“It is critical to learn how to listen for what is not being said.”
SUMMARY – Success is all about connections. Debra Kaye explodes conventional thinking about innovation and provides an approach that anyone or any business can use to expose the crucial links among observations, experiences, facts, and feelings that on the surface do not seem related–but are–to uncover fresh, brilliant insights. In Red Thread Thinking, Kaye shows you how to weave originality from disparate information and turn it into a product or service that can shake up the marketplace–and your business.
What sets Red Thread Thinking apart from other books is that it reveals exactly how to identify and understand hidden cultural codes and shifts in consumer perceptions that speak to emerging and existing markets and, as a result, catapult fresh products to iconic status.
A mold-breaking system, Red Thread Thinking sharpens your innovation skills and can assist in problem solving, whether preparing a talk, pitching a project to your colleagues and boss, managing staff in a more productive way, or taking business to a new level.
“Look for patterns, and then ask why those patterns exist.”
REVIEW – When I first read the summary of the book, my initial thoughts were that it was going to read like Malcolm Gladwell’s book’s What the Dog Saw and other adventures. My experience in reading business books for recreation outside of educational requirements is rather limited, but I found them both to be equally insightful and offer many opportunities for further contemplation. Personally I thought Gladwell’s book was more engaging, more entertaining and therefore successful in fulfilling one of my main priorities when reading a non-fiction book. I realize Gladwell has been ridiculed for a lack of theoretical credibility. However; I simply thought that while reading his book I was enjoying a “story” with great anecdotes that had a wider reach while Red Thread Thinking read comparable to an educational vehicle with great insights but will ultimately have a limited reach to a certain mass audience. If you are one of the types of people who have said “well why didn’t I think of that?”. You are not alone and lucky for you this book is ripe for the picking. It is time to embrace your inner free spirit typically used in childhood like Mallory Kievman did at age thirteen when she invented the Hiccupops and start the innovation process for yourself.
The left- or right-brained argument is one that I have been always interested in. Personally, I have always resided in the left brain hemisphere. This book identifies the fact that with due diligence in regards to the reinforcement of creative activities, even I can gain access to heightened awareness of my creative networks. The social media pente will also prove to be relevant as the breadth of social marketing becomes more expansive, and measuring how influence motivates behavioural change becomes vital for your business. This book also promotes the use of meditation and REM sleep employment for freeing your mind from preconceived ideas to promote the innovation of new and out-of-the-box thoughts. Over the years I have also been interested in the regeneration of lost gray matter in the brain from reasons I leave for your imagination. This book provided me with the idea of stimulating new neurons that have not been activated,(I have always wanted to learn Japanese, how about the piano?). There is also a good story about Canadian high-jumper Dick Fosbury and how his flop revolutionized the sport.
Often times I felt like I have covered a lot of the main talking points found in this book through my educational pursuits, However; I learned many new things from the author’s unique perspective (“premortem”), as well as the specified cases, I am going to be looking into buying a Bobble for family and friends. It did not do much in terms of “ringing any bells” or specific to this book I did not encounter an “eureka” moment. This book to me is geared more for the every person who is very innovative, insightful, creative. This person will not have a disposition towards the dynamics of business unless they need a refresher, but is looking for inspiration for putting an idea in motion or farther innovation.
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