Tag Archives: Apple

The Art of Storytelling

How to Communicate Innovation Effectively

The Art of Storytelling: How to Communicate Innovation Effectively

GUEST POST from Art Inteligencia

Innovation is the lifeblood of progress. But inventing the next big thing is only half the battle; the real challenge lies in communicating these innovations effectively. Enter the art of storytelling. In the world of business, effective storytelling can bridge the gap between abstract ideas and tangible outcomes. Here, we unravel the secrets behind the art of storytelling and how it can be harnessed to communicate innovation.

Why Storytelling?

Storytelling is much more than a marketing strategy; it is a powerful tool that:

  • Engages and captivates the audience.
  • Conveys complex ideas in a simple, relatable way.
  • Builds an emotional connection with the audience.

When used effectively, storytelling can turn an innovative concept from a mere idea into a compelling vision that drives action.

Case Study 1: Apple and the iPhone

When Apple first introduced the iPhone, they did more than just unveil a new product—they told a story. Steve Jobs stood on stage and didn’t just list the features; he narrated a tale of an innovative future. His key strategies included:

  1. Focusing on Benefits: Jobs highlighted how the iPhone would simplify life by combining multiple devices into one compact unit.
  2. Using Visual Aids: Through vivid visuals and demonstrations, he showed practical uses of the iPhone, making the audience visualize its impact on their lives.
  3. Crafting a Narrative: Jobs’ presentation wasn’t just about the “what,” but also the “why” and “how,” crafting a compelling narrative of technological evolution.

The result? The world saw the iPhone not just as a new gadget, but as a revolutionary tool transforming communication and daily life.

Case Study 2: Tesla and the Roadster

Tesla’s journey with the Roadster is another exemplary case of innovation storytelling. Elon Musk and his team focused on more than just the car’s specifications. Their key strategies included:

  • Emphasizing the Vision: Tesla communicated a broader vision of a sustainable future, bottling the imagination of a world less dependent on fossil fuels.
  • Highlighting Impact over Features: Rather than boasting about technical metrics, they highlighted the environmental benefits and long-term savings.
  • Creating Inspirational Content: Through high-impact videos, interviews, and social media, Tesla created a narrative of excitement and urgency around adopting electric vehicles.

This storytelling approach allowed Tesla to overcome skepticism, foster enthusiasm, and galvanize a community of early adopters and brand evangelists.

Key Elements of Effective Innovation Storytelling

To master the art of storytelling in innovation, consider these essential elements:

1. Know Your Audience: Tailor your narrative to resonate with the values, beliefs, and needs of your target audience.

2. Craft a Clear Message: Simplify complex concepts and focus on the overarching benefit or the big “why” behind your innovation.

3. Use Emotional Appeal: Connect with the audience on an emotional level through relatable stories, testimonials, or visions of a better future.

4. Utilize Visuals: Use compelling visuals to demonstrate your innovation’s impact vividly and memorably.

5. Build a Narrative Arc: Structure your story with a clear beginning, middle, and end, bringing the audience along a journey of discovery and transformation.

Conclusion

Innovation without effective communication is like a masterpiece locked in a vault. The art of storytelling is the key to unlocking its potential. By borrowing techniques from great storytellers and focusing on the emotional and practical impacts of your innovations, you can not only communicate effectively but drive meaningful change. After all, the stories we tell today shape the world we innovate for tomorrow.

Bottom line: Futurology is not fortune telling. Futurists use a scientific approach to create their deliverables, but a methodology and tools like those in FutureHacking™ can empower anyone to engage in futurology themselves.

Image credit: Pixabay

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The Importance of Empathy in Innovation

The Importance of Empathy in Innovation

GUEST POST from Art Inteligencia

Empathy plays a pivotal role in the process of innovation, as it enables individuals and organizations to truly understand the needs and experiences of the end user. By fostering a deep sense of empathy, innovators can develop products and services that not only meet the practical needs of consumers but also resonate with their emotional and psychological requirements. In this article, we explore the importance of empathy in driving innovation, and present two case studies that illustrate how empathy can lead to groundbreaking solutions.

Case Study 1: Warby Parker

Warby Parker, a disruptive eyewear company founded in 2010, has made a name for itself by prioritizing empathy in its innovation process. The company recognized the challenges faced by consumers when purchasing eyeglasses – high prices, limited options, and a lack of transparency in the industry. By empathizing with their target market, Warby Parker developed a direct-to-consumer model that offered affordable, stylish eyewear that resonated with customers. They also implemented a unique at-home try-on program, allowing customers to experience the frames before making a purchase. This empathetic approach not only disrupted the traditional eyewear industry but also built a loyal customer base that values transparency and affordability.

Case Study 2: Apple

Apple is renowned for its innovative products that have reshaped industries and transformed the way we live and work. One key factor behind Apple’s success is its emphasis on empathy in design and innovation. The late Steve Jobs, co-founder and former CEO of Apple, famously said, “You have to start with the customer experience and work backward to the technology.” Apple’s design process is deeply rooted in understanding the needs, desires, and emotions of its customers. By empathizing with users and anticipating their future needs, Apple has been able to develop products like the iPhone, iPad, and Apple Watch that have fundamentally changed the way we communicate, work, and play. Apple’s commitment to empathy in innovation has not only solidified its position as a market leader but has also set a benchmark for user-centric design in the tech industry.

These case studies underscore the critical role that empathy plays in driving innovation and creating meaningful impact in the marketplace. Whether it’s disrupting existing industries, like Warby Parker, or setting new standards for user experience, like Apple, organizations that prioritize empathy are better equipped to develop products and services that truly resonate with consumers. As we continue to navigate an ever-changing business landscape, the importance of empathy in innovation cannot be overstated. By fostering a culture of empathy within their organizations, leaders can unlock new opportunities, drive growth, and make a lasting impression on customers.

Bottom line: Futurology is not fortune telling. Futurists use a scientific approach to create their deliverables, but a methodology and tools like those in FutureHacking™ can empower anyone to engage in futurology themselves.

Image credit: Pexels

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Design Thinking in Action

Case Studies of Companies that Thrive on Innovation

Design Thinking in Action

GUEST POST from Art Inteligencia

In today’s fast-paced and rapidly changing business landscape, companies are constantly seeking new innovative solutions to stay ahead of the competition. One approach that has gained traction in recent years is design thinking. Design thinking is a human-centered approach to innovation that emphasizes empathy, creativity, and iterative problem-solving. In this article, we will explore how two companies – Apple and IDEO – have successfully implemented design thinking principles to drive innovation and achieve business success.

Apple: Designing for Delight

Apple is synonymous with innovation and design excellence, and much of its success can be attributed to its design thinking approach. From the sleek and intuitive design of the iPhone to the user-friendly interface of the iPad, Apple’s products are known for their attention to detail and focus on user experience. One key aspect of Apple’s design thinking process is its emphasis on empathy – understanding the needs and desires of its customers to create products that truly delight and inspire.

A prime example of this is the development of the iPod. In the early 2000s, Apple recognized the growing demand for portable music players but saw that existing products were cumbersome and hard to use. By conducting in-depth user research and observing how people interacted with music on a daily basis, Apple was able to design a product that revolutionized the music industry. The result was the iPod – a sleek and intuitive device that made it easy for users to access and enjoy their music on the go.

IDEO: Empowering Creativity Through Collaboration

IDEO is a global design and innovation consultancy known for its human-centered approach to solving complex problems. Founded in 1991, IDEO has worked with companies ranging from startups to Fortune 500 companies to create innovative products and services that have a lasting impact on society. At the core of IDEO’s design thinking process is its emphasis on collaboration and iteration – bringing together diverse perspectives and ideas to create truly groundbreaking solutions.

One of IDEO’s most famous projects is the redesign of the shopping cart for a major retail chain. By engaging with customers and employees to understand their pain points and frustrations with the existing shopping cart, IDEO was able to develop a new cart design that improved the shopping experience for everyone involved. The new design featured ergonomic handles, self-checkout capabilities, and modular components that made it easy to customize based on individual needs. The result was a shopping cart that not only enhanced the customer experience but also increased efficiency and profitability for the retailer.

Conclusion

Design thinking is a powerful tool for companies looking to drive innovation and achieve business success. By focusing on empathy, creativity, and collaboration, companies like Apple and IDEO have been able to create products and services that truly resonate with their customers and set them apart from the competition. As technology continues to evolve and consumer expectations continue to rise, design thinking will play an increasingly important role in shaping the future of business and driving growth and success for companies around the world.

Bottom line: Futurology is not fortune telling. Futurists use a scientific approach to create their deliverables, but a methodology and tools like those in FutureHacking™ can empower anyone to engage in futurology themselves.

Image credit: Unsplash

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Empathy-driven Innovation for Customer Experience

Leveraging Design Thinking to Drive Success at Both

Empathy-driven Innovation for Customer Experience

GUEST POST from Chateau G Pato

In today’s highly competitive business landscape, delivering exceptional customer experiences has become a crucial factor for long-term success. Design Thinking, a human-centered approach to problem-solving, has emerged as a powerful tool for organizations seeking to innovate and differentiate themselves through empathy-driven solutions. By understanding the needs, desires, and pain points of customers, organizations can design products and services that truly resonate and create memorable experiences. In this article, we will explore the concept of Design Thinking and present two captivating case studies that showcase the transformative power of this approach.

Understanding Design Thinking

Design Thinking is often defined as a problem-solving methodology that aims to uncover innovative solutions through deep empathy and a human-centric mindset. It revolves around five key stages: empathize, define, ideate, prototype, and test. At the core of this approach lies empathy, which enables organizations to grasp individuals’ experiences and challenges truly. By genuinely understanding the customers’ needs, emotions, aspirations, and contexts, organizations can create solutions that exceed expectations and foster long-term loyalty.

Case Study 1: Airbnb – Redefining Travel Experiences

In the early 2000s, the founders of Airbnb, Brian Chesky and Joe Gebbia, faced the challenge of scaling their home-sharing platform. To truly understand their customers’ needs, they decided to employ Design Thinking principles. The team embarked on a journey to interview and stay with Airbnb hosts themselves, experiencing the service as their customers would. This immersive approach allowed them to identify pain points, redefine their platform, and ultimately transform the travel industry.

Through empathetic observation, the Airbnb team discovered that guests valued unique and curated experiences over impersonal accommodations. This insight led to the creation of the “Experiences” feature on Airbnb, where hosts could offer tailored tours, classes, and activities. By leveraging Design Thinking, Airbnb was able to expand beyond home-sharing and position themselves as enablers of memorable travel experiences, revolutionizing the way people explore new destinations.

Case Study 2: Apple – Seamless Integration for an Intuitive Experience

Apple, known for its innovative product design, has been a prominent advocate of Design Thinking principles in driving customer experience innovation. One remarkable example lies in the development of their ecosystem, including the seamless integration of devices and software.

Understanding that customers often struggled with device compatibility and software complexities, Apple focused on creating a harmonious user experience. They invested in empathetic research, observing and talking to users to identify their pain points. As a result, Apple engineered a user-centric ecosystem where devices like iPhones, iPads, and MacBooks seamlessly interact with each other. This empathy-driven approach ensures a smooth transition between devices, minimizing user frustration and maximizing overall satisfaction.

Conclusion

Design Thinking has emerged as a guiding philosophy for organizations seeking to differentiate themselves through exceptional customer experiences. By embracing empathy and genuinely understanding their customers, companies can uncover meaningful insights, redefine products, and create transformative solutions. The case studies of Airbnb and Apple demonstrate the profound impact of Design Thinking on customer experience innovation. Incorporating this approach into business practices undoubtedly holds great potential for organizations looking to thrive in a customer-centric world.

Bottom line: Futurology is not fortune telling. Futurists use a scientific approach to create their deliverables, but a methodology and tools like those in FutureHacking™ can empower anyone to engage in futurology themselves.

Image credit: Pexels

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Friday Funny – Unexpected Blackberry and Apple Problems

Thanks to Bettina von Stamm for bringing this comedic gem to my attention:

It does a great job of highlighting how technology companies come along and completely change parts of our common language.

For my non-European friends, Orange is a French mobile telecommunications provider (aka France Telecom).

I hope everyone has a funny Friday and a great weekend!


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From Idea to Execution: Best Practices for Innovating Successfully

From Idea to Execution: Best Practices for Innovating SuccessfullyGUEST POST from Art Inteligencia

Innovation is at the heart of progress. It drives companies to new heights and fuels economic growth. However, transforming an idea into a successful reality requires careful planning, strategic thinking, and flawless execution. In this article, we will explore the best practices for innovating successfully by analyzing two inspiring case studies.

Case Study 1: Apple Inc.

Apple Inc. is renowned for its innovative products that have revolutionized entire industries. One of their most memorable successes was the launch of the iPhone in 2007. What made this innovation exceptional was not just the creation of a new smartphone but the integration of multiple functions in a single device. Apple not only developed a powerful touchscreen phone but also designed an intuitive operating system and an App Store ecosystem that allowed developers to create versatile applications.

The key lesson from Apple’s success is the importance of thinking holistically. Innovation should not be limited to individual features or products. Instead, organizations should strive to create an ecosystem that provides a seamless experience to customers. By considering the entire user journey and designing complementary products or services, companies can differentiate themselves and capture market share effectively.

Case Study 2: Airbnb

Another remarkable success story is Airbnb. Founded in 2008, this online marketplace disrupted the traditional accommodation sector by connecting travelers with homeowners renting out their properties. The company’s success can be attributed to its ability to understand and adapt to changing customer needs. Airbnb recognized that travelers were seeking unique and personalized experiences rather than conventional hotel stays.

To ensure successful execution, Airbnb built a platform that focused on trust and community. By establishing rigorous verification processes, providing accurate reviews, and fostering a sense of belonging among hosts and guests, the company created a strong foundation for growth. Moreover, Airbnb’s strategy of gradually expanding its offerings beyond accommodations, such as “Experiences,” further strengthened its position in the market.

The key lesson from Airbnb’s success lies in continuous adaptation and responding to evolving customer demands. Successful innovation requires companies to be agile and open to learning from feedback. By staying connected to their customers and actively seeking their input, organizations can develop offerings that cater to their changing needs.

Best Practices for Innovating Successfully

1. Foster a culture of innovation: Encourage employees to think creatively and provide them with the resources and support to explore new ideas. Innovation should be ingrained in the company’s DNA.

2. Identify customer pain points: Truly innovative solutions address real-world problems. Invest time in understanding your customers’ pain points and use them as a basis for your innovation efforts.

3. Focus on the user experience: Innovation should enhance the overall experience for customers. Design products and services that are intuitive, user-friendly, and seamlessly integrated.

4. Build cross-functional teams: Successful innovation requires collaboration across different departments and disciplines. Encourage diverse perspectives by assembling teams with varied skill sets and backgrounds.

5. Test and iterate: Embrace a mindset of continuous improvement. Test your innovations, collect feedback, and iterate based on the insights gained. Rapid prototyping and minimum viable products can help gauge market response before full-scale implementation.

6. Create a supportive ecosystem: Just as Apple and Airbnb understood the importance of building an ecosystem around their innovations, consider how your innovation fits into the broader customer experience. Develop partnerships and collaborations that reinforce the value proposition of your offering.

Conclusion

Innovation is an iterative process that requires a thorough understanding of customer needs, a holistic approach, and continuous adaptation. By drawing inspiration from successful case studies like Apple and Airbnb, organizations can enhance their innovation capabilities and bring groundbreaking ideas to life. Embrace the best practices outlined here, and unleash the potential of your organization to innovate successfully.

Bottom line: Futurology is not fortune telling. Futurists use a scientific approach to create their deliverables, but a methodology and tools like those in FutureHacking™ can empower anyone to engage in futurology themselves.

Image credit: Misterinnovation.com

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How to Create a Customer-Centric Culture in Your Organization

How to Create a Customer-Centric Culture in Your Organization

GUEST POST from Chateau G Pato

In today’s highly competitive business environment, creating a customer-centric culture within your organization is crucial for long-term success. A customer-centric culture ensures that all members of your organization are focused on meeting and exceeding customer expectations, leading to increased customer satisfaction, loyalty, and ultimately, business growth. Here are some strategies and case study examples to help you develop a customer-centric culture in your organization.

1. Empower Your Employees to Act in the Customer’s Best Interest

One of the keys to building a customer-centric culture is empowering your employees to go above and beyond for customers. Zappos, the online shoe and clothing retailer, is a prime example of an organization that prioritizes customer satisfaction. Zappos encourages its employees to spend as much time as needed with customers to ensure they find the perfect product. The company empowers its customer service representatives to act in the customer’s best interest and provide exceptional service, even if it means taking unconventional measures such as locating an item from a competitor’s store. By giving employees the freedom to make decisions that benefit customers, Zappos has cultivated a strong customer-centric culture that sets them apart in the industry.

2. Gather and Act on Customer Feedback

To truly create a customer-centric culture, you need to actively listen to your customers and address their concerns. Apple, renowned for its loyal customer base, exemplifies the importance of leveraging customer feedback. The company collects extensive feedback from its customers through various channels, including surveys, customer support interactions, and product reviews. Apple then uses this feedback to improve its products and services continuously. By actively seeking out customer input and acting upon it, Apple demonstrates a commitment to meeting customer needs and preferences. This customer-centric approach has undoubtedly contributed to their success and brand loyalty.

3. Align Your Organization’s Goals and Values

Creating a customer-centric culture requires aligning your organization’s goals and values with the needs and wants of your customers. Amazon, the world’s largest online retailer, exemplifies this alignment by making customer obsession one of their core values. This focus on the customer has driven Amazon to continuously innovate and find ways to make the shopping experience more convenient and personalized. By ensuring that every decision and action within the organization is driven by customer needs, Amazon has successfully ingrained a customer-centric culture into its DNA.

4. Invest in Employee Training and Development

To create a customer-centric culture, it is crucial to invest in training and developing your employees. Ritz-Carlton Hotels is a perfect example of an organization that places a high emphasis on employee training to drive exceptional customer service. The hotel chain is renowned for its personalized and luxurious customer experience, which is made possible by empowering its employees through intensive training and ongoing professional development. Ritz-Carlton provides its employees with the necessary tools, knowledge, and skills to anticipate and fulfill customer needs, ensuring that every interaction leaves a lasting positive impression.

Conclusion

Creating a customer-centric culture is essential for organizations looking to thrive in today’s customer-driven world. By empowering employees, actively seeking and acting on customer feedback, aligning goals and values with customer needs, and investing in employee training, organizations can foster a customer-centric culture that drives long-term success. Drawing insights from successful case studies such as Zappos, Apple, Amazon, and Ritz-Carlton Hotels can provide valuable inspiration and guidance in this journey.

EDITOR’S NOTE: Braden Kelley’s Problem Finding Canvas can be a super useful starting point for doing design thinking or human-centered design.

“The Problem Finding Canvas should help you investigate a handful of areas to explore, choose the one most important to you, extract all of the potential challenges and opportunities and choose one to prioritize.”

Image credit: misterinnovation.com

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The Power of Empathy in Driving Innovation

The Power of Empathy in Driving Innovation

GUEST POST from Art Inteligencia

Empathy is a powerful skill that allows individuals to understand and share the feelings of others. While it is often associated with personal relationships and emotional intelligence, empathy also plays a crucial role in driving innovation. By putting themselves in the shoes of their customers, innovators can gain valuable insights and create products and services that truly address their needs and desires. This article explores the impact of empathy in driving innovation through two intriguing case studies.

Case Study 1 – The Airbnb Story

In 2008, Joe Gebbia and Brian Chesky were two struggling entrepreneurs in San Francisco, struggling to pay their rent. They decided to rent out some space in their apartment and provide a homemade breakfast for guests. To better understand the needs and experiences of their potential customers, the duo decided to step into their shoes.

To gain empathy, Gebbia and Chesky traveled to New York City and rented out their own space using their platform. They lived with the guests, capturing their reactions, preferences, and pain points. This experience turned out to be crucial in shaping Airbnb’s future success.

The empathy-driven insights helped them understand that people craved authentic, unique experiences when traveling. As a result, they shifted their focus from just renting out spaces to creating an entire marketplace for unique and local accommodations. They incorporated features like personal profiles, reviews, and detailed listings to build a sense of trust and connection between hosts and guests.

By putting themselves in the shoes of their customers, Gebbia and Chesky were able to create a platform that revolutionized the way people travel. Today, Airbnb boasts over 7 million listings worldwide and has become a global leader in the hospitality industry.

Case Study 2 – The Apple Story

Apple, under the leadership of Steve Jobs, is renowned for its innovative products that have shaped the technology landscape. One of the key factors contributing to Apple’s success is its ability to empathize with customers and anticipate their needs, even before they realize them.

When developing the iPod, for instance, Apple recognized that ordinary people found existing MP3 players too confusing and cumbersome. To better understand the user experience, the team at Apple conducted extensive research, observed customers, and put themselves in their shoes.

The insights gathered from this empathetic approach led to the creation of a simple and intuitive interface that revolutionized the way people interacted with portable music players. The iPod’s success paved the way for future innovations like the iPhone, iPad, and Apple Watch.

By empathizing with customers and anticipating their desires, Apple has consistently introduced groundbreaking products that transcend consumer expectations, reinvent industries, and propel technological advancements.

Conclusion

These case studies highlight how the power of empathy can drive innovation and shape successful business ventures. By understanding the needs, desires, and pain points of customers through empathy, entrepreneurs can develop products and services that truly resonate with their target audience. Furthermore, empathy encourages a user-centric approach, fueling creativity and unlocking new possibilities for innovation.

In a world that is becoming increasingly interconnected and diverse, empathy is not only an essential skill in personal relationships but also a critical catalyst for driving innovation. As businesses strive to stay competitive and relevant, the power of empathy should not be underestimated. It has the potential to transform industries, disrupt markets, and create products and services that truly make a difference in people’s lives.

Image credit: Pexels

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Are You Lying to Your Customers?

Are You Lying to Your Customers?

It seems like every company these days is trying to claim that they are innovative, trying to claim that they are customer-centric, trying to claim that their employees are important to them. But are they?

Can all this be true?

Or, are all of these companies lying to their customers, lying to their employees, and lying to their shareholders?

Many companies say that they are committed to innovation, but employees know the truth. If employees’ experience around the innovation efforts of the company (and its outcomes) isn’t consistent with the innovation messages being communicated, then not only will innovation participation and outcomes be low, but ongoing trust and loyalty will be further eroded in the organization.

Employees can see the Lucky Charms on your face when you say you’re committed to innovation publicly, but behind the scenes your actions demonstrate that you really are not.

And don’t be fooled, customers will start to see the Lucky Charms show up on your face, no matter how hard you try and convince them that the marshmallow goodness is not there.

If you aren’t going to define what innovation means to your company, if you aren’t going to create a common language of innovation, if you aren’t going to teach people new innovation skills and support innovation at all levels by making limited amounts of time and capital available to push their ideas forward, then don’t say you’re committed to innovation. You’ll tear the organization down instead of building it up.

Lying to CustomersIf customers don’t see you increasing your level of value creation, improving your level of value access, and doing a better job at value translation (see Innovation is All About Value), especially when compared to the competition, then they too will become disillusioned, frustrated, and start to look for other alternative solutions that deliver more value then all of your offerings.

Meanwhile, shareholders behave like customers on steroids. If you are being rewarded with an innovation premium by the market, you can’t be “all hat and no cattle” for very long, meaning you have to deliver compelling inventions on a repeated basis with a strong potential to become the innovations that drive the future growth of the company. This is hard to do once, let alone on a repeated basis. We will likely see Apple be the latest victim in the next twelve months.

Why? Because AAPL is at an all-time high based on the likely high percentage of people that are likely to upgrade from an iPhone 4 or 5s to an iPhone 6 or 6 Plus. What about after that? Well, the smartphone industry is about to enter the same place that the PC industry hit a few years ago, when replacement cycles began to lengthen, reducing revenues, and forcing prices (and margins) lower. Simultaneously carriers will seek to extract more of the margin from the overall equation, and if Google/Motorola/Lenovo, Nokia and others start to bring $99 smartphones developed for India and other places to the richer economies that will in their next generation likely be “good enough” compared to the high end $699 handsets, more people will choose to wait longer between upgrades, or trade down with their next purchase, much as they did when $400 laptops started to become the rage.

So, what are we to learn from Apple’s pending share price collapse about the middle of next year?

Well, the first thing we will learn is that continuous innovation is hard. Now I’m not saying that Apple is going to go away, HP and Dell haven’t gone away, but Apple’s share price in Q2/Q3 2015 will struggle, they will face employee defections, and it will become more like Dell, HP and Microsoft than Facebook or Google. Not because those companies are any more or less innovative than any of the others, but because the growth paradigms are different and those companies are still in a different place on their growth curves.

We can also learn that continuous innovation requires consistency, commitment, the ability to recognize and prepare for the inevitable peaking of any growth curve, the organizational agility necessary to change as fast as the wants and needs of your customers and your environment, and the ability to understand what your customers will give you permission to do (so you know where to go next when your most profitable growth curve begins to peak).

You should see by now that continuous innovation is about far more than technological innovation, but instead requires not only continuous commitment, but also a continuous willingness and ability to change, and a continuous scanning of your environment using a Global Sensing Network.

Do you have one?

What is yours telling you about your company’s future?

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Apple iPhone 6 Killer App Revealed

Apple iPhone 6 Killer App RevealedWhile most people are focused on what the new Apple iPhone 6 hardware might look like and what new gizmos it might have, the real killer app for Apple’s latest refresh of their flagship mobile device will be an App and a little tiny NFC chipset.

Rumored for the iPhone 5 (rumors which were heightened by Apple’s acquisition and subsequent inclusion of fingerprint sensor technology), mobile payments may finally be a built-in feature of the Apple’s newest handset, the iPhone 6.

Apple has been reportedly out talking to the likes of Visa, American Express, Nordstrom and others, and if that is all true then expect part of Apple’s Tuesday September 9th announcement to be focused on the new mobile payment capabilities of the iPhone 6.

I was one of those who thought that mobile payments might launch as part of the iPhone 5’s capabilities, but obviously the technology, or more likely the relationships and contracts, were not ready for prime time a year ago.

Will mobile payments authenticated by your fingerprint finally appear in the iPhone 6?

If so, soon we will finally be able to stop carrying around wallets and switch to money clips and mobile phones, as such a feature will not only replace credit cards, but loyalty cards, insurance cards, and more.

Yes, Samsung may have done it first with the Galaxy S5, but you know Apple will do it bigger (and better).

I guess we’ll find out next week.

Image credit: Ricardo Del Toro


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