SWOT Hunter

Innovation
Innovation is the ability to create new concepts, capabilities or products. Innovation often involves taking what is already known and adapting, or transforming it, in a manner to meet new needs and/or address new problems.  Innovation can be an interative process that can take days, months or years to achieve.  The electric lightbulb is one example... thousands of attempts and roughly 80 years in the making. 
An example of innovation is what many of us call ‘sticky notes’. Sticky notes were allegedly produced by accident by a scientist in the late 60s; some sources say as early as the 40s. The doctor was trying to produce a strong adhesive; he failed. Frustrated, the doctor allegedly left his office and wrote a note and stuck it onto something to let people know he was out for the day. 
Regardless of which story one believes, we know for a fact that sticky notes were created many decades ago, but did not become a popular commodity until decades laters. Sometime later someone …

The Strategic Value of the Human Will
It’s the repetition of affirmations that leads to belief. And once that belief becomes a deep conviction, things begin to happen.
-MuhammadAli

Affirmations are strategic tools. Affirmations gives us inner strength and persistence to succeed when the odds seem against us. Take Muhammad Ali, for example. He grew up during when segregation was alive and well in America. Allegedly, Ali had his bike stolen, and he wanted to take out his anger on the person who stole it. Ali’s inner strength captured the attention of a police officer who recognized the potential Ali had to become a great boxer. That police officer helped change Ali’s life- for the better. Muhammad Ali leveraged his will to generate strategic capacity that created more opportunities.
Ali’s energy created options, that led to more options, as he developed new skills and relationships to propel him to wealth, fame and self-actualization. Ali became wealthy, a philanthropist and a social activi…

Strategy, Opportunity and Options


Here’s a thought for the day. We often hear the word strategy, and often do not know what it really means.  In fact, the word strategy is often an overused term, as well as a misused term.  I’ve seen myriad misuses in all spheres, to include my dominant domain, the military.
To focus thinking, I view strategy from the perspective of one’s ability to generate capacity, and to use that capacity to live life on my own terms.
I learned this perspective as a young Marine mentored by a Marine Major I worked for. He taught me that ‘captains think tactics; generals think logistics’.  In other words, great generals think of the long game. Great generals develop the capacity to sustain their organizations and people to achieve a form of victory.
In the civilian world I learned another form of developing capacity. Through podcasts, and renowned speakers, I learned how to generate mental and moral capacity that leads to strategic opportunity. Tim Ferriss and Derek S…