Innovation introduction & best innovation books

The best innovation books

The Startup Owner's Manual by Steve Blank and Bob Dorf
Blue Ocean Strategy by W. Chan Kim and Renee Mauborgne
Zero to One by Peter Thiel with Blake Masters
Business Model Generation by Alexander Osterwalder and Yves Pigneur
Testing Business Ideas by David Bland and Alex Osterwalder
Disciplined Entrepreneurship by Bill Aulet
The Lean Startup by Eric Ries
Driving Eureka by Doug Hall
The Innovator's Dilemma by Clayton M. Christensen
The Innovator's Mindset by George Couros

Innovation references

Very few people take unorthodox ideas seriously today, and the mainstream sees that as a sign of progress. We can be glad that there are fewer crazy cults now, yet that gain has come at great cost: we have given up our sense of wonder at secrets yet to be discovered... The actual truth is that there are many more secrets left to find, but they will yield only to relentless searchers (Peter Thiel with Blake Masters, Zero to One).
The only sustainable solution to the accelerated pace of change is to create a culture of innovation. Innovation creates something meaningful and unique, and can be a product or a process, and innovation should be everyone's responsibility (Doug Hall, Driving Eureka).
Our job as leaders is not to control others but to bring out the best in them... Characteristics of an innovative leader include; vision, empathy, models learning, risk-taking, networked, observant, and a team builder who is always focused on relationships (George Course, The Innovator's Mind).
We must be committed to constant improvement, experimentation, and innovation in every initiative, and we will continue to make investment decisions in light of long-term market leadership considerations rather than short-term profitability considerations (Jeff Bezos).
Competition should not occupy the center of strategic thinking... Industry structure is not given; it can be shaped; Strategic creativity can be unlocked systematically (W. Chan Kim and Renee Mauborgne, Blue Ocean Strategy).
Problems show up in business through systems about 94 percent of the time, and through people about six percent of the time (W. Edwards Deming, Out of the Crisis).
Rigorously measure, confront hard truths, and create experiments to learn how to move numbers closer to the plan (Eric Ries, The Lean Startup).
The real reason why MIT is so successful at creating new companies is a combination of spirit and skills. At MIT there is a culture that encourages people to start companies all the time... More important than being charismatic, entrepreneurs need to be effective communicators, recruiters, and salespeople (Bill Aulet, Disciplined Entrepreneurship).
Historian Will Durant studied world history over four decades and concluded history is shaped more by demanding situations than by great men (Benjamin Hardy, Willpower Doesn't Work).
In 2018 more than 75% of US venture capital for business innovation went to just three states... There are principles that can help communities develop an environment that nurtures business innovation (Brad Feld, Startup Communities).

Business Model Innovation

The business model is a good place to consider innovating the business strategy. It's how a business makes money, and is explained in detail in the book Business Model Generation. The business model can be recorded and developed with a Business Model Canvas that can be thought of as a one-page plan with nine parts. The Business Model Canvas can be found at https://www.strategyzer.com, and it consists of...

Customer segment
Value proposition
Channels
Customer relationships
Revenue streams
Key resources
Key activities
Key partners
Cost structure

A business model describes how an organization creates, delivers, and captures value... The four external forces of a business model include industry forces, market forces, macro-economic forces, and key trends (Alexander Osterwalder and Yves Pigneur, Business Model Generation).

Strategyzer is a company of geniuses (in my opinion) who have followed up on their best-selling book, Business Model Generation, with the books, Value Proposition Design, Testing Business Ideas, The Invincible Company, and High-Impact Tools for Teams. You can get all five in a box set, here. They also offer classes, courses, and coaches, here.

Personal innovation

We can innovate our personal lives within our top 10 natural opportunities (as listed on the Personal Growth page).. This can significantly increase our sense of purpose and influence, which can attract better human made opportunities. Many very successful people have referred to this cause and effect relationship as creating our own luck, or creating opportunities. When we focus on improving ourself and doing our best, it builds our confidence and competence, which naturally attracts better human made opportunities.

The book, Opportunity Truth, is a great place to start with personal innovation. It also provides details on how the Purposeful Growth System applies to professional growth, leadership growth, and business growth. The @AnewTrek YouTube channel provides great playlists with collections of links to many of the best videos of experts who share their secrets for personal innovation... https://www.youtube.com/@anewtrek/playlists

Your innovation introduction

This innovation page includes...

Businesses Need Consistent Purpose and Improvement (W. Edwards Deming)

Best places to get innovation information

The best innovation books

The best innovation podcasts

Innovation references

Business Model Innovation

Personal innovation