Amazon, Apple, Disney, Google and Hewlett Packard all started in one. The garage is a uniquely American icon, and metaphor – and it has happened too many times to ignore. Some of my earliest experiences in design, innovation, materials and fabrication occurred in the family garage under the mentorship of my father and uncles. Between them, they [...]
About Scott Propp
How to Create a Growth-Magnet
“If you don’t know where you are going, any road will take you there.” Lewis Carroll, Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland When I’m working with clients on how to find the growth plan for their business, I first help them step outside of their organization to see the entire landscape that’s available to and pick the [...]
Transportation: The intersection of disruption and opportunity
The funding model of our roads and other transit infrastructure is broken — what happens now? Background: An unexpected side-effect of increased fuel efficiency and fewer miles driven in personal vehicles is that government is collecting (much!) less fuel tax revenue — withering the coffers at state and federal levels. This means that our government [...]
Getting Innovation Done: 4 Essentials
Last week we talked about how large, medium & small firms differed in their challenges and approaches to innovation. This week I want to give you four key elements that must be present for success – regardless of what size firm you are in. 1) Line of Sight In his book Great by Choice, Jim [...]
Small, Medium, Large: What size innovation problem do you have?
When I began consulting, my clients were primarily innovators within mid-size organizations. Lately I’ve been drawn into discussions with small and large firms as well. These consultations have been fascinating lessons in the different approaches to innovation and which approach best fits with which size and stage of business. One goal, three different paths. Investable [...]
Stop Creating Products & Start Building Business Models
Finding funding is supposed to be a huge challenge for startup ventures. Entire courses are taught on the subject, and entrepreneurs are taught to believe that they need to impress a venture capitalist or angel investor to have a chance at getting their idea off the ground. But I was just in Chicago with members [...]
When #3 Is the Best Place to Be
I have written a great deal about technology breakout programs here, but today I want to talk about breakout marketing. Let’s take a look at how smart positioning is helping one automotive company gain on it’s competitors. Automotive brands occupy some of the highest-priced brand real estate in the market. Billions are poured into strategy [...]
Why Every Breakthrough Idea Needs a Raft
Imagine this: you’ve just left your boss’ office and you were given the ball on a major, new, cross-functional project. You are buzzing with ideas about who you need, what you need, and the time and effort it’s going to take. The question running through your mind in those moments is what should I do [...]
Innovation Aikido: How to Get Past Organizational Resistance
How many times have you seen a talented change leader and an equally bright team fail to move their innovative ideas from concept to market — despite being given a “mandate” from the C-Suite? Today I’m going to dissect how this process frequently breaks down and give you some tips on how to prevent your [...]
Inside 3D Printing & Maker Culture with #Innochat
Maker culture — the DIY, tinkerer ethos embodied by a young Jobs and Wozniak soldering components together — has been with us for decades now. This community has always been fiercely independent, intelligent and creative, and many amazing companies and innovative products have emerged from its ranks. The rise of the internet gave makers an [...]