1. HOW TO HAVE AN ABUNDANCE OF IDEAS Michael Allen Ready my blog
www.everythingbrilliant.co.uk @Brillianttideas Learn more about
idea management software www.TalkFreely.com Copyright Michael
Allen, EverythingBrilliant.co.uk 2014 2. About me.. - Innovator -
Speak, blog about and help organisations innovate - Partner in a
idea management software business called TalkFreely - I walk the
talk and share all my ideas online Copyright Michael Allen,
EverythingBrilliant.co.uk 2014 3. Copyright Michael Allen,
EverythingBrilliant.co.uk 2014 IDEAS STICK 4. Ideation tools How to
make ideas stick Getting beyond just the idea Copyright Michael
Allen, EverythingBrilliant.co.uk 2014 5. My view of
Intrapreneurship Another way for organisations to innovate Disrupts
and is less disruptive than the dominant approach Can address the
culture problem by focussing on the already engaged Develops the
most talented employees 6. Why I share my ideas Copyright Michael
Allen, EverythingBrilliant.co.uk 2014 - Because all things are
difficult before they are easy - While you can invent on your own,
you cant innovate on your own - The idea is the first and easiest
step - The more ideas you have, the more ideas you have 7.
Copyright Michael Allen, EverythingBrilliant.co.uk 2014 First, the
basics 8. Copyright Michael Allen, EverythingBrilliant.co.uk 2014
What are ideas? 9. Copyright Michael Allen,
EverythingBrilliant.co.uk 2014 10. Copyright Michael Allen,
EverythingBrilliant.co.uk 2014 11. Copyright Michael Allen,
EverythingBrilliant.co.uk 2014 Its as simple as that 12. Copyright
Michael Allen, EverythingBrilliant.co.uk 2014 MORE CONNECTIONS =
MORE IDEAS 13. Go where smart people go Copyright Michael Allen,
EverythingBrilliant.co.uk 2014 14. Be inquisitive Copyright Michael
Allen, EverythingBrilliant.co.uk 2014 15. Go where ideas thrive
Copyright Michael Allen, EverythingBrilliant.co.uk 2014 16. Allow
yourself to be inspired 17. Figure out how things wor Copyright
Michael Allen, EverythingBrilliant.co.uk 2014 Figure out how things
work 18. Be a free thinker Copyright Michael Allen,
EverythingBrilliant.co.uk 2014 19. Allow an idea to keep you awake
at night Copyright Michael Allen, EverythingBrilliant.co.uk 2014
20. Exercise your idea muscles Copyright Michael Allen,
EverythingBrilliant.co.uk 2014 21. #IdeaHacksTake something and
hack it by changing or re-organising some of the components to
create new value #12bricks Thinking with your hands, 12 Lego
bricks, millions of ideas #Differentiation Stimulate ideas by
broadcasting challenges to discreet communities of users
#Challenges #Reverse InnovationRather than ask for ideas, ask the
opposite then reverse them Copyright Michael Allen,
EverythingBrilliant.co.uk 2014 22. #12bricksJust 12 LEGO bricks,
millions of ideas - Its the simplest metaphor for innovation - Its
thinking with your hands - I need four volunteers please! Copyright
Michael Allen, EverythingBrilliant.co.uk 2014 23. Take just 12
bricks Copyright Michael Allen, EverythingBrilliant.co.uk 2014 24.
Children Just play, they start putting bricks on bricks and see
what they can create Copyright Michael Allen,
EverythingBrilliant.co.uk 2014 25. Adults Try to visualise, to
think of something to create first Copyright Michael Allen,
EverythingBrilliant.co.uk 2014 If we can break that instinct, and
get them to experiment to think with their hands, eventually the
ideas flow 26. But when we set a Challenge make something useful
for your work desk, we generally follow a process; ideate,
prototype, test, improve, build Copyright Michael Allen,
EverythingBrilliant.co.uk 2014 27. What did the volunteers make?
Copyright Michael Allen, EverythingBrilliant.co.uk 2014 #2, make an
animal I think he said it was a swan #3, make a small box, for
instance, to take a pill to work This was great, exactly as I
specified. The door even has a handle! #4, make something for your
desk #1, make anything you want, the first thing that comes to mind
I think this was a robot toy for the makers Son 28. Use it - With
people that arent used to structured ideation or workshop
activities - As a way to warm-up the idea muscles - To describe
what (and actually do some) innovation - It demonstrates that
anyone can do this - To illustrate the paradox that creativity can
be enhanced by setting restrictions - How did our volunteers get on
www.12bricks.co.uk @just12bricks facebook.com/12bricks 29. #Idea
HackingTake something and hack it by changing; - or re-organising
some of the components - the utility (what its for and does) - the
value proposition (what it offers people) - the configuration (the
way it is sold or offered) - the Customer experience (how people
use and interact with it) Copyright Michael Allen,
EverythingBrilliant.co.uk 2014 30. Lets hack the Mars-bar 1. Its
nougat, topped with caramel, and wrapped in chocolate. Hack the
order 2. Hack the components and substitute the caramel with
something else 3. Its a high-calorie snack. Hack the utility, what
else could it be? 4. Its a low-cost snack. Lets hack the pricing
model and sell it for 10x the price. Describe it 5. Its sold
through retailers. Lets hack the business model. What would it need
to be to be sold on subscription and delivered to someones door
weekly? 6. Lets hack the customer experience. Take its association
with sport and re-think the fact that we eat it, what else could it
be that allows us to disrupt the customer experience all together
31. #ChallengesStimulate Ideas by crafting specific challenges to
discreet communities of people; - Normally a provocation in the
form of a question - Often requires a dialogue rather than just
simply ideas - May need facilitation or examples to start the
creative process - Diversity is key, but the more diverse, prepare
to offer a reward - The more creative the challenge, generally, the
more creative the ideas Copyright Michael Allen,
EverythingBrilliant.co.uk 2014 32. Provocations can jolt us into an
emotional state 33. Or inspire us Copyright Michael Allen,
EverythingBrilliant.co.uk 2014 34. How can we secure time for
Innovation? Or asks a question 35. What in this photograph of a
colleagues desk will change in the next 5 years? Or ask us to think
of the future Copyright Michael Allen, EverythingBrilliant.co.uk
2014 36. What would it take to get people talking about us at a
dinner party? 37. What processes or process steps do you take that
waste time or add no value? 38. What could you and your team do
that would push you out of your comfort zone? 39. What attitudes or
pre-conceptions are holding us back? 40. If we could create a new
variation of our product that the super-rich would want to buy,
what would it look like? If we could create a new variation of our
product that the super-rich would want to buy, what would it look
like? 41. If we could create a new variation of our product that
the super-rich would want to buy, what would it look like? If we
developed a Service offering, what would it look like? 42. If we
could create a new variation of our product that the super-rich
would want to buy, what would it look like? What could we do to
make our customers more successful? 43. If we could create a new
variation of our product that the super-rich would want to buy,
what would it look like? Whats causing our customers pain that we
can solve? 44. Think of a company you love and are loyal to and
then write 5 things they do that we could adopt Think of a company
you love and are loyal to and then write 5 things they do that we
could adopt 45. #DifferentiationTake existing products and make it
different by changing the; - value proposition (what it offers
people) - the utility (how it works / what it does) - the
configuration (the way it is sold or offered) - Customer experience
(how people use and interact with it) Copyright Michael Allen,
EverythingBrilliant.co.uk 2014 46. Lets take the humble bin-liner,
how can we add value through differentiation 1. Can we change the
customer experience by addressing some of the known problems? 2.
How can we change the utility? Apart from the kitchen, where else
do we need rubbish bags? 90% of the bags we sell are black. Can we
change the value proposition by simply choosing different colours
other than black and green? 3. Can we change our business model or
disrupt our supply-chain? 4. What other properties do our bags have
that are useful 5. If we could create a bin liner for x10 the
price, what would it look like and do? 6. We know plastic bags are
bad for the environment. Can we re-think the way we use them that
will reduce this impact? 47. Note on running ideation workshops
Lets NOT brain-storm some ideas. Brainstorming can suffer from;
Social loafing Production blocking Evaluation apprehension
Brainstorming works well if the aim is to get a consensus from a
group, ideation can requires the opposite (divergence) For that
reason, I never force people into working in a group. Many of us
ideate better solo (and work poorly in a group) We need to get the
best from the introverts (that cant do group-think) as well as the
extroverts 48. Copyright Michael Allen, EverythingBrilliant.co.uk
2014 49. Making ideas stick Copyright Michael Allen,
EverythingBrilliant.co.uk 2014 50. Great ideas dont have to be new
ideas Copyright Michael Allen, EverythingBrilliant.co.uk 2014 51.
Copyright Michael Allen, EverythingBrilliant.co.uk 2014 52.
Copyright Michael Allen, EverythingBrilliant.co.uk 2014 53.
Copyright Michael Allen, EverythingBrilliant.co.uk 2014 54. How do
some ideas stick (and others dont)? Copyright Michael Allen,
EverythingBrilliant.co.uk 2014 55. Copyright Michael Allen,
EverythingBrilliant.co.uk 2014 56. Copyright Michael Allen,
EverythingBrilliant.co.uk 2014 57. Copyright Michael Allen,
EverythingBrilliant.co.uk 2014 58. Copyright Michael Allen,
EverythingBrilliant.co.uk 2014 59. An idea for everyone is an idea
for no one Copyright Michael Allen, EverythingBrilliant.co.uk 2014
60. Who are your early adopters? Copyright Michael Allen,
EverythingBrilliant.co.uk 2014 61. Does your idea align to your
Sponsors; - Strategy - Commercial model - Capabilities &
Culture - Customers (and if not are they prepared to disrupt
themselves) Copyright Michael Allen, EverythingBrilliant.co.uk 2014
62. Or if it is the end-User, does your idea; - Solve a problem
recognised by a discreet group? - Do they care enough about that
problem to adopt or invest in your idea? Copyright Michael Allen,
EverythingBrilliant.co.uk 2014 63. Solve a problem people care
about 64. I can save you money on your energy bills Copyright
Michael Allen, EverythingBrilliant.co.uk 2014 65. Copyright Michael
Allen, EverythingBrilliant.co.uk 2014 really innovative ideas are
roughly indistinguishable from really dumb ideas Jocelyn Goldfein
66. #IdeaCanvas A 6 step model to describe any idea Copyright
Michael Allen, EverythingBrilliant.co.uk 2014 67. As you can see,
the Idea Canvas is a small box which opens out into a cross shape
and contains a pad of post-it notes 68. #1. My idea is ..a product
that ..a solution to ..a service for Brilliant Idea #298 is an app
called Trading Places. Think of an ebay auction, in real-time, but
for a seat on a train or a place in a queue Copyright Michael
Allen, EverythingBrilliant.co.uk 2014 69. #2. My idea solves the
problem that Brilliant Idea #298 is an app called Trading Places.
It allows people to trade, for example their seat on a train or
place in a queue with someone that is happy to pay for their place
My idea solves the problem that many of the things we value are
over- subscribed and, if we could, wed happily pay more to jump a
queue or have a seat Copyright Michael Allen,
EverythingBrilliant.co.uk 2014 70. #3. The Problem affects Who are
your early adopters likely to be? Brilliant Idea #298 is an app
called Trading Places. It allows people to trade, for example their
seat on a train or place in a queue with someone that is happy to
pay for their place My idea solves the problem that many of the
things we value are over-subscribed and, if we could, wed happily
pay more to jump a queue or have a seat The problem affects gen x
city dwellers that use public transport and eat out a lot Copyright
Michael Allen, EverythingBrilliant.co.uk 2014 71. #4. They care
enough to adopt my idea because (this is the hardest one) Brilliant
Idea #298 is an app called Trading Places. It allows people to
trade, for example their seat on a train or place in a queue with
someone that is happy to pay for their place My idea solves the
problem that many of the things we value are over-subscribed and,
if we could, wed happily pay more to jump a queue or have a seat My
target users care enough about the problem because they value their
time more than their money The problem affects regular users of
public transport and millennials that eat out regularly Copyright
Michael Allen, EverythingBrilliant.co.uk 2014 72. #5. My idea
solves the problem by Brilliant Idea #298 is an app called Trading
Places. It allows people to trade, for example their seat on a
train or place in a queue with someone that is happy to pay for
their place My idea solves the problem that many of the things we
value are over-subscribed and, if we could, wed happily pay more to
jump a queue or have a seat The problem affects regular users of
public transport and millennials that eat out regularly My target
users care enough about the problem because they value their time
more than their money My idea solves the problem by integrating
with other social tools to link people with and people without
Copyright Michael Allen, EverythingBrilliant.co.uk 2014 73. #6. I
can test my idea by Brilliant Idea #298 is an app called Trading
Places. It allows people to trade, for example their seat on a
train or place in a queue with someone that is happy to pay for
their place My idea solves the problem that many of the things we
value are over-subscribed and, if we could, wed happily pay more to
jump a queue or have a seat The problem affects regular users of
public transport and millennials that eat out regularly My target
users care enough about the problem because they value their time
more than their money My idea solves the problem by integrating
with other social tools to link people with and people without I
can test the app by running social media marketing campaigns to
test whether people sign-up Copyright Michael Allen,
EverythingBrilliant.co.uk 2014 74. 5 hacks to test an Idea (to make
sure you are building the right it before you build it) Alberto
Savoia - Pretotype Copyright Michael Allen,
EverythingBrilliant.co.uk 2014 75. #1. The MVP Build the minimum
viable product to test whether people want it 76. #2. The Concierge
You test whether people want it before building anything by
manually doing it out of sight 77. #3. The mystery button 78. #4
One day only Get out there, create urgency, and see how people
respond to it 79. #5. The Pinocchio Create a wooden version and see
how people react to it 80. #6. Idea test hacks #1. The MVP Can you
create a minimal viable product? Something that does just enough to
be viable for our key users? #2. The Concierge Before you build
anything, can you create demand for it even if you have to manually
create it out of sight? #3. The mystery button Can we describe it
in a handful or words, broadcast it to our target users and see if
anyone clicks the mystery button? #4. One day only Get out there,
create urgency, talk to people, watch how they respond to it. Can
we take an order for it? it #5. The Pinocchio test Can you create
it as a mock-up and watch how people use it? 81. #1. My idea is Now
re-visit step 1 and try to get to the core of the idea. What will
make your idea stick? Brilliant Idea #298 is an app called Trading
Places. It makes modern life easier by helping people trade, for
example their seat on a train or place in a queue with someone that
is happy to pay for their place Copyright Michael Allen,
EverythingBrilliant.co.uk 2014 82. 3 Quick plugs before I go 83.
Quick plug The Idea Canvases; - Cost pennies, so you can gift it to
everyone or everyone that wants to join in and develop their idea -
They create a focal point for discussion and development. - Contact
me for prices 84. Copyright Michael Allen,
EverythingBrilliant.co.uk 2014 85. REALLY QUICK PLUG Learn more
about idea management software www.TalkFreely.com We support a
number of approaches to innovation - Crowdsourcing ideas from
staff, Customers and Partners - Co-creation - Employee Engagement -
Idea competitions and tournaments Copyright Michael Allen,
EverythingBrilliant.co.uk 2014 86. Innovation is like traversing a
mountain range, theres lots of ups and downs and youll frequently
lose sight of the summit! Copyright Michael Allen,
EverythingBrilliant.co.uk 2014 87. THANKYOU Michael Allen Ready my
blog www.everythingbrilliant.co.uk @Brillianttideas
http://uk.linkedin.com/pub/michael-allen/0/360/b03/ Learn more
about idea management software www.TalkFreely.com Copyright Michael
Allen, EverythingBrilliant.co.uk 2014
