New Thoughts on Our Process.....Agile Disruption Method Sounds Good

Thinking along our process, we have decided to coin the phrase: Agile Disruption Method. We were trying to figure out a good way to describe the flow of thinking we undertake with each new project or client and BOOM the Agile Disruption Method was born.

The last month and half or so we've been studying design thinking. If you have no idea what that is, visit the ideo website for further explanation. While design thinking allows its believers to navigate through a process, agile disruption method allows people to move freely with that process. At any given moment one could jump from prototyping to idea generation then inadvertently stumble upon a launch worthy solution which needs further discovery to substantiate. Situations such as this are not uncommon; however, we felt the need to formulate their occurrence into a formula which can help people (like ourselves) find the track again.

The following are some phrases or thoughts we felt best described what this method entails:

*Attention to aesthetic, function, usability, and human experience/value given to each phase of development.

*Fast-paced, counteractive way of creative thinking/reasoning.

*Continuous morphing, building, forming strategies all leading back to centralized root of problem.

* Infinite-possibilities approach; moving in all directions to expound upon new thoughts/ideas, not just forward toward the obvious or definite.

* "Go with the flow" approach until either a solution is rendered or the path becomes compromised to point of undoubted viability/inefficiency.

* Choosing what is to be created, it is the precursor and result of the creation process and iteration selection process. Assume nothing is as it seems until it is, then dismantle it to explore the possibilities that exist within.

* To guess toward best or most simplifying explanations, which deduction can explicate and which induction can evaluate.

* Every solution creates a problem that needs solving.

Just a small sample, more thoughts to come.......

Can Anyone Become a Leader?

While reading some excerpts from Seth Godin's book Tribes, we came across the statement: "The market needs you (we need you) and the tools are there, just waiting. All that's missing is you, and your vision and your passion." This sparked the discussion of the true meaning of a leader, and the questioning of if anyone can become a leader. It is said that a leader is generally a charismatic individual that can inspire others through his/her ideas & passion. We went on to explore what others have defined as a "leader" and found:

"A leader takes people where they want to go. A great leader takes people where they don't necessarily want to go, but ought to be." -Rosalynn Carter

"If your actions inspire others to dream more, learn more, do more, and become more, you are a leader." -John Quincy Adams

"A leader is one who knows where he wants to go, and gets up, and goes." -John Erksin

SO.....can anyone can become a leader?

When we discussed this our first thought was that some people are just meant to be leaders, while others are just meant to merely be followers. The more we thought, we came to the conclusion that everyone has at least some leadership qualities, and in some way could be leading or inspiring others and simply not recognize it. All it takes to be a great leader is passion, belief, and a firm commitment. So we encourage everyone, be committed to your passions, follow them and connect with people that inspire you to inspire others.

Coworking Wilmington

We've recently started working with Preservation Initiatives to start our own Coworking spot. For those that aren't familiar with the term, we're not talking about people that simply work in an office together. Coworking offers low cost office space, free internet, meeting rooms and interactive brainstorming rooms to entrepreneurs that typically work on the go in local coffee bistros/cafe's and home offices. The idea behind the concept is to create a collaborative environment which helps entrepreneurs grow their businesses through collective intelligence and cross-pollination of services.

Our space, The Community Innovation Loft or COIN will be a hybrid version our Community Innovation Project and a business incubator. We will focus our efforts on early-stage start-up and growth phase companies....no particular industries. We're looking at launching in either the LOMA Design District or in one of the newly renovated West 9th St. store front properties near Red Mohawk. Stay tuned for more info about the progress of the project. Join our meetup group: COIN Wilmington if your interested in participating in it's growth.

Business Plans Don't Work....Right?

That's right people...we said it. BUSINESS PLANS DON'T WORK.

We've had the "pleasure" of working with many different types of entrepreneurs along our journey and almost all of them have at one time or another mentioned how they need to update, write or follow their business plan. Every time we hear someone say this we always end up glancing at each other with a hint of laughter in our eyes.....here's why- the business plan is suppose to be a physical representation of your vision as an entrepreneur; the consumers needs, and how you plan to make money providing solutions to those needs. We place an enormous amount of emphasis on the business plan being a reflection of your VISION. If you can't see your business and its success, you can't write and therefore it doesn't exist.This is why many entrepreneurs end up miles away from where they wanted to be. If you want to avoid the vision pitfall, it takes honesty, empathy, agility and ingenuity.

We've developed a seminar specifically designed to address the vision problem many entrepreneurs face. We'll be running it at the University of Delaware starting October 20th. If you can make it please do....if not keep your eye out for the breakout events.

Let's Have CIP Every Day!!

We recently started a Community Innovation Project group on linkedin.com. If you don't have time for our program on October 20th at the Universtiy of Delaware, this would be a great way to still get those creative juices flowing. Innovation is the only weapon we take into the war of business. Don't let your competitors catch you empty handed....we can promise the results will not be in your favor.

Check out our linkedin.com group and join today. We'd love to create something with you.

Community Innovation Website

Ok, so the cip website is finished and ready for your veiwing pleasure. A few things have changed since we've last posted and even since we've finished the site. The program will be in Purnell Hall room 324B. The date has changed to October 20, 2009....same time.

To RSVP for the program, please contact us through the Community Innovation Project website or communityinnovation.eventbrite.com.

Stay tuned for our "I AM INNOVATION" campaign!!!!

Community Innovation Project

University of Delaware Venture Development Center
Lerner Building, room 324B
Tuesday, October 18, 2009 5:30pm-8:30pm

The program is conducted like an open forum/round table discussion. Wes Garnett and Steve Roettger, owners of The Verge Business Group, LLC act as moderators. The entire program is 3 hours long. The schedule of events is as follows:

1- Introduction of the program by Wes and Steve

2- Round table discussion about the innovation process. (60min)

-Wes and Steve will introduce their innovation model to the group.

-Dream It, Plan It, Test It, Build It

3- Real business idea from a client of Verge is presented to the class as a working example. (45 min)

-Idea will be stripped of all proprietary information to ensure the safety of the client.

-Group will be asked to apply the innovation process to the idea, as well as test the business model for feasibility. At the end of the process we hope to have built an entire business model from the groups' suggestions.

4- To further delve into the innovation process, Wes and Steve will ask that the group rip apart and build on the previous business model to create the best solution for profitable innovation. (45min)

5- Networking and feedback (30min)

Community Innovation Project is not a Focus Group

Focus groups rely on moderators to lead the group and stimulate discussion without saying too much about what the company wants to hear from the participants regarding their product or service. The moderator must keep the participants focused on the topic, involve all of the participants and encourage group members to react to each others comments to solicit enough input about how the participants view and potentially utilize the product or service. Moderators must work from a guide with an outlined discussion plan. The goal of the group discussion is to provide the company with target market opinions to identify trends; which will lead to sales revenue.

C.I.P is an open forum, round table discussion about the process of successful implementation of profitable business model innovations. Because the seminar is built around an educational model, participants will never be pre-screened. Although we will examine a test case in a focus group like fashion, the manner in which we conduct that portion of the program is far removed from the regimented outline style of focus groups. C.I.P is meant to replicate the pressure entrepreneur's feel as a result of eminent competition. To get a better understanding of this, imagine standing in Blackberry's shoes when Apple's iPhone sky rocketed past 1 million units in the first week of sales. These are the types of dilemmas we will confront participants with; however, we will use real business ideas from real entrepreneurs looking to launch a new and innovative business idea. Unlike focus groups, the outcome of their super charged "innovation-storming" will not be pre-determined. There will be no set questions or right or wrong answers. The goal of this portion of our seminar is to teach the group how to think through complex business issues quickly and decisively. These are priceless skills they will be able to employ for many, many years. In addition to that, the entrepreneur that chooses to put their business idea through the program is given a chance to peer into the minds of their future consumers and leave with a blueprint of how to gain the most traction. Hopefully you will agree that the Community Innovation Project is a win-win situation for all those involved.

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