5 New Year Resolutions To Be More Innovative

Innovator

In this post on Fast Company, the author Kaihan Krippendorff suggests the 5 new year resolutions that could make you more innovative.

To be more innovative, you need more diverse sources of information and inspiration. Resolve to read magazines you’ve never considered, watch movies you think you’d hate, and attend lectures of topics apparently unrelated to what you do.
Innovators are “intense observers” and so are able to spot customer needs and emerging “weak signals.” This year put up your antenna. Pretend you are the producer of Jon Stewart’s The Daily Show and need to know which issues and topics people care about this week and this month.
Innovators try things just to see if they work while others want to know if they will work before they try them. Decide that this year you will start taking small risks. Force yourself to conduct, say, five low-risk experiments in your business this year.
Innovators are curious, and they ask questions not just because they are after something but because they enjoy the journey of discovery. This year find yourself continually asking “why?” and “how?” Read the newspaper, not just to absorb the decisions CEOs and other leaders make, but to challenge them. Ask “Why should CTS focus on growth & not margins?” and come up with three reasons why they should.
Innovators are great networkers and they network without a precise goal in mind. This year thrust yourself into new networks. Join a club, pick up a hobby, and plan lunches that will put you face-to-face with people who have no obvious networking value for you. You will be surprised by serendipitous opportunities they open up.

Read the full post here.

Technorati Tags: innovation,new year resolution,personal kaizen,self improvement

Visiting Taj Mahal – Quick Tips

A recent visit to Agra for a Taj Mahal experience was awesome! A few travel tips though could’ve elevated it to an out-of-the-world experience.

Tip #1: Use the train service between Delhi – Agra.
Tip #2: Schedule to enjoy Taj at sunset & sunrise.
Tip #3: Schedule your Agra visit for a weekday (except Friday).
Tip #4: Allocate some non-guide time.

Tip #1: Use the train service between Delhi – Agra.

Trying to be adventurous, I opted to do this trip by road & wasted almost 10 hours on the road. Road traffic is BAD on both sides of the trip – Delhi & Agra. Train service is the preferred option saving you time & effort. Check here for more information on the train options.

Tip #2: Schedule to enjoy Taj at sunset & sunrise.

Day 1 (4-5 pm): Arrive at Agra by early evening (4-5 pm)
Day 1 (6-8 pm): Catch a glimpse from across the Yamuna. Get a moonlit view from within the Taj complex. Note that the closing time is 7 pm.
Day 2 (6-10 am): Sun rise view followed by a detailed tour of the Taj. Note that the opening time is 6 am.
Day 2 (rest of day): Agra Fort & other attractions in / around Agra.

Tip #3: Schedule your Agra visit for a weekday (except Friday).

The difference between a Taj experience and a great Taj experience could be the huge tourist crowds. Apart from using a crowd avoiding schedule (like above), you could also plan to visit Taj on a weekday. Note that the Taj complex is closed on Friday.

Tip #4: Allocate some non-guide time.

While a good guide is recommended for a truly appreciative & studied experience of the Taj, do allocate for some non-guide time. More often than not, the first few minutes of a visit (especially if it is your first visit) pass by with a dropped jaw, eyes focused on the Taj & you turning deaf to people around you. A non-guide slot will allow you to soak in the beauty of the monument without the verbal or time pressures of the guide.

Why Should You Blog

(Photo Courtesy alamodestuff)

#1: To Share

The original purpose of my creating Muses of the Gleep was to share useful information. Sharing is fun, satisfying & builds camaraderie. I once did some research on brand taglines and shared my research results as a post. Brand Tagline is one of the most viewed posts on this blog today. You could also share your ideas, learning, experiences, insights or opinion on any topic of interest.

~ Quotes To Live By – Life Lessons from Richard Branson
~ Links of Interest – 27Oct2010
~ Intrapreneurs – Engaged Employees
~ Difference Between Mars & Venus

#2: To Learn

If you are a learner for life like me, blogging is a tremendous learning platform. Whenever learning is done with an intent of passing the knowledge to others, the learning process & resulting internalization tends to be richer. Apart from the additional research & the change in learning perspective, there is also the “meta-cognition of thinking of what you’re going to say, explaining yourself & expressing yourself” – an effective way to to formulate your thought processes. Finally, there is the humility that comes along with writing.

~ Plan Your Presentation
~ Thinking of becoming an entrepreneur?

#3: To Spread Ideas

The internet has democratized publishing. With a blog, you can spread your ideas & those of others that resonate with you, much faster than was imaginable just a few years ago. Your blog can be your stage for 15 minutes of fame. If the ideas are good, they will be consumed by netizens across the world. Else, as the saying goes, you create something that makes you famous amongst the 15 people who matter to you.

~ Best Friend At Work
~ Being Authentic While Competing

#4: To Market

When it comes to personal branding or marketing on the internet, no other medium comes close! It is free, easy to update & has a tremendous reach. If any brand (including & especially you) is not using a blog for internet marketing, it is for you to loose.

~ Top 5 Personal Branding Resources
~ Measure of what you believe, is what you do!

#5: To Build Accountability

One way of building personal accountability is to announce your intentions (life goals, yearly resolutions or your bucket list) to the world. This way you hold yourself accountable to a larger audience, that (I believe) increases the chances of you achieving the same. Increased possibly comes in the form of a helping hand, or a nudge forward, or additional internal motivation to deliver on your public claims.

~ Reinforce The Positives
~ Are You Doing Your Part?
~ The Most Effective Habit

People have varied reasons to blog. I have listed below a few others that might tickle your interest.

# to use it as an autobiography of sorts
# to give your kids a peek into your world
# to improve writing skills
# to create conversations
# to add to the voice / cause on the internet

Find your reason to blog!

Taj – First View

This is the first view one gets of the monument when visiting the Taj Mahal. Even though the familiar minarets are missing, the sight of the main structure through the arch is awe inspiring. The beauty hits you. A fitting start to a monumental admiration trip.

—–
Related Posts:
~ Linger
~ Weathered
~ Photo Tip – What’s the caption?