Funky Innovators

It is really true, and I am a firm believer of this saying – “ We learn something new everyday”.  

The learning’s may not always be profound. The learning’s most often than not are actually experiences in humility.  But once in a while you are treated to learning that is something really new and exciting.

Having worked so long with Operational Policies, Regulatory Guidelines, and tons of Control Procedures, one tends to be critical when it comes to the topic of “Breakthrough Innovations”.

It really takes a leap of faith into the realm of the unknown to get yourself into the groove of imaginative or innovative thinking.

Today, we were asked to be little children again.  Today we were taught to ask “HOW” instead of “WHY”.  It is in asking more of the “how’s” and not minding much of the “why’s” we  are reined back to think innovatively like most children.  By focusing more on how a concept can be improved rather than rationalizing a concept can we make our selves really think out-of-the-box.

Most inventions are made out of necessity. Great inventions are stumbled upon by accident..  While the goal of an  innovation is to take a necessity to the next level, it is sometimes achieved by serendipity or a “fortunate accident” to make that breakthrough.  This is where the culture of experimentation is encouraged to make fortunate accidents turn out to be innovation.  In the culture of experimentation, we are allowed to make mistakes.  The mistakes are lessons in themselves so we may build upon  positive reinforcements.

To really take matters into a different and higher level, we were taught to be “Funky Innovators”.  I admit I was taken aback when I heard the concept. But hey, this is not the day for rationalization so I just took it in stride.  It’s the day of the “How’s” so we all gave it a shot.  In “Funky Innovators”, you were given an existing  product or a service and you are asked to innovate that product or service in two hours time.  Jeez, not much lead time since the textbook says it normally takes fifteen days to accomplish such a daunting task.  

To be a “Funky Innovator”, you and your team mates put in their crazy ideas on innovation one after the other and you build on them like blocks. The crazier the idea, the better it is for the product.  There are no out-of-bounds for ideas for they are only concepts.  We all had a blast innovating on an existing product because we were not bound by budget and  physics. We just kept building on the “how’s” and not minding the “why’s”. 

In the end, we came up with an innovation concept of a product that is not only “funky” but what can be called a “Wicked-Cool-Innovation”.

I learned a lot of things today.

1.For me, the business side of innovation could not be made possible without taking brave steps into the unknown and  

not being afraid to try new things.

2. Teachers only transfer knowledge while true Educators prepare us for life’s ever changing events.

3.  Even though you are aging in birth years, you are not necessarily getting wiser.

4. Every once in a while, you should get in touch with the “child” within yourself and you will see fresh perspectives in an 

otherwise gloomy world.

The bell shrills and it’s 6:00 pm, classes over. Finished or not finished, it’s time to pass the paper.

Ocean Deep

We have been taught a new management approach in dealing with Market Innovation called the  “Blue Ocean” concept. 

In this topic, you are taught not to lock horns with your business rivals or what is known as a “price-war” to get market share.

The concept of Blue Ocean starts with “scanning the waters” or checking the industry where you are presently competing with others.  After you have plotted where you are versus the rest of industry, do an honest assessment of your product or service, meaning you do a SWOT(strength,weakness,opportunity,threat) analysis. After doing your SWOT, determine if there is a unserviced market that your competitors have not yet tapped yet. If you can find that “unserviced market” then you have found your Blue Ocean or an opportunity where you are not directly competing with your business rivals but can get more market-share. 

In the Blue Ocean concept, you do not have to engage in a price-war otherwise your product or service begins to be a commodity.  In the Blue Ocean concept, you find innovations in your product or service so you can differentiate your self from the rest of the pack and be a leader in a potentially untapped market. 

This strategy is not limited to business concerns but also in your personal lives.  If a guy is trying to win the battle of “hearts and mind”  for a very special woman and there are several key competitors, the “Blue Ocean” concept can be applied. How is it done? Study the competition.  Look at their common traits, styles, and approaches.  Do your SWOT and look for things they haven’t covered yet.  If the woman is always getting the gifts, flowers and fancy dates, you may want to try a different approach.  It maybe old fashioned but try writing good “love letters” ( in ink, paper, hand-written). It worked for Pepe Rizal in the late 1900’s, why shouldn’t it work for Pepe Smith at the dawn of  Y2010. That’s differentiation for you, in a novel way of course.

Independence Day

JUNE 12, 2010 may well be marked in Philippine history as a new page in an otherwise dark chapter of the Filipinos plight for the last nine years.

It is the first Independence Day we celebrate after having proclaimed Benigno Simeon Cojuangco Aquino as the 15^th President of the Fifth Republic of the Philippines. This is really a day of celebration for we have been trapped in tyranny from a thief who has pretended to be the president of my beloved Philippines. The President-elect, won by a majority unseen before in Philippine history. The Filipinos have spoken, enough of the corruption, end the tyranny, end it now.

The Filipinos do not believe anymore in “popular uprisings” as can be seen in the result of the May 2010 elections.  The people chose to go out and vote against all odds to correct a mistake that is known as GMA.  Today’s popular uprisings have puppet-masters pulling the  strings in God knows what direction. In my book, EDSA I is the only popular uprising that has the moral ascendancy and legitimate support of the general public. All the other popular uprisings that came after were poor “wannabees”.

Independence is an effect of Freedom. In a causal loop, freedom must first be earned before you can declare independence.  We must never forget that freedom is a privilege that you must fight for. It is not a right as we have witnessed from our history. If we are ready to live our lives on the waves of what is dished to us, we will be robbed of freedom.  And as freedom is snatched from our very eyes, independence goes along with it.

I continue to pray that our civil liberties be expanded in the pursuit of continuing independence. In particular, Section 3 of the Bill of Rights should include a provision allowing the citizenry to keep and bear arms without the fascist curtailment presently employed by the Phillippine National Police.  The restrictions imposed on law abiding citizens make it easier for the lawless to wreck havoc on the fragile peace that we know have. I will continue to support all efforts to make this fundamental right be included in our constitution.

Remember, our forefathers fought for our freedom and independence against the Spanish and Americans with little or antiquated firearms. I could just imagine how independence could have been speedily achieved have our forefathers acquired Gattling Guns and Sniper-Rifles against our colonial masters.

As the day comes to an end, I am filled the hope that this Independence Day will mark a new chapter of Philippine History. Hopeful that it will bring the justice and the change that we all need to improve the lives of every Filipino and his family.

Nahimbing Lang

Hayup naman talaga ang mga panaginip! Di mo alam kung nag o-overtime lang ang consciouness mo o talaga bang nagpapahiwatik ng mga bagay-bagay na walang katuturan. 

The dream peacefully started with an afternoon shower.To some it was a sign of blessing. To others it was also a sign of tears from heaven.

Sa aking panaginip, matapos ang halos dalawang linggo ng pag-uusap sa pagitan ng dalawang partido, nauwi rin ito sa isang mapait na sitwasyon.

When only one side is trying to achieve a win-win scenario, the ending could almost be seen as headed for disaster.

Prinisipyo lang ng “makatwirang pamumuhay” and pundasyon ng argumento ng unang partido. Ang ibig sabihin ng “makatwirang pamumuhay” ay ang isang pamilya, ng limang katao,ay maginhawang makakaraos sa kanyang pangununahing pangangailangan tulad ng pabahay, pagkain, at pananamit.  Ang makatwirang pamumuhay ay angat sa antas-ng-kahirapang pamumuhay kung saan sapat sa tatlong beses makakain ang kanyang pamilya ng lima.  Ang makatwirang pomumuhay ay tumutugon din sa taunang pag-angat ng presyo ng mga pangunahing bilihin kasama na ang pamasahe.  

The contending party alleges that since the collaborative labor of all produced a pajillions of money,it is just right and equitable that they take more part of the money earned.  The basic premise is that this is the right time to take more than what is being offered because of the stellar performance of the organization.  Not thinking of sustainability or forecasting of future growth, the battle-cry is “give us the windfall  today”.

Ibinigay na ng unang partido ang lahat ng pasensya, pang-unawa at dagdag na benepisyo upang mapanatili ang kapayapaan. Subalit ayaw ng makinig sa paliwanag na may kaukulang kalkulasyon para tanggapin ang alok ng makatwirang pamumuhay.

Both justification and calculations are irrelevant to the contending party.  They simply want more because of what is perceived as a “good year” based on fiscal documents. Dear Lord, I truly hope you will open their hearts and minds to see that not everything they see is what it seems.  The “numbers”may look good but it may have been presented that way to address a specific need.

Sa puntong ito ng aking panaginip ay hindi nagpatinag sa posisyon ang pangalawang partido. Natapos ang araw at nawala na rin ang isang insentibong alok ng unang partido. Isang insentibo na dapat ay makikinabang ang lahat ng miyembro ng pangalawang partido lalo na’t nalalapit ang panahon ng pasukan.  Sa mga miyembro ng pangalawang partido, sila ang luhaan.

When the leadership is ready to sacrifice the majority for other vested interests, that to me, is no longer leadership but tyranny.  Oh well, I argued my case using all possible reason, logic, and emotions. I drift again to a deeper state of sleep but this time I only felt peace as if a voice was whipering in my ears ” You have fought the good fight, you stayed in the race, and you have kept the Faith.”

“TAMA NA YAN, INUMAN NA!!!!!”…….. I am rudely awakened from my dream-state with the loud blast of karaoke-music my selfish neighbors always employ on a Saturday morning. I still ponder on the roller-coaster of emotions which I felt when my eyes were completely close. I ask myself if life is any better in dreamland or is it basically the same in the conscious state. I don’t know. It’s 7:00 am and it’s time to start the weekend with a light run.