Post from Leadership Turn Image credit: edans

“When asked if Google’s strategy would change as the economy heads into a likely recession, Schmidt replied: “What recession? Innovation has nothing to do with downturns. A hot product will sell just as well in a recession as it will in a nonrecessionby what degree we can get people to substitute [our product] for the other. The strong companies understand this, and during a recession, they invest.”

Google’s vaunted innovation culture is always talked about in terms of catered food and in-house massages, but those and similar perks aren’t what continues to attract and retain the best and brightest.

The real key is Google’s own variation of the 80/20 rule.

In Google’s case, the 80% is the work time that people owe Google, while the 20% is the time they have to work on their own ideas. “It means the managers can’t screw around with the employees beyond some limit. I believe that this innovation escape-valve model is applicable to essentially every business that has technology as a component.”

It works, because no matter how far on or off-the-wall, “The No. 1 thing we do require is: You can do whatever you want as long as you track it.” Further the focus need to fit, “We make an explicit decision to favor the end-user. [We] do not say, “Newspapers should be happy. Advertisers should be happy. Telcos should be happy. Competitors should be happy.” Those are fine if we can do it. But it’s all about end-users.”

Just how earth-shattering are the results of the 20%? How about Google’s entry into cloud computing?

What started as one programmer’s idea to teach the next generation of students how “to workand to dreamon a vastly larger scale” morphed into cloud computing using the enormous muscle available in Google’s global hardware.

Finally, Schmidt doesn’t believe that innovation is “managed.” “You have to have a set of necessary conditions for innovation to occur. To start with, you have to listen to peopleInnovation comes from places that you don’t expect.”

What does your company do to foster innovation?

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Be sure to visit my other WW: bad business image

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Post from Leadership Turn Image credit: http://www.larevuedurable.com/

“The pessimist complains about the wind; the optimist expects the wind; the realist adjusts the sails” — Anonymous

I love this quote and would love to know who really said it.

I’ve been telling people for years that no matter how much they’re want to change something and how hard they’re willing to work to do it they still need to deal with the reality of now.

There are many things that I disagree with or plain don’t like in the world I inhabit, but I have no magic wand to wave to change them, nor do I have the energy to fight for all of them.

I choose my battles and work to change the ones that are most important to my MAP.

I teach myself to function within the existing reality because railing against them merely wastes my energy, while ignoring the important (to me) ones offends my psyche.

How do you handle your world?

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Post from Leadership TurnHello, hello. Two new contests here at b5 media.

The first is over at Cellphone 9 where Jayvee says, “We have an Iqua SUN 603 Bluetooth headset up for grabs in this weeks online raffle! What I have up for grabs is the very first solar powered Bluetooth headset in the world! Batteries not included because you dont need em.”

The second is from Laura at Crooner Culture. “Heres your chance to win a $25 iTunes gift certificate (or Amazon.com if you prefer) to help you bulk up your music collection.”

Click on over, but please come back and let us know if you’re the winer!

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Post from Leadership Turn Image credit: AlbySpace

Kelly, our editor, is always dreaming stuff up to keep things interesting here at the Biz Channel. She runs lots of contests and challenges for us and this month’s is a doozy.

Kelly said, “I want you to do take a chance on your blog, risk doing something different. For example, Colleen Coplick has changed the header on BuzzNetworker for a completely different feel. (It’s fabulous! Check it out.) What are you doing to think out of the box?“

Since I earn my living helping managers think outside the box it should be a snap for me to take Leadership Turn out of its box. Right?

Well, sort of. I knew what I wanted to do, in fact, shortly after I took over Leadership Turn I wrote Stop abusing the L word and at the end suggested a reality game called So you think you can lead

I knew it would be popular and the technology to produce it on the web is easily available, but organizing it, let alone using that technology, scares me silly. (I’m a Luddite wannabe.)

But fear shouldn’t stop you, there’s always a way around it. My solution is to recruit a volunteer staff to produce a web TV reality show. I’m going to be actively recruiting, but would love volunteers from my readership.

Here’s what you do.

Read the description in my earlier post and send your thoughts and/or what role(s) can you play in the production company. Here are the areas I think are needed, but I’m sure the list is incomplete, so don’t hesitate to add to it.

• Tech wizards who know how to do the web thing.
• Talking heads to emcee the show.
• Promotional gurus.
• Project managers to keep us organized (You don’t want me in that role!)
• Additional leadership gurus for various reasons.
• Anybody who thinks it sounds like fun!

As for me, I’m producer, recruiter and monitor-washer:)

I’m also gathering prizes for the contest and thank you gifts for the volunteersleadership books, t-shirts, etc.so if you have stuff you’d like to contribute please get in touch.

Email me at miki@RampUpSolutions.com, Subject: leadership reality show.

If you’d like to talk about it you can always call me at 866.265.7267.
If you reach my voice mail be sure to speak distinctly,
especially your phone number, because my hearing isn’t great.

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