Here are a few of my favorite things...

One of the most amazing benefits about blogging is the incredible and interesting people who I meet as a result. 

Just yesterday, I ran into Chuck Frey of Innovation Tools on Facebook (many thanks to Kes Sampanthar, inventor of the Think Cube, for introducing us). 

Well, Chuck recommended a couple of his favorite articles of mine on his blog, and I thought I'd chime in with a couple of my personal favorites as well.

Chuck liked:

• True or false: Customers are a great source of ideas
• When it's not worth innovating for more features
• What products drive you insane and how could they be improved?
• Does thinking of customer service as a negative blind companies to new opportunities?

Here are a couple of posts that I love:

• How to take an idea to the next level
• Are your laptop's new features good for you?
• Can a new idea be too far ahead of its time?
• Thinking backwards can actually be quite brilliant.
• The path to failed innovations

BUT, by far, my absolute favorite posts of all time were the two where I shared your ideas for my Random Word Contest!

For those of you who weren't here, I challenged everyone to come up with ideas for how to improve a car.  But they weren't allowed to just spout off whatever ideas popped into their head--they had to draw a completely random word from my generator, and come up with ideas related to it.

I know, sounds like a horribly mean thing to do.  I even tortured contestants by giving out words like "mermaid" and "ravioli" and "bubble"!  But, just as I expected, everyone did a fantastic job.

There were so many great and fresh ideas that it took two posts to list them all.  If you get a chance, I HIGHLY recommend taking a look.

1. Ways to Improve Cars - Ideas from the Random Word Contest (Part 1)
2. Ways to Improve Cars - Ideas from the Random Word Contest (Part 2)

In fact, thinking about the contest has gotten me all excited about doing it again.  It will take me a little time to get everything organized, but look for my next contest at the end of this month.

(That will also give everyone a chance to find their thinking caps!)

By the way, if you want a special reminder from me about the contest, leave a comment below.

Comments

[Bob Van Leeuwen]

OK Katie - please remind me for the next contest!

P.S. regarding car ideas... and the Onion by Chris Johnston;
Check it out- SmartCar has an interchangeable "skin" to allow for this option ...coming soon to a theatre near you !

[Bob Van Leeuwen]

OK Katie - please remind me for the next contest!

P.S. regarding car ideas... and the Onion by Chris Johnston;Check it out- SmartCar has an interchangeable "skin" to allow for this option ...coming soon to a theatre near you !