The Power of Perseverance – Why I Called Disney 27 Times in 27 Days

“Whether you think you can, or you think you can't – you're right.” – Henry Ford   Have you ever been told you couldn’t do something? That you were incapable of achieving a particular goal or dream? Unfortunately, by the time most of us reach adulthood, this has happened more times than we can count. And though deep down we know we shouldn’t pay attention to this negativity, it’s human nature to take it to heart. Meaning that over time, most of us tend to reduce [...]

2020-07-29T23:16:24+00:0020 May, 2020|Creativity, Think Different|
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How the Circular Economy Will Bring Everyone’s World a Little Closer to Home

Made in the U.S.A. isn’t what it used to be. Sure, even though Consumer Reports shows 8 out of 10 Americans claiming a preference for products Made in the U.S.A., if you’re like most, chances are the items around your home are very, very well-travelled. For instance, the laptop or phone you’re currently reading this on was most certainly not made in the U.S.A. The car in your driveway? There’s a 73% chance it was imported from another country. That IKEA living room set? 80% chance that it came [...]

2020-05-06T16:49:56+00:0006 May, 2020|Consumer Experience, Think Different|
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Companies That Are Innovating for the Greater Good

The world is a different place than it was just a few weeks ago. Coronavirus has touched nearly every country on earth, and for most, has brought life and business to a screeching halt. Not surprisingly, this has created a perpetual state of uneasiness. People are tired. People are scared. And if you spend any time at all watching the news, it seems to be getting worse by the day. Sure, much of the spotlight remains on all the negative effects of the virus around [...]

2020-04-15T23:55:36+00:0015 April, 2020|Consumer Experience, Creativity, Design Thinking, Innovation, Think Different|
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A Box is Never Just a Box

Think back to your birthday morning as a child… That rush of anticipation as you leap out of bed and run towards the living room, your brain cycling through all the possibilities of what your Mom and Dad may have brought you.  And as you turn the corner and catch your first glimpse of the presents in all their glory, what’s the first thing you do? You take inventory: how big are the boxes and which ones should I open first?  As far as children are [...]

2020-04-08T15:46:43+00:0007 April, 2020|Creativity, Innovation, Think Different|
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Can Robots Make Us More Human?

"I find it touchingly poetic to think that as our technology grows more advanced, we may grow more human." (Diane Ackerman, The Human Age) Remember when robots couldn't walk? I do. Yet, very few of us would be impressed or even scared by a walking robot today, not when we've seen one execute a backflip. Remember when the idea of A.I. face recognition would have overwhelmed most? I do. Yet, now, A.I. can generate deep fakes that are so convincing, we've built entire corners of the internet dedicated [...]

2020-04-08T14:47:49+00:0026 February, 2020|Innovation, Think Different|
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From Senator To Stage – My Next Event with President Barack Obama

I'll never forget the first time we met. (Like any good Disney story, there always must be a great "Once upon a time" intro, right?) He was a young Senator at the time, and I was lucky enough to give him his first pair of custom Mickey Mouse ears. Little did I know that this interaction would be the first of many wonderful stunts that we would collaborate on. And now, again we are about to add another event to our list! President Barack Obama [...]

2020-04-08T17:41:42+00:0013 February, 2020|Creativity, Innovation, Re-Expression, Think Different|
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Delivering a Speech That Matters – 6 Lessons from a TEDx Veteran

Imagine yourself backstage at a theatre. The Production Assistant has just finished clipping on your microphone, and the Stage Manager has given you the one-minute warning. Beyond the curtain, you hear the muffled sounds of the audience taking their seats. Pacing back and forth, you review your opening line over and over in your head. But this rehearsal doesn’t last long. Before you know it, the house lights dim, the stage lights go bright, and you’re given the cue. You walk out, face the crowd, [...]

2020-04-08T17:36:05+00:0017 January, 2020|Creativity, Design Thinking, Innovation, Think Different|
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How to Use the Nurturing Tool to Grow Your Ideas

If I were to approach you with two different seeds and ask you to show me which one is a weed and which one is a flower, how would you know which is which? Do you think you’d be able to tell simply by looking closely at each seed? Of course not! The only way to tell is by planting both seeds and allowing them to grow. Initially, both will break the surface with a tiny sprig of green, and likely look very much the [...]

2020-04-08T17:24:50+00:0013 November, 2019|Creativity, Design Thinking, Innovation, Think Different|
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How to Use the Marvel Method to Drive Creativity for Your Business

Anyone that’s seen me speak or has read my blogs knows that there is a universal truth when it comes to creativity: we are all born creative.   Though many may want to tell themselves that they’re not a creative person, or that creativity is best left to the “Creative Departments”, the truth of the matter is that we all have creativity inside of us. The problem is not lack of creativity. The problem is the lack of time to access our creative minds. Have [...]

2020-04-08T17:23:29+00:0030 October, 2019|Creativity, Think Different|
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7 Things You Should Never Say at Work

If you’re like most, you spend a lot of time thinking about what you say at work… Did my question make sense? Was that email worded properly? What’s the best way to pitch this new idea? It makes sense to worry about language. Words matter. And in the context of your work life, they can sometimes mean the difference between being heard, and being ignored (or worse). But what about the flip side of all this? With all the time we spend thinking about what [...]

2020-04-08T14:50:29+00:0020 October, 2019|Design Thinking, Think Different|
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