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Phil McKinney

Phil McKinney is an innovator, podcaster, author, and speaker. He is the retired CTO of HP. Phil's book, Beyond The Obvious, shares his expertise and lessons learned on innovation and creativity.

Focus Your Search For Better Ideas

The first stage of FIRE, Focus, is about doing a thorough but organized search, so you don’t inadvertently ignore a critical area of discovery. Successful innovation is the translation of better ideas into something, such as a product, that is real. If you are focused in your approach, you will be a

Better Ideas

Innovation Leadership Skills: 6 Questions Great Leaders Ask Their Employees S14 Ep26

Download Innovation_Leadership_Skills_6_Questions_Great_Leaders_Ask_Their_Employees_S14_Ep26.mp3 A key mission for an innovation leader is to motivate, support, and help your teams learn good innovation habits.  This should occur daily with each interaction. Modeling leadership habits and exhibiting leadership skills inspires employees to

innovation leadership skills

What emotional psychological or status benefit could people derive from my product

What emotional, psychological, or status benefits could people derive from using my product? Do you have diamonds stashed away that you reckon you can sell if times ever get tough? Say, a family heirloom, or an engagement ring from a failed marriage? Perhaps you know how much the diamond was

What emotional psychological or status benefit could people derive from my product

What Are The Rules And Assumptions Under Which You Organization And Industry Operates?

To uncover the assumptions that could be blocking you from seeing the challenges and opportunities, here are two questions that are designed to help you discover the rules and assumptions under which your organization and industry operates. I want you to use them to start unraveling the assumptions

What Are The Rules And Assumptions Under Which You Organization And Industry Operates?

Five Barriers to Innovation S14 Ep25

Download Five_Barriers_to_Innovation_S14_Ep25.mp3 A common question I get from listeners is how to fight against the roadblocks and barriers to innovation.  In this week’s show, I address five of the biggest barriers to innovation. The list is based on the 2018 Innovation Leader study

Barriers to Innovation

What is the process used by my customer to discover my product

Do you have a digital twin? The concept first formed on consumer sites like Yelp, but it’s becoming a catchphrase in marketing and sales. The idea is that dedicated users of sites like Yelp eventually notice that there are other users whose tastes, interests, and “favorites” match their own.

What is the process used by my customer to discover my product

The New Economy

I firmly believe that we are in the early stages of a new economy, one where the most valuable talent you can bring to the table is being an “idea person.” Knowledge is quickly becoming a commodity (think of the thousands of highly capable educational institutions springing up in India, China, and o

New Economy

Innovation Leadership: Using Influence for Success S14 Ep24

Download Innovation_Leadership_Using_Influence_for_Success_S14_Ep24.mp3 Success in the innovation game requires strong innovation leadership.   But there is confusion about what defines leadership. To understand leadership, we need to boil it down to the essence – what it is and what it isn’t.  We need to

Innovation Leadership: Using Influence for Success S14 Ep24

On the Road: Thoughts on Innovation S14 Ep23

Download On_the_Road_Thoughts_on_Innovation_S14_Ep23.mp3 Today’s show is unique.  I recorded it as I drove back to Denver from an annual event in Keystone, Colorado.  The event centers around what’s coming in the next three to eight years in technology and innovation.  So,

thoughts on innovation

Who am I not selling to because I think they can’t or won’t pay for my product?

Who am I not selling to because I think they can’t or won’t pay for my product? Price is king, right? “Build ’em cheap and stack ’em high” is practically the motto of most segments of the tech industry Naturally, there are some notable exceptions for companies producing

Who am I not selling to because I think they can’t or won’t pay for my product?