Innovating Innovation

About the Author

David Morey is the Chairman and CEO of DMG Global and Vice Chairman of Core Strategy Group. Recognized as one of America’s leading strategic consultants, Morey is also an acclaimed speaker, performer, and magician. He has co-authored several books, including The Underdog Advantage and The Leadership Campaign. Morey's impressive portfolio includes advising Fortune 500 CEOs, global companies, and numerous top political leaders, including five Nobel Peace Prize winners. His multifaceted career and expertise make him uniquely qualified to discuss the revolutionary changes needed in business leadership and innovation.

Main Idea

The central premise of Innovating Innovation: Leadership Tools to Make Revolutionary Change Happen for You and Your Business by David Morey is that the traditional approaches to innovation are inadequate in today’s rapidly changing world. Morey argues that businesses need to 'innovate innovation' itself by adopting new strategies and mindsets. He introduces eleven primary concepts designed to help leaders link innovation with marketing, create a culture that embraces failure as a part of the process, and foster environments that nurture continuous creativity and strategic transformation.

Table of Contents

1. Introduction
2. What It Means to Innovate Innovation
3. Eliminating Innovation-Killing Habits
4. Capitalizing on Luck
5. Empowering Creativity and Independence
6. Marketing and Innovation
7. Stop Being a Punchline
8. Subdivide Light
9. Build Workshops, Not Laboratories
10. Create a Culture of Urgency
11. Develop Peripheral Vision
12. Innovate Benefits, Own the Future
13. Sail West to Find East
14. Be a Change Leader, Not a Business Leader
15. Empower, Don’t Manage
16. Punctuate Your Equilibrium

What It Means to Innovate Innovation

In his book, David Morey emphasizes the necessity of innovating the process of innovation itself. He believes that traditional approaches to innovation are often too rigid and fail to adapt to the fast-paced changes of modern markets. By rethinking innovation, businesses can stay ahead of competitors and continuously offer new value to their customers.

“Innovation is broken. Most business leaders and businesses struggle to find ways to crack through their own corporate politics and bureaucratic silos, to move from defense to offense, to nurture real breakthrough.” — David Morey

Morey advocates for a comprehensive approach to innovation that integrates creativity, strategic thinking, and market awareness. This approach helps businesses transform their operations, adapt to new challenges, and capitalize on opportunities.

Eliminating Innovation-Killing Habits

One of the critical steps in innovating innovation is identifying and eliminating habits that hinder creativity and progress. Morey identifies several common pitfalls, such as excessive reliance on past successes, fear of failure, and resistance to change. To overcome these obstacles, he suggests fostering a mindset that embraces experimentation and views failures as learning opportunities.

“Failure isn’t an obstacle but rather an absolutely essential tool to long-term success. Innovation begins with dissatisfaction.” — David Morey

By creating an environment where team members feel safe to take risks and learn from their mistakes, businesses can unlock their full creative potential and drive meaningful innovation.