Peter Brown: Right Relationship - Building A Whole Earth Economy - Blog Business Success Radio

Listen to Wayne Hurlbert on Blog Talk Radio



Professor at the McGill University School of Environment, and co-author of the thought provoking and societal changing book Right Relationship: Building a Whole Earth Economy, Peter G. Brown, discusses how the current economic model of continual growth flies in the face of the Earth's finite resources. He describes how destruction of the natural world is increasing at an alarming rate, while the gap between rich and poor continues to widen. The author shares ideas for understanding ecological limits, while focusing on fairness, as well as the spiritual well being of humanity.

Peter G. Brown is my internet radio show guest on Blog Business Success; hosted live on Blog Talk Radio.

The show airs live on Thursday, September 10, at 8:00 pm Eastern Time; 5:00 pm Pacific Time.

Professor at the McGill University School of Environment, and co-author of the thought provoking and societal changing book Right Relationship: Building a Whole Earth Economy, Peter G. Brown, discusses how the current economic model of continual growth flies in the face of the Earth's finite resources. You will learn:

* What is the right relationship between people and the environment

* What are the limits to economic growth and how to change the growth paradigm

* How people can work together with the environment for the benefit of all

* Some possible solutions on a global scale to the growing crisis



Peter G. Brown, PhD. (photo left) is a Professor in the School of Environment, the Department of Geography, and the Department of Natural Resource Sciences at McGill University. Before coming to McGill, he was Professor of Public Policy at the University of Maryland's graduate School of Public Affairs. While at the University of Maryland, he founded the Institute for Philosophy and Public Policy, the School of Public Policy itself, and established the School's Environmental Policy Programs.

He is a graduate of Haverford College, holds a Master's Degree in the Philosophy of Religion from Union Theological Seminary and Columbia University, and a Ph.D. from Columbia in Philosophy. He is the author of Restoring the Public Trust: A Fresh Vision for Progressive Government in America (Beacon Press, 1994), and Ethics, Economics and International Relations: Transparent Sovereignty in the Commonwealth of Life, Second Edition (Edinburgh University Press, 2008). It is published in North America as The Commonwealth of Life: Economics for a Flourishing Earth, Second Edition (Black Rose Books, 2008).

Peter Brown is actively involved in conservation efforts in the James Bay and Southern regions of Quebec, and in Maryland. He operates tree farms in Maryland and Quebec, and is a Certified Quebec Forest Producer. In 1995, Peter was Tree Farmer of the Year in Garrett County, Maryland. He is a member of the Religious Society of Friends.

My book review of Right Relationship: Building a Whole Earth Economy by Peter G. Brown and Geoffrey Garver.

Listen live on Thursday at 8:00 pm Eastern, 5:00 pm Pacific time.



If you miss this very informative show, it will be available for free download as a podcast for iPod, iTunes, and MP3 players; or play it right on your computer. To download this, or any other of my guest interviews, go to the Blog Business Success host page and click on Archived Segments. Once there, click on the podcast icon at the end of the episode description, to download the show free of charge for your listening enjoyment. You can also subscribe to the show feed.



To call in questions for my guest, the number is: (347) 996-5832

Let's talk with Professor at the McGill University School of Environment, and co-author of the thought provoking and societal changing book Right Relationship: Building a Whole Earth Economy, Peter G. Brown, as he discusses how the current economic model of continual growth flies in the face of the Earth's finite resources. He describes how destruction of the natural world is increasing at an alarming rate, while the gap between rich and poor continues to widen. The author shares ideas for understanding ecological limits, while focusing on fairness, as well as the spiritual well being of humanity on Blog Business Success Radio.

Tags: Right Relationship: Building a Whole Earth Economy, Peter G. Brown, Geoffrey Garver , sustainable economy, Blog Business Success, Blog Talk Radio.

Right Relationship: Building A Whole Earth Economy - Peter G. Brown & Geoffrey Garver - Book review

Right Relationship

Building a Whole Earth Economy

By: Peter G. Brown, Geoffrey Garver

Published: February 2009
Format: Paperback, 216pp
ISBN: 9781576757628
Publisher: Berrett-Koehler Publishers





"The global economy today is overwhelming the ability of the earth to maintain life's abundance". write environmental thinkers Peter G. Brown and Geoffrey Garver in their thought provoking and inspirational book Right Relationship: Building a Whole Earth Economy. The authors present the Quaker concept of "right relationship" as a basis for a new economy, that considers both the relationship between people, as well as their relationship with the earth's environment as a whole.



Peter Brown (photo left) and Geoffrey Garver consider the current economic model of continual growth to be unsustainable, and that the concept of unlimited growth is not possible on a planet with finite resources. Along with the reality of limits to economic growth, the authors also consider the impact of economic decisions on the relationships between people. The authors point to recent scientific discoveries that have changed the older reductionist thinking, and replaced that outmoded concept with one of relationships between all living things and the context in which they dwell. The premise of the book goes far deeper than one of sustainability to consider creating a system that operates in harmony with the reality of science and enduring ethical considerations.



Geoffrey Garver (photo left) and Peter Brown consider the current global economic model to be based on what they call wrong relationships. The authors point out the contradiction between how riches are counted despite an actual decrease in wealth. They ask the difficult questions of what an economy is for and how it works. Peter Brown and Geoffrey Garver don't believe that moving away from the wrong, and often forced, relationships between people and with the environment results in economic doom. On the contrary, the authors believe firmly that an economy based on the right relationship will present opportunities for more people to live fuller and happier lives than ever before.

For me, the power of the book is the case presented by Peter Brown and Geoffrey Garver for building a strong economy that benefits people, creates real wealth, and maintains the environment. The authors understand that the theory of unlimited growth is a failed paradigm, as is the concept that the earth is subsidiary to the the economy. The book describes how measuring wealth only in terms of money is flawed and how externalities must be considered in any realistic economic analysis. The authors point out that unlimited growth is not possible on a finite planet. and that the barriers to growth are showing up everywhere. The book proposes a more fair distribution of wealth that requires a change in governance from one that supports the wrong relationships at the expense of the right relationship. In response to those challenges, the authors propose steps to achieving a whole earth economy.

I highly recommend the paradigm challenging book Right Relationship: Building a Whole Earth Economy by Peter Brown and Geoffrey Garver, to anyone seeking a workable and effective alternative to the current global economic system. In a world where Peak Oil and environmental degradation, as well as human exploitation for short term profit and long term loss, are recognized, the authors propose a way out of the current wrong relationships. The authors are not anti-business, but rather are pro-fairness and support ethical treatment of others and the environment.

Read the important, often controversial, and societal changing book Right Relationship: Building a Whole Earth Economy by Peter Brown and Geoffrey Garver, and discover the real value of the holistic approach of the right relationship. Far from being a pie in the sky dream, the concept embraces the scientific reality of the limits to the planet's resources. At the same time, the authors recognize that a system that is unfair in relationships between humans, as well as out of step with resources, is doomed to failure.

History is littered with failed societies that failed to understand interpersonal relationships and their interaction with the earth. The book is a crucial guide to avoid repeating those past societal and environmental disasters.

Tags: Right Relationship: Building a Whole Earth Economy, Peter G. Brown, Geoffrey Garver , sustainable economy, economic book reviews.

John Kador: Effective Apology - Blog Business Success Radio

Listen to Wayne Hurlbert on Blog Talk Radio



Speaker, consultant, and best selling author of the powerful and life changing book Effective Apology: Mending Fences, Building Bridges, and Restoring Trust, John Kador, shares the crucial principles involved in giving an effective apology to mend fences, rebuild bridges, and restore trust. He challenges our perceptions of what constitutes an effective apology for both the speaker and the recipient. John's 5 R's of a whole hearted apology are designed to heal and to renew a relationship. He also discusses how to accept or reject an apology in the right way.

John Kador is my internet radio show guest on Blog Business Success; hosted live on Blog Talk Radio.

The show airs live on Tuesday, September 8, at 8:00 pm Eastern Time; 5:00 pm Pacific Time.

Speaker, consultant, and best selling author of the powerful and life changing book Effective Apology: Mending Fences, Building Bridges, and Restoring Trust, John Kador, shares the crucial principles involved in giving an effective apology to mend fences, rebuild bridges, and restore trust. You will learn:

* Why effective apologies are so important for rebuilding trust

* What makes for an effective apology

* Why apologies make a leader stronger, and not weaker as many people think

* How to refuse an apology with grace



John Kador (photo left) is an author, consultant, and speaker who acts as if every word is a moral choice. His work centers on identifying and describing best practices in leadership and promoting the highest standards of personal accountability, humility, and transparency. This book, which describes the benefits that leaders accrue when they embrace apology rather than shy from it, is squarely in that tradition. His personal credo is that different is not always better, but better is always different.

John is the author of over 10 books, including Charles Schwab: How One Company Beat Wall Street and Reinvented the Brokerage Industry , 50 High-Impact Speeches & Remarks: Proven Words You Can Adapt for Any Business Occasion, and the NY Times bestseller Net Ready: Strategies for Success in the E-conomy (with Amir Hartman and John Sifonis). His career books include The Manager’s Book of Questions: 751 Great Questions for Hiring the Best Person, How to Ace the Brainteaser Job Interview, and 201 Best Questions to Ask On Your Interview. As a corporate ghostwriter, John has distinguished himself as a writing partner to a number of Fortune 1000 executives who credit him for his willingness to embrace the hectic and unpredictable schedules of busy executives.

John began his writing career in Washington DC at a high-tech advertising and public relations agency. For the past 30 years he has been the principal of Kador Communications, providing editorial assistance to dozens of corporate and media clients. John’s insights have been featured in more than one hundred magazines and newspapers, including The Chicago Tribune, Computerworld, Working Women, and Business to Business. John has columns in Chief Executive, Registered Rep, and Human Resources Executive.

John holds a Naster’s Degree in public relations from The American University and an undergraduate degree from Duke University. John was born in Budapest, Hungary. He came to the U.S. when he was six and settled with his family in New York City. John currently lives in Winfield, Pennsylvania, with his wife, Anna Beth Payne, a psychologist at a university counseling center. He has two children, Dan, a software engineer in San Francisco, and Rachel, an undergraduate at the University of Massachusetts-Amherst. When he isn’t working, he likes to fence, a sport which he has practiced since high school.

John Kador blogs at Apology Matters.

My book review of Effective Apology: Mending Fences, Building Bridges, and Restoring Trust by John Kador.

Listen live on Tuesday at 8:00 pm Eastern, 5:00 pm Pacific time.



If you miss this very informative show, it will be available for free download as a podcast for iPod, iTunes, and MP3 players; or play it right on your computer. To download this, or any other of my guest interviews, go to the Blog Business Success host page and click on Archived Segments. Once there, click on the podcast icon at the end of the episode description, to download the show free of charge for your listening enjoyment. You can also subscribe to the show feed.



To call in questions for my guest, the number is: (347) 996-5832

Let's talk with speaker, consultant, and best selling author of the powerful and life changing book Effective Apology: Mending Fences, Building Bridges, and Restoring Trust, John Kador, as he shares the crucial principles involved in giving an effective apology to mend fences, rebuild bridges, and restore trust. He challenges our perceptions of what constitutes an effective apology for both the speaker and the recipient. John's 5 R's of a whole hearted apology are designed to heal and to renew a relationship. He also discusses how to accept or reject an apology in the right way on Blog Business Success Radio.

Tags: Effective Apology: Mending Fences, Building Bridges, and Restoring Trust, John Kador, leadership, Blog Business Success, Blog Talk Radio.

Po Bronson & Ashley Merryman - NurtureShock - Author interview

Award winning journalists and science writers, and authors Po Bronson and Ashley Merryman, took the time to answer some questions about their groundbreaking book NurtureShock: New Thinking about Children . Thanks to the authors for their interesting and insightful answers to some of the issues raised in their fascinating book.













There are many books written about parenting. How is NurtureShock: New Thinking about Children different from standard books on the topic?

Po Bronson & Ashley Merryman: Most parenting books are focused on dispensing parenting advice – and there's little information as to where the advice comes from, or how the expert concluded that was the best course of action. NurtureShock comes at this from the opposite approach: we tell you who are the scientists working on child development and what they are doing to further their research, letting lessons develop naturally understanding from their work. So I think it reads very differently – and its appeal isn't limited to parents.

The ideas presented in the book are taken from modern scientific study. Why aren't these scientific findings more widely spread and understood?

Po Bronson & Ashley Merryman: Every day, I get at least 20 or 30 press releases about some new scientific finding or "break-through." Many studies do get reported on, however, there's no content in the story beyond exactly what was found in that specific new report. To me, that's the intellectual equivalent of throwing spaghetti on the wall until it sticks. People just can't tell from the sound-bite of a single report if that study's worth paying attention to, so even the good research can't get any traction.

So I think all scientists struggle with how to get their word out. And the problem is even more acute in child development research, because the presumption has been that parents want just a quick instant-fix/parenting trick, and they don't have the time or interest to go beyond that.

Where the science really sings is when it's put in context – when we can take the time to spell out the methods being used to study an issue, and show how this work differs and replicates what's come before.

Many people believe there is a a nurturing or parenting instinct. How does your research differ from this widely held mythos?

Po Bronson & Ashley Merryman: There is an innate, biological instinct to protect a child. Hormones kick-in; parts of a mother's brain become activated when she hears her child cry. But I think a lot of people use the term for a much broader meaning that relates to over-all parenting ability – the myth being a parents automatically know what to do when a baby cries over a bottle or a teen cries over a broken heart.

And I think that story sets parents up for a fall, because they feel like a failure when that "instinct" fails to manifest itself.

As to how best to parent, that's not instinct. It's learned and up to each individual.



Po Bronson and Ashley Merryman (both authors in photo left)

One of the areas where your book moves away from standard beliefs is in the area of praise for children. Why are the standard ideas not the same as your findings as presented in the book?

Po Bronson & Ashley Merryman: Since the 1970s, there has been an increasing focus on building kids' self-esteem through praise – the idea being that if you build a child's self-confidence, they can achieve more.

But more recent research has shown that it's actually the reverse: if kids get praised for being wonderful, then they don't see the need to improve – because they've already become secure in their greatness.

At the same time, research done by Stanford's Carol Dweck shows that broad praise like, "You're so intelligent," teaches kids that success is based on an innate skill they have or they don't. At that point, once again, such praise dissuades kids from putting out effort. Instead, it just becomes about findings ways for kids to protect their self-image.

Your discussion of standard IQ tests, that are often taken as indisputable truth by many, and often form the basis for determining children's futures, has different findings. What are your discoveries?

Po Bronson & Ashley Merryman: The popular concept of giftedness is that IQ is very stable – a child who does well on an IQ test at four years old will do just as well at 40. Operating with this view, schools and others have kids as young as four take IQ tests, and the institutions use these results for the kids' permanent placement in gifted programs.

But there is nothing in the neuroscience to support that position. Kids often have dramatic swings in IQ scores until at least age eight, and, for the brightest kids, their progress is often more uneven. It turns out that the very brightest kids, their brain anatomy progresses at a slower rate. So the neuroscientists were so stunned to hear what schools were doing with early testing.

Then Po and I spoke to a number of the authors of IQ tests, to see their take on the matter. Every one of them objected to the way schools were using their tests in gifted assessments.

We need to give kids time to develop, recognizing that even just a month of schooling can increase a child's IQ.

What do your findings on teen rebellion tell you about that often controversial subject?

Po Bronson & Ashley Merryman: I think the story of teen rebellion is actually over-rated. Early psychologists themselves were promulgating that image of the teen years, but they were working with kids who were troubled – a clinical population. However, more recent research show most teens have very good relationships with their parents.

The issue isn't about rebellion, so much as it is about a child carving out his own identity – a sphere of influence to call his own. And there is tension over that begins well before the teen years.



Are gifted children really born that way, or are there other factors involved with children?

Po Bronson & Ashley Merryman: As I mentioned, education itself increases a kid's IQ.

Of course, while there probably are some biological predispositions to intelligence – you can inherit your mom's smarts along with your dad's eye color. But it's an enriching environment and involved caregiving, that really make the difference.

Did you expect to find so many controversial ideas about children that were so different from mainstream thought?

Po Bronson & Ashley Merryman: If a few years ago, you had told me that there was a lot of child development science out there that I didn't know about, I would have probably been surprised.

Then Po and I had heard about Carol Dweck's work on praise, and we couldn't believe that we hadn't already known about her work. So we figured that there must be more important research out there. Wanting to find that other work was the catalyst for the book.

What is next for Po Bronson and Ashley Merryman?

Po Bronson & Ashley Merryman: We just started a NurtureShock blog for Newsweek – continuing to develop some of the topics that are in the book, as well as developing new ones. And all Fall, we'll be traveling around the country, speaking about the book. That's where all our focus is at the moment.

My book review of NurtureShock: New Thinking about Children by Po Bronson and Ashley Merryman.

Tags: NurtureShock: New Thinking about Children, Po Bronson, Ashley Merryman, child development psychology, author interviews.

NurtureShock by Po Bronson & Ashley Merryman - Book review

NurtureShock

New Thinking about Children

By: Po Bronson, Ashley Merryman

Published: September 3, 2009
Format: Hardcover, 352 pages
ISBN: 9780446504126
Publisher: Grand Central Publishing/Twelve









"'Nurture shock' as the term is generally used, refers to the panic - common among new parents - that the mythical fountain of knowledge is not magically kicking in at all", write award winning science writers and journalists Po Bronson and Ashley Merryman in their groundbreaking and challenging book NurtureShock: New Thinking about Children. The authors describe new scientific research that turns previous assumptions about child development upside down. Instead of being positive for raising children, long held beliefs are in fact having the opposite effect, as many crucial subtleties have been overlooked by parents and researchers.



Po Bronson and Ashley Merryman (both in photo left) present cutting edge research in child development psychology that challenges long held beliefs about nurturing and raising children. The authors provide powerful and compelling evidence that many of the most widely held beliefs about child development are often doing more harm than good. The book is not an indictment of parents and their assumptions, but as an eye opening discussion about how to think more deeply and clearly about how children learn and develop as people. Indeed, the authors propose abandoning the concept of raising children by the book, and instead incorporating old fashioned common sense into the nurturing of their children.

Ashley Merryman and Po Bronson recognize that the conventional wisdom for raising children requires an overhaul. At the same time, however, the scientific research they present in the book suggests that very small changes in parental behavior will make important differences in the response and development of the child. The book covers many often taboo topics in regard to nurturing and raising children, adolescents, and teenagers.



The authors don't shy away from the controversial topics, and follow the research wherever it may lead, even when it flies directly in the face of conventional wisdom. Subjects discussed include self-esteem, whether children are blind to racial differences, lying, emotional intelligence, language development, and responses to peer pressure. In every case, the scientific research presented diverges widely from commonly held assumptions about how children learn, think, and behave. The good news is that very small changes in parental actions and words can make a real difference for the child.

I highly recommend the important and must read book NurtureShock: New Thinking about Children by Po Bronson and Ashley Merryman, to any parents seeking understand and connect with their children in an entirely new way. The authors point to studies that demonstrate that applying adult responses and expected behaviors to children is the wrong course of action. Instead, their goal is a deeper understanding of the apparent contradictions between how adults behave and how children respond, as well as to the contradictions within the child's own actions and behavior.

Read the often shocking, but always rewarding book NurtureShock: New Thinking about Children by Po Bronson and Ashley Merryman, for an indispensable discussion of the most challenging scientific research into child development psychology. The results of the studies may shock the reader, and may even be uncomfortable for many, but the reading and understanding the research will lead to more effective child rearing and educational activities. In the end, the book will help the reader to become a more understanding parent, and that is certainly to the overall benefit of the child.

Tags: NurtureShock: New Thinking about Children, Po Bronson, Ashley Merryman, child development psychology, science book reviews.

Effective Apology by John Kador - Book review

Effective Apology

Mending Fences, Building Bridges, and Restoring Trust

By: John Kador

Published: May 2009
Format: Paperback, 264 pages
ISBN: 9781576759011
Publisher: Berrett-Koehler Publishers






"Apologies have more power than most of us realize to restore strained relationships, free us from vengeful impulses, and create possibilities for growth:, writes consultant and speaker John Kador in his powerful and life changing book Effective Apology: Mending Fences, Building Bridges, and Restoring Trust. The author demonstrates the crucial importance of making effective apologies in both business and personal life, for rebuilding trust between people.

John Kador recognizes the importance of apologies as essential to modern society. While a leader's first impulse may be to avoid apology, to not appear weak or prone to mistakes, the author makes a powerful case that avoiding apology can have serious consequences. The central message of the book is that mistakes are inevitable and that an honest and effective apology will defuse anger, reduce litigation, begin the healing process, and rebuild the relationship. John Kador makes the case well that while an apology is not free of personal and economic cost, the price of denial, blame, and a refusal to take responsibility for mistakes and to apologize is much higher. While apology was once viewed as weakness, society now considers an open and honest apology to be a sign of personal strength and integrity.



John Kador (photo left) recognizes that there are many facets to an effective apology, and a clear understanding of what constitutes a proper apology is central to its acceptance. The author provides an insightful definition of apology and how the very nature of apology is being transformed through business, political, and technological change. The book contains an important section on the building blocks, for developing and giving effective apologies, that can be applied to most situations in business, public, or private life. The third section of the book delves into achieving positive results from apology, including an understanding of when, how, and through which medium to give the apology, and avoiding mistakes made when apologizing to others. Along with ideas on giving apologies, John Kador discusses how to accept an apology, and how to recognize when an offered apology is not genuine.

For me, the power of the book is the author's clear understanding of every aspect of giving and accepting apologies. His basic concepts, that an apology is an essential step to regaining trust and rebuilding relationships, is a powerful message in the modern world. No longer can a leader stand back and refuse to make an apology, through fear of being seen as weak, when an admission of the mistake will demonstrate strong, responsible leadership. Since mistakes are inevitable, it's critical that those errors be addressed openly and honestly by leaders. John Kador makes an overwhelming case that accepting responsibility, not attempting to shift blame, and giving effective apologies are core leadership skills in today's world.

I highly recommend the indispensable and definitive book Effective Apology: Mending Fences, Building Bridges, and Restoring Trust by John Kador, to anyone seeking to more deeply understand the crucial role of an effective apology in building relationships even stronger than before. The author describes, not only the tools and building blocks to forge an effective apology, but also shares his wisdom for the proper use of apologies at the right time, and in the most sensitive way.

Read the essential book Effective Apology: Mending Fences, Building Bridges, and Restoring Trust by John Kador, and discover that mistakes, either of commission or omission are inevitable, and that the need for an apology will arise. John Kador guides the reader through the entire apology process, and in the end, helps everyone to begin the healing process and create a deeper relationship as a result. Become a stronger and better leader, through the power of an effective apology.

Tags: Effective Apology: Mending Fences, Building Bridges, and Restoring Trust, John Kador, leadership, business book reviews.

David Kord Murray - Borrowing Brilliance - Author interview

Entrepreneur, innovator, inventor, and former Fortune 500 executive David Kord Murray was kind enough to take some time and answer a few questions about his provocative and insightful book on innovation Borrowing Brilliance: The Six Steps to Business Innovation by Building on the Ideas. Thanks to David for his intriguing and informative answers.








Your book is titled Borrowing Brilliance: The Six Steps to Business Innovation by Building on the Ideas. What was the background to writing this book and the significance of the title?

David Kord Murray: Borrowing Brilliance is about innovation and creativity and the title refers to the source of ideas: that you build new ideas out of existing ideas. Einstein said, “The secret to creativity is knowing how to hide your sources.” But don’t misunderstand this, you simply borrow the materials and then use these materials to construct a new idea. I studied hundreds of creative thinkers, and their ideas, and was able to trace the source of their great ideas from other ideas they borrowed. For example, Charles Darwin borrowed ideas from geology and economics in order to construct an idea for biology.

How do you define a brilliant or creative idea?

David Kord Murray: There are two elements to a creative idea: 1) one that’s new or different; and 2) one that’s useful. You could design a car with square wheels – it would be new and different – but it wouldn’t be very useful. In the book, I say that you build new ideas out of existing idea which is another way of saying that new ideas are “combinations” of existing ideas. To make them useful, you have to properly define the problem you’re trying to solve. An idea is the solution to a problem. For example, Sony invented the “Walkman” by combining a small tape player with a small pair of headphones -- a unique combination that no one else had made – and used it to solve a portable entertainment problem.

What are some examples of borrowed brilliance happening in the real world?

David Kord Murray: Apple is particularly good at evolution. Every few months a new iPod comes out, they’re going to announce a new one next week. I’m sure it’s going to be a little bit better than the one before it … maybe it’ll have more memory, more intuitive controls, better battery life. And you can see how they combined it with cell phone technology and came up with the IPhone … and it too continues to evolve. Re-defining their problems, and then re-engineering them to solve these problems. They understand that the process never ends.

If people do borrow ideas freely from others, why don't many of those people admit that the idea was borrowed from someone else?

David Kord Murray: Because they’re afraid to and/or because they don’t realize they’ve done it. We’re taught that taking ideas is wrong. We’ve developed a legal system that discourages it in the form of patents and trademarks. But the reality is that ideas are built out of existing ideas – all of them – that’s how the mind works. You can’t make something out of nothing. However, you need to borrow and combine – not just borrow – just borrowing is stealing an idea. You need to improve it by re-structuring it, adding or subtracting things to it, or reorganizing it. Most of this happens in the subconscious, in the shadows of the mind, and so you don’t always know where the idea came from, even if you originated it.



David Kord Murray (photo left)

For creating business ideas, how do many of the best ideas originate outside of business?

David Kord Murray: Not enough. The further from your industry that you borrow an idea, the more creative the idea. If you borrow directly from a competitor, then that’s not very creative. If you borrow from another industry, well that’s more creative. If you borrow from outside industry, like from nature, the arts or the sciences – then that’ll be truly creative. (But don’t pass up good ideas just because they don’t have a strong creative perception.)

The book is about creative thinking and ideas. How does a person begin the creative process?

David Kord Murray: It begins with the problem. Identifying it. Understanding it. And then defining it and re-defining it. When I’m working on a concept development team we spend a lot of time on the problem. The first chapter of my book is devoted to understanding problems and how to define them. For example, In the 1920’s Henry Ford defined his problem as “building the least expensive car.” And he did and was very successful. But William Durant over at General Motors defined the problem a little differently, he said “let’s build a car that people can afford.” This led to a huge innovation … the formation of GMAC and the financing of automobiles. GM was able to make much more interesting cars and make them affordable through monthly payments.

When an idea is created, how does it evolve to a final form?

David Kord Murray: Ideas are constantly evolving. For the creative thinker, there never is a final form. Look at Facebook. It began as a website for Harvard University freshman. It was a place you could go to check out pictures and bios of the incoming freshman class. In fact, Mark Zuckerberg originally copied the HOT OR NOT site – where you ranked two pictures of incoming freshman – who was better looking. But today it’s one of the top social networking sites, 250 Million users. They’re constantly adding new things, solving problems, and making unique combinations of things. Things like a “wall” to post messages. Photo albums. And status updates. They pass judgment and then enhance the site. And if they don’t … someone else will. They go back and re-define, re-borrow and re-combine.

Do you think Apple has a final form for the IPod? Of course, in business we have to make decisions about when the product is ready for market. But those are business decisions, not creativity decisions.

What is the first step a business person should take toward developing creative ideas, and borrowing brilliance?

David Kord Murray: Again, I think it begins with the problem. My six step process is:

Step One: Defining—Define the problem you’re trying to solve.
Step Two: Borrowing—Borrow ideas from places with a similar problem.
Step Three: Combining—Connect and combine these borrowed ideas.
Step Four: Incubating—Allow the combinations to incubate into a solution.
Step Five: Judging—Identify the strength and weakness of the solution.
Step Six: Enhancing—Eliminate the weak points while enhancing the strong ones.

What is next for David Murray?

David Kord Murray: I’m going on the road for two months to evangelize about creative thinking. I’ve got speaking engagements and I’m visiting with dozens and dozens of companies interested in innovating. I think people realize that creativity and innovation are no longer an option, and every business and every employee needs to understand the concepts of creativity, and how to become more creative.

My book review of Borrowing Brilliance: The Six Steps to Business Innovation by Building on the Ideas by David Kord Murray.

Borrowing Brilliance by David Kord Murray - Book review

Borrowing Brilliance

The Six Steps to Business Innovation by Building on the Ideas

By: David Kord Murray

Published: September 2009
Format: Hardcover, 304 pages
ISBN 9781592404780
Publisher: Gotham Books/Penguin





"In order to create, first you have to copy", writes entrepreneur and innovator David Kord Murray in his provocative and insightful book Borrowing Brilliance: The Six Steps to Business Innovation by Building on the Ideas. The author turns the concepts of original ideas and creative thinking on their heads, and demonstrates that ideas are borrowed from others, and turned into new innovations. David Murray provides numerous examples of innovations, that were borrowed by famous people from other innovators and improved upon in some way. He also describes a practical process for borrowing brilliance as a creative technique.

David Murray describes a six step process in innovation, that includes a heavy emphasis on seeking out existing ideas and solutions, and applying them to the problem. Yo begin the process, the author believes the problem must be clearly defined. Without an understanding of the problem, then a solution will not be forthcoming. The second step, once the problem has been determined, is to seek out similar problems, and examine their various solutions. Once discovered, the third step involves taking the existing ideas and combining, connecting, or changing them in some way. When completing these initial three stages, the innovator is able to behave like a Renaissance master, and improve upon an reinterpret already existing ideas.



David Kord Murray (photo left) recognizes that the first three steps in problem solving only define the problem, and examine some already existing solutions. At this point, the author believes a more subconscious awareness begins, as the ideas and the problem enter a process of fusion. The fourth step is letting the ideas begin to take root and develop in an organic manner. The fifth step involves examining the strengths and weaknesses of the many possible solutions. At this point, another truly creative step begins, as the existing concepts and their variations are combined and connected, while the weaker parts are removed and the better solutions strengthened into a viable, and useful innovative solution.

For me, the power of the book is the rediscovery of the ancient perception of innovation, that involved taking previous ideas and improving upon them in new and exciting ways. David Kord Murray reveals many powerful insights into the creative thinking process, including the deep secret that most of the well known great ideas were borrowed from previously existing concepts. He brings the process of creative thinking out into the open, and gives it a transparency and honest approach that removes the mystery surrounding innovation. He dispels the myth that creative ability is inborn, and offers clear evidence that creative thinking is a learned skill. The author also demonstrates how ideas from one field can be transferred effectively to another area entirely, making the system of borrowing brilliance even more powerful.

I highly recommend the practical and often contrarian book Borrowing Brilliance: The Six Steps to Business Innovation by Building on the Ideas by David Kord Murray, to anyone seeking a practical guide to innovative problem solving that removes the mystery from the process. Discovering as the author did, that many famous solutions to problems were themselves adapted from previous concepts, is liberating to a person seeking creative ideas. Knowing that rethinking an existing concept is a viable technique to problem solving, removes the self doubt that many potential innovators ogten feel, when confronted by a challenge.

Read the important and business changing book Borrowing Brilliance: The Six Steps to Business Innovation by Building on the Ideas by David Lord Murray, and discover for yourself how to reinvent and rediscover existing ideas, and apply them to problems where they were least expected. By redefining both the problem, and the borrowed ideas, the process of innovation and creative thinking is ignited and powerful solutions will be the important result.

Tags: Borrowing Brilliance: The Six Steps to Business Innovation by Building on the Ideas, David Kord Murray, creative thinking, business book reviews.

David Thomas: Cultural Intelligence - Blog Business Success Radio

Listen to Wayne Hurlbert on Blog Talk Radio



Professor of International Management and Director of the Centre for Global Workforce Strategy at Simon Fraser University, and co-author of the essential guide to global cultural understanding Cultural Intelligence, Second Edition: Living and Working Globally, David C. Thomas describes how in a global economy, the ability to interact across cultures is a fundamental job requirement for just about everyone. David describes a universal set of techniques and people skills that helps you to adapt quickly to and thrive in any cultural environment. He also addresses the interplay of race and gender with cultural factors and enhances your appreciation of cultural diversity.

David C. Thomas is my internet radio show guest on Blog Business Success; hosted live on Blog Talk Radio.

The show airs live on Thursday, September 3, at 8:00 pm Eastern Time; 5:00 pm Pacific Time.

Professor of International Management and Director of the Centre for Global Workforce Strategy at Simon Fraser University, and co-author of the essential guide to global cultural understanding Cultural Intelligence, Second Edition: Living and Working Globally, David C. Thomas describes how in a global economy, the ability to interact across cultures is a fundamental job requirement for just about everyone. You will learn:

* Why cultural intelligence is a crucial skill in today's global village

* How globalization has created opportunities for cross cultural interaction

* How to develop skills for working with people from different cultures

* How to create a mindful and adaptable thought process to work for any culture



David C. Thomas (photo left) is Professor of International Management and Director of the Centre for Global Workforce Strategy at Simon Fraser University in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada.

A naturalized New Zealander, Dr. David C. Thomas received his PhD in Organizational Behaviour and International Business from the University of South Carolina. His research into the interaction of individuals from different cultures in organizational settings has led to research studies in more than a dozen countries, and he is currently directing an international research team in the development of a measure of 'Cultural Intelligence'.

Dr. Thomas previously served as a vice-president with NationsBank (now Bank of America), and has held academic positions at the Pennsylvania State University and the University of Auckland, New Zealand where he also directed the Master of International Business program. He has also held visiting positions at a number of universities around the world.

Dr. Thomas is currently Associate Editor of the International Journal of Cross Cultural Management and serves on the editorial boards of the Journal of International Business Studies, the Journal of Management and the Journal of World Business.

My book review of Cultural Intelligence, Second Edition: Living and Working Globally by David C. Thomas and Kerr Inkson.

Listen live on Thursday at 8:00 pm Eastern, 5:00 pm Pacific time.



If you miss this very informative show, it will be available for free download as a podcast for iPod, iTunes, and MP3 players; or play it right on your computer. To download this, or any other of my guest interviews, go to the Blog Business Success host page and click on Archived Segments. Once there, click on the podcast icon at the end of the episode description, to download the show free of charge for your listening enjoyment. You can also subscribe to the show feed.



To call in questions for my guest, the number is: (347) 996-5832

Let's talk with Professor of International Management and Director of the Centre for Global Workforce Strategy at Simon Fraser University, and co-author of the essential guide to global cultural understanding Cultural Intelligence, Second Edition: Living and Working Globally, David C. Thomas as he describes how in a global economy, the ability to interact across cultures is a fundamental job requirement for just about everyone. David describes a universal set of techniques and people skills that helps you to adapt quickly to and thrive in any cultural environment. He also addresses the interplay of race and gender with cultural factors and enhances your appreciation of cultural diversity on Blog Business Success Radio.

Tags: Cultural Intelligence, Second Edition: Living and Working Globally, David C. Thomas, Kerr Inkson, cross cultural awareness, Blog Business Success, Blog Talk Radio.

Cultural Intelligence by David Thomas & Kerr Inkson - Book review

Cultural Intelligence, Second Edition

Living and Working Globally

By: David C. Thomas, Kerr Inkson

Published: August 2009
Format: Paperback, 264pp
ISBN-13: 9781576756256
Publisher: Berrett-Koehler Publishers






"The world is becoming more interdependent; to keep pace we must all learn to think globally - we must all develop our cultural intelligence", write intercultural relations experts David C. Thomas and Kerr Inkson in their essential guide to global cultural understanding Cultural Intelligence, Second Edition: Living and Working Globally. In this completely revised and updated second edition, the authors demonstrate how globalization has not only affected the business world of work, but our everyday lives as well. As a result, the ability to understand and adapt to different cultures is crucial in the modern global village.



David C. Thomas (photo left) and Kerr Inkson understand that it's almost impossible to provide a laundry list of cultural routines for every country. Instead, the authors take a more holistic approach to the concept of cultural intelligence. They focus on universal skills, including listening, understanding, and mindfulness, that can be applied in any cross cultural contact situation. Because the world is now a much smaller place than ever before in history, the number of intercultural business and personal encounters is growing constantly. All too often, people lacking sensitivity cultural differences expect others to be more like them, resulting in contacts that are not satisfactory to anyone involved. The authors urge the reader to discard any preconceived ideas and biases, and become more attuned to understanding and valuing cultural differences.



Kerr Inkson (photo left) and David Thomas recognize that a general approach to cross cultural exchanges only goes so far in any relationship. The authors also provide very useful advice on putting those overall principles to work. The book contains important chapters on decision making across cultures, as well as managing staff and providing leadership. Because many teams are culturally diverse, with many different sensitivities, the authors share ideas on team development, including selection of personnel and motivation. Perhaps even more importantly, the book contains a chapter on cultural understanding in our daily lives, as our society becomes more culturally diverse over time.

For me, the power of the book is the holistic approach taken by David Thomas and Kerr Inkson. Their general principles, drawn from the well known fields of intelligence guotient (IQ) and emotional intelligence (EQ), help to bridge the knowledge gap toward embracing cultural intelligence (CQ). Unlike other books on working and conducting business in other cultures, this book focuses on developing a sense of understanding and being open to differences. That cultural mindfulness prevents falling into old habits of insensitivity, and emphasizes adaptability to any cultural situation. The authors help the reader to develop cross cultural skills that are effective both at home or elsewhere in the world.

I highly recommend the must read book Cultural Intelligence, Second Edition: Living and Working Globally by David C. Thomas and Kerr Inkson, to anyone in business, academia, or anyone who simply desires a deeper awareness of effective and rewarding interactions with people from other cultures. The authors create a valuable and easy to understand framework for developing cross cultural understanding, while providing practical concepts and techniques for successful international and local business or social interaction.

Read the indispensable book on developing cross cultural understanding Cultural Intelligence, Second Edition: Living and Working Globally by David C. Thomas and Kerr Inkson, and learn to switch off the narrow cultural cruise control of stereotyping and expectations that people in other cultures need to change their behavior. Instead, discover the wonderful value and opportunity of learning and understanding other cultures, and becoming part of our global village.

Tags: Cultural Intelligence, Second Edition: Living and Working Globally, David C. Thomas, Kerr Inkson, cross cultural awareness, business book reviews.