innovation

saving your job with data visualisation

By brendan at 15 July, 2011, 10:45 am

Most Churchill Club events start with an idea, something I have noticed that then sits in the back of my head weeks, months or years until I understand how it “fits” as a good event. An example of this is data visualisation, or the way that complexity is being represented as an accessible visual medium. [...]

Do you have a brilliant idea?

By brendan at 15 February, 2011, 12:04 pm

Picture this: I am approached by “John” who has been recommended to talk to me about his new venture – but it turns out he wants me to sign an NDA before he can discuss it. I refuse to sign unless he can give me an outline of what he is proposing, so we agree [...]

Turning waste into PR

By brendan at 15 February, 2011, 11:36 am

I went to hear from Tom Griffith of Emma and Tom’s fruit juices at The Hive the other day. Apparently in their early days, their minimum production runs were always more than they could sell, which was a problem as their stock was highly perishable. Their clever solution was to use this excess as sponsorship [...]

Event Report from the Churchill Club’s – Serious Play

By brendan at 10 February, 2011, 12:46 pm

Notes taken by me at the Churchill Club programme on the 17th February 2011. With Bill Lang – Founder, Scores on the Board Gilda Howard – CEO, Gowrie Victoria Trudi Pavlovsky – Founder, The Dream Initiative What is Play? Play is activity that is normally; enjoyable, not motivated by a desired completion, not motivated by [...]

Failing Smarter

By brendan at 6 December, 2010, 8:26 am

Last month we ran a fascinating session on failure at the Churchill Club. It was prompted by a comment of a friend of mine who had been the commander of the Australian forces in the Solomon islands a couple of years ago. He said “Of course failure is going to happen, so we give people [...]

Enemies of Innovation

By brendan at 30 November, 2010, 11:15 am

Innovation can be a nasty business. It requires energy and creativity, resources such as people’s budgets and time as well as the need to manage the stress and actions of those that don’t want change. Staff don’t like it as it can threaten their job security, perks, status and even their remuneration. However its a [...]

Innovation by walking through mud

By brendan at 6 November, 2009, 2:04 pm

Over the Melbourne Cup long weekend (yes, I know it wasn’t a real long weekend) I took my family and another family over to Lakes Entrance for four days of fun and frivolity. One of the activities we organised was a bush walk/navigation exercise through the Lake Tyers area. Although I had planned the route [...]

Its the great ideas I want, not just the good ones!

By brendan at 22 October, 2009, 2:44 pm

Last week it was my parents something or other wedding anniversary (north of 45, south of 50). I got my daughter to give her Grandmother a call to say “Happy Wedding Anniversary, thanks for making me possible”. Anyway we, my daughter and I, got into a discussion about who my family was. How could my [...]

People in 3D

By brendan at 17 June, 2009, 1:38 pm

Once a month I have a “boys night out at the movies” with a group of other guys. We normally have a quick drink, see a movie (I’m voting for Lesbian Vampire Killers next) then a quick discussion afterwards. As the amateur film critic, I have developed a pattern of thought in where I ask [...]

Pitching for Government Agency IP

By brendan at 24 March, 2009, 1:56 pm

In 1999 a small web development business called Pyra Labs was founded by two people. They were trying to build an online Project Management system called Pyra. Times were tough and staff number fluctuated dramatically (at one stage, down to one person holding on to the vision). Eventually some interest was shown in a side [...]