Benefiting at work from Brain Based Insights

It’s good to be home again. Dr. Robyn McMaster and I just flew in from another electric session with innovative leaders who use hidden brainpower to create solutions that work … against a background of challenges.

The trip home was far from innovative or brainy though. It seemed NorthWest hired a craft from matchbox toys … so we were told no carry on bags would be allowed. A small purse squeaked in … but computer bags were fed to this airplane’s belly during flight.

Attendants appeared unmoved by the man next to us … who told how his carry on bag was stolen from their fodder a week earlier.

Our flight – left late … as paying passengers molded human shapes into sardine sizes to fit shrunken seats.  A plastic cup of water came just before landing – but people had to pony up 2 bucks for peanuts or pretzels or pretty much any morsel.

The pilot spit out a few words about weather and flight times … but left out any wishes for enjoyment or comfort during the trip. Could it be because the guy flew in one of our so-called passenger seats … and then dropped all hopes for a pleasant trip. If they care for their engines like they care for people – you’re lucky to get home alive.

It’s not that way for entrepreneurs who rev a bit more brainpower that ensures better takeoffs though.

While we all recognize that great opportunities often lie hidden beneath the worst disasters … far fewer people find the tools to build a business venture beyond life’s rubble. Could innovation hand more profit to your firm?

With the brain in mind … winning is far closer than you may think. How so?

1. Look at  Northwest’s poor customer service in the air … and you’ll also see why Jet Blue wins passengers by the kind of curiosity that spotted a golden gate into business. More seating space and a TV to pass the time starters.   How can customer service grow your firm an all time high in profitability beyond airlines that seem to have given it up? A few other no-frills airline carriers have found ways to pick up passengers from the carriers that dropped customer care too … and they are finding profits from passengers who don’t mind packing a meal to land a travel deal.   

2. See how Youtube countered the video communication impasse created over expensive filming equipment – and restrictive copyright laws -  to present free download opportunities along with incentives to insert more talent into a broken media network.

3.  While schools continue to step on student creativity and bore learners – Google encourages students of all ages to showcase their creativity by doodling on Google’s logo to win a $10,000 college scholarship along with a display of their design.

4. In spite of the fact that Pharmaceutical fraud escalates – some doctors gain new patients and keep old customers coming back. Lately brand name insulin manufacturers slap their names on insulin made by others.  As prescription costs rise to almost double in some cases lately … while product quality flees because of greedy drug firms – a few doctors are beginning to fight back with better care. In the past week I heard about far more free samples handed to patients at two different doctor’s offices – in response. It’s not brain science to figure why patients increase at these centers.

5. Facebook faced their own angry crowd when users expressed frustration over an inability to erase profiles from their system. Innovation stepped in to erase the problem – when Facebook created a novel program that will allow people to delete their account. Too bad it took space and more than a few angry words in the New York Times … but users can now delete their profiles by filling out a simple online form.

6. While mainline media outlets continue to shut out diverse voices and shrink talent from prune to raisin size … people at TextShark.com are testing their latest response in European markets.  The latest concept in affiliate marketing … TextShark offers statistics and custom devices to measure and track performance on a daily basis.

7. As Americans get fatter and sicker … innovative firms are creating diet and exercise programs that fit the worst weight cases. It worked for the fattest man in the world … who lost 507 pounds …  and it adds profitability for firms that see a unique entrepreneurial opportunity to help others get fit.

8. At a time in history stress overtakes more workers … and fewer find satisfaction at work … while families suffer from the fallout…  Disney came up with a new form of family cruise. They removed casinos and added  fun stations for all ages … in order to reinvigorate the idea of family fun … through cruising.

9. With fears rising about the dangers of global warming …  over consumption … and wasted resources … green home builders are stepping up with renewed vigor … to design novel features that win over environmentally conscious customers.

10. As competition rises and phone companies go down … innovative designers have jumped in to launch unique touch screen technologies that supersede mobile trends of even the more recent past. In fact experts show amazing openings for creative thinkers and designers in the mobile industry.

These design opportunities show only the tip of an iceberg visible to people who see rejuvenated brainpower at work as an entry point to more profitability. Any additions you’d add?