Throwback Thursday: Idea Spawning
Enterprise innovation leaders and entrepreneurs recognize some of the best ideas are created as derivatives of other ideas. We refer to this as “Idea Spawning”. Similar to upstarts “pivoting” several times prior to locking in on an offering or business model that the market can appreciate, ideas often need refinement to find their real value.
It is the concept of Idea Spawning has encouraged us to launch a sporadic “Throw-back Thursday” campaign. We will be highlighting ideas that have been derived from old concepts. Some of these will be our own ideas that we have previously shared in publications, journals, webinars/conferences, whitepapers, or our blog (available at https://www.cgsadvisors.com/) . Some ideas will be from other sources that we feel need to get attention.
Old world Device Encourages Innovators to “Disconnect” in the “Connected Era”
This week’s “Throwback” is thanks to a couple of Detroit-based innovators who have decided to produce a product called HemingWrite (http://hemingwrite.com/). Their new idea of distraction-free writing in the “cloud era” was spawned out of the simple concept of a single use product: the typewriter.
Frankly, we love this thing. Several of our team members have already suggested that they “have to have one”. We don’t appear to be alone either. Their website and social identities are blowing up. PR has been good to them. These Detroiters are on to something!
Distraction Management
What these two may really be addressing is an emerging need to help people recognize that connectivity doesn’t always increase productivity. Some makers actually create more effectively without constant interaction with other connected people or things. A recognition that some projects require closed doors, just for a few hours. A realization that there are days that you want to be invited back to a long lost land of privacy.
The world has connected around us, and often, very efficiently with us. It is now our job to learn how to get the most out of it. Enterprises continue to give more control to their workforces, allowing them to determine how to best collaborate with other employees, network partners, information, and things in the environment. Less and less frequently, however, are we deciding to throttle these connections on and off. Information is constantly streaming in our connected world. Do enterprises need to be providing tools or methods to manage distractions in the connected world?
From a mechanical typewriter to a focused connected modern day writing device, innovation comes in many forms. Perhaps the next idea will be spawned from the Hemingwrite. Enterprise leaders must begin to understand that it is not enough to just connect the enterprise. Instead they must insist education for their staff on how to derive the most value from the connections. Disconnect to Create: not always the right formula, but perhaps an idea worth exploring as part of your connected program.