 77

Erecting a Personal Platform of Observation 80

Write It Down 83

Get It Moving 86

Observe Yourself 88

IDEAWORK #3: ASSEMBLING AN IDEA PORTFOLIO 91

AGILE

5 Idea Flow Is Critical 101

The Case of the Guitar Strings 104

Creating Idea Spaces at Pixar 106

Finding the "Informal Bosses" 110

Letting Ideas Percolate 112

When It′s Time to "Kill" Ideas 115

IDEAWORK #4: READY, SET, LAUNCH 121

6 Create Great Conversations 129

"Continuers" and "Terminators" 132

The Value of a Naive Question 136

Preparing for the Big Conversation 138

Epilogue: Thoreau and the I–D–E–A Assessment 143

References 151

Acknowledgments 161

About the Authors 165

Index 167

O autorze

Andy Boynton is the dean of the Carroll School of Management at Boston College. He was a professor of strategic leadership at IMD (International Institute for Management Development) in Lausanne, Switzerland, where he created and directed the school′s highly–rated global Executive MBA program.

Bill Fischer is a professor at IMD.He previously served as dean and president of the China–Europe International Business School, a joint venture of the European Union and Chinese government, inShanghai, China.

William Bole is a journalist and a research fellow of the Winston Center for Leadership and Ethics at Boston College.

Blurb

Praise for The Idea Hunter

"Humans make progress by discovering new ideas, but also, importantly, by repurposing the ones that already exist. Boynton and Fischer show how each of us can get better at this critical skill identifying and reapplying existing ideas."
Paul Romer, senior fellow, Stanford Institute for Economic Policy Research

"Hunting is an apt metaphor. Ideas exist everywhere in the wild. The trick is knowing where to look for them and how to capture them. Boynton and Fischer tell us how."
Ron Sargent, chairman and CEO, Staples, Inc.

"The Idea Hunter is unique. It′s about curiosity, agility, and perpetually hunting for better ideas. It′s a must–read for anyone who wants to compete and collaborate more effectively each and every day."
Greg Brown, president and CEO, Motorola Solutions

"This book upends a number of persistent myths about innovation and what it takes to be an ′idea person.′ It shows that what′s required is not spectacular creativity or remarkable IQ, but curiosity a genuine desire to engage in a daily search for ideas. It will help transform the way you and your business operate."
Jay Hooley, president and CEO, State Street Corporation

"The Idea Hunter is not just an enjoyable read. It also offers a practical method so that anyone or any firm can learn the secrets of harnessing the power of ideas to drive success."
Laura J. Sen, president and CEO, BJ′s Wholesale Club

"Boynton and Fischer offer powerful and practical advice on how to ′jump–shift′ the flow of ideas in your organization. This will become required reading for any leader intent on shaping a high–performance organization."
Michael D. White, chairman and CEO, DirecTV

"Observe, ask questions, be curious, and dare to throw odd ideas into a group′s conversation to make it better. Be an Idea Hunter!"
Ton Büchner, CEO, Sulzer, Ltd.