Innovation is one of those spaces that has to bridge both. This often elusive strategic advantage that could catapult you into uncontested territory (with the benefits of time, little competition, easy PR and high desirability in the marketplace) is often seen as the “soft stuff” best left to the creatives/scientists/inventors to envision. Mistakenly.

Never more so has there been such an urgent need for clarity on how to initiate, manage & implement innovation with accelerated competition and tightening resources on a crowded planet.
Companies that realise that the birthing of innovation is induced through rigorous process rather than entrusting it to luck or epiphanies of genius; those who specialise in it, like Google, BMW, 3M, GE, NASA offer insight on how to apply this in our own lives, businesses and careers.

I’m going to be writing 2 posts on innovation from our lecture series to de-fuzz the fluffy concepts around this word so treasured by management consultants. Essentially just as a memory recall for the students, so forgive me if they seem a little disjointed. (though as always you’re welcome to comment and nudge me if something needs more clarity or really connects with you & you want more info)

For me, there were a couple of insights from Dave’s introductory lecture that help discern practical innovation from the trance-inducing concept of innovation bandied about in boardrooms. Something that transforms the way we work, think, connect, play vs. more marketing vapourware.

THE BUSINESS OF INNOVATION

Innovation is NOT invention, nor is it improvement, inspiration or incremental change. Innovation is an idea that when applied has the ability to transform the society, market or holding pattern wherein it is let loose. It is not always positive, but always brings change.
It is a transformative solution to a known problem.

DEVELOPING THE INNOVATION DISCIPLINE

The crucial factor that strips out dumb luck/strokes of genius is to embody Edison’s model: Experiment with relentless determination to crash through a known problem. Successful business incubators like Idealab or pan-industry giants like Virgin or Google embrace the fact that not every dazzling idea will turn into a profitable endeavour, but fast implementation and reality testing are the only way to know without over-capitalising.

Whiteboards line the corridors at the Googleplex, collaboration is fostered actively online, with social spaces and 11 gourmet cafes to gather the multidisciplinary geniuses in realworld, structured brainstorming sessions, and curators of innovation process like Marissa Mayer, the Director of Web Products guide the distillation of bright ideas and get the best into production, fast. Ideas don’t get suffocated by entrenched bureaucratic layers and committees that tame scary ideas to what is guaranteed safe for shareholders before they see the light of day. So there have been lots of failures, but ultimately when the big ones hit they are worth multiple smaller crashes.

[Just in case anyone in the class felt I was being prescriptive and will say here too: This is certainly NOT for everyone, and I'm not pushing this as the only valid path for successful enterprise. It's primarily for those who need to get a tangible grip on how to lead an innovative process, those who want to understand what is called for to gain strategic advantage in an accelerated, progressively complex world. Imitation is as valid a business model, and by far less demanding on your sanity!]

RELEASE EARLY, RELEASE OFTEN

This is Dave’s repeated rallying cry. Get it out there, even if it isn’t perfect yet. In the software development world this is expressed as being in “beta” release. It requires risk, releasing a version that will be built mid-flight, with the help of lead users finding the quirks & bugs for you if you’re lucky.
Few innovations are guaranteed success first round. But the only way to know for sure is to reality test your idea/concept/product in the market and get feedback. Very few of us will take this brave move with ease, because we instinctively veer from potential failure.

FORTUNE FAVOURS THE BRAVE

Like safely watching someone absurdly wonderful/sexy/beautiful at a party and actually risking failure by asking them out; so it is with releasing into the market with a daring concept that could make us look foolish (the really good ones, the really innovative ones, always will by the way, or someone would’ve stepped in & done it already). The rewards could be utterly worth some minor terror. Unless you’re an omniscient being, slumming for some reason with us flawed humans, you simply CANNOT know all the reasons something will or won’t work. The more often we attempt, the less scared we are of trying again, the less personally we take the failures and the quicker we’ll be to spot other opportunities.The first rule for innovation (my opinion) is: Assume nothing. In both hunting your innovative idea and when the time comes to act on it.

Thanks Dave for the quote that encapsulates the real force of nature that innovators are:

“Ideas are a dime a dozen, people who put them into action priceless” - franchising pioneer Mary Kay Ash

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It’s been a frenzied few months, but { Huddlemind } is getting stronger by the day and it’s time to look up from the books and get out to play.

Many months ago at a geekdinner in Cape Town, the bright Sarah Blake suggested that we start doing geek.girl gatherings here in South Africa. What a great idea! what appalling timing!
We’ve finally resolved to do something about it: though admittedly we haven’t really rolled up our sleeves on organising a serious event, no extravaganza of prizes, nor yet with seeming effortlessness whipping up a luscious feast for the occasion - because we’re too damn BUSY. As you probably are.

Instead we spoke very nicely to the good peeps at Gardens Virgin Active & Stormhoek who are sponsoring workouts and wine (virtue or vino balance each other out surely) and we’re inviting some of the startlingly bright women we know to just come & hang out at my new fave wi-fi & alt.office spot & re.connect ..before we drown in to.do lists and meet our demise ingloriously, at our desks. No karoshi for me thank you!

This isn’t necessarily a GEEK.girl session - I’ve realised there are sadly very few of us xx chromosome creatures who go crazy for code - and more about the tech.supported social media infused lifestyle and embracing the new economy that women are flourishing in. One where relationships have heightened value over process. And where trust is the gold standard.

So all that said, it’s ever a good idea to enrich your networth: come hang out with us at Sinn’s on Wed 9th April after work at about 6ish . Click on the pic (above) you can RSVP on the Facebook event, or mail me & I’ll pop you on.

Directions & map >> just click on the thumbnail (right).

Easypeasy, no agenda, no lectures ..just some great women I’d love to introduce you to. hooray.

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It was very informal, no official invites, just a Facebook event but Tertia & I were surrounded by outstanding women - and some of the boys who volunteered to dress the part - who picked up the idea with a dash of speed (primarily women who work in technology, naturally).

Who came to share lunch and non.pink and fluffy company?
(In order of introduction around the table, and then order of appearance)

Tertia Albertyn my divine co.host of the Valentine’s non.pink & fluffy lunch. Celebrated author of bestseller So Close and massively popular mommy.blogger at Tertia.org in between the IBM day gig to put her MBA to some use.

Sam Wilson editor of Women24.com, among other channels where she stars, like Shape & Cape Town’s Child. Force of nature this lady!

Elaine Rumboll director of Executive Education at UCT’s Graduate School of Business (and published poet and blues singer to harmonise the force), blogger and gf of Dave Duarte (who almost everyone at the table was connected to in some way)

Nicky Friedman aka The Lush; gorgeous wordsmith who has forged a new story engineering consultancy: Big Words Scare Me which develops the narrative for companies to enrich their brand & culture. [adore this concept], she is also a fiercely popular blogumist at The Times with Tersh.

Sarah Blake: recently of Incubeta, and apparently more famously as gf of Rob Stokes (as Nikki F learned!) and soon to be co.constructor of geek girl dinners (such a fabulous idea Ms Blake) and fellow relapsed blogger here - go prod her!

Leoni Uys brought another little girl with her (who makes her world debut in 2weeks time - with her own personal blog of course); interior design has given way to this woman’s glorious artistic skill with canvasses and oils. Love Leoni!

Shana Kassiem who I met through the equally marvellous Ms Vasco, is jetting her way to the States next month, as co.owner of IT solutions company Maxxor, she’ll be representing SA women in technology and bringing skills and stories back to share with us

Catherine Luckhoff owner of the PR powerhouse Mango OMC, which is solidly moving into position to be a pioneering force in online PR in South Africa. Cath also takes the honours as a superconnector, and go.to to make things happen. Wonder woman.

Beverley Merriman aka Feisty Female, who was nominated in the Garden Route regionals as Woman of the Year (& turned it down because she didn’t have the time to fly in) has finally arrived in Cape Town and joined the Mango OMC crew, while still somehow managing her own company. Bev is a also a fellow Thought Leader at the Mail & Guardian

Michelle Matthews writer and publishing consultant specialising in digital hybrids (Tertia’s ex.publishing agent), founder of the Oshun imprint, mobfest maven - well worth discovering more about this publishing visionary

HajraBibi Cassim stay-at-home mom with MBA in tow, ex tech gal, who is a long.time fan of the worthy blogging queen Tertia

Kerry-Anne Gilowey who I met at Podcamp (she organised a Mini for the day as a prize) is another wonderful wordsmith with her own content creation consultancy specialising in social media production and co.creator of the popular Cape Town Daily Photo. She is also an alumnus of Nomadic Marketing.

Jenna Miller Bloch who I will no doubt see at future geek.girl gigs and definitely spend more time with; incubated her PPC talent at Incubeta and is soon to join the Shoulders of Giants team.

Robynn Burls co.founder (with hubby Scott) of Encyclomedia [media database co. connecting PR and media outlets (also read bloggers) together] who I met at the Bloggerati party through catalyst Cath Luckhoff

Kirsten Pearson fellow Huddleminder (our Catalyst of Progress) whose Conscious Dialogue workshops are starting to add real value to individuals, couples and corporates who participate in the sessions; amongst keeping Huddlemind processes on track and practising Reiki

Thank you all so much for your splendid company!

[We missed Tanya Odendaal (diarised the wrong day, but helping to organise the Cape Epic will do that to you) & Lauren Cohen (chasing a gritty story in a squatter camp on Valentine's Day for the Sunday Times), another wordsmithy Thought Leader Bridget McNulty, Christine Da Silva (also ex.Incubeta, now owner of AlterSage online reputation management), Verashni Pillay (News24.com journo & blogger here), Jacky Lourens (helping refresh the film industry in SA), and MariaVasco (the force behind the Goddess Events & the Bookless Bookclubs around the country)].

PS. Please let me know (leave a comment or mail me) if you’re keen to come to, or even sponsor a little something fabulous for our upcoming and more structured Women in Tech (name TBC) dinner in March >>

* a word on the header
I say “.co.za” when of course I mean Cape Town; but given that when it comes to the real.world social element of online culture in South Africa, Cape Town has consistently proven to be the pioneer.
From geekdinners to podcamps, the meme emerges here & goes on a great trek north. (Sound like a little dare to you Jozi & George crews? It’s supposed to ;-) The more we blend our realities & share space beyond the isolating busyness, the closer we get to developing a strong tech culture here)

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I’ve been writing all over the place, next stop SA Rocks (if Nic Haralambous will have me back!) & hopefully I can hold steady this time.

<< this post on Thought Leader is one that may require some endurance on your part, it’s not a quickie, but if you’re following the Endurance month theme with me, it may be worth it.

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Whether merely due to placebo effect or common consciousness; for a culture steeped in (what we deem to be) superstition, the sheer volume of subconscious belief is predicted to have groundswell effect on an already burgeoning economy, as more risks and new business have been awaiting the turn into the new cycle.

If ever there was a nation that embodied endurance, it has to be the China, whose people have no fear of 100 year + plans. Those that stretch far beyond individual lives. And it appears that their strategy has worked, with the unstoppable exponential capacity to increasingly dominate the world on their terms; all without a war. Clearly they were reading their Sun Tzu.

In honour of Chinese culture, and this month’s theme of endurance, I’d love to share one of my favourite fairytales (as retold by Chin Ning Chu)

In the North Sea of China, the legend says, “there is a fish called Kun which is thousands of metres long. This great fish evolves into a bird called Pung. Pung also measures thousands of metres long. Swooping as he flies, his wings expand like the clouds covering the sky, Pung flies over the great sea southward to his destination: the Celestial Pool.

“The great Pung flies toward the South Sea, beating the water with his majestic wings for over three thousand kilometres; but first he spins the wind into a tornado that rises to a height of ninety thousand kilometres. It takes six months to reach such a height; only then is the Pung bird ready.

Now with the Pung’s back against the pure blue sky and nothing blocking it, the Pung can set upon his course southward with no obstacles. How can one compare such magnitude with the morning mists, the dust, or the insignificant creatures?

If the water is not deep, it cannot support a large ship; but empty a cup of water on the shallow floor, and a straw can float like a boat. If you place a cup there, it will sink. In the same way, if the wind is not sufficient, it cannot support huge wings. Only at a height of ninety thousand kilometres is there enough space to support the Pung. So the Pung can finally begin his great journey.”

So it is with many who are here to do great works.
Keep going. Never surrender (thank you Mr Churchill)

“Many of life’s failures are people who did not realise how close they were to success when they gave up.” - Thomas Edison, a master of success through unwavering endurance.

Wherever you need it in your life right now, and we all need the formidable fuel of tenacity in some aspect of our lives.. I wish you the strength of staying power. And perhaps a little re.New Year’s (and fresh 12year cycle of new energy) wish. Just maybe the Chinese aren’t wrong about this one.

PS. this pic is from New Year here in Cape Town 01.01.08 the first sunrise at the tip of Africa.. the story of Pung blazed into life for me again. May it pop into your head when you most need it too.
Never surrender.

___________________________________________________

this post is part of the monthly theme on Endurance
found here on Hunter of Genius & beyond.

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For all of you who believe that genius is about superhuman intellect or world-encompassing insight on command. If you’ve ever been led to believe that working hard infers that you aren’t bright enough to achieve dazzling success on your first pass.
This one is for you.

It’s for those whose vision simply banishes the option of a safe job and bowing to social expectation of settling. For the restless and driven who withstand scorn and scoff of their ideas and persist through countless failures. For those who challenge the impossible.

The difficult is that which can be done immediately; the impossible that which takes a little longer.
- philosopher George Santayana

Many of our species have defied the impossible:
Roger Bannister shattering the myth of the 4minute mile, the Wright brothers giving humans wings, Walt Disney building a kingdom around a talking mouse.. the list goes on through those who reshaped possibilty on a large scale.
To almost all great ones it wasn’t some effortless conspiring of the “Universe” in the fashion of The Secret that powered their world.changing efforts.
Their successes came, borne of sweat, frustration and failure. Yet there is a persistent belief that if you have to work hard it must mean that you aren’t all that smart. We’re seduced into believing the diet pill fantasy. Our society tumbling into soft.headed infatuation with these promising shortcuts to success, like a love.sick teenager not yet topped up with common.sense or cynicism.

If people knew how hard I had to work to gain my mastery, it wouldn’t seem wonderful at all. - Michelangelo

There is one inherently surprising quality to genius (as opposed to fast and hard street smarts for example). It is fragile. Genius is not inherited, unlike genetically-transmittable talents. It is volatile and easily crushed and muted by insult.
Which is why the unrelenting armour of tenacity is so needed as its accompaniment.

The armour your ally against the resistance, laughter, ego.bashing rejections and smug enjoyment you provide for detractors when you make mis.takes.
In China, this strategy comes through the development of an impenetrable “thick face”. Don the armour of determination if you have a truly innovative idea with world.changing capability, and buckle down for what may be a bumpy ride for the ego on that less.travelled road.

It may not make rational sense, looking at the radical pace of technology, but the world is curiously opposed to new ideas (the REALLY new ones that solve problems of long.standing inefficiencies in particular). Determination is wedded to a long.term strategy which will see you through the short term relief opportunities that come up. The quick money offers, the safer jobs and status upgrades, pay.off’s or even sidestepping physical threat as your ideas meet the market.

Great ideas are cheap and plentiful. Those who will actually work to make sure they happen, precious few. I finally realised we have no lack of passionate brilliant people with ingenious solutions. We have all the available capability to deal with the world’s woes very effectively. But the proportion of people who are prepared to risk their own time, money, reputation on birthing their ideas? And then the proportion left after a year or so? Or those who could have the patience to bear 50,000 experiments to perfect the alkaline battery for example?
Only genius buffered by tenacity would refuse to give up or settle for good enough.

Computer engineer & mathematician Howard Aiken said it best “Don’t worry about people stealing your ideas. If your ideas are any good, you’ll have to ram them down people’s throats“

That’s why NDA’s are a giggle for the most part these days. If it’s a really great concept, good luck! because there are special devils set aside that will ensure that it is forged and fortified with its dues in time, sweat & tears.

Regardless of whether it’s a clean alternative fuel, getting your body in shape, or getting your business to get to the point where it pays without pain: endurance pays off, exponentially.

“Nothing in the world can take the place of persistence.
Talent will not; nothing is more common than unsuccessful men with talent.
Genius will not; un-rewarded genius is almost a proverb.
Education will not; the world is full of educated derelicts.
Persistence and determination alone are omnipotent.”
-Calvin Coolidge

Genius provides the visionary ignition spark and your tenacity ensures you get there, in one piece.

___________________________________________________

this post is part of the monthly theme on Endurance
found here on Hunter of Genius & beyond.

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Speaking of brilliant, the dazzling Jimmy Wales is back in South Africa for an unmissable event in Jo’burg on the 13th November. Proceeds go to the Wikipedia Academies starting to flourish and enrich South Africans learning & co.creating in their OWN languages (heaven knows we have a few here!).
People with this man’s visionary genius and determination are rare gems in a world collapsing in on itself under the weight of ignorance, fear and indifference.
Wikipedia is one of the most hopeful and practical projects to effect real change in the world right now. Treating the cause not just hacking impotently at the symptoms. Go find out why.

Pop onto the iCommons site & quickly grab a seat ..it’s worth getting the global perspective from someone who refreshingly isn’t just a consultant on innovation, but actually is a world.changing innovator (who knows it may even inspire some rocking revolutionary behaviour in you - we love that!)

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It was the stuff of a classic unconference: friendships forged, fresh project collaborations begun, and stimulating pioneering ideas shared in the South African sunshine just before our victorious rugby World Cup win.
We even recorded a podcast: (in Afrikaans - for the popular WOEMF network - why Nico & Glen graciously allowed me to mangle the language I’m not sure, but it was fun) embarrassing video thanks to Zoopy (who did a great job of coverage not just sponsorship).

The podcasting conversation has officially begun in Cape Town, and we hope to be hearing from podcampers rocking the AV option now. I’ll be talking about Doug Kaye’s inspiring concept : Podcorps and other channels for local podcasters interested in social entrepreneurial / pioneering communities around the world.

Thanks again to our generous sponsors (Henk Kleynhans of Skyrove who provided wifi is the 2nd techmonkey in the tree - along with our WebAddiCT mashup meister who still owes me a muti Tshirt), to our valuable contributing speakers (esp. Brad Shrimpton of Apple for doing the podcasting walk.through & demos - see podcasting really is THAT easy!) and mostly to the podcampers who gave up a perfect beach day to come to Podcamp Cape Town!

(extra big warm African hug to the co-daddy of Podcamp Chris Brogan for his message to us - and paying attention to the sadness we feel for the loss of iconic South African Lucky Dube) Please watch the vid if you get a sec: it’s really quick, but a powerful reminder about the power of the social media tools, that we learn to use and share, can have real impact on the world.

Click To Play

Good luck with Podcamp Boston 2 from yr extended & growing global family of Podcampers >>

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There are 7 rules that help form the framework of a Podcamp:

1. All attendees must be treated equally. Everyone is a rockstar.
2. All content created must be released under a Creative Commons license: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/3.0/
3. All attendees must be allowed to participate. (subject to limitations of physical space, of course)
4. All sessions and events must be free of charge to attend.
5. All sessions must obey the Law of 2 Feet - if you’re not getting what you want out of the session, you can and should walk out and do something else. It’s not like you have to get your money’s worth!
6. The event must be new-media focused - blogging, podcasting, video on the net.
7. The financials of a PodCamp must be fully disclosed in an open ledger,except for any donor/sponsor who wishes to remain anonymous.

I’m helping Mr Podcast ZA - the wonderful Glen Verran of the ZA Show to get South Africa’s first PodCamp rocking. It’s an unconference like Barcamp. Which means that it’s FREEE - content, venue, equipment, T-shirts, foodies and all manner of good things are sponsored and shared by those who come to the conference.

We have a few adored sponsors - Zoopy.com (again! - is there no end to their community support? thank you guys x) picking up the bill for the venue & name tags. Henk Kleynhans’ Skyrove (you know I’m a fan!) hooking us up with free wi-fi, prolific podcaster Nico Baird will be shipping in a dataprojector & snacks P-:, T-shirt giveaways from Rudra and Keyjam hooking up the coffee (thank heavens - no tech event would be complete without caffeine!)

There are a couple more sponsorship opportunities (Apple where are you?! Media24? we know you have podcampers coming) - jump in and support the growth of the New Media community while it’s a baby here. It’s a wonderful marketing and networking opportunity, especially at these playful educational gatherings: to speak to the content-creators and experimenters. We’d love someone to take care of AV, bring some fun equipment to play on, bring/sponsor lunch or.. offer some fabulous fun prizes :-D

Remember that collaboration is what makes our unconferences magic.If you’re in Cape Town & love to know more about creating your own content online (especially but not exclusively podcasting) come join the fun.

Register for Podcamp here. If you want to speak, share tools/tips, help with logistics on the day, bring a flipchart or post-its, or sponsor some aspect to make the day more fun - you will get huge respect, link-love and connect in with a some of the best & brightest & bravest in SA’s tech community.

Wiki: http://podcampcapetown.pbwiki.com
Blog: http://podcampcapetown.com
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=6472716436

Join us at Podcamp & grab ideas to give voice to your genius/ rockstar/ superhero >>

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