May 30, 2013
Great Place to Stay in Woodstock, NY

Posted by Mitch Ditkoff at 02:44 PM | Comments (0)

May 28, 2013
The Nancy Factor

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See the picture to your left? Of course you do. That's Nancy Seroka, Idea Champions' Director of Operations, World Class Administrator, and Queen of Client Relations.

Without Nancy, there would be no Idea Champions. Nancy is the glue, the DNA of Details, the one who minds the store while the rest of us are on the road, in the clouds, or otherwise engaged.

For the past 13 years, Nancy has been juggling hundreds of Idea Champions projects with style, class, and heroic effort. The fact that she is still somewhat sane astounds me.

Sometimes, I regret to say, I am blind to how much value Nancy adds to our business. You see, she does what she does with so much precision and consistency that I often don't even notice it.

I am not alone in this regard. Indeed, I am betting that a lot of you reading this rant also have a Nancy in your business life -- someone who keep things together, supports you way beyond the call of duty, and makes magic happen while you're consumed with the details of your business life.

You have come to expect this kind of extraordinary contribution from others. You think it's "their job" -- and barely notice. Not a good idea.

Hey, you don't notice the air, either, but just imagine if it wasn't there.

And so, it is with great respect for Nancy -- and all that she is and all that she does -- that I implore you to pause for a moment and honor all of the Nancies in your life -- all of the people "behind the scenes" who are, day-by-day, minute-by-minute, helping you grow your business.

I'm not talking about the token giving of roses on "Secretary's Day". No.

I'm talking about being far more present and acknowledging of all the people who support you, without whom you would be howling at the moon, walking in circles, or looking for a job.

So, thank you Nancy. You are an inspiration and a life saver.

And should I forget, tomorrow... next week ... next month ... or next year to acknowledge you for all you are and all you do, I humbly ask your forgiveness.

Idea Champions

Posted by Mitch Ditkoff at 10:13 AM | Comments (2)

May 26, 2013
Crowdsourcing Life Changing Books

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Here's a link to a cool new website devoted to crowdsourcing the ultimate list of life-changing books. You can add a book to the list or you can vote for books that have helped transform your life. Or both. Or neither. At the very least, it's a very good list of inspiring books you may want to consider reading.

Idea Champions

Posted by Mitch Ditkoff at 11:37 PM | Comments (0)

May 24, 2013
Why Train People to Be Masterful Brainstorm Facilitators in 2014

The 8 dimensions of a brainstorm session
What our clients say
Idea Champions

Posted by Mitch Ditkoff at 09:55 PM | Comments (0)

May 23, 2013
Our Top 10 Huffington Post Articles

Mitch 1.JPGYou may not know this, but our semi-fearless leader and Co-Founder of Idea Champions, Mitch Ditkoff, is now blogging for the Huffington Post on a variety of topics. Below is a sampling. If you like what you read, FAN him so you can receive email alerts whenever a new article of his is published.

1. 20 Reasons Why Creative People Like to Work in Cafes

2. The Syndrome Syndrome and the Rise of the New World Disorder

3. The Kindness at Work Manifesto

4. 27 Best Practices of High Performing Volunteer Organizations

5. Why You Need to Ask Why

6. Humanizing the Workplace

7. How to Go Beyond Self Improvement

8. The Afghani Cab Driver and the $250M Salty Snack Food

9. How 13-Year Old Girls Can Wipe Out Terrorism

10. 100 Awesome Quotes on What It Really Takes to Innovate

The complete archive
Idea Champions
Mitch Ditkoff keynotes

Posted by Mitch Ditkoff at 02:46 PM | Comments (0)

May 22, 2013
The Corporate Crapola Filter

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Dear Potential Clients:

With all due respect, please do not call us if your organization is addicted to the scenario being played out in the cartoon to your left. If this was 10 years ago, we may have said YES. But no longer.

We've been paid handsomely, in the past, for hitting our heads against the wall, but those days are over. We're not saying you have to be perfect for us to work with you -- just free enough of corporate crapola for us to make a difference.

We like the Bob Newhart approach.

Idea Champions

Posted by Mitch Ditkoff at 06:51 AM | Comments (0)

May 21, 2013
Making the World's Smallest Movie



Idea Champions

Posted by Mitch Ditkoff at 11:40 PM | Comments (0)

May 12, 2013
Everything You Wanted to Know About Innovation But Forgot to Ask

Thanks to my son, Jesse, for the timely heads up -- the first online resource he shared with me upon his return from his first year of college (Hampshire). Let's hear it for higher education!

Idea Champions

Posted by Mitch Ditkoff at 08:29 PM | Comments (0)

May 10, 2013
Heat Your House With Soda Cans

Posted by Mitch Ditkoff at 11:26 AM | Comments (0)

May 06, 2013
The Inventive Inventory of Inventions Not Invented By Inventing Inventors

What do LSD, corn flakes, dynamite, saccharine, the microwave oven, viagra, the Pacemaker, velcro, penicillin, anaesthesia, the Slinky, Play Doh, Silly Putty, Post-its, and vulcanized rubber all have in common?

They were all discovered by accident.

Read more about this phenomenon here.

Idea Champions
The Innovation Kit
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The Innovation Accelerator

Posted by Mitch Ditkoff at 11:37 PM | Comments (0)

Who Are We?

Idea Champions is a consulting and training company dedicated to awakening and nurturing the spirit of innovation. We help individuals, teams and entire organizations tap into their innate ability to create, develop and implement ideas that make a difference.

MitchDitkoff.com
Click here for the simplest, most direct way, to learn more about Idea Champions' semi-fearless leader, Mitch Ditkoff. Info on his keynotes, workshops, conferences, and more.
Storytelling for the Revolution
Storytelling for the Revolution is Mitch Ditkoff's newly published book about the power of personal storytelling to elevate the conversation on planet Earth. Provocative. Evocative. And fun. YOU have stories to tell. This book will help you tell them.
Storytelling at Work
"The world is not made of atoms," wrote the poet, Muriel Rukeyser. "It's made of stories." Learn how to discover, honor, and unpack the stories of yours that show up "on the job" in Mitch Ditkoff's award-winning 2015 book, Storytelling at Work.
Top 5 Speaker
Mitch Ditkoff, the Co-Founder and President of Idea Champions, has recently been voted a top 5 speaker in the field of innovation and creativity by Speakers Platform, a leading speaker's bureau.
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Workshops & Trainings
Highly engaging learning experiences that increase each participant's ability to become a creative force for positive change
Brainstorm Facilitation
High impact certification training that teaches committed change agents how to lead groundbreaking ideation sessions
Cultivating Innovation
Your "best and brightest" are the future leaders of your company, but unless they know how to foster a culture of innovation, their impact will be limited. A one-day workshop with us is all they need to begin this journey.
Our Blog Cabin
Our Heart of Innovation blog is a daily destination for movers and shakers everywhere — gleefully produced by our President, Mitch Ditkoff, voted "best innovation blogger in the world" two years running.
Team Innovation
Innovation is a team sport. Brilliant ideas go nowhere unless your people are aligned, collaborative, and team-oriented. That doesn't happen automatically, however. It takes intention, clarity, selflessness, and a new way of operating.
Awake at the Wheel, Book about big ideas If you're looking for a powerful way to jump start innovation and get your creative juices flowing, Awake at the Wheel is for you. Written by Mitch Ditkoff, Co-Founder and President of Idea Champions.
Face the Music Blues Band The world's first interactive business blues band. A great way to help your workforce go beyond complaint.

"In tune with corporate America." — CNN
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