The K Factor

posted by David Wolf on Aug 22, 2008 | Comments (8) | Permalink | Trackback URL

First, we can fall in love too easily. Often, that first great idea that resonates takes over in our minds, and we can’t let go. We’re in love. But, there are other fish in the sea. The other tendency is that we can generate so many ideas that we become completely overwhelmed, dredging through a puddle of possibilities with no answer in sight.

I recently interviewed author Michael J. Gelb, who is an expert on the great inventor of our time, Thomas Alva Edison, and the co-author of the book, Innovate Like Edison. During he and co-author, Sarah Miller Caldicott’s study of Edison’s methods of innovation, they discovered his ability to employ“kaleidoscopic thinking”. I call it the K-Factor. Edison believed that if you need to come up with one great idea, then you should come up with many great ideas. Edison did exactly that. He referred to his own mind as a Kaleidoscope. We can do this too.

Harness our natural entrepreneurial tendency to generate endless great ideas, and, by peering at them as if they were in a kaleidoscope, with critical thinking, we can then isolate and select and one great idea that is the perfect fit. Then mold it carefully for the particular challenge at hand. Keep all those other great ideas alive in your K-file for future consideration, you’ll want to refer back to them from time to time, to peer back into your process.

As an entrepreneur, you should celebrate your ability to create a multitude of great ideas. It’s your gift. But…don’t fall in love too soon. And always remember the K-Factor.

David Wolf is the manager of Radio, Podcasting and Social Media at SBTV.com—-The Small Business Television Network. http://www.sbtv.com. Email him at .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address).

FILED IN: Blog, Branding, Communication, Emotional Intelligence, Entrepreneurship, New Thinking, Marketing, Productivity