An easy-to-understand and easy-to-implement method for creating new ideas and new products This book blows the lid off the so-called "idea gurus" by demystifying the creation of great new innovations. It offers readers a way to look at their company's existing products and services in order to transform them into new ideas.

Introduction.

"But, I'm Not Creative".

Don't Buy the Idea Industry's Blather.

Seek and Ye Shall Find.

Thomas Edison Was Right.

What Could You Substitute?

What Could You Combine?

What Could You Magnify or Minimize?

What Else Could It Be?

What Could You Eliminate?

What Could You Reverse?

What Could You Bring Back?

Generate First, Judge Later.

One Final Word: Cajones.

Index.

Innovation is easy when you're Ideawise

"Since marketing is basically a battle of ideas, coming up with a good one is paramount. In that respect, IdeaWise should help you enormously."
-Jack Trout, President, Trout & Partners Ltd.
author of Big Brands, Big Trouble: Lessons Learned the Hard Way

"Ideas and innovations are sometimes spontaneous, but more commonly they are the product of training and awareness. This practical book tells you how to turn your ideas into gold."
-Richard D. Lamm, three-term Governor of Colorado

"Ideas are one of the key currencies of marketing. IdeaWise, quite simply, will help marketers, big and small, produce more and better actionable ideas."
-Bill Duggan, Adjunct Associate Professor, New York University, Stern School of Business

"New ideas are all around us- a very simple (yet universally misunderstood) premise from this refreshingly irreverent and eminently practical guide to the ideation process. IdeaWise is essential reading for today's marketing professional."
-William McDaniel, Director, Public Affairs, ALSTOM Inc.

"IdeaWise should be required reading for every manager in America. It will save your company thousands of dollars in consultants' fees and help you create a stream of revenue of millions of dollars from the new products and services you will develop."
-Jack McConnell, MD, former Johnson & Johnson executive founder, Volunteers in Medicine Clinic

"It's very tough for any organization to come up with really new and different ideas that can actually be implemented. This is the first book that actually tells you how to do it-from A to Z."
-Andrew Garvin, President, Find/SVP, Inc.

"Rivkin and Seitel have written an innovative book, crammed with example after example to get your thinking started."
-John Horty, Chairman, National Council of Community Hospitals

Introduction. "But, I'm Not Creative". Don't Buy the Idea Industry's Blather. Seek and Ye Shall Find. Thomas Edison Was Right. What Could You Substitute? What Could You Combine? What Could You Magnify or Minimize? What Else Could It Be? What Could You Eliminate? What Could You Reverse? What Could You Bring Back? Generate First, Judge Later. One Final Word: Cajones. Index.

Innovation is a critical factor in business success today. However, companies can often find themselves stuck when trying to come up with a truly "new" idea. What they don't realize-and what this book reveals-is that it's not necessary to reinvent the wheel or hire a high-priced consultant to be truly innovative. Instead, you need to learn that the most creative and dynamic ideas are already there, just waiting for you to adapt them to your needs. It's called becoming IdeaWise.

Steve Rivkin and Fraser Seitel demystify the creation of great new innovations in IdeaWise, showing you how to foster fresh thinking that solves problems and propels business. They demonstrate how to borrow an existing idea and manipulate it in inventive ways to produce new products and business solutions. Inside, you'll find easy-to-understand methods that prove that a subtle twist on an idea can make a huge impact on business, including:
* What can you combine with an existing idea? (Band-Aids are now available with antibiotic ointment already on the pad.)
* What can you magnify or minimize? (McDonald's and Pizza Hut are shrinking their outlets to fit inside airport terminals.)
* What can you eliminate? (Saturn did away with pushy salespeople to address customers' fears of the car-buying process.)
* What can you reverse? (Lego did an about-face on an ill-advised diversification and returned to its core business.)
* What can you bring back? (Commerce Bank is bringing back the old values of long hours and personal service in consumer and small business banking.)

The authors reveal how anyone can be creative and transform new ideas through logic, common sense, and practicality. You'll discover what you should beware of in the "Idea Industry," consultant speak, and formulaic solutions. And you'll explore the three major process steps that will make you IdeaWise:
* How to work most effectively by yourself on new ideas
* How to work most effectively on new ideas in a group setting
* How to begin evaluating your ideas

Converting innovative ideas into organizational action takes courage, boldness, and no small amount of passion. With IdeaWise, you'll conquer any fears and doubts and bring to life the forward-thinking innovations that will inspire and invigorate your company.