In this week’s episode of the SIMPLE brand podcast, I talk with innovation expert, Sara Frasca! 

If you’ve been following me for a while, then you likely know that I preach “Innovating to stay ahead” as one of the key behaviors that goes into creating simple experiences. But there’s a challenge that most people face when it comes to innovation.

Most people make innovation much harder than it has to be. Most people think innovation is confusing, complicated, intimidating, complex. Most people think you need a special degree or training to do innovation right. Or they think that only certain people - an elite few - are capable of being innovative.

And not only do most people think that they’re not innovative. They also think that they can’t be innovative.  Most people don't recognize their ability to be creative and they don’t understand how to exercise or hone their creative thinking skills.

If you’re like most people, then I want to bust this myth wide open for you.

The truth is, coming up with innovative, creative ideas isn’t a talent you’re born with. Anyone can do it.

But at the same time - you can’t just wake up one day and flip a switch and say, “Oh! Now I’m going to be creative. I’m going to come up with something innovative today.”

You have to learn how to have the right innovative mindset. You have to learn how to have the right innovative habits. You have to learn HOW to be innovative.

Thankfully, Sara Frascahelps you learn how to do just that. 

Sara is a keynote speaker, global business coach and innovation expert. She helps leading organizations cultivate human imagination, build a culture of innovation, and solve complex problems in creative ways - all while helping teams recognize their ability to help all of their employees develop and strengthen their creative muscles.

Some of the topics we discuss include:

• Creativity being one of the most sought-after job skills by employers
• How creativity has been stifled in corporate employees
•  How the crazy idea of painting cows to look like zebras helped save $2 Billion in the Japanese cattle industry
• Why borrowing ideas from outside of your industry is a valuable way to innovate
• What holds most companies back from being creative and innovative
• How creative habits help increase creativity
• The core mindsets that are common across the most creative people
•  How to keep your composure in the face of distractions

RESOURCES FROM THIS EPISODE

• Sara's site
• Point Northeast site