Thank you Forbes!

I've always believed passionately in the need to connect in person.

Maybe because I wasnt born with an iphone in my hand and I actually had real life girl talk when I was a teenager - not just Facebook and IM. I hate to date myself, but I remember using a pay phone to call home for rides from the mall. When I tell my kids that, they ask if I was picked up on a horse - they can't begin to relate.

AND NOW validation from a real life media powerhouse. Please, if you want real stats from a highly respected media vehicle (as if my blog isnt enough!) click here

Join the Exploration...

In a great article I just read, Scott Anthony (one of the many keynotes at Front End of Innovation Europe 2010) writes about how this past year could have potentially marked the end of the Innovation Movement - and yet, how a year later Innovation is more important now than ever. Whew.

AN interesting fact - today a company that enters the Standard & Poor 500 index will stay on it for less than 20 years. Well, y'all and w'yall better get crackin... Here's to looking ahead and thinking NEXT.

Once again, thanks to Scott Anthony for putting it all into perspective - I cant wait to connect face to face in Amsterdam to explore more. Join our exploration and come with.
to read more click here

Great Stories last forever ... CLEAN THE ATTIC

Recently I was talking to some colleagues about purging my garage of all the the toys and lifesize playhouse, barbie cars and "stuff" I wanted out to make way for something I havent had in a while - SPACE. A less fortunate gentleman who had been handing out fliers offering painting services happened to pass by and to his surprise and delight the treasures were on the sidewalk waiting for local pick up. He shrieked with excitement - called his wife to come by with the minivan and started filling it up. I walked outside to run an errand and very shly with humility they asked me if I minded. "Our children have never had such things"... DO I MIND? Come inside my garage and help yourself! I love the fact that these toys will have another life with children who will be overjoyed and appreciative. It was a happy day for all of us - A GIFT FOR ALL OF US. When I was finished telling the story to my colleague - she immediately thought back to Keith Ferrazzi's speech at a previous CUSTOMERs 1St NACCM Conference - where he referred to a similar experience - only he was the overjoyed one - the recipient. The gifts that changed his life. When you're exposed to so many great stories there are a sacred few that hold a special place in your heart and in your mind and change you personally AND professionally for the better. You can always count on NACCM Customers 1st for that. This year's line up is equally as powerful - and challenges you in so many ways yet motivates and inspires you to achieve more. I'm excited to see the momentum has really picked up too - as more and more companies are recognizing the need to celebrate the future by embracing change and taking control by sending teams. www.iirusa.com/naccm. I cant wait for November to be moved again.

No Innovative Burgers Please... The Danger of Buzzwords

Way back when, when we started doing Innovation events, the word was powerful, inviting and articulate. We're all intrigued by innovation - the foundation for growth and prosperity. The key to survival we are told. But nowadays, when we see innovation plastered all over everything - ironically on the least innovative "innovations" it makes me think - has it become such a buzzword that we're immune to it? I'm not sure I ever want to eat an "innovative burger" that scares me actually.

Is there another word out there that defines innovation better than the word innovation itself? And then, when I see people using terminology like Open Innovation on presentations or even naming an event itself - I think to myself, who in the world, in 2009 is going to an event that focuses so narrowly on one aspect of such an important strategy? Innovation Immersion and FEI, our premier events have been covering Open for so many years, we've actually graduated from Open to Partnering and Crowdsourcing. Unqualified organizers seems to be jumping on the innovation bandwagon, many of whom dont even understand what it is. This in turn is devaluing innovation and ironically getting in the way of the growth of innovation as an embraceable, repeatable culture and process. For those really serious about enterprise wide value innovation, new business model innovation and unlocking customer value - come hear Scott Anthony, Author, The Innovator’s Guide to Growth speak at Innovation Immersion this October along with CEOs from Fast Company’s 50 Most Innovative Interview Each Other... www.iirusa.com/immersion. Now THAT is what I'm talking about.