by Jacqueline Koch | Apr 29, 2015 |
Part two of our article on lessons learned about innovation from a mathematical genius. Read part one here.
Cedric Villani, the 2010 winner of the Fields Medal for mathematics (the Nobel Prize for Math), is in the innovation business. His goal is to solve ‘unsolvable” mathematical problems and thereby more the collective knowledge of mathematics forward.
In his latest book, Birth of a Theorem, Villani explores the conditions or ingredients that need to be in place to support individuals and groups as they try to advance the current best thinking to solve specific problems.
Whether you are dreaming up a new-to-the-world product or service or trying to find new and compelling ways to connect to your customers, draw some inspiration from someone who spent almost three years on a journey of discovery to provide answers to centuries-old problems and connect important strands of physics, math and economics in the process.
The dynamics of innovation are collective
Existing knowledge – Scientific innovation usually starts with the work of others. The goal is to build on and progress what we already know. Let’s make sure that we know what the best thinking is in our field – let’s educate ourselves on what is currently possible and then find ways to move that forward.
Motivation – This is the most important but most elusive ingredient according to Villani. Some people believe that motivation is born in us as children. One of the greatest innovators of our time, Alan Turing, for example, discovered the concept of scientific explanation when he read Natural Wonders Every Child Should Know as a child. While motivation cannot be manufactured, it is critical to attract some fellow travelers along on your journey who will help keep you motivated during the times when you lose your way.
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Environment – Discovery is more likely to happen in an environment that is favorable to innovation. This environment can be influenced by government policies, economics, availability of funding etc. Clearly Seattle, Austin, New York City and Silicon Valley are great examples of environments that foster technology and biotech innovation. Is it possible to create an environment for innovation on a more micro scale? In your own organization, for example.
Collaboration – Very few scientific discoveries are made by individuals in isolation. Instead, scientists tend to leverage collective dynamics within an atmosphere of sharing. They recognize that this collective approach accelerates the innovation process and can produce far superior outcomes. This is a principle that we have embraced at Boost! where our ‘product’ is the collective dynamic that exists between our team of marketers. We recognize that the fruits of our collective labors are much more valuable for our clients than the efforts of a lone wolf.
Constraints – Villani points out that while constraints and creativity sound like an oxymoron, it is constraints that drive you to a solution. The interrelationship between constraint and innovation is also present in arts like poetry where the writer is required to create within a tight structure – rhyming couplets, number of lines etc. Constraints can serve the purpose of removing many of the choices we face and force us to focus.
Hard work combined with intuition – It is often the case that the solution comes after many hours of hard work – just when we turn our attention to something else. Our intuition tells us what the solution is and we must lay the groundwork for it to do its job. But then we also need to know when it’s time to get out of our own way and let the solution come naturally. It’s not a coincidence that many people have their best ideas is the shower!
Luck combined with tenacity – The journey to discovery includes many bumps in the road. But according to Villani, the more we persist, the more opportunities there are for luck. What it luck? It’s the chance meeting with the person who can move your idea forward. It’s the off-hand remark offered by a collaborator that helps you identify flaws in your logic. Luck is everywhere and available to everyone who is willing to see and receive it.
Marketing strategy as a journey of discovery
The opportunity in the idea that developing marketing strategies is a journey of discovery, is to think bigger than simply re-using existing ideas and frameworks to solve problems. Instead, we ask how we can create the conditions to be truly innovative and move current thinking and best practices forward to create competitive advantage.
by Jacqueline Koch | Apr 24, 2015 |
Part one of our article on lessons learned about innovation from a mathematical genius. Read part two here.
What do solving impossible mathematical equations and marketing strategy have in common? Well, if you squint and turn your head sideways, you’ll realize that both have something to do with innovation and discovery.
What can marketing strategy learn from a mathematical genius?
That was the key takeaway from a recent talk by Cedric Villani, the 2010 Fields Medal winner for his work on Landau damping and the Boltzmann equation. (Don’t feel bad, I didn’t know what those were either, so here’s a link)
While my knowledge of mathematics is severely limited, I am fascinated by what takes place inside the mind of a renowned genius, wrestling with the most important work of his or her career. And this is the topic of Villani’s recently published book, Birth of a Theorem.
In his talk, Villani highlighted his journey of discovery, one he embarked on with fellow researcher, Clément Mouhot. I was struck by the relevance between many scientific research concepts and the development of a marketing strategy to solve customer challenges.
Want innovation? Prepare for surprises…and failure
When you set out to solve a difficult problem, Villani suggests that the only outcome you can predict is ‘that we will get surprising results.’ This requires a level of open-mindedness and a willingness to live with uncertainty.
You also can’t predict what the process looks like. Scientific discovery is usually a zig zag of dead ends, false starts, incorrect assumptions and premature conclusions. The key is to take your time. Don’t rush to a solution. And be prepared: You have to be able to tolerate interim failures.
“The process of mathematical discovery starts when you understand nothing and then, a faint flickering of light and then, all of a sudden, it’s “ah!” – light everywhere and illumination.”
Much has been written about the importance of failure in the creative process. But how do we really embrace this idea when we set out to solve hard marketing problems? It is often too easy for “experts” to sell their clients a set of deliverables—known outcomes based on proven methodologies and frameworks. This may be a red flag for those who are looking for real innovation as a way to separate themselves from the rest of the pack. But then, as Villani suggests, this approach requires a tolerance for ambiguity, experimentation and luck.
Next up: The 7 ingredients for discovery
by Jacqueline Koch | Apr 16, 2015 |
Do we really know where people in our community who are living with severe mental illness go for support?
Most likely not. Why? Resources are generally few and far between and often lacking. And let’s face it: We aren’t quite past the stigma associated with mental illness.
It wasn’t long ago that I discovered a genuine asset in my own neighborhood: Transitional Resources (TR). This organization provides integrated services to help people living with severe mental illness succeed and experience recovery: housing and residential treatment, community, intensive short-term crisis support, case management, vocational opportunities and community activities.
A Model of Excellence for Mental Health Support
The value of TR really hit home at their annual fundraiser. I was introduced to individuals whose lives had been utterly transformed. They had gone from a world of chaos and confusion to stability and a life with meaning. TR, however, is a non-profit that also needs support. I knew right away I wanted to be involved. Today, I serve on the board and assist with development and fundraising.
TR started small, growing from one residential treatment program for 15 patients to six different programs serving over 220 individuals each year. It also serves as a model to serve a clearly unmet need in every community. Without the support of organizations like TR, people living with mental illness are vulnerable to devastating outcomes, including homelessness, institutionalization and incarceration. It doesn’t have to be this way.
TR’s mission is simple: Respecting autonomy, dignity, integrity and recovery. Who can’t get behind that? There are many ways to volunteer.
by Jacqueline Koch | Apr 15, 2015 |
Volunteering has been a lifelong passion for Boost! team mate, Allison May. She believes it is our responsibility and privilege to help others build community.
Build houses and hope as a Habitat for Humanity volunteer
Habitat for Humanity’s vision is a world where everyone has a decent place to live. To that end, the organization builds, renovates and repairs houses all over the world with the help of volunteer labor and donations.
Moving away from chaos and back to normal
The first time I volunteered for Habitat for Humanity, I was part of a team that worked alongside Miami homeowners who had lost their homes during Hurricane Andrew. Their lives had been turned upside down. With the help of Habitat for Humanity—good organization, effective planning and hard work— I witnessed the positive impact Habitat had on their lives. Soon, normalcy emerged after months of chaos and devastation. I did my share of hammering, pounding nails into more roofing straps than I care to remember. And it was truly rewarding.
I went on to volunteer for Habitat for Humanity’s International Global Village program in a low-income community in Kauai Hawaii. The proud homeowner (pictured left) supervised and participated in the home’s construction.
Habitat for Humanity is working tirelessly to secure home ownership in areas where affordable housing is slipping away from many in the community. Whether you’re handy with a hammer or not, please consider joining a Habitat for Humanity team and make a difference.
by Jacqueline Koch | Apr 14, 2015 |
April 12-18 is National Volunteer Week #NVW. Boost! team member, Gretchen McLaurin sheds a light on her volunteer experience.
What is a Master Gardener volunteer? It’s all about roses and strawberries, right?
Nope. The purpose of the Master Gardener program is to train volunteers to be “effective community educators in gardening and environmental stewardship.” Channeling research and education from university systems, the Master Gardeners provide a vital link between commercial and consumer horticultural practices.
As a Master Gardener, I am a Volunteer Community Educator, cultivating plants, people, and communities. Since I started, the program has continued to flourish. Founded in 1972 by the Washington State University Cooperative Extension in the greater Seattle area, the Master Gardener volunteer corps has truly taken root. As of 2009, we were 95,000 strong and counting more than 5.2 million annual volunteer hours. Given the growing interest in urban horticulture, food security and local farming, the Master Gardener (MG) community grows and thrives in new and unexpected ways.
Want to make a difference? Get your hands in the dirt
The most exciting component of the program is the positive impact it has on a community. As one example, in 2009, 700,000 pounds of produce grown in demonstration gardens was donated to local food banks—which are also run by countless, dedicated volunteers!
I’ve dedicated most of my volunteer hours to helping kids. I worked with middle schoolers who were growing their own gardens as part of a science curriculum. This was a fully integrated and —more important — fun approach. The goal was to teach kids science and math by getting their hands in the dirt. They planned garden plots, calculated growth rates, read seed packets and learned about fertilization and pest management.
This is just one part of the big picture. The Master Gardener program is diverse and there is a horticulture outlet for everyone. Volunteers teach local community science-based garden management techniques focused on sustainability and environmental and social priorities. They are also advocates for reducing the impact of invasive species and healthy living. If you’re looking for a way to give back to the community by doing something you love, consider becoming a Master Gardener!
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