Disciplined Dreaming

About the Author

Josh Linkner is a New York Times best-selling author known for his pioneering work in the field of business innovation. As the founder and chairman of ePrize, a leading firm in the promotions industry serving 74 of the top 100 brands, Linkner has a remarkable track record of entrepreneurial success. He is a four-time entrepreneur, venture capitalist, and accomplished jazz musician. His accolades include the Ernst & Young Entrepreneur of the Year Award, Crain's 40 under 40, Automation Alley's CEO of the Year, and Detroit Executive of the Year. Linkner's unique blend of creative and business acumen makes him a sought-after keynote speaker and thought leader in the realm of creativity and innovation.

Main Idea

"Disciplined Dreaming" is a book that offers a structured approach to cultivating creativity within organizations and individuals. Linkner presents a five-step process—Ask, Prepare, Discover, Ignite, and Launch—that aims to systematically unlock creative potential. The book emphasizes that creativity is not just for artists but is essential for business leaders and teams to maintain a competitive edge in a rapidly changing marketplace. Through practical exercises, real-world examples, and inspirational stories, Linkner demonstrates how anyone can develop their creative capacity and apply it to drive innovation and growth.

Table of Contents

1. Introduction: The Case for Creativity
2. Step One: Ask
3. Step Two: Prepare
4. Step Three: Discover
5. Step Four: Ignite
6. Step Five: Launch
7. Conclusion: Building a Creative Culture

Introduction: The Case for Creativity

In today's fast-paced business environment, the ability to innovate and adapt is more critical than ever. Linkner argues that companies often fail to nurture creativity, which is essential for long-term success. He illustrates this with the example of Microsoft, a company that once led the tech industry in innovation but fell behind because it relied too heavily on past successes. Linkner emphasizes that the new model for success involves staying ahead of the curve by fostering a culture of creativity and innovation.

"Businesses have systems and processes for everything, from answering the phone to taking out the trash. Remarkably, most companies have no such system for the one thing that matters most: developing and growing creative capacity." - Josh Linkner

Step One: Ask

The first step in the Disciplined Dreaming process is to clearly define your Creativity Challenge. This involves specifying the problem you want to solve and setting a clear target. Linkner introduces the Creativity Brief, a tool designed to help organize thoughts and guide the creative process. The Creativity Brief consists of several sections, each aimed at thoroughly exploring the challenge from different angles.