THE 2019 LISTENING POLL
Most people say that listening is an important skill to have and that it is in woeful short supply today. Idea Champions is in the process of creating a new workshop on listening, but before doing so, we want to make sure we understand WHY people value listening. Towards that end, we are inviting you respond to our listening poll. Three minutes is all it will take. In a few weeks, we will post the results here.
Idea Champions
Why do people want to listen?
Idea Champions
Posted by Mitch Ditkoff at 03:44 AM | Comments (0)
April 03, 2015What On-The-Job Wisdom Lessons Are Most Compelling to You?
If you have four minutes and are interested in the topic of storytelling in business, I invite you to respond to my online poll -- your chance to tell me what themes about storytelling in the workplace are most meaningful to you. Thank you!
If you want to get an email alert when my book is published
Big thank you to Jesse Ditkoff for the graphics
Posted by Mitch Ditkoff at 12:53 PM | Comments (0)
November 16, 2013The Top 18 High Tech Excuses
A few months ago I asked readers of this blog to tell me what they thought the most common high tech excuses were -- the modern day, techno-centric equivalents to "The dog ate my homework." Here's what they told me:
1. "The server's down."
2. "You're breaking up."
3. "Your email ended up in my spam folder."
4. "I'm out of range."
5. "My laptop crashed."
6. "I can't find my Smart Phone."
7. "I forgot to recharge my battery."
8. "I couldn't open the attachment."
9. "I didn't get a calendar reminder from Outlook."
10. "I don't remember which password opens that application."
11. "I had a power surge and I'm using a dial up connection."
12. "The magnetic strip on my ID card is damaged."
13. "I couldn't find your fax number."
14. "The main fuse in the building burned out."
15. "My dog ate my mouse."
16. "I don't have an Orkut account anymore."
17. "I had trouble getting online."
18. "My cat urinated on my laptop."
Any more to add to the list?
Posted by Mitch Ditkoff at 04:53 PM | Comments (1)
March 21, 2013The Humanize the Workplace Poll
If you work for an organization that needs to become a more benevolent and humane workplace, I invite you to respond to Idea Champions' new Humanizing the Workplace poll.
Not only will it jump start your thinking about simple changes that can be made on the job, it will also provide us with the vital input we need to really tune into the issues.
You'll need about five minutes.
We'll be posting the results of the poll here in a few weeks, but if you'd like us to email the results to you directly, just note your email address in the comments box or send a message to info@ideachampions.com
You can read more about this topic in my latest Huffington Post article.
Posted by Mitch Ditkoff at 08:15 AM | Comments (0)
November 16, 2012VOTE FOR ME (I will not raise taxes, start a war, or give a boring speech)
Good news! A leading Speaker's Bureau has just nominated me as a TOP FIVE SPEAKER in the field of innovation & creativity. To win, I need your vote.
So... if you believe I've added value to this field and am speaking about it in a way that inspires and educates, I humbly ask for your vote.
All you need to do is click this link , then scroll down to the fifth category and check the box next to my name (MITCHELL DITKOFF). Then scroll to the bottom and enter your name etc. The whole thing will take you less than three minutes.
My ten tips for giving a great keynote.
Posted by Mitch Ditkoff at 12:12 AM | Comments (0)
March 12, 2012POLL: Why Do You Want to Innovate?
If you read this blog, I know you want to innovate -- but I don't know WHY. Click here to take the poll. Results posted here in a few weeks.
Posted by Mitch Ditkoff at 01:19 AM | Comments (1)
December 14, 2011The Best Practice of Love
A few weeks ago, my wife and I had a huge fight. A doozy. The Superbowl of all fights. If you're married -- or ever were -- I'm sure you've had at least one of these. Probably more.
You think you're right. They think they're right. You attack, they deflect. They attack, you deflect. You get hopeless and weird. They get hopeless and weird.
And both of you -- self-appointed judges in a supreme court of your own creation -- feel diminished, abused, blamed, hurt, ignored, dissed, damaged, and demonized.
The love? Out the window. And the window? Stuck in a half-closed position.
Whenever I'm embroiled in this kind of dynamic and (hallelujah!) manage to make it out the other side, I get majorly humbled -- all concepts of myself as a conscious, loving, evolved human being completely blown to smithereens.
And yet... no matter how painful the experience, something good always comes out of it. A phoenix rises from the ashes. Like the list below, for example -- my wishes for my dear wife, Evelyne, (the day after) and, by extension, you, me, and all the other 8 billion people on planet Earth.
THE BEST PRACTICE OF LOVE: My Wishes for You
1. Gratitude every day
2. Deep inner peace, especially during tough times
3. Kindness
4. Patience
5. Forgiveness
6. The courage to be yourself
7. Rest and renewal
8. The vision to see God in everyone
9. Letting go of self-righteousness
10. Simplicity and ease
11. The willingess to let go of worry and doubt
12. Allowing yourself to be nurtured
13. More fun
14. Plenty of time to do nothing
15. Spaciousness
16. Heartfelt self-expression
17. Health and vitality
18. Moving through the tasks of your life as if you were a dancer
19. Relating to each person you talk to as if they were the only person on earth at that moment
20. Laughter from your core
21. Appreciation of your family
22. A "live and let live" mindset
23. Waking up each day with gladness
24. Humility
25. The experience of community
26. Full responsibility for your own projections
27. Trust
28. Honoring all of the teachers in your life, past and present
29. Slowing down, going deeper
30. The ability to order a very rich dessert in your favorite restaurant without enrolling someone to share it with you
31. A wi-fi connection whenever you want
32. The end of lower back pain
33. Living the St. Francis Prayer without making a big deal of it
34. Knowing you are loved
35. Good sushi within a five-mile radius
36. Appreciation of other people's "spiritual path" -- with absolutely no judgment
37. Foot massages
38. Fresh air
39. Understanding what Krishna meant when he said: "The world is an illusion, but you have to act as if it's real."
40. Random acts of kindness
41. Nights on the town
42. The ability to be alone, but not lonely
43. Accepting the aging process with dignity and delight
44. Fabulous dinners with friends
45. Nights in front of the fire
46. Having no regrets
47. Cranking up the music
48. Not judging your kids for texting or being on Facebook
49. Seeing the blessing in every challenge that comes your way
50. Loving yourself when you look in the mirror
51. Not having to look in the mirror to love yourself
52. New adventures
53. Endless learning
54. Giving up complaint
55. A dependable plumber
56. Snow angels!
57. Working smarter, not harder
58. Looking up at the stars
59. Never going to bed angry
60. Being happy for other people's successes
61. Realizing you are everything and nothing both at the same time
62. Unconditional love
63. Reframing aging as "becoming an elder" instead of "getting old"
64. Weekends in exotic places
65. Someone else to wash the dishes
66. Enjoying the poetry of Rumi, Kabir, and Hafiz
67. Did I mention foot massages?
68. The commitment to immerse in the projects that most fascinate you
69. Deep listening
70. Longer vacations
71. Reaching out to those less fortunate than you
72. Holding hands with someone you love
73. Taking on an impossible project -- and making it happen
74. Really good chocolate
75. Unforgettable celebrations
76. Going beyond your limiting assumptions
77. The discipline that comes from love, not duty
78. Spontaneous generosity
79. One remote for all your electronics
80. A hot bath on a cold night
81. Wonderful surprises
82. The laughter of children
83. Realizing you have enough
84. Timelessness
85. Understanding this quote: "When you're on the path it's a mile wide, when you're off it, it's razor thin."
86. Giving flowers to absolute strangers
87. A wardrobe you love
88. Resilience
88. Making a clear distinction between longing and desire
89. No fear of death
90. Dancing around the living room for no particular reason
91. Howling at the moon
92. Knowing how to say "no" without being negative
93. Completing what you came here to do
94. Experiencing life as a beautiful play
95. Freshly baked chocolate chip cookies
96. Forgiving everyone who has ever wronged you
97. Passion
98. Compassion
99. The peace that passes all understanding
100. Sweet watermelon on a summer day
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Posted by Mitch Ditkoff at 11:58 PM | Comments (0)
The 64 Qualities of an Innovator PollEver wonder what it really takes to innovate -- what specific, inner qualities a human being needs to be in touch with in order to actually create something new and wonderful in this world?
Well, we have, too, which is why we are asking you and thousands of other movers, shakers, and slackers to respond to our newly launched poll.
All you need is 5 minutes, use of one finger, and some curiosity. Click here to join in the fun. We'll publish the results on New Year's Day.
Posted by Mitch Ditkoff at 04:06 PM | Comments (0)
October 16, 2011We Want Your Big Fat Opinions!
There are a few things that readers of this blog have in spades: curiosity, passion, a fascination for innovation, and a good sense of humor.
There is one thing they don't have (or, at least, not much of -- and that is time).
Which is why we (Idea Champions) have decided to translate a number of our highly regarded workshops and trainings into online webinars. Which ones? Well, that's for YOU to decide.
Based on the feedback we receive, we'll pick the five most popular and kick our development process into ultra high gear.
And don't worry, you don't have to work in a big organization to sign up. We'll also be offering a series of open enrollment webinars -- priced just right for these financially meltdowny times.
Your next step? Let us know what you think. That's it.
Posted by Mitch Ditkoff at 12:06 AM | Comments (0)
July 26, 2011The Big To Do
Posted by Mitch Ditkoff at 09:43 PM | Comments (0)
March 01, 2010Go Beyond Your Inhibitors to Creation
For the past 25 years I've been fascinated by the phenomenon of why SOME people succeed with their creative ventures and OTHERS don't. There is no simple answer, of course, but there are definitely indicators.
If you are interested in increasing the odds of succeeding with YOUR latest venture, respond to this online poll. It will only take five minutes and MAY surface some big insights.
I will post the results in the next two weeks. Feel free to forward it to friends and co-workers, as inspired. Thanks!
Posted by Mitch Ditkoff at 08:25 AM | Comments (0)
March 18, 2009Got Innovation Process?
If you want to create a river, you will need two things: flowing water and two river banks. If you want to create a culture of innovation, you will also need two things: new ideas and the organizational structures to keep those ideas flowing forward.
Most organizations miss the mark completely. They either have an abundance of ideas OR overly engineered processes to move those ideas downstream -- but not both.
What's needed is a balance of the two: liquid creativity and meaningful boundaries. Or as the spiritually minded among us might say, "formlessness and form."
If you are interested in helping your organization find the right balance, begin by taking our 4-minute poll. We'll be posting the results here in a few weeks.
Posted by Mitch Ditkoff at 01:34 PM | Comments (0)
February 27, 2009QUICKIE POLL on Your Company's Innovation Climate
Got 5 minutes? Willing to respond to a brief poll on changes in your company's innovation climate since the so-called recession (i.e downturn, meltdown, end-of-the-economy-as-we-know-it) hit?
This poll comes to you courtesy of the founder of the web's best innovation portal, Chuck Frey of www.innovationtools.com). Good food for thought. Results of the poll will be available soon.
Click here to download Chuck's and Renee Hopkins Callahan's excellent report on Innovation Strategies for the Global Recession.
Photo from www.readcurrents.com
Posted by Mitch Ditkoff at 03:25 PM | Comments (0)
October 19, 2008Second Chance to Enter the First Annual Word of Mouth Praise Poll
All human beings -- even the most cynical ones amongst us -- have had the experience of praising something at one time or another. For some of us, it may have been a restaurant, movie, or vacation spot. For others, a rock band, teacher, or TV show. Different strokes for different folks.
The purpose of this poll is to identify precisely what these "praise-worthy" catalysts are; in other words, what moves a person to spontaneously speak glowingly of something to another person. True word of mouth, you might say.
Interested? If so, go ahead and take the poll. The whole thing will take you less than seven minutes.
Poll closes on 11/15. (Results will be posted here by 11/30).
Posted by Mitch Ditkoff at 04:08 PM | Comments (0)
June 29, 2008More On Where and When You Get Your Best Ideas
A big thanks to Chuck Frey of Innovation Tools for his June 26th posting on our just-released poll results re: "Where and When People Get Their Best Ideas?"
Chuck notes the top ten catalysts:
1. When you're inspired
2. Brainstorming with others
3. When you're immersed in a project
4. When you're happy
5. Collaborating with a partner
6. Daydreaming
7. Analyzing a problem
8. Driving
9. Commuting to and from work
10. Reading books in your field
And here are the bottom ten:
70. Swimming
71. Brushing your teeth
72. Drinking anything with alcohol
73. Playing a sport
74. When you're sad
75. Mowing the lawn
76. Shaving
77. Procrastinating
78. In a bar
79. Having sex
80. Smoking tobacco
(If you're looking for a fun way to spark some great ideas, click here.)
Or here.
Posted by Mitch Ditkoff at 11:14 AM | Comments (1)
June 25, 2008POLL RESULTS: Where and When Do You Get Your Best Ideas?
Einstein used to get his best ideas while shaving. Mozart used to exercise before composing. The Scientific Method came to Rene Descartes in a dream.
One of our clients gets her best ideas when blow drying her hair.
Fascinated by the question of what catalyzes people's best ideas, Idea Champions polled 163 people and are sharing the results with you here (i.e. "Where and When Do You Get Your Best Ideas?")
Why bother reading it?
1. It will help you be more creative.
2. It will increase your ability to capture your best ideas.
3. It will give you insights about how to create a culture of innovation.
4. It's fascinating (i.e Out of 80 choices, the "workplace" ranked #35. "Daydreaming" was #6.)
If, after reading the poll, you think of other "best idea" catalysts, let us know. When we get 20 or more, we'll share them with Heart of Innovation readers here.
And if you're looking for help establishing a sustainable culture of innovation, click here... or here...or here. (Clicking your shoes three times ain't gonna cut it.)
Or, if you want to spring for $13.95, you can read Awake at the Wheel: Getting Your Great Ideas Rolling (in an uphill world).
(Much thanks to Tim Moore (scroll down to the 8th bio) for his deep thinking, coordination, analysis, and report writing on this project!)
Posted by Mitch Ditkoff at 03:53 PM | Comments (0)
