[flap]It's time to let the cats out of the bag .Curiosity might have killed the proverbial cat, but without it very real achievements would never occur. A person's natural inquisitiveness and creativity are the springboards to innovation, which is the key driver to 21st century business success.Playful, profound, and positively upbeat,Catsprovides what you need to integrate a culture of constant innovation into your organization. While most business thinkers view this challenge from the top down, Stephen Lundin sees the subject from a cat's-eye view, explaining how to get every employee--no matter what level--to think and act in innovative ways. Inside, he examines the four challenges to innovation and offers practical measures aimed at conquering them. You'll learn how to: Be brave ('fraidy cats never innovate) Stop being 'œnormal' (make your own rules!) Embrace failure (it's the only way to learn) Foster creativity (don't be a control freak)Lundin then describes the nine 'œlives' of innovation, each of which is a step toward realizing your inner cat and becoming a fully contributing member of an innovative organization. He helps you harness your natural creative energy, view challenges from new perspectives, and interact with others in a way that fosters group creativity.
Scattered throughout the book are brief 'œCat Naps'--ideas to ponder that make your innovation journey more meaningful and personal--and 'œCat Nip' exercises that help you to explore your innovation journey and ways to maximize it.Prowling inside every employee is a questioner, a creator, an innovator--claws out and ready to pounce. After incorporating the ideas of Stephen Lundin, you may find yourself springing on ideas in a way that surprises you, while at the same time awakening the slumbering cats within each member of your company. [back cover]What's the solution to 'œbusiness as usual?' The curiosity of a cat!Stephen Lundin, the bestselling co-author ofFISH!, unveils the next big trend in business--innovation as a tool of personal success you can use to take on challenges, achieve results, and make a major impact in your organization.Catsis full of simple yet profound information and anecdotes that can be used to spark the curiosity and creativity within every employee and, thus, inspire innovative approaches to ordinary situations. You'll learn how to identify the major obstacles to innovative thought and live the nine 'œlives' of innovation, which include: FOCUS--tune out the distracting 'œnoises' of everyday life PREPAREDNESS--be ready to spring when you least expect it PERSPECTIVE--break from the tired old way of looking at things INTELLECTUAL PROVOCATION--everything is fascinating . if you know how to lookYou'll find step-by-step advice for developing the capacity for innovation, along with case studies of the most successful cats prowling the business scene. If you're serious about innovation, you'll dig your teeth into Lundin's advice and begin leading your organization to success and growth in the new age of business.