587: Chuck Swoboda- How a Crisis can Unleash the Innovator’s Spirit

We are in the midst of one of the most challenging times in world history. But if we’ve learned anything from history, we’ve learned that a crisis has always proven to be a great time for innovation. During difficult times people’s needs shift, which opens up all kinds of new opportunities for innovators to solve new problems. We often think that coming up with an innovation is simply coming up with a new idea. The reality is that innovation is not only an idea, but one that solves a problem and creates real value. The bigger challenge, however, is convincing people to embrace something new and different from what they know. And when people’s sense of normalcy has been challenged, they are often more willing to embrace new ideas. To dive deeper into the innovator mindset, I’ve brought on author and Innovator-in-Residence at Marquette University, Chuck Swoboda. Chuck is the President of Cape Point Advisors and retired Chairman and CEO of Cree, Inc., which led the LED lighting revolution. He has over 30 years of experience in the technology business, and is an author, speaker and host of the “Innovators on Tap” podcast. His new book is The Innovator’s Spirit: Discover the Mindset to Pursue the Impossible. Find out how to challenge and ignite your own innovator spirit, download this episode now. “When someone tells you you can’t do something, they are actually telling you exactly what you should do.” - Chuck Swoboda Highlights - Innovation doesn’t have to be tech driven. It can show up in many different ways. This moment will have us look at whatever it is we’ve wanted to do and force us to do it.  Innovation is messy. The innovator’s mindset is the ability to take a new idea and use it to solve a problem.  An innovation can be an old idea that has been reapplied in a new way.  Expertise gets in the way of innovation. Ignorance brings the most success.  Determination is a key mindset for innovators. People can’t ask you for something they don’t know they want. It is the innovator’s job to connect the dots for them.  Think about how you would solve the question: how many barbers are there in New York City? Guest Contact - Chuck's  Website Chuck's  Twitter Chuck's Book Chuck's Instagram Contact Jeffrey - Website Coaching support My book, LINGO: Discover Your Ideal Customer's Secret Language and Make Your Business Irresistible is now available! Watch my TEDx LincolnSquare video and please share! Resources - Have Your Website Brand Message Reviewed! Is your website and are all your marketing materials speaking the right LINGO of your ideal customers? Often it's not which is why you're not converting traffic and leads to clients and attracting your most profitable customers. Fill out the simple LINGO Review application and I'll take a look at your website. If I have suggestions for you to improve your brand message (I almost always do), we'll set up a complimentary 30-minute call to discuss. A select number of websites are also chosen for my LINGO Review Video Series. Fill out the application today and let's get your business speaking the right LINGO! Music by Jawn