True Innovation

True innovation is a function of a series of unexpected things coming together at a point in time…The only thing I can do is to try to help…recognize innovation when it happens.” – Charles Eames

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Charles_and_Ray_Eames

Some Organizations Never Surrender

“Whether you succeed or fail, endure or get eliminated, depends more on what you and your organization do than circumstances that arise, or what others do.

Never surrender. Be willing to change tactics, but never give up your core purpose. Be willing to kill failed business ideas, even to shutter big operations you’ve been in for a long time, but never give up on the idea of building a great company.

Be willing to evolve into an entirely different portfolio of activities, even to the point of zero overlap with what you do today, but never give up on the principles that define your culture. Be willing to embrace the inevitability of creative destruction, but never give up on the discipline to create your own future. Be willing to embrace loss, to endure pain, to temporarily lose freedoms, but never give up faith in the ability to prevail.

Be willing to form alliances with former adversaries, to accept necessary compromise, but never—ever—give up your core values.”

– Jim Collins, best-selling author, including How The Mighty Fall — And Why Some Companies Never Give In 

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Overcoming Innovation Vertigo towards Innovation Districts and their Positive Multiplier Effects

Overcoming Innovation Vertigo towards Innovation Districts and their Positive Multiplier Effects for U.S.

Innovation Barometer 2014 ; Innovative Companies Move Back to the City

You might have seen: The much-awaited and comprehensive Innovation Barometer, which surveyed 3,200 business executives, confirms that most business leaders believe they need to play a role in encouraging innovation and disruption in the workplace.

“This represents a shift from last year, when the survey revealed anxiety among executives as they attempted to navigate a highly competitive and fast-paced globalized innovation environment,” according to the barometer. “Many experienced ‘innovation vertigo’; they were unsure of how to move forward with disruptive ideas, products and services.”

Executives are more eager this year to promote innovation in the workplace, and they cite anticipating market revolutions, retaining talented employees, and adopting emerging technologies as the most important catalysts for this sort of innovation.

But you might have missed: Some of the largest tech giants are headquartered in suburbs. Microsoft is outside of Seattle, and Google’s centered in Mountain View, California. But a growing number of tech companies are moving back into the major cities, according to an article by Bruce Katz and Julie Wagner of the Brookings Institute.

One reason for the shift from suburbs to urban centers is seeking out top talent. The number of young, educated people moving to their city’s downtown center has grown by 26 percent between 2000 and 2009, making the move to the city attractive for top technology firms.

“The result is the growth of Innovation Districts—geographic areas that cluster together advanced research institutions and R&D-intensive companies with start-up firms and business accelerators,” according to the article. “These districts are compact and transit-connected, while offering mixed-use development. They also concentrate three core asset types—economic, physical, and networking—that, together, supercharge the innovation economy.”

The Smart Glass That Can Track What You Drink

The Smart Glass That Can Track What You Drink

http://www.bloomberg.com/video/the-smart-glass-that-can-track-what-you-drink-XVoq5BzlQl~bdBTsEUePDw.html

#TheTimeForAverageIsOver

U.S. Healthcare Not Well

“The United States came in dead last again in a report that looks that the U.S. health care system compared to other rich countries. Americans spend far more per person on medical care, yet are less healthy than people in 10 other countries. The system is less fair than those in other rich countries and is far less efficient, coming in last of the 11 countries in the report, which was compiled by the Commonwealth Fund.” – http://www.nbcwashington.com/news/national-international/263293701.html?_osource=SocialFlowFB_DCBrand

#TheDayOfAverageIsOver

http://www.forbes.com/sites/carminegallo/2012/06/20/steve-jobs-to-pixar-chief-just-make-it-great/?utm_content=buffer83169&utm_medium=social&utm_source=twitter.com&utm_campaign=buffer 

Pixar and Steve Jobs — and Tom Friedman “For U.S.” NOW! 

#TheDayOfAverageIsOver

Biomimicry: The Future of Urban (and further) Design

“Let’s not reinvent the wheel.  Let’s make the wheel smoother.”

Biomimicry: The Future of Urban (and further) Design

“Biomimetics, or biomimicry, is the imitation of the models, systems, and elements of nature for the purpose of solving complex human problems. The terms biomimetics and biomimicry come from the Greek words bios, meaning life, and mimesis, meaning to imitate. A closely related field is bionics.

Living organisms have evolved well-adapted structures and materials over geological time through natural selection. Biomimetics has given rise to new technologies inspired by biological solutions at macro and nanoscales. Humans have looked at nature for answers to problems throughout our existence. Nature has solved engineering problems such as self-healing abilities, environmental exposure tolerance and resistance, hydrophobicity, self-assembly, and harnessing solar energy.  Biomimetics could in principle be applied in many fields. Because of the complexity of biological systems, the number of features that might be imitated is large.”

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Biomimicry

A Generation of Children Living Shorter, Sicker and More Costly Lives Than Their Parents

SOCAP Health in New York City on June 25+26, 2014

The U.S. spends $2.7 trillion each year on health care,-yet we are raising a generation of children who may live shorter and sicker lives than their parents. Recent changes in health care require a fresh, innovative look at how we leverage that capital and where promising investment opportunities lie to reduce health costs and improve lives.

Now in its second year, SOCAP Health is back with an expanded two-day agenda featuring leaders in finance, policy, health systems, community development, philanthropy and impact investing. Join SOCAP, the Federal Reserve Bank of San Francisco, The New York Academy of Medicine, and the Build Healthy Places Network for the largest-ever convening that explores the untapped market for improving health:

+ Learn how health systems, social systems and innovative solutions are improving health in low-income communities.

+ Meet entrepreneurs and policymakers working at the intersection of finance and health.

+ Hear from organizations whose investments are generating economic gains and improvements in health and well-being.

Join us as we work together to create a new market that values health-beyond health care-on June 25+26, 2014 in New York. Secure your spot now!

Learn more and register at http://health.socialcapitalmarkets.net.  Register now through June 16th, 2014 to save 30% on registration, by using promo code N_FedHealth.