innovation

Pioneer Spirit
I recently enjoyed an experience a long, long way from my familiar surroundings in southern California that nonetheless had me feeling right at home. A few weeks back, I had the distinct pleasure of flying to
Mothers of Invention
One of the best things about watershaping from my point of view is that it can be so interesting.  I'm fascinated, for example, by what happens when watershapers connect with clients, discern their wants and needs and then
Outside the Rocks
Sometimes I like clichés.  That's tough and perhaps treasonous for an editor to admit, but there are certain phrases that truly resonate, and I stand by them for what I think are
Paying the Front-Runner’s Fee
I've always been excited by innovation.  I place creativity high on my list of aspirations and priorities in my own business, and I think my life gets most interesting when I'm involved with people who are similarly attuned to this desire to do and try new and interesting things.   Fortunately, I've had the benefit of associating with highly innovative people through the years who've shared the creative process with me, taught me a lot and made the ride extremely enjoyable - and fruitful.  These experiences have filled me with a desire to be out front myself with innovative and creative ideas. I often wonder where we would all be if some of us weren't willing to
The Future is Now
In the year since we launched this "new magazine for a new era," many of you have called or written to tell us that you like what we're doing and that you share the magazine's fundamental vision:  that the future of
Insights at the Kitchen Table
You're sitting at your clients' kitchen table, putting the finishing touches on their backyard pool/spa plan and getting ready to have them sign a contract.  Then they say, "We really appreciate that you listened to what we wanted.  That salesperson from the other company kept telling us what kind of pool he thought we should have.  He just wouldn't listen. "Well, that's why we chose you to build our pool." And you think, how could he have been so blind?  What was he thinking?  Doesn't he see that his approach drives customers away? The lesson to be learned from this story is simple.  It's taught in all the business schools, at countless seminars and innumerable conferences, and it boils down to one big