• Killer Innovations with Phil McKinney

  • De: Phil McKinney
  • Podcast

Killer Innovations with Phil McKinney

De: Phil McKinney
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  • Resumen

  • Step into the world of relentless creativity with the Killer Innovations Podcast, hosted by Phil McKinney. Since 2005, it has carved its niche in history as the longest-running podcast. Join the community of innovators, designers, creatives, entrepreneurs, and visionaries who are constantly pushing boundaries and challenging the status quo. Discover the power of thinking differently and taking risks to achieve success. The podcast covers a wide range of topics, including innovation, technology, business, leadership, creativity, design, and more. Every episode is not just talk; it's about taking action and implementing strategies that can help you become a successful innovator. Each episode provides practical tips, real-life examples, and thought-provoking insights that will challenge your thinking and inspire you to unleash your creativity. The podcast archive: KillerInnovations.com About Phil McKinney: Phil McKinney, CTO of HP (ret) and CEO of CableLabs, has been credited with forming and leading multiple teams that FastCompany and BusinessWeek list as one of the “50 Most Innovative”. His recognition includes Vanity Fair naming him “The Innovation Guru,” MSNBC and Fox Business calling him "The Gadget Guy," and the San Jose Mercury News dubbing him the "chief seer."
    See http://philmckinney.com
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Economía
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Episodios
  • Pay It Forward: How Three Words Created Podcasting's Longest-Running Innovation Show

    Pay It Forward: How Three Words Created Podcasting's Longest-Running Innovation Show
    Mar 18 2025
    Have you ever wondered what it takes to create something that truly lasts? What's the secret to building something that doesn't just survive but grows stronger for decades in our always-changing digital world? The answer might surprise you. It's not about fancy equipment or perfect production. It's not even about having all the answers when you start. It begins with a simple promise to pay it forward. The Bathroom Session That Started It All March 2005. A hotel bathroom at the Marriott in Phoenix. That's where I sat with a basic microphone, nervously recording the first episode of what would become Killer Innovations. The bathroom's natural echo was the only "sound engineering" I had—nothing like the studio we have today. Why a podcast? Why innovation? And honestly: why a bathroom? These questions have followed me for years, and as we launch Season 20—officially making the show the longest continuously produced podcast in history—it feels right to finally share the whole story with you. But first, let me ask you something: Has someone ever believed in you so deeply that it completely changed your path? The Debt That Can Never Be Repaid For me, that person was Bob Davis. As my mentor, Bob spent countless hours guiding me, challenging me, and opening doors I didn't know existed. During one of our regular talks, feeling incredibly grateful, I asked him how I could possibly repay him for everything he'd done. Bob's answer wasn't what I expected. He laughed—that hearty, knowing laugh of his—and said something that would change the direction of my life: "There's no way you can pay me back. You have to pay it forward." This wasn't gentle advice. It was a responsibility placed squarely on my shoulders. But how could I possibly live up to such a big obligation? What did "paying it forward" actually look like in real life? The answer would come in ways I couldn't have imagined, shaped by voices that had influenced my own thinking. Finding My Voice in Others Long before podcasts existed, I followed Earl Nightingale's monthly "Insight" audio cassette subscription. Earl showed me how spoken words could do more than just inform—they could change lives. Could I create something similar in this new thing called "podcasting"? The term itself was barely a few months old. The first true podcast “show” was created in August 2004 by Adam Curry when he launched his daily show, "Source Code." Most people still listened to radio or CDs. Podcast directories didn't exist. Subscription models were foreign concepts. Tools to create and publish podcasts did not exist. The landscape was new, untested, and mostly unknown. It was perfect. But a big question remained: Would anyone actually listen? What I didn't realize then was that this uncertainty—this feeling of not knowing—would become one of the show's greatest strengths. An Unexpected Ally The early days were quiet. Recording weekly episodes felt like talking to no one. Until one day, something unexpected happened. Adam Curry—the very person who had created the first podcast show—mentioned Killer Innovations on his own show. That single mention changed everything. Suddenly, this small experiment in paying it forward found an audience. People began listening, responding, talking back. But as our listeners grew, so did a nagging question: What insights could I possibly share that would be worth people's time? What principles could truly help others navigate the complex world of innovation? The Five Truths That Emerged Over hundreds of episodes, thousands of conversations, and countless moments of thinking deeply, patterns began to emerge. Not just in how successful innovations were created, but in how the show itself grew. These weren't principles I set out to discover. They revealed themselves gradually, persistently, until they became impossible to ignore: Innovation requires intention. Big ideas rarely happen by accident or luck. The most successful innovators deliberately create spaces and habits that encourage creative thinking and problem-solving. Failure is an essential teacher. Our greatest lessons often come from our biggest failures, not our successes. Embracing failure as a normal part of the innovation process—rather than something to fear—unlocks growth and insights we'd miss otherwise. Diversity drives creativity. The most powerful innovations come from mixing different viewpoints, experiences, and knowledge areas. Building diverse teams is the best way to break through old thinking patterns. Innovation is a learnable skill. While some people might seem naturally creative, the basic skills of innovation can be developed through practice. With the right methods and consistent effort, anyone can get better at innovation. Human-centered approaches work best. Technology and processes matter, but innovations that truly change lives must be based on human needs, behaviors, and feelings. Starting with deep understanding of the people ...
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    16 m
  • Tesla vs Edison: The Innovation Methods That Changed The World

    Tesla vs Edison: The Innovation Methods That Changed The World
    Mar 4 2025
    On a stormy night in the 1880s, two men were working relentlessly to shape the future of electricity. In Menlo Park, Thomas Edison meticulously tested another filament variation for his electric light, documenting every failure in his growing logbook. Across New York, Nikola Tesla paced frantically, visualizing complete rotating magnetic fields in his mind, spotting design flaws before touching a single tool. One man built success through relentless iteration, the other through pristine mental simulation. Their methods were drastically different, yet both revolutionized the world. Their rivalry wasn't just about technological advancements but a battle of innovation philosophies. Edison's methodical, convergent thinking emphasized practical experimentation, while Tesla's divergent thinking relied on theoretical elegance and visualization. Their approaches to problem-solving influenced modern innovation, leaving lasting lessons for today's thinkers and creators. The Crucible of Competition: Three Defining Challenges Their different styles of innovation became evident in three defining technological battles: 1. Illuminating the World Edison's approach to electric light involved convergent thinking—breaking problems into smaller, testable components. He famously tested thousands of materials before perfecting the light bulb filament. "I have not failed 10,000 times. I have successfully found 10,000 ways that will not work," he declared. Tesla, in contrast, sought an elegant mathematical solution. He focused on alternating current (AC), calculating its efficiency before physically testing it. While Edison's light bulb succeeded first, Tesla's AC system proved more scalable for cities. 2. The Motor Challenge Edison, committed to incremental improvement, refined direct current (DC) motors through trial and error. His 99% perspiration approach ensured steady progress but was slow and resource-intensive. Using associative thinking, Tesla visualized the alternating current motor concept before even drawing a blueprint. The idea struck like lightning as he walked through a park reciting Goethe's Faust. "In an instant, I saw it all," he recalled. His AC motor would go on to power the world's electrical grids. 3. The War of Currents Their battle reached its climax in the War of Currents. Through systematic experimentation and a ruthless PR campaign, Edison sought to discredit Tesla's AC system by publicly demonstrating its dangers. He even influenced the development of the electric chair to prove AC's lethal nature. Armed with deductive reasoning, Tesla focused on mathematical proofs and efficiency studies. He collaborated with George Westinghouse, whose company successfully demonstrated AC's superiority at the 1893 World's Fair. Ultimately, AC won, shaping the modern power grid. The Innovation Mindsets of Tesla and Edison Their successes and failures highlight two dominant innovation methods: Edison's Systematic Approach: Break significant problems into small, testable components (convergent thinking)Document everything, including failuresFocus on practical applications over theoretical conceptsBuild market demand alongside technical solutionsMaintain a large team of specialists to execute ideas Tesla's Visionary Approach: Visualize complete solutions before building (divergent thinking)Focus on theoretical elegance and efficiencyWork primarily alone or with minimal assistancePrioritize revolutionary over incremental advancesTrust mathematical proofs over trial and error The Credit Conundrum: The Human Side of Innovation Their battle wasn't just technical—it was personal. Edison, an empire-builder, absorbed individual contributions into his corporate brand, often failing to credit employees. Tesla, in contrast, sought individual recognition but struggled to commercialize his ideas. This tension between collaboration and individual brilliance remains a key challenge in modern innovation. Tech companies today balance these approaches differently. Some, like Microsoft Research, allow individual recognition within corporate frameworks. Others, like Apple, blend visionary leaps with systematic refinement, ensuring innovation and execution thrive. Modern Lessons from Tesla and Edison Their rivalry offers timeless lessons for innovators: Balance systematic refinement with visionary insight. A hybrid approach often leads to the best breakthroughs.Recognize different thinking styles. Some problems require meticulous iteration, while others benefit from bold conceptualization.Encourage communication between diverse thinkers. The best teams integrate both Edison-like systematizers and Tesla-like visionaries.Document progress but remain open to intuition. Structured processes and creative leaps should coexist. Looking Ahead: The Jobs Revolution Steve Jobs combined Tesla's visionary thinking with Edison's systematic execution, creating one of the most innovative companies in history. Next week, we'll explore how Apple ...
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    18 m
  • How to Think Like Thomas Edison

    How to Think Like Thomas Edison
    Feb 25 2025
    In 1878, gas lamp manufacturers celebrated their dominance, believing their industry was untouchable. But in a small workshop in Menlo Park, Thomas Edison made a bold declaration: he would create an electric light so revolutionary that it would make gas lamps obsolete. The press mocked him. Experts dismissed him. Even some of his colleagues doubted him. But 18 months later, Edison unveiled the first practical incandescent light bulb, forever changing the world. What set Edison apart wasn't just his inventive capacity but his systematic problem—solving approach. His famous quote, "Genius is one percent inspiration and ninety-nine percent perspiration," wasn't just philosophy—it was a blueprint for structured innovation. If you want to think like Thomas Edison, you must understand his methodology, which relied on systematic experimentation, market-driven innovation, and turning failure into information. The Edison Approach to Thinking Edison's thinking wasn't random; it followed structured principles that fueled his breakthroughs. Here are three core patterns that defined his problem-solving strategy: Systematic Experimentation Edison didn't stumble upon great ideas—he tested thousands of possibilities. Where others saw failure, he saw data. Unlike inventors who sought a single, perfect solution, Edison methodically worked through every possible variation until he found the best one. This systematic approach now influences everything from pharmaceutical research to software development. Market-Focused Innovation Edison understood that an invention wasn't valuable unless people wanted it. He didn't just ask, "Can it work?"—he asked, "Will people buy it?" This focus on commercial viability is what separates true innovation from mere experimentation. Think like Thomas Edison, and you'll focus on solving real-world problems with market-ready solutions. Failure as Data Edison's perspective on failure wasn't just positive—it was strategic. His famous remark, "I have not failed 10,000 times. I've successfully found 10,000 ways that won't work," highlights how he treated failure as an essential part of discovery. He wasn't failing—he was collecting data. How Edison Thought Through Problems Edison's approach to problem-solving followed a repeatable process, which innovators still use today. Define the Problem in Market Terms Edison began with the market, unlike other inventors who started with technical specifications. When developing the light bulb, he didn't just aim to create electric light—he calculated the exact price point and operational costs that would make it competitive with gas lamps. Break Down the Problem into Components Edison knew he could tackle significant challenges more efficiently by breaking them into smaller problems. For the light bulb, he separated the challenge into: Finding the right filament materialDetermining the ideal atmospheric conditions inside the bulbOptimizing electrical current flowDesigning a cost-effective manufacturing processCreating a distribution system for mass adoption By thinking systematically, he made an impossible challenge solvable. Conduct Systematic Experiments Edison's thousands of light bulb tests seemed like trial and error to outsiders. However, he used detailed experimental matrices to test multiple variables simultaneously while maintaining rigorous documentation. His team examined: Over 6,000 plant-based materials for filamentsDifferent filament thicknessesMultiple current levels and voltage settingsVarious vacuum conditions inside the bulb This structured experimentation ensured every effort contributed to progress. Rapid Prototyping and Testing Edison's lab wasn't just a research space but a prototype factory. His team built and tested multiple versions of inventions daily, refining designs in real time. This rapid iteration process is the same methodology that modern tech companies like SpaceX and Tesla use today. Document everything Edison knew ideas weren't enough—they needed to be recorded and refined. His laboratory kept: Detailed notebooks with every experiment loggedTechnical sketches and blueprintsMarket research findingsCost analysis reportsObservations on failed tests This documentation system helped prevent repeated mistakes and turned his insights into institutional knowledge. Think Like Thomas Edison in the Modern World Edison's systematic innovation model is alive today in some of the most groundbreaking companies: LEGO's Future Lab uses Edison-style parallel experimentation to develop new products, testing multiple prototypes simultaneously.SpaceX applies its rapid iteration model to rocket development, reducing the time between design and testing.Amazon embraces its market-first innovation, ensuring real-world demand drives every product launch.Corning Inc. continues to build on Edison's systematic testing principles, refining glass technology for over 150 years. Avoiding Common Pitfalls in Innovation Even the best ...
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    25 m

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