The Proximity Paradox: How to Create Distance From Business As Usual And Do Something Truly Innovative

Description

You're too close to your business, and it's killing your creativity Traditional business structures love stability and predictability. Yet many organisations believe the two essential ingredients for long-term success are creativity and innovation. Kiirsten May and Alex Varricchio, founders of the marketing agency UpHouse, call the relationship between these two opposing expectations the Proximity Paradox (TM) - the belief that those who are closest to a subject are best-qualified to innovate for it, when, in reality, intense proximity limits creativity. Instead, people need to create distance from challenges in order to see the best way forward. May and Varricchio believe that until we can separate innovation and execution within ourselves, we will only innovate to the level at which we can execute the idea. To be effective, we need to create distance between our innovation brain and our execution brain. Unpacking ten common Proximity Paradoxes that affect a company's people, processes, and industry, the authors share some practical ideas to create the distance necessary for your next great idea. An especially valuable book for creatives, and non-creatives in creative industries, but equally applicable to all businesses that depend on innovation, The Proximity Paradox encourages us to ask hard questions about how we work, how our businesses are structured, and why we routinely find our creativity at odds with what's asked of us as executors and stewards of the bottom line. 'The endnotes provide plenty of research and online resources, which should have strong appeal...A respectable business work recasting vintage techniques that may be compelling to a more scholarly audience.' - Library Journal 'Innovative...Marketers and those tasked with innovation will find this work full of food for thought. It's a much-needed perspective on how to escape inside-the-box thinking.' - Publisher's Weekly

Alex Varricchio worked with one of the largest advertising agencies on the Canadian Prairies for 10 years, and eventually led the creative department as creative director. He has always had an entrepreneurial spirit and pursued his first business venture at the age of four. Kiirsten May has always had a passion for storytelling and creative expression. She's channeled that passion into helping brands and individuals influence their communities through well-told stories. Together, they are the co-owners of UpHouse, a marketing agency, and Crainstorm, a crowd- sourced brainstorming web app.

"I read The Proximity Paradox as a neuroscientist, psychologist, and business owner and from all three perspectives feel like it's great! It's like applied neuroscience without all the jargon of how the brain works. Instead it's a practical guide to taking a step back from some of the biases our brain naturally makes when we are too close or experienced in an area. I felt inspired to try these strategies with my own company and at other times affirmed with some of the strategies I already use. The examples throughout were poignant and I even caught myself laughing out loud on the streetcar. This book is a must-have for any creatives, business owners, or academics who want to stay relevant in their field for years to come." -- Mandy Wintink, PhD, RYT, Life Coach/Director, Centre for Applied Neuroscience Inc.