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Hey there, innovation champions!
It’s that time of year when everyone’s talking about their grand resolutions and ambitious plans for change. But let me share a story that might change how you think about transformation.
Back in 2011, I made what seemed like an embarrassingly small commitment: 15 minutes of art-making every day. Not a bold resolution to “become a great artist” or “make breakthrough work.” Just 15 minutes of playing in what I call the Creative Sandbox.
You might think such a tiny commitment couldn’t possibly lead to significant change. But here’s what happened:
Those daily 15-minute sessions didn’t just rekindle my creative practice – they transformed my entire approach to innovation and leadership. That “tiny” commitment led to developing the Create the Impossible™ framework that now helps tech giants drive breakthrough innovation.
Here’s why this matters for leaders looking to drive real change in 2025:
Most of us approach change backward.
We start with grand visions and elaborate plans. We wait for perfect conditions and big blocks of time. We try to leap to the end result without building the foundation.
But real transformation rarely works that way.
Let me break this down using my Create the Impossible™ framework:
1. Play Hard
Instead of setting intimidating goals, start with something playful and doable. My 15-minute art practice wasn’t impressive, but it was consistent and fun.
What if, instead of declaring “We’ll launch three groundbreaking products this year,” you committed your team to 15 minutes of creative exploration each morning?
2. Make Crap
I didn’t wait for perfect conditions to start my art practice. I literally started in bed, with just a marker and sketchbook, before my feet hit the floor.
What tiny experiment could you start tomorrow, with whatever resources you have right now?
3. Learn Fast
Those daily sketches weren’t created with any grand purpose. But because I was consistently creating, I had a reservoir of work to draw from when unexpected opportunities arose. Some of those “meaningless doodles” even ended up as illustrations in my book!
The key insight here? Transformation doesn’t require a new year, a new budget, or a new strategic plan. It requires consistent, playful engagement with possibility.
Here’s what this might look like in practice:
Instead of: “We’ll increase innovation output by 50% this year”
Try: “We’ll spend the first 15 minutes of each team meeting exploring wild ideas”
Instead of: “We’ll overhaul our entire development process”
Try: “We’ll run one tiny experiment each week”
Instead of: “We’ll transform our company culture”
Try: “We’ll celebrate one ‘fascinating failure’ in every project review”
Think these changes are too small to matter? Remember: Baby steps will get you anywhere, as long as they’re consistently going forward.
Here’s your challenge as we step into 2025:
Choose one tiny practice that you could start tomorrow. Something so small it seems almost ridiculous. Then commit to it for just one week.
Maybe it’s:
– Five minutes of freewriting before opening your email
– One wild idea captured before your first meeting
– A quick sketch of a problem you’re trying to solve
Remember: The breakthrough that transforms your organization might start with something so simple, you almost dismiss it.
Stay curious, stay playful, and keep creating the impossible!
Leaders: Want to learn how to harness the power of creative flow to drive innovation in your team?
Schedule an Innovation Strategy Session and let’s explore how intentional constraints and playful exploration can drive breakthrough innovation in your organization.
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