How could use Disruptive Innovation to advance your thinking and your career?

A really nice blog from Jeff Shuey

Jeff is an expert in the Enterprise Content Management industry. He brings over 20 years of Channel Sales, Partner Marketing and Alliance expertise to audiences around the world in speaking engagements and via his writing. 

He has worked for Microsoft, Kodak, K2 and Gimmal. Follow him on Twitter @jshuey or on LinkedIn: in/JeffShuey

The blog is all about how could use Disruptive Innovation to advance your thinking and your career?

It's quite funny as without realising it - I have been doing this for years. Now it has a name - I will double my efforts by doing it consciously, see below ... 

"First, let’s think about what Disruptive Innovation (otherwise known as DI) means.

A disruptive innovation is an innovation that helps create a newmarket and value network ~via Wikipedia

Using DI thinking can certainly impact long held business models. A few business that have been impacted by Disruptive Innovations are listed below and followed by some of the businesses that stepped in to replace them.

• Tower Records –> Napster (now Pandora, Spotify, iTunes and many others)
• Blockbuster –> Netflix, Amazon Prime, etc.
• Travel Agents / Agencies –> Expedia, Kayak, et al

In the first example the original disruptive innovator, Napster, has already been DI’d by new entrants. Which only proves the point that DI thinking is an effort that never ends. Very much like your career. You need to constantly be on the lookout for a different way to do something.

You could argue that Uber - the DI of the taxi industry is going to be DI'ed by Justaxi - the Manchester cheeky up start / start up. 

However, the same principles can be applied to your Career Development. For example:

• In education: Instead of 4 years for university –> Consider MOOC’s.
• (Which is what I did to learn about gamifaction with University of Penn) 
• Instead of climbing the corporate ladder –> Create your own ladder
• (Which is what I am going to do with my own mobile games company) 
• In lieu of solving the same old problems –> Develop new ways of thinking that focus on higher value customer needs
• (Again my plan for mobile games - that can become gifts for people....) 

First, seek to understand the business you are really in. Make no mistake… a career is a business. It’s the most important business you will ever invest your time and energy into and you’ll be doing it for a long time. So, make the most of it.

To understand your business and to think a little more sideways you should start by asking different questions, experimenting with new models, and looking for different ways to add value in ways that have not been considered.

For example, if you went to school to become an engineer:

• What are you actually creating?
• What benefit are you really delivering?
• Are there different ways you can deliver value to the customer?

These same questions can be applied to almost any career. Whether you studied accounting, drama or zoology.

Seek to Out Innovate Yourself

This may seem like an oxymoron, but when you think about it you need stay ahead of the competition. Where the competition is not necessarily the person in the cube next to you. The competition is yourself. 

You want to do more tomorrow. But, you don’t always need to work longer hours. The old cliché is true here… you want to Work Smarter, Not Harder. When you do your ability to brand yourself as an innovator will be preceded by your ability to think differently, ask tough questions and deliver stellar results."

Wise words Jeff - which is why I popped then up here... 

Looking into the future: Mobile & Internet trends 2014 - a great blog to think about mobile and what will happen next...

Thanks to the legend who is Mary Meeker for this and to MobileAD for the edit. 

The full version of the original deck is here and well worth a read or two. 

"The pace of technology change and consumer behaviour change is so rapid these days that it is very difficult to keep up to date with all developments in the market.

If you only look at one report this year on developments in the market, we highly recommend that you look at this one – Mary Meeker‘s annual presentation about the key trends in the internet and mobile world.

The presentation covers a wide variety of topics including mobile advertising, wearables, apps, content distribution, IPO’s, healthcare technology, and lots more, and not only provides thought provoking insights, but also detailed numbers to back them up.

---

Mary Meeker is a partner at Kleiner, Perkins, Caulfield, and Byers – one of the most successful venture capital firms in the world – and herTrends report has become an important annual event. As Forbesmagazine wrote, “Every year the entire technology industry stops for an hour to hear what influential analyst Mary Meeker thinks are the most important trends playing out on the internet.”

This year Ms. Meeker presented her trends at the Code Conference in California. Here are a couple of the most interesting points she raised.
[note: a download link for the full presentation is at the bottom of this article.]

Mobile internet usage continues to grow rapidly, and now represents a significant portion of overall web traffic. This is especially true in certain regions of the world – such as Asia and Africa – which are developing in a “mobile first” way.

One of the more surprising charts shows the distribution ofsmartphone operating systems. Currently iOS, Android, and Windows Phone represent 97% of all phones, just 8 years ago that number was only 5%. A stark reminder of how fast things change, and the lock that iOS and Android seem to have on this industry.

Looking more closely at mobile advertising, Meeker’s conclusion is that there is still a lot of growth left over the next few years. By examining the overall spending pattern of by media type compared to the time spent on that media, it is clear that the mobile channel is still very under funded.

In regards to overall revenue in the mobile channel, current figures show that there is still more revenue being generated through mobile apps than mobile advertising, and in fact the portion seems to be growing.

The full presentation consists of over 150 slides, and covers a wide range of topics, including the growth of sensor usage, big data, multi-screen lifestyle, and media distribution/usage. Together, the data provided plus the qualitative comments paint a great picture of where our society is heading.

This is a very thought provoking look at the growth and role of the internet and mobile, and more globally how life styles are changing because of the internet. "

Here are 17 things the most extraordinary people do every day.

 "We are what we repeatedly do. Excellence is not an act, but a habit." - you know who said that? This quote is always attributed to Aristotle and yet it was never written by Aristotle. This quote is from Will Durant's The Story of Philosophy. But the point is still a jolly good one. Here are 17 more. 

Taken from "17 things the most extraordinary people do every day" by BILL MURPHY JR. who is a journalist, ghostwriter, and entrepreneur.

1. Examine long-term goals.

If you don't know where you want to go, you'll probably never arrive. So, it's crucial to spend a few minutes each day thinking about where you'd like to be one, five or even 20 years from now. Your goals will change, and that's a good thing. But it's easier to act strategically when you've thought about where you want your dreams to lead.

I have done this with my mentor and coach but it is time to get them on the walls of the office. 

2. Examine daily plans.

Whether you've written it down or not, you have a to-do list. Do the tasks you're accomplishing truly contribute to your long-term goals? Nobody is 100 percent productive, and that's OK. But if you're working your tail off each day to become better at something you don't even want to be doing, that's a sign it's time for a change.

Maybe understanding mobile app analytics in depth really isn't for me - has been on my to do list for 3 months now.  Or maybe I should just...

3. Ask for help.

Nobody does anything worthwhile alone, and asking for help, when done correctly, isn't a sign of weakness--it's a sign of respect. People enjoy being reminded that their knowledge and skills have value to others. Just ask politely, respectfully and on the other person's schedule. If the help leads to a positive outcome for you, make sure you express your gratitude.  

Time to re-engage in the community as a start up and not as a consultant me thinks.

4. Engage in mentorship.

Mentorship has two sides, so on any given day, do two things: Engage with a mentor, and also offer mentorship to someone else. Not every interaction has to be profound; that would be exhausting. However, if you take a few minutes, for example, to reply to someone seeking to enter your field, and later ask a more expert friend to help you refine your start up plan.

I will contact Phil J, Garry P, and Al M and help out a friend who wanted helping. 

5. Give yourself a break.

Extraordinary people recognize that they are just that--people. We're only human, and success (however it's defined) is never an overnight thing. Should you hold yourself to high standards? Sure, but every day, give yourself a pass on a few things you did wrong, and for missing a few items on this list. You're looking for a general, rising slope in all things in life--not an uninterrupted (and unrealistic) sprint to the top. 

Tomorrow is my day off with my daughter (as a Tuesday) so I will turn off my phone and turn on the rest. 

6. Write down what happened.

Life is a journey, so keep a journal. You don't need to be a polished writer or even devote a lot of time to this; even a small effort can pay huge dividends (as we'll see in item No. 7, below). A top military leader who was working 16-hour days in a time of crisis wanted to keep a journal. His solution? Every day he wrote a single haiku poem describing what happened that day and how he felt.

I have blogged about this and then never done it - I am going to create an app which reminds me to write one sentence a day. Should be simple enough. 

7. Build your confidence.

Everybody has crises of confidence; everyone has to learn to overcome fear of failure.

The best ways to win are twofold, and we've already covered the groundwork on this list. First, engage with mentors. People who've been through similar challenges and inspire you and show you the way. Second, remember the challenges you've overcome in the past--say, perhaps, the things you wrote about in your journal. You did it then; you can do it now.

My confidence is low about my body image after being on the TV and seeing how large I have got - see picture -  so it's time for a walk out with my daughter and to find somewhere, where I can do yoga. 

8. Give thanks and compliments.

Just as you sometimes have crises of confidence, so does everyone else around you. So, make it a point to compliment others, and to express your appreciation for what they do. If you end each day having sincerely uttered the words, "thank you" to a colleague, friend, family member and even people you only interact in passing, you'll find this habit pays you back tenfold. 

I will drop everyone a text (including family members) for everyone who 'liked' and / or shared that I was on the BBC over the weekend. As the reaction truly shocked me. 

9. Focus on others.

No matter that you do, you will leave a legacy. The question is whether you'll be remembered for something positive or something negative. So, keep in mind during all interactions, that this might be someone's lasting impression of you. If you want to hear a powerful example of this in action, read this story about actor Robert Downey Jr. I won't ruin it for you; just read it.

Just read it - and if I didn't love Robert Downey Jr. or the characters he plays enough - I do now. 

10. Get some physical exercise.

It doesn't have to be much--just a 20- or 30-minute workout each day can improve your outlook and change your life.

Find me the 20 minutes.... Ok I will make 20 minutes. Christ I blog for more than an hour! 

11. Quit something.

Coming up with a great idea isn't the hard part in life. Instead, it's eliminating 99 out of 100 great ideas, so you can focus on the few that really work. The only way to do that is to be willing to give up on things you've tried but aren't paying off--nevermind the sunk costs.

This is the one that has got to me more than the others combined. 

So I quote from the hyperlink. "It's escalation of commitment,when an entrepreneur has invested resources into a new business, they have difficulty letting go even when things go south or another opportunity arises." Today I quit something, handed my notice in emotionally, and tomorrow I am going to do the same with something else. 

12. Check small things.

Extraordinary people learn to delegate effectively. That can be scary, because it requires trust. You can't possibly check everything you've delegated, but you can check some small things, which in turn creates the possibility you'll check everything.

I don't know what to do about this one - which is probably why I am still blogging so much. Ok I will outsource 75% of the new work I have coming in. 
 

13. Laugh--especially at yourself.

Comedy is the flipside of tragedy. For all the passion with which they pursue their goals, truly extraordinary people keep perspective by recognizing that a well-led life is full of humor. Thus, the most important jokes you'll ever tell are the ones about yourself, even your failures. As H.G. Wells (the writer who gave us War of the Worlds, among many other works) put it, "The crisis of today is the joke of tomorrow."

Time to watch some comedy again - perhaps even listen to The Milk Run again - good stuff - a bit dark.

14. Sleep.

Seven to eight hours a night, at least. If not, you're killing your productivity and killing brain cells.

I will nap with Mia around 2 - 4pm - as been up all night blogging away....

15. Continue your education.

Lifelong learning is one of the keys to success. As my colleague Geoffrey James wrote, "[Approach] lifelong learning with a sense of fun that adds pleasure and energy to the tasks at hand. It means expanding your principles and practices so that they serve a greater purpose."

I have signed up for many coding courses.... in an attempt to... 

16. Cultivate outside interests.

All work and no play makes ... well, you know the rest. Let your mind wander every day, and feed it heartily. And, when you've stumbled upon something truly fantastic and worth telling others about...

 Wednesday

17. Share something great.

Did you hear the one about the SEO writer who walked into a bar ["best bars," "taverns" "pubs" "B&B joint," "where should I go tonight?"] (If you laughed, credit this great PR person; if you groaned, blame me.) Seriously, extraordinary people always have something to share, and something truly interesting to talk about--a joke, a story, a bit of good news. Follow their lead.

I share every day - tomorrow I will share some more :)  Perhaps you will share the original of this too?

I will be more productive when I finish each day like this. 7 key things to do to be more productive.

7 key things to do to be more productive - taken from this article in full from Inc. 

I will be more productive when I finish each day like this. And how I finished today June 2nd 2014.

1. Finish one "organizing" project. Busy people always have some organizing project they have yet to get accomplished. It might be cleaning out an old file drawer or clearing your email. Whatever it is, schedule 20 minutes at the end of the day and tackle it.  Even if you get partway done you'll feel like you started to accomplish something.  Within a week at most the task will be done and you'll feel lighter inside.

I decided to do my packing for my holiday. Felt better for it. 

2. Address all communication. I hate having email and messages that lag overnight. They create little voices in my head screaming Answer me! Answer me!  I feel like I was rude and left people hanging.  I hate ending the day feeling guilty. Even if you can't find a way to deal with all your correspondence and messages, the least you can do is acknowledge that you received the communication. Create a signature that says: Thanks, I got this. I'm a little busy but I will respond within a day or two. Then you can add the task of responding to your list of things to do without offending those who made the effort.

I Set up auto responders for Great Marketing Works and for Justaxi for when I am away on Tuesdays.  

3. Do a brain dump. When I am really busy, my brain will run in circles and I struggle getting to sleep. Rather than suppressing the mental energy, I prefer to release it.  I sit down and write down everything in my brain. Not everything that comes out has value (as some have told me.) But once it's in a document or on paper, my brain frees itself and allows me to rest. Journaling can also help extract those sticky thoughts. I often write my columns at the end of the day since it leaves my head drained and ready to recharge on the pillow. (This one is being written at 2:30 AM.)

I looked through all the app ideas I had every had and decided to relaunch EnterMobile. 

4. Review your calendar and to-do list. It seems obvious to do this, but many people wait until the morning to make their list and set their dates. I find the later part of the day is the best time for making the to-do list and reviewing the calendar since that way I can make sure I didn't leave anything hanging or open-ended from the day.  There is nothing worse than trying to rest and feeling like you forgot something important.

I looked through all the app ideas I had every had and decided to relaunch EnterMobile. 

5. Set out your clothes. Weather reports have become sufficiently accurate to know how to dress the next day. If you followed tip #4, you'll also know if you have any meetings that require you to dress a little nicer. Better to have a fashion crisis in the evening while watching TV than to end up late because you couldn't find that tie or blouse. You can even catch a little more sleep if the clothes are all there, pressed and waiting when you wake up.

Amen to this one but am looking after my daughter tomorrow so no need. 

6. Set a "Shut Down" time. Even though late-night phone calls are rare around my house, email and texting can go all night long. This is not a good idea. I finally made a decision to stop checking a couple of hours prior to bed.  It allows me to decompress and takes away the risk of adding more thinking to my brain that will disturb my rest. I'm not a doctor or paramedic, so there are few emergencies that need my immediate attention. They can wait until morning when I am fresh and ready to address them.

I will do this from now on - and start reading - so I looked for my Kindle which I hope doesn't count. 

7. Center yourself. Once everything is put away, organized and the day is over, find 20 minutes before bed for some relaxing introspection. Be it meditation, prayer or simply quiet breathing, isolate yourself from people and electronics so you can spend some quality time slowing the outer world. (It's ok to have the poodle on your lap. At least this works for me.) This is a good time to let go of anything that made you angry or upset. It's also a wonderful time to acknowledge gratitude for anything good that happened. If that doesn't help you start the next day on the right track, nothing will.

After watching the Island (the show rather than the film) I have an attitude of gratitude but this can be enhanced with a little meditation - which will be a first for me. 

The Power of Small. Bored at work, tired of your boss, want to do something amazing. Start your own business ... new research shows us even more reasons why.

 As I think about entering self employment again - some interesting stats - in case you are thinking it too... 

The Power of Small seeks to examine the large growth in the number of micro businesses, and what this phenomenon might mean for all of us. 

Here are 10 key take-aways from the first report from the RSA and Etsy.

#1 – Self-employment is rising at a remarkable pace

The UK is experiencing a boom in self-employment. the number of people who work for themselves is up by 30 per cent since 2000, meaning that 1 in 7 of the workforce is now self-employed. If these trends continue, the number of people who work for themselves will soon outnumber the public sector workforce (we estimate this could happen sometime around 2018).



#2 – Different types of people are turning to self-employment

The number of women in self-employment has grown at around twice the rate as men over recent years. Older people, too, are increasingly turning to self-employment. There has been a 140 per cent increase in the number of over 65s running their own business since 2000. 


#3 – Self-employment is becoming more important as a form of work outside of London



#4 – There are 3 myths about the growth in self-employment that are distorting public opinion

The first being that most of the newly self-employed are there through no choice of their own. While levels of unemployment and self-employment are positively linked, this is only one part of the story.
A second myth is that most of the newly self-employed are low-skilled odd-jobbers scratching around for work. But look closer at the data and we see that the biggest increases in self-employment since 2008 have actually been in professional occupations (one of the highest skilled groups).
Finally, there is the myth that the boom we are witnessing is a cyclical blip. The growth in self-employment can’t go on forever of course, but the ‘cyclical blip’ thesis ignores the fact that self-employment had been increasing long before the recession began in 2008 (see the first graph above).


#5 – There are deeper shifts occurring in our economy and society that are driving this trend

A gradual shift from ‘materialist’ to ‘post-materialist’ values means that greater numbers of people now prize the freedom and meaning that comes with self-employment. Moreover, the emergence of new technologies – which we often take for granted – have sent the cost of doing business into free-fall.


#6 – The self-employed are an incredibly heterogeneous group

So they used the data from the survey with Populus to segment the self-employed community into six tribes.
 
#7 – The self-employed are materially worse off than people in jobs (by about £74 a week)

The full-time self-employed earn around 20 per cent less than their counterparts in conventional jobs, and their earnings have also been falling – down by around 10 per cent in real terms since the turn of the century. Moreover, we know from data collected by the ONS that the self-employed work longer hours – twice the number spend over 50 hours a week at work as employees. And on top of this is the problem of isolation, with close to 40 per cent of our survey respondents agreeing that working for themselves leaves them feeling disconnected from the wider world.

#8 – But the self-employed appear to be more content at work and happier overall in their lives.



#9 – The rise in self-employment may indicate a new ‘creative compromise’ at work

Of those polled in our survey, 82 percent said the work they do is more meaningful than that found in a typical job, and 87 percent that they have more freedom to do the things they want.


This finding indicates that many of the self-employed see the work they do as an end in itself and an inherently enjoyable activity (a concept that – believe it or not – is still foreign to large parts of society).

#10 – It’s time we learned to live with self-employment

If this report tells us anything it is that high levels of self-employment are here to say, and that most of those who work for themselves (including the newly self-employed) actually enjoy what they do, despite the financial drawbacks.

Which sounds about where I am right now - I think it is time to relaunch EnterMobile.