Why are ideas important?
In a previous episode on the importance of ideas, I wrote:
How does all this relate to you? You are probably a professional who's just trying to do his job. Do you really need more "ideas"? What good would new ideas bring you?
In today's global economy, any ambitious worker from China or India can compete against you by leveraging the power of the Internet. Time and space no longer separate them from YOUR job.
(Read the book The World Is Flat, by Thomas Friedman. It has already sold two million copies. It talks about how changes in technologies and communications enable (empower) people from nations such as India and China to work and compete (quite effectively) against everyone else.)
Because of intense competition, everyone is rightly concerned about their economic survival. We all have to produce more value of higher QUALITY or in greater QUANTITY. In short, we have to produce BUSINESS VALUE.
But what is business? The late guru Peter Drucker said only two things are important in business: innnovation and marketing.
Unless you are a marketing professional (advertising, sales, etc.), you should focus on innovation, that is, how to create new value. Doing the same things day in day out is no longer good enough. The ability to generate new ideas and test them in real situations will secure premium salaries as well as respect from your boss and coworkers.
This is where ideas come into play. An idea is just a new way to create more or better value.
The problem is that the educational system doesn't teach students how to create "new ideas". It teaches students how to come up with the "right answers."
Well, there are no "right answers" in today's rapidly changing marketplace. Whatever the customer says is right, IS RIGHT!
Plus, customers today are demanding. They want new things all the time. And they want it yesterday!
For all these reasons, the single most important skill, I believe, is creativity. I've personally used Edward de Bono's techniques for the last 10 years, and they have served me well. If you seriously want to create wealth by generating new ideas, I highly recommend his books (start with Lateral Thinking, then perhaps Parallel Thinking, then I am right, You are wrong, finally New Thinking for a New Millenium).
Dr de Bono's techniques are one of my success secrets, and as of today, it is no longer a secret!
How does all this relate to you? You are probably a professional who's just trying to do his job. Do you really need more "ideas"? What good would new ideas bring you?
In today's global economy, any ambitious worker from China or India can compete against you by leveraging the power of the Internet. Time and space no longer separate them from YOUR job.
(Read the book The World Is Flat, by Thomas Friedman. It has already sold two million copies. It talks about how changes in technologies and communications enable (empower) people from nations such as India and China to work and compete (quite effectively) against everyone else.)
Because of intense competition, everyone is rightly concerned about their economic survival. We all have to produce more value of higher QUALITY or in greater QUANTITY. In short, we have to produce BUSINESS VALUE.
But what is business? The late guru Peter Drucker said only two things are important in business: innnovation and marketing.
Unless you are a marketing professional (advertising, sales, etc.), you should focus on innovation, that is, how to create new value. Doing the same things day in day out is no longer good enough. The ability to generate new ideas and test them in real situations will secure premium salaries as well as respect from your boss and coworkers.
This is where ideas come into play. An idea is just a new way to create more or better value.
The problem is that the educational system doesn't teach students how to create "new ideas". It teaches students how to come up with the "right answers."
Well, there are no "right answers" in today's rapidly changing marketplace. Whatever the customer says is right, IS RIGHT!
Plus, customers today are demanding. They want new things all the time. And they want it yesterday!
For all these reasons, the single most important skill, I believe, is creativity. I've personally used Edward de Bono's techniques for the last 10 years, and they have served me well. If you seriously want to create wealth by generating new ideas, I highly recommend his books (start with Lateral Thinking, then perhaps Parallel Thinking, then I am right, You are wrong, finally New Thinking for a New Millenium).
Dr de Bono's techniques are one of my success secrets, and as of today, it is no longer a secret!
posted by Super Peter at 8:07 PM
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