Idea Magnets – A New Creative Leadership Formula

Idea Magnets grew from a significant change in how I’d been sharing my learnings on innovation and creativity with audiences during my corporate career. It emerged from a blog on creative leadership that mentioned individuals throughout my career that shaped my approach to creativity.
Writing Idea Magnets revealed multiple insights about the changes I have made during my career. It is about taking more ownership for both imagining and implementing big ideas myself and through our team and clients.
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​The first insight was how much content I created for The Brainzooming Group blog came from a “don’t do that” perspective. Thinking about my first eBook, Taking the NO Out of InNOvation, makes it clear: you don’t get much more “don’t do that” than Taking the NO Out of InNOvation.

Content in the first drafts of Idea Magnets started life in a “don’t do that” perspective. I kept reminding myself while working on the book that Idea Magnets don’t think like that. They create big visions, objectives, and purposes. They aggressively march toward them. Idea Magnets are too busy making BIG things happen to spend any time bothering with what not to do creatively.

As the book progressed, it became clear that Idea Magnets is where I’ve been heading personally since before starting Brainzooming.

Taking the NO Out of InNOvation addressed the transition early in my career to think about new ideas and change more positively. Other content streams covered the time during my corporate career when we were developing the methodology that became Brainzooming. Idea Magnets addresses how I’ve shifted my perspectives to become a stronger creative leader for ourselves, our clients, and the audiences that read, watch, and listen to our content.

That’s why I’ve thought of Idea Magnets as material for the road I’m on now that requires a different type of collaborative creative leadership. Now, instead of depending on the creative leaders I work with to generate big ideas, I articulate our big vision and lead us in bringing it to life. It’s challenging, but it’s fun, and I think, important work.

​This is why Idea Magnets exists. It HAD to emerge as a guide for today and the years ahead.
As business and life are changing for all of us, we need to be ready to anticipate, handle, and succeed amid unprecedented change. Idea Magnets is about flourishing in those situations. It is about knowing what you can hold on to, gathering dynamic thinkers with valuable creative ideas to your team, and moving forward to achieve success.

Idea Magnets is a book both from the road and about the road. The road is incredible and exciting. I’ve learned to appreciate every aspect of the trip, and it will be even better, with you coming along with us!

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