The Innovators Studio with Phil McKinney

The world we inhabit is constantly changing. From the technological advances of interconnectivity to the global movements that bring about social change, nothing seems stagnant for long. But often, it's not the sweeping revolutions that move us forward - it's the small, everyday changes that can create a ripple effect and have a big impact on our lives. The Myth of Big Innovations The prevailing b...

Have you ever found yourself stuck in a creative rut, unable to develop fresh ideas? Or maybe you struggle to find inspiration for a new project or task. It can be frustrating and discouraging, but you're not alone. It's easy to fall into a routine and rely on the same old ways to find ideas, but we limit our creative potential by doing so. In this post, we will explore ten uncommon and non-obviou...

You've probably heard the saying that 'Creativity is a muscle.' Like your biceps or triceps, your creative mind needs regular exercise to stay in shape. What exercises will let you build your creative muscle? How do you turn these creativity exercises into a habit that is a routine part of your daily life? For many of us, developing creativity habits can seem overwhelming. Starting Small and Simpl...

Hello, Innovators! Welcome back to another episode of the Killer Innovations podcast. I am so happy to be back in the studio with you today, and I'm excited to give you an update on the show and myself. A few months ago, in February, I had to undergo open heart surgery at the Mayo Clinic in Jacksonville, Florida. The surgery was totally unexpected when we went to Florida for Christmas. I have a ra...

Continuing our Best of Killer Innovation series, we look at David Su's innovative solution to the problem of disposable and short-lived battery life and his tips for success that helped him start Atmosic.   Being connected has become an essential part of our daily lives. Wireless has made huge strides over the past two decades.  IoT is connecting our world in ways we would have never imagined.  Wi...

Continuing our Best of Killer Innovation series, we examine how one creator, Rama Sreenivasan of Blitzz, looked outside the box and created solutions to the hindrances he faced on his innovative journey. When you're in the middle of an important project and equipment fails, you want it fixed fast.  In this week's show, I talk with Blitzz Co-founder Rama Sreenivasan. His company is solving the inef...

Creating a Disruptive Ideation Workshop   You can learn, practice, and perfect the skill of innovation. To keep the innovation funnel flowing, generating quality ideas is essential. So, how do you boost innovation in a team lacking confidence? One practical approach is organizing a disruptive ideation workshop. Let's explore how to create a successful one. Condensed Boot Camp I run an intensive fo...

On this week's Killer Innovation Series, we analyze qualities that promote strong leadership and will help any organization become a trailblazer in the innovation game. What are the unique skill sets needed for innovation leadership?  We all have a list of what good leadership skills are but what are the unique ones you need to be a true innovation leader?  Today on Killer Innovations, I will disc...

Continuing our Best of Killer Innovations Series, we touch on creativity. Below are some ways to get inspired into incorporating creativity into your personal life to benefit your professional success. Everyone is creative.  Yet some people seem more creative than others.  What do those people have that others might lack?  What's the secret to creativity? This week we talk about finding creative i...

  Looking at our Best of Killer Innovations Series, we examine the dynamic nature of innovation and how to manage changes best so that you and your ventures can succeed. Today's latest innovation can quickly be replaced with the next best thing tomorrow.  Whether you're a newcomer to innovation or a seasoned innovator, there's something every innovator should know.  How to forecast and survive  cy...

Diving into our Best of Killer Innovation Series, we address a common hindrance to innovation: a drought of new ideas. To fix this problem, I've developed a simple list of ways to get the creative flow of thoughts circulating back into your organization.   When generating ideas, the default answer is to host a brainstorming session.  Are there other ways to create new ideas that are not dependent...

Continuing our Best of Killer Innovations series, we look at one manufacturer's innovative use of resources. This company's story is a testament to how innovation can unexpectedly occur anywhere, with any resource, and at any moment. Innovations' ubiquitous nature is evident in every corner of our rapidly evolving world. We firmly believe in the limitless potential of innovation, as anyone can ign...

Resuming our Best of Killer Innovation Series, we hone in on six categories of KPIs that will help you successfully predict and keep track of crucial details that will allow you to run your organization smoothly. This episode addresses questions from listeners on innovation KPIs.  After clocking 12,000 miles in the mobile Innovators Studio, I'm back in Colorad o .  On the road, I talked with  inte...

Sometimes, life surprises us with moments of reflection. I remember vividly having a captivating conversation with a taxi driver. While stuck in traffic on my way to the airport after hosting a South by Southwest meet-up on neural diversity hiring, he curiously asked about the key to my success. His question inspired me to jot down my 7 rules to live by. Continuing with the Best of Killer Innovati...

Picking up with our Best of Killer Innovation Series, we delve deeper into how to turn a great idea into a tangible product by following a proper execution plan.   In this episode, we will wrap up the series of shows on the innovation framework known as FIRE. We will discuss the part of the innovation framework known as execution. Execution is composed of making your best ideas into something tang...

Returning to our Best of Killer Innovations series, we kick this week off with a look back at vital innovation skills. This foundation can help beginner and seasoned innovators stay ahead in an evolving world. What innovation skills are needed to create new ideas and products successfully? Many people often find themselves void of creativity in the innovation world. This stems from a deeper issue....

  Resuming our Best of Killer Innovation series, we look at key ingredients to build innovation success for organizations. Innovation is about translating ideas into products, services, and solutions. Ideas without execution are a hobby.  Is your organization in the  business  of Innovation? This week's show boils it down to a simple equation. Ideas + Innovation Culture = Innovation Success.  The...

Continuing our Best of Killer Innovations series, we focus on incorporating creativity into all aspects of life. Creativity is a state of mind that can be achieved with practice, enabling you to stand out as an innovator. Everyone is creative.  Yet some people seem more creative than others.  What do those people have that others might lack?  What's the secret to creativity? This week we talk abou...

Picking up our Best of Killer Innovations series, we examine in detail FOBO and how to overcome mental barriers that can hinder innovation. The fear of a better option (FOBO) can paralyze decision-making. It is also the  enemy of innovation .  In this episode, I share four ways to deal with FOBO. FOBO versus FOMO What is it that causes that hesitation at decision time? Patrick McGinnis calls it FO...

Returning to our best of Killer Innovations series, we dive into the importance of reading for the innovator and some stimulating books to stir up your creativity.   Building a library of inspiration in your innovation studio ensures you have a ready source of ideas. This inspiration library can come in the form of a collection of innovative books. I am a visual learner, so reading books is where...

  Resuming our best of Killer Innovation series, we take a deeper look at the contrasting characteristics of coaching and mentoring. The topic this week is one that I have touched on over the years in various ways. People reach out to me all the time, asking about this.  Coaching, as well as mentoring, often get placed  in the same category . In reality, they are different. We will discuss the dif...

Continuing our best of Killer Innovations series, we explore the hidden benefits of successful failures. For  innovation leaders , it is vital to learn how to turn failures into successes. Innovation is all about seeing opportunities others don't see and seizing them. Successful failures lead to successful innovations. The Importance of Failure The  experimentation phase  is within the innovation...

We kick off a new series where we will be looking at the best of past Killer Innovation shows. This episode is about creative qualities. Creative people often have a sense of limitless creative  freedom and experimentation.  Creative genius is a natural part of who creatives are. If you are not naturally creative, you can learn and develop your creativity by applying creative qualities. 12 Qualiti...

Are you ready to take your leadership skills to the next level? Visionary leaders possess unique characteristics that set them apart from other leaders. They have the confidence to make tough decisions and the creativity to develop innovative solutions. It is their willingness to embrace risks that truly sets visionary leaders apart. Qualities of Visionary Leaders Their ambition, creativity, and c...

Breaking down barriers to innovation is vital for fostering creativity and advancing progress. Innovative thinking is needed to develop new ideas, products, and services that can help improve our world. As such, it is essential to understand why breaking down barriers to innovation is important and how to do so. What is a Barrier To Innovation? A barrier is anything that stands in the way of achie...