{"product_id":"the-idea-hunter-isbn-9780470767764","title":"The Idea Hunter","description":"\u003cb\u003eA different way of discovering and developing the best business ideas\u003c\/b\u003e  \u003cp\u003eJack Welch once said, \"Someone, somewhere has a better idea.\" In this myth-busting book, the authors reveal that great business ideas do not spring from innate creativity, or necessarily from the brilliant minds of people. Rather, great ideas come to those who are in the habit of looking for great ideas all around them, all the time. Too often, people fall into the trap of thinking that the only worthwhile idea is a thoroughly original one. Idea Hunters know better. They understand that valuable ideas are already out there, waiting to be found - and not just in the usual places.\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cul\u003e \u003cli\u003eShows how to expand your capacity to find and develop winning business ideas\u003c\/li\u003e \u003cli\u003eExplains why ideas are a critical asset for every manager and professional, not just for those who do \"creative\"\u003c\/li\u003e \u003cli\u003eReveals how to seek out and select the ideas that best serve your purposes and goals and define who you are, as a professional\u003c\/li\u003e \u003cli\u003eOffers practical tips on how to master the everyday habits of an Idea Hunter, which include cultivating great conversations\u003c\/li\u003e \u003c\/ul\u003e \u003cp\u003eThe book is filled with illustrative accounts of successful Idea Hunters and stories from thriving \"idea\" companies. Warren Buffet, Walt Disney, Thomas Edison, Mary Kay Ash, Twitter, and Pixar Animation Studios are among the many profiled.\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003ePreface: Why Hunt? xi\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eIntroduction: Brilliance Not Required 1\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eAlready Out There 3\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eReady to Unlearn 7\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003e1 Know Your Gig 11\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eThe Discernment 13\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eThe Circle of Competence 17\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eGigs Matter 19\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eThe I–D–E–A Principles\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eInterested\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003e2 Be Interested, Not Just Interesting 25\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eCuriosity at the Trading Post 28\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eLearning Machines 29\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eYour Brain is Open 33\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eDefining Your Own Hunt 36\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eIdeawork #1: Selling the Best Hour of the Day to Yourself 39\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eDiverse\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003e3 Diversifying the Hunt 47\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eThe Color of Your Ideas 49\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eWhen Weak Ties are Strong 51\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eWidening Your Intellectual Bandwidth 54\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eBridging Distant Worlds 58\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eIdeas are Everywhere 61\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eIdeawork #2: The I’S and T’S 65\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eExercised\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003e4 Mastering the Habits of the Hunt 71\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eThe Practice of Ideas 73\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eBegin with an Eye 75\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eObserving at the Ritz 77\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eErecting a Personal Platform of Observation 80\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eWrite It Down 83\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eGet It Moving 86\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eObserve Yourself 88\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eIdeawork #3: Assembling an Idea Portfolio 91\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eExercised\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003e4 Mastering the Habits of the Hunt 71\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eThe Practice of Ideas 73\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eBegin with an Eye 75\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eObserving at the Ritz 77\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eErecting a Personal Platform of Observation 80\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eWrite It Down 83\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eGet It Moving 86\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eObserve Yourself 88\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eIdeawork #3: Assembling an Idea Portfolio 91\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eAgile\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003e5 Idea Flow is Critical 101\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eThe Case of the Guitar Strings 104\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eCreating Idea Spaces at Pixar 106\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eFinding the “Informal Bosses” 110\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eLetting Ideas Percolate 112\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eWhen It’s Time to “Kill” Ideas 115\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eIdeawork #4: Ready, Set, Launch 121\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003e6 Create Great Conversations 129\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003e“Continuers” and “Terminators” 132\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eThe Value of a Naive Question 136\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003ePreparing for the Big Conversation 138\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eEpilogue: Thoreau and the I-D-E-A Assessment 143\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eReferences 151\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eAcknowledgments 161\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eAbout the Authors 165\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eIndex 167\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eANDY BOYNTON\u003c\/b\u003e IS THE DEAN of the Carroll School of Management at Boston College. He was a professor of strategic leadership at IMD (International Institute for Management Development) in Lausanne, Switzerland, where he created and directed the school’s highly-rated global Executive MBA program. \u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eBILL FISCHER\u003c\/b\u003e IS A PROFESSOR at IMD. He previously served as dean and president of the China-Europe International Business School, a joint venture of the European Union and Chinese government, in Shanghai, China. \u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eWILLIAM BOLE\u003c\/b\u003e IS A JOURNALIST and a research fellow of the Winston Center for Leadership and Ethics at Boston College.\u003c\/p\u003e  \u003cp\u003e“Breakaway ideas come to those who are in the habit of looking for them.”\u003cbr\u003e—FROM THE INTRODUCTION\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eIdeas are arguably the most valuable asset in an information-based economy. But how do you find the best ideas—the kind that can boost careers, change organizations, and ramp up the value of projects? Why do some people seem to come up with these ideas whenever they need them?\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eIn this myth-busting book, the authors reveal that great business ideas do not spring from innate creativity, or necessarily from the minds of brilliant people. High-value ideas come to those people who are in the habit of looking for such ideas—all around them, all the time. These are the\u003ci\u003e \u003c\/i\u003eIdea Hunters. Such people do not buy into the notion that the only great idea is a pristinely original one. They know better. They understand that game-changing ideas are already out there, waiting to be spotted and then shaped into an innovation.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eThe authors present an eclectic band of Idea Hunters, ranging from Thomas Edison, Mary Kay Ash, and Walt Disney, to Warren Buffett, Apple’s Phil Schiller, and others including the leaders of Twitter, Pixar Animation Studios, and the Boston Beer Company. These people have certain characteristics embodied in the four I-D-E-A principles (Interested, Diverse, Exercised, and Agile). They also know their gig—their personal mission, and why it matters. They don’t let the organization, job, industry, or profession define their Idea Hunt. And they recognize how the world around them connects with their plans and projects. \u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eStep by step, \u003ci\u003eThe Idea Hunter\u003c\/i\u003e unveils a strategy for unearthing new ideas in any industry or organization. It is a must-have resource for anyone who wants to tap into the successful business ideas that are just waiting to be rediscovered.\u003c\/p\u003e   \"Humans make progress by discovering new ideas, but also, importantly, by repurposing the ones that already exist. Boynton and Fisher show how each of us can get better at this critical skill, identifying and reapplying existing ideas.\"\u003cbr\u003e \u003cb\u003e―Paul Romer, Senior Fellow, Stanford Institute for Economic Policy Research\u003c\/b\u003e  \u003cp\u003e“Hunting is an apt metaphor.  Ideas exist everywhere in the wild. The trick is knowing where to look for them and how to capture them.  Boynton and Fischer tell us how.”\u003cbr\u003e \u003cb\u003e―Ron Sargent, Chairman \u0026amp; CEO, Staples, Inc.\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003ci\u003e“The Idea Hunter\u003c\/i\u003e is unique.  It’s about curiosity, agility and perpetually hunting for better ideas.  It’s a must read for anyone who wants to compete and collaborate more effectively each and every day.”\u003cbr\u003e \u003cb\u003e―Greg Brown, President \u0026amp; CEO, Motorola Solutions.\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003e“This book upends a number of persistent myths about innovation and what it takes to be an ‘idea person.’ It shows that what’s required is not spectacular creativity or remarkable IQ, but curiosity—a genuine desire to engage in a daily search for ideas.  It will help transform the way you and your business operate.”\u003cbr\u003e \u003cb\u003e―Jay Hooley, Chairman, President \u0026amp; CEO, State Street Corporation\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003ci\u003e“The Idea Hunter\u003c\/i\u003e is not only an enjoyable read. It offers a practical method so that anyone or any firm can learn the secrets of harnessing the power of ideas to drive success.”\u003cbr\u003e \u003cb\u003e― Laura J. Sen, President \u0026amp; CEO, BJ’s Wholesale Club\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003e“Boynton and Fischer offer powerful and practical advice on how to jump-shift the flow of ideas in your organization.  This will become required reading for any leader intent on shaping a high-performance organization.”\u003cbr\u003e \u003cb\u003e―Michael D. White, Chairman \u0026amp; CEO, DirecTV\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eObserve, ask questions, be curious, dare to throw odd ideas into a group’s conversation to make it better. Be an Idea Hunter!\u003cbr\u003e \u003cb\u003e―\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cb\u003eTon Büchner, CEO, Sulzer, Ltd\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003e“\u003c\/b\u003eMy company aims to add about $4 billion in new sales every year. This won’t be possible without everyone in the organization contributing new ideas. \u003ci\u003eThe\u003c\/i\u003e \u003ci\u003eIdea Hunter\u003c\/i\u003e is an essential guide to systematically developing this critical capability.”\u003cbr\u003e \u003cb\u003e― Werner Geissler, Vice Chairman, Global Operations, Procter \u0026amp; Gamble\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003e“Thrilling, fun, and inspiring, \u003ci\u003eThe\u003c\/i\u003e \u003ci\u003eIdea Hunter\u003c\/i\u003e tells stories and discerns patterns of behavior and habits shared by the great innovators of the past century. It finds similarities among the greats ranging from Warren Buffet to Steve Jobs, and even going back earlier in the century to Walt Disney and Thomas Edison. Through brief stories and simple self-reflection exercises, this book distills the quirky essence of leading imagination in a way we can consume it, and hopefully aspire to become one with it.\u003cbr\u003e \u003cb\u003e― Aaron C. Sylvan, Serial Entrepreneur and Technologist (One Technology, TrustWorks, LemonadeHeroes, Sylvan Social Technology)\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003e“We rely on using the ideas of thousands of experts to win against tough competition in a crowded market. Using \u003ci\u003eThe Idea Hunter\u003c\/i\u003e as a trail map, any leader can win the daily wars of ideas that differentiate the innovator from the rest.”\u003cbr\u003e \u003cb\u003e―Jack Hughes, Chairman and Co-founder, TopCoder, Inc.\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003e“Idea hunters are normal people, with a normal life in a common social contest. The only difference is that they have an open mind and are skilled in searching. This brilliant book is an ideal guide to achieve an open mind in our complex world.”\u003cbr\u003e ―\u003cb\u003eMaurizio Marinelli, Visual Artist \u0026amp; President of Baskerville Research Center on Communication, Bologna, Italy\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Jossey-Bass","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":47990261874917,"sku":"NP9780470767764","price":31.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/1842\/7735\/files\/9780470767764.jpg?v=1761787107","url":"https:\/\/k12savings.com\/es\/products\/the-idea-hunter-isbn-9780470767764","provider":"K12savings","version":"1.0","type":"link"}