Show #108: Josh Linkner, Author of Disciplined Dreaming

Josh Linkner

This week, Bob and Pat talk with Josh Linkner about creativity in startups and business in general, and how and why creativity needs to be baked into your startup. The rules for business have been flipped: creativity, not conformity, matters more. Josh in his new book, Disciplined Dreaming: A Proven System to Drive Breakthrough Creativity, looks at creativity as a teachable skill, not a random gift.

“Playing it safe has become the riskiest choice of all,” says Josh, and then lays out a 5 step approach businesses as small as a one-person startup and as large as General Motors can become a creative organization.

Tired of being stuck in neutral in your startup? Why not do a MicroConsult with Bob Walsh? Instead of hypotheticals and too much information, Bob will work with you for an hour via Skype developing 8 to 10 specific todos that will get your startup in gear. Details at 47hats.com.

Download Show #108 here: Show #108 Or if you prefer, Subscribe to the podcast in Apple iTunes.

Bob Walsh blogs at 47Hats, is on Twitter at @bobwalsh or you can email him at bob.walsh@47hats.com.

Patrick Foley blogs at PatrickFoley.com, is on Twitter at @patrickfoley or you can email him at patrick.foley@microsoft.com

Video

Relevant Links:

Josh’s site.

And Prezi.com.

Disciplined Dreaming: A Proven System to Drive Breakthrough Creativity.

Josh’s blog.

Show Notes for this interview:

– Josh Linkner
– Founder of: E-prize and Detroit Venture Partners

– Author of “Disciplined Dreaming”

– Learn to be creative

– Bob- why do we need this book?

– Josh- “world has dramatically changed… exponential complexity” “creativity is the one thing that can’t be outsourced”

– Bob- “It’s like asking hippos to dance”

– companies that winning are having culture of everyday creativity
– if you are following the rules, you are susceptible to competitive attacks

– ex from book: slither- our made up nemesis

– it allows us to break through our creativity

– born with it or not- Harvard asked and found out it’s 85% learned behavior

– we need a system to build and nurture creativity

– Patrick- musician- classical –> jazz – burnt out, Patrick learned to go to right brain, ended up in cycle

– Most of us don’t look at creativity like a Boston marathon runner

– For start ups: build a culture of creativity, take a systematic approach (book has 5 step process),
– start ups have the ability to be flexible where big companies don’t/can’t

– Prezi- startup PowerPower like (better?) program

– Microsoft’s challenge for Office: the last version of office

– Constant re-invention, adapt is key message

– Creativity brief: talk about incubator programs for startups

– ID what’s going on- what’s holding people back?

– FEAR? Capitol? Talent?
– Come up with solutions for each of those
– Fear is the biggest one- playing it safe has been the bad choice in this generation
– Most successful people fail more but win more
– Mistakes aren’t fatal

– Startup bus to SXSW

– Patrick: We should have incubators where you aren’t allowed to bring an idea

– Josh- middle should have “mistakes are ok” class

– Steps to Disciplined Dreaming:

1- Ask- set target
2- Prepare- warm up (like athlete)
3- Discover- find creativity
4- Ignite- Rubber hits the road- 8 brain storming techniques
5- Launch- Left and Right brain collides, select best ideas

– Bob has “Darth Vader moment” – all the creative stuff is being chopped, people afraid of being chopped

– We need to celebrate risk taking, create safe environments

– Company that Josh interviewed, gives everyone 2 “get out of corporate jail free cards”

– This attitude can come from top down or from bottom up

– Bob: how do people in a corporate setting become more creative? do’s and don’ts?

– Bob: endorses showing up to work in a cape (not really)

– Josh: start small, apply to team meetings, lunches, small problems, how do you get buy-in from people around you?

– important to make a case for creativity

Patrick- correlation between creative person and startup founder

Patrick: just do it.

Josh: you need to nurture and grow an idea, not always turn key, nurture with right brain into something more meaningful (also redeems Microsoft haha)

Bob: how do you turn off the editor?

Josh: 2 parts- creative act and editing- check the editor (left brain) at the door, no judging allowed
2- invite editor back in a separate good from bad

– creativity: we need a system, reconnect and unleash your best imagination.