Table of Contents
Preface: Born into a Legacy of Idea Makers xi
Acknowledgments xiii
Introduction: Idea Lovers versus Idea Makers xv
Who Is This Book For? xv
How Does This Book Work? xvi
The Business of Good Ideas xvii
A Conversation over Coffee xvii
Part 1 Where Do Good Ideas Come From? 1
Chapter 1 Strategy or Chance? 3
Chapter 2 Ideas in the Midst 5
Wisdom from the Streets 6
Spatial Distance? 7
Chapter 3 My Need for Need 9
Chapter 4 Medici Changed My Life 11
The Medici Tweet? 12
Chapter 5 Don’t Settle for Good 15
Part 2 Life after Inspiration 19
Chapter 6 Addicted to Inspiration 21
Chapter 7 What Plan? 25
Passion Unrealized 25
Chapter 8 Dig a Little Deeper 29
The Dreaded Business Plan 29
Wisdom from Wade 30
A Few Questions for Idea Makers 31
Chapter 9 Ideas Don’t Work; You Do! 33
Bootstrapping for Project 7 35
Become a Bootstrapper! 36
Chapter 10 Choose Family 37
Part 3 Overcoming Creative Resistance 41
Chapter 11 Wipe Your Nos and Buts 43
A Prehistoric Brain 44
Chapter 12 The Dreaded Look Inside 47
Chapter 13 Disturbance in the Force 51
Bringing It Home 52
Chapter 14 Hear Me Out 55
The Other Side of the Coin (Practicing What We Preach) 56
Part 4 Paving a Creative Pathway 59
Chapter 15 No Escape Clause 61
Chapter 16 Got Rhythm? 65
Chapter 17 Don’t Just Add; Multiply 69
A Wandering Generality 69
The Bad News . . . 70
Discovering the Power of Focus 72
Chapter 18 I Can See It! 75
More Than Digital 76
Chapter 19 Press Pause 79
Your Life Needs Space as Well 80
Emergency Room Counseling 81
Putting on the Breaks! 82
Part 5 Elements for Idea Making 1 85
Chapter 20 The Art of Evolution 87
Chapter 21 DNA or R&D? 89
Chapter 22 Risk (Overrated!) 93
Chapter 23 The Miracle of Writing and Waiting 97
Chapter 24 Think Multiple, Not Perfect 101
Spaghetti Sauce Lessons 102
Part 6 Elements for Idea Making 2 105
Chapter 25 Simple 107
Chapter 26 Quality, Quality, Quality 111
Chapter 27 The F Word 115
Chapter 28 Under Pressure 119
Chapter 29 Dealing with Setbacks 125
Changing the World through Shoes 125
Chapter 30 Beat the Tribal Drum 129
Part 7 The Work of Collaboration 133
Chapter 31 Myths 135
Myth 1: Collaboration Just Happens on Its Own 136
Myth 2: Collaboration Is Intuitive for Everyone 136
Myth 3: Collaboration Is an Act of Lightening the Workload 136
Myth 4: Collaboration Is a One-Size-Fits-All Endeavor 137
Myth 5: Collaboration Is about Finding the Right Technological Tools 137
Chapter 32 Human: The X Factor 139
Chapter 33 I Need It! 143
An Organization Created in Collaboration 144
Chapter 34 Do You Trust Me? 147
Chapter 35 Fight Club 153
Chapter 36 The Hire 159
Part 8 Getting Out There! 165
Chapter 37 Why Brand Matters 167
A Practical Guide to Branding 169
Chapter 38 A Personal Brand? 171
Accidental Lessons about Personal Branding 173
Chapter 39 The Pitch 175
An Idea Worth Sharing 180
Chapter 40 Life in a Digital Age 183
Conclusion 191
A Note about Failure 192
Recommendations for Further Reading 195
About the Author 199
Index 201