The Innovators Studio with Phil McKinney

Many have the dream of making it into the CxO (CEO, CFO, CIO, CTO, etc) suite. What skills and abilities does it take to be in position to become a world-class CTO? During the time I was CTO at Hewlett-Packard, what where the skills and abilities I had – and which are the ones I wished I had before taking on the role?

During my time at HP, we grew from $40B in to $120B in revenue and grew the employee base from 40,000 to +240,000. It was a rocket ship where I found myself running as fast as I could to keep up.

So as I look back on my own personal experience, what are the skills I would recommend you to have if you want to become a world-class CTO?

1 – Never Stop Building Your Network

If you want to make it into a leadership role, the depth and breadth of your network of peers, mentors, advisers and experts in critical. Why? Your network is your brain trust. They are the experts you will call upon when you need advice in an area where you lack expertise. Trust me – you will soon discover that there will more areas where you are the armature rather than the expert. So never stop building that network.

2 – Communication Skills

The ability to inspire teams, organizations, industries and customers is an absolute requirement. If you do not have the experience talking and pitching, then get it. Join Toastmasters and gain the confidence to become a master communicator.Once you have a foundation, practice it as much possible. Its a skill that improves with time.

3 – Building A Personal Brand

Most technical people do not consider the importance of creating a personal brand. Most would rather stay in their offices/cube and create away. Building a personal brand can have huge payoffs. In my case, I launched by blog in 1996 and the podcast in 2005. Both resulted in my being on the radar of executives at HP and ultimately by a New York literary agent which in turn secured my book deal. Building a brand takes time so get to it.

4 – Technical and Business Leadership

To be a world-class CTO, you need to be equal parts technical and business strategy. Most don't realize that the CTO is the most important bridge between the business and technology. You need to bone up on your business, financial , operations, strategy, sales and marketing expertise.

5 – Team Building

Start building your ultimate team now. To make it to the executive suite, you need a team that can grow with you as our responsibilities grow. I still have team members who have been with me for decades.

6 – Create Exciting Side Projects

Side projects shows you as a self-starter and reveals things about you that differentiates you from other possible candidates for the role. In my case, the podcast was what put me on the radar for HP.

7 – Non-Stop Learning

The world is a changing place and you need to stay up to date. As the CTO, you set the vision/direction for the organization and to do that, you need to stay up on what is coming next. This is a race that never ends. So find technologies, products, etc that are new and learn them. That way, when other executives in the organization ask about them, you have experience with it and an opinion as to the impact to your organization.

8 – Get Comfortable Being Outside Your Comfort Zone

I knew the CTO role at HP would require more responsibility, but didn't appreciate how much time would be spent in Board meetings, management bureaucracy and other tasks that some would consider as “overhead”. I was fortunate to have been an “elected officer” as another public company but the shear size and scale of HP was new and scary.

9 – Trust Your Gut

Learn to trust your gut.

There are many tools you can use to generate ideas such as brainstorming. Every innovator runs into walls where they know there are better ideas out there but can't seem to get a grasp on what they is. SCAMPER is one of those tools that has always come in handy for me when I want […]

There are many tools you can use to generate ideas such as brainstorming. Every innovator runs into walls where they know there are better ideas out there but can't seem to get a grasp on what they is. SCAMPER is one of those tools that has always come in handy for me when I want to dig deeper and find that idea that is truly game changing.

So what is SCAMPER?

SCAMPER is an acronym for Substitute, Combine, Adapt, Modify, Put To Other Uses and Reverse. SCAMPER was developed by Alex Osborne in 1953, and was further developed by Bob Elerle in 1971. Its probably one of the most widely used tools to help generate more  and better ideas.

How Do You Apply SCAMPER?

For each of the elements, ask yourself a series of questions and then capture the ideas that come to you. Then take those new ideas and rank them so you can focus on the very best. I've found that when I use SCAMPER, I always seem to come up with ideas that are much better than the one I started with.

Substitute

Think about replacing part of a product or service with something else. By looking for a replacement, you can come up with a set of new ideas. Things that can be substituted include; parts, products, services and people.

* Can I replace or change any of the parts?

* Can I replace someone involved with the product or service?

* Can the rules (rule of the industry, rules of the company, regulatory) be changed?

* Can I use other ingredients or materials?

* Can I change its color, texture, sound, smell or taste?

* Can I substitute one part of another?

* Can I change the emotion or attitude to the product or service?

Adapt

Thinks about adapting an idea that already exists to solve your problem or opportunity. Most innovations are created based on adapting something already in use by others.

* What parts of an existing product or service could I adapt to solve my problem?

* What historical solution could I learn from?

* Who's solution could I emulate?

* What ideas from others could I incorporate into my solution?

* What processes could I adapt to my idea?

* What ideas from outside my industry could I incorporate?

Modify/Magnify/Minimize

Think about changing all or part of the current problem/ideas, or distort it a unique and unanticipated way.

* How can I make my ideas bigger, smaller, thinner, thicker, stronger or lighter?

* Can I change the shape in a unique way?

* Can I make the idea exaggerated or overstated? (make it VERY expensive)

Put To Other Uses

Think about how you might be able to use your idea to address other uses. Or think of ways to reuse someone else product or service to solve your problem. Many ideas go from being a good idea to one that is game-changing when the idea is used ways never anticipated.

* What else can my idea be used for?

* Can it be used by customers other than those it was originally intended for?

* Are there other possible uses its it's modified?

Eliminate

Think of what might happen if you simplified, reduced or eliminated components of your idea. Through constant simplification, you will get to the base essence of the idea and reveal that core function.

* How can I simplify my idea?

* What parts can I remove without altering the function/benefit of the idea?

* Can the rules that I operate under be eliminated?

* What features can I eliminate while still delivering the benefit?

There are many tools you can use to generate ideas such as brainstorming. Every innovator runs into walls where they know there are better ideas out there but can't seem to get a grasp on what they is. SCAMPER is one of those tools that has always come in handy for me when I want to dig deeper and find that idea that is truly game changing.

So what is SCAMPER?

SCAMPER is an acronym for Substitute, Combine, Adapt, Modify, Put To Other Uses and Reverse. SCAMPER was developed by Alex Osborne in 1953, and was further developed by Bob Elerle in 1971. Its probably one of the most widely used tools to help generate more  and better ideas.

How Do You Apply SCAMPER?

For each of the elements, ask yourself a series of questions and then capture the ideas that come to you. Then take those new ideas and rank them so you can focus on the very best. I've found that when I use SCAMPER, I always seem to come up with ideas that are much better than the one I started with.

Substitute

Think about replacing part of a product or service with something else. By looking for a replacement, you can come up with a set of new ideas. Things that can be substituted include; parts, products, services and people.

* Can I replace or change any of the parts?

* Can I replace someone involved with the product or service?

* Can the rules (rule of the industry, rules of the company, regulatory) be changed?

* Can I use other ingredients or materials?

* Can I change its color, texture, sound, smell or taste?

* Can I substitute one part of another?

* Can I change the emotion or attitude to the product or service?

Adapt

Thinks about adapting an idea that already exists to solve your problem or opportunity. Most innovations are created based on adapting something already in use by others.

* What parts of an existing product or service could I adapt to solve my problem?

* What historical solution could I learn from?

* Who's solution could I emulate?

* What ideas from others could I incorporate into my solution?

* What processes could I adapt to my idea?

* What ideas from outside my industry could I incorporate?

Modify/Magnify/Minimize

Think about changing all or part of the current problem/ideas, or distort it a unique and unanticipated way.

* How can I make my ideas bigger, smaller, thinner, thicker, stronger or lighter?

* Can I change the shape in a unique way?

* Can I make the idea exaggerated or overstated? (make it VERY expensive)

Put To Other Uses

Think about how you might be able to use your idea to address other uses. Or think of ways to reuse someone else product or service to solve your problem. Many ideas go from being a good idea to one that is game-changing when the idea is used ways never anticipated.

* What else can my idea be used for?

* Can it be used by customers other than those it was originally intended for?

* Are there other possible uses its it's modified?

Eliminate

Think of what might happen if you simplified, reduced or eliminated components of your idea. Through constant simplification, you will get to the base essence of the idea and reveal that core function.

* How can I simplify my idea?

* What parts can I remove without altering the function/benefit of the idea?

* Can the rules that I operate under be eliminated?

* What features can I eliminate while still delivering the benefit?

Just as we make sure we don't skip many meals, we need to prioritize the feeding of our creative mind. Our creative mind is a critical resource that enables our ability to think creatively. Without it, we stunt our creative output and therefore our personal and professional success. For some reason, most people don't prioritize it. […]

Just as we make sure we don't skip many meals, we need to prioritize the feeding of our creative mind. Our creative mind is a critical resource that enables our ability to think creatively. Without it, we stunt our creative output and therefore our personal and professional success.

For some reason, most people don't prioritize it. Once they get out of school and begin our careers, they tend to ignore it in hopes that others will feed it for us. This is 100% the wrong approach. We need to be diligent about feeding our own creative mind.

Here are 15 ways you can feed your creative mind:

* Help one person today (pay it forward) – Find one person who you can creatively help with a problem or opportunity they are facing. Engaging with others allows you to feed (learn about a new problem) and exercise (use your own creative thinking) your creative mind.

* Protect your time (1440 minutes per day) – Everyone is given the same amout of time each day. 1440 minutes. No one get more becaus they are rich or famous. How well do you manage this valuable resource? Do you let others steal your time?

* Write something (anything) daily – The process of writing forces you to create something to write about. For me, writing in a notebook (pen to paper) is one of those daily tasks that I look forward to. Afterwards, my brain is engaged, ready and has already come up with new ideas for me to work on.

* Read from a PHYSICAL book daily – There is a recent study that reveals the difference between reading an electronic book and a physical book. Electronic books enages the non-linear thinking part of the brain that results in use skimming or scanning the information. Reading a physical book results in deep concentration which results in better retention and thereby our ability to recall the information as input to our creative thinking.

* Have a good conversation daily (Jefferson Dinners) – Person to person engagement is required for the creative mind. Its through discussion that results in discovering problems or opportunities to apply your creative mind.

* Go for a walk daily – Steven King, Ernest Hemingway, Ralph Waldo Emerson and many others found walking as there way to think and solve problems. There is a saying the innovation community that the toughest problems are .. “solved by walking”.

* Take in inspiration daily (visual, audio, tactile) – Find input that inspires you across all of your senses such as listening to music (audio), looking at pictures or images (visual) and/or go dancing (physical)

* Ask yourself a daily question – Questions have the power to engage your mind to think and solve problems you would have never considered. I would suggest you work on two types of questions: 1) A motivational question such as asking yourself what are you most thankful for in your life today? and 2) a question to challenge your assumptions or beliefs such as I know x is true but what I believed the opposite?

* Stop comparing yourself – Comparing yourself to the Joneses is not creative. Comparing to others is about conforming. I shared in a recent post my thoughts on conformity. The opposite of bravery is not cowardess. The opposite of bravery is conformity. To innovate you need to be brave. Stop worrying what others think and go do.

* Reprogram your information input – What you read and see has a major impact in how you think. If you take in critical or negative input, you will think negatively. Go through your input (sites you visit, newsletters you get sent,

Just as we make sure we don't skip many meals, we need to prioritize the feeding of our creative mind. Our creative mind is a critical resource that enables our ability to think creatively. Without it, we stunt our creative output and therefore our personal and professional success.

For some reason, most people don't prioritize it. Once they get out of school and begin our careers, they tend to ignore it in hopes that others will feed it for us. This is 100% the wrong approach. We need to be diligent about feeding our own creative mind.

Here are 15 ways you can feed your creative mind:

* Help one person today (pay it forward) – Find one person who you can creatively help with a problem or opportunity they are facing. Engaging with others allows you to feed (learn about a new problem) and exercise (use your own creative thinking) your creative mind.

* Protect your time (1440 minutes per day) – Everyone is given the same amout of time each day. 1440 minutes. No one get more becaus they are rich or famous. How well do you manage this valuable resource? Do you let others steal your time?

* Write something (anything) daily – The process of writing forces you to create something to write about. For me, writing in a notebook (pen to paper) is one of those daily tasks that I look forward to. Afterwards, my brain is engaged, ready and has already come up with new ideas for me to work on.

* Read from a PHYSICAL book daily – There is a recent study that reveals the difference between reading an electronic book and a physical book. Electronic books enages the non-linear thinking part of the brain that results in use skimming or scanning the information. Reading a physical book results in deep concentration which results in better retention and thereby our ability to recall the information as input to our creative thinking.

* Have a good conversation daily (Jefferson Dinners) – Person to person engagement is required for the creative mind. Its through discussion that results in discovering problems or opportunities to apply your creative mind.

* Go for a walk daily – Steven King, Ernest Hemingway, Ralph Waldo Emerson and many others found walking as there way to think and solve problems. There is a saying the innovation community that the toughest problems are .. “solved by walking”.

* Take in inspiration daily (visual, audio, tactile) – Find input that inspires you across all of your senses such as listening to music (audio), looking at pictures or images (visual) and/or go dancing (physical)

* Ask yourself a daily question – Questions have the power to engage your mind to think and solve problems you would have never considered. I would suggest you work on two types of questions: 1) A motivational question such as asking yourself what are you most thankful for in your life today? and 2) a question to challenge your assumptions or beliefs such as I know x is true but what I believed the opposite?

* Stop comparing yourself – Comparing yourself to the Joneses is not creative. Comparing to others is about conforming. I shared in a recent post my thoughts on conformity. The opposite of bravery is not cowardess. The opposite of bravery is conformity. To innovate you need to be brave. Stop worrying what others think and go do.

* Reprogram your information input – What you read and see has a major impact in how you think. If you take in critical or negative input, you will think negatively. Go through your input (sites you visit, newsletters you get sent,

What do you do with a highly successful 35 year career? You pay-it-forward. You take the ups and downs you experienced and share it with others and help them achieve not just professional success – but also personal success. There seems to be an explosion of people hanging out their coach and mentor shingles. The […]

What do you do with a highly successful 35 year career? You pay-it-forward. You take the ups and downs you experienced and share it with others and help them achieve not just professional success – but also personal success.

There seems to be an explosion of people hanging out their coach and mentor shingles. The difference with this weeks guest, Aaron Walker, is both the success he has had to share but also the life experience he brings to his coaching clients.

In this weeks show, Aaron shared :

* What was he first experience being an entrepreneur (Hint: At the ripe old age of 18)

* After the sale of his first business, what happened to get him off track

* What was the personal impact after his are accident that killed a pedestrian

* After the sale of his last business, what were his plans for the next phase of your life

* How did he get into coaching

* Why did he focus on life and business coaching of just men

* How does he think about prioritization when it comes to balancing professional and personal

* What is the best piece of advice he can share

* What is the most innovative idea he has implemented in his business (Interview Valet)

About Aaron Walker:

Aaron Walker is without question a veteran entrepreneur. Starting his first business at 18 and selling to a Fortune 500 company nine short years later demonstrates Aaron’s passion for succeeding. Unwilling to rest on past success Aaron started, bought and sold eight successful companies over the past 36 years. Having a strong desire for personal development has kept Aaron in a weekly mastermind group for more than a decade with Dave Ramsey, Dan Miller, Ken Abraham and seven other notable Nashvillians. Aaron has enjoyed a 35-year marriage with his beautiful wife, Robin. Today Aaron spends the majority of his time helping men grow in success and significance as President and Founder of View From The Top , a premier life and business coaching resource.

Show Links:

* Lead From The Top

* Interview Valet

* Aaron Walker on Facebook

* Aaron Walker on LinkedIn

Additional Resources:

* Innovation Coach: 4 Questions You Should Ask Before Selecting One

* Innovation Mentoring vs. Innovation Coaching: Which Do You Need?

What do you do with a highly successful 35 year career? You pay-it-forward. You take the ups and downs you experienced and share it with others and help them achieve not just professional success – but also personal success.

There seems to be an explosion of people hanging out their coach and mentor shingles. The difference with this weeks guest, Aaron Walker, is both the success he has had to share but also the life experience he brings to his coaching clients.

In this weeks show, Aaron shared :

* What was he first experience being an entrepreneur (Hint: At the ripe old age of 18)

* After the sale of his first business, what happened to get him off track

* What was the personal impact after his are accident that killed a pedestrian

* After the sale of his last business, what were his plans for the next phase of your life

* How did he get into coaching

* Why did he focus on life and business coaching of just men

* How does he think about prioritization when it comes to balancing professional and personal

* What is the best piece of advice he can share

* What is the most innovative idea he has implemented in his business (Interview Valet)

About Aaron Walker:

Aaron Walker is without question a veteran entrepreneur. Starting his first business at 18 and selling to a Fortune 500 company nine short years later demonstrates Aaron’s passion for succeeding. Unwilling to rest on past success Aaron started, bought and sold eight successful companies over the past 36 years. Having a strong desire for personal development has kept Aaron in a weekly mastermind group for more than a decade with Dave Ramsey, Dan Miller, Ken Abraham and seven other notable Nashvillians. Aaron has enjoyed a 35-year marriage with his beautiful wife, Robin. Today Aaron spends the majority of his time helping men grow in success and significance as President and Founder of View From The Top , a premier life and business coaching resource.

Show Links:

* Lead From The Top

* Interview Valet

* Aaron Walker on Facebook

* Aaron Walker on LinkedIn

Additional Resources:

* Innovation Coach: 4 Questions You Should Ask Before Selecting One

* Innovation Mentoring vs. Innovation Coaching: Which Do You Need?