(Spoiler alert: Read all the way to the bottom of this post to learn how to come along on the next adventure.)
My good friend Graeme Crombie of Scotland teaches executives to focus their energy on the “highest and best” use of their time and energy.
It is with that wise sentiment that I announce, effective immediately, Maggie Nichols will be the new CEO of Eureka! Ranch International, Ltd. Her leadership skills, brains, heart, and soul make her ready to become her next “highest and best” as she assumes this new role at the Ranch.
My job will be to support Maggie as she leads the Eureka! Ranch. I will continue as Eureka! Ranch Chairman and in the new role as Chief Inventor.
WHY THE CHANGE
This week's spark deck includes:
Future Mining: Italy's giant rodent problem is addressed by a novel solution - How could you turn a negative into a positive?
Patent Mining: Japan to trial world's first urine test for Cancer - Is their academic research that could change your business?
Market Mining: Most resorts have ski in options, but how about skiing out? Are you making it as easy as possible for your customers to say yes?
This week's spark deck includes:
Market Mining: Whoop the wearable subscription - are there additional benefits you could provide through subscriptions?
Unrelated Mining: Did you know Iron Man the movie was supposed to break even? And the toys were expected to be the moneymaker? What non-profitable parts of your business could you leverage for profit?
Future Mining: Data Privacy is huge today - How can you emphasize privacy with your customers?
This week's spark deck includes:
Wisdom Mining: Some believe Uber and Lyft cause congestion in cities - What are the unintended consequences of your actions?
Patent Mining: Are you sure that you solving a problem that your customer thinks needs to be solved?
Unrelated Mining: How many holes does a straw have? Are you absolute in your business or offering numbers?
This week's spark deck includes:
Market Mining: A deposit box that holds 2.25 billion seeds :: How can you expand to larger than ever imaginable?
Unrelated Mining: A personal bunker...how can you plan for the future, but have fun while doing it?
Wisdom Mining: The Solar Bubble Dryer a safer way for farmers to dry their crops...are there ways to bring technology to areas that can't support it?
This week's spark deck includes:
Market Mining: A deposit box that holds 2.25 billion seeds :: How can you expand to larger than ever imaginable?
Unrelated Mining: A personal bunker...how can you plan for the future, but have fun while doing it?
Wisdom Mining: The Solar Bubble Dryer a safer way for farmers to dry their crops...are there ways to bring technology to areas that can't support it?
This week's spark deck includes:
Future Mining: A-Commerce what is it and what may it mean for your business?
Unrelated Mining: What is Divergent Microfactories? And what can you learn from them?
Technology Mining: Moen Velocity Eco-Performance Rainshower how was it inspired? Could you find similar inspiration?
This week's spark deck includes:
Wisdom Mining: Do coupons lead to repeat purchases? A study out of the University of Tennessee says, "no."
Insight Mining: Education vs Telling :: How could you educate your customer vs telling your customer about what you do?
Unrelated Mining: How can you learn from the most trusted brands in America?
This week's Spark Deck Slides include:
Market Mining: The Hydro Hammock :: If you change the state of liquid can we transform into something new?
Unrelated Mining: MIT has created a device that lets you interact with the physical world through the world.
Patent Mining: A Suspended Hammock :: How can we take things to the extreme beyond what is reasonable?
This week's Spark Deck Slides include:
Unrelated Mining: Did you know Bitcoin could be destroying the environment? Does your offering have an unanticipated outcome you might not of anticipated?
Future Mining: What's old is new again! Could you re-boot a classic in a new way?
Patent Mining: According to CNNtech voice assistants are everywhere at CES 2018 :: Is there a patent available that may get your foot in the door?
This week's Spark Deck Slides include:
Wisdom Mining: Imagine a fracture - resistant material that could be used to create a building 10 times as high as the world's current tallest building...all from inspiration taken from the sea urchin's spine structure.
Patent Mining: In October 2007, the US Federal government penned the Energy Independence and Security Act that ultimately phased out the traditional incandescent light bulb...what industry change is coming that you can get ahead of?
Unrelated Mining: Did you know you can combine 6 of the 8-studded LEGO bricks in 915,103,765 ways? What can your rearrange using your current resources?
This week's Spark Deck Slides include:
Patent Mining: Get inspiration from a patent for organizing unused strands of holiday lights. Consider what happens to your product or service when customers aren’t using it? Is there a way to make better use of this “down time” so the customer has a better experience?
Wisdom Mining: A new research in the Journal of Consumer Research suggests that people financially value physical goods more than their digital equivalents. How could changing the form of your offering help customers with either price or perceived value?
Future Mining: Be ready for the Gigification of America. The growing cost of mandated benefits when hiring an American full-time is fueling the increased conversion of full-time benefited jobs to temp gigs. This trend will continue. What are the consequences and opportunities for your organization and or to better serve your customers?
This week's Spark Deck Slides include:
Market Mining: What complex feature or product could you simplify?
Unrelated Mining: Online sales boomed on Black Friday :: What can you offer online to potential customers?
Future Mining: The end of net neutrality could shackle the internet of things :: what problems will your business face as the rules change?
This week's special edition Thanksgiving Spark Deck Slides include:
Market Mining: Holiday Feast to Go Packages :: What can we pre-package or pre-prep for Thanksgiving Day?
Unrelated Mining: 43% of Americans watch Fireworks on 4th of July :: What could we do to create a big bang finale for Thanksgiving!
Insight Mining: Top 5 Thanksgiving Activities include visiting family & watching football what else could we possibly squeeze in to do our day?
This week's Jump Start Your Brain Slides include:
Technology Mining: A cap full of 6 cups of coffee grounds improves nose, throat surgery. How can taking a step back improve your offering?
Future Mining: Amazon recently acquired Whole Foods Market, but predominantly brick-and-mortar grocers should not be concerned because…or should they be?
Unrelated Mining: Customer Journey - Shortened. In-Fridge Delivery services.
This week's Jump Start Your Brain Slides include:
Future Mining: 5 Essential trends in the sports technology sector for organizing companies and innovation.
Wisdom Mining: A study by researchers at the University of Toronto have developed a scientific measure of charisma and it’s mostly comprised of 2 elements.
Insight Mining: Millennials have replaced Baby Boomers as largest generation (leading with 4.75M 26 year olds).
This week's Jump Start Your Brain Slides include:
Future Mining: 52% of Americans avoid artificial sweeteners like aspartame :: How would you react if customers walk away because of one part of your offering?
Patent Mining: Seating Arrangement and Method :: What can you rearrange in your offering that gives you an advantage?
Unrelated Mining: Experts at Crafting Goof Proof Cooking :: What are the barriers that keep your customers from getting the maximum benefit?
This week's Jump Start Your Brain Slides include:
Wisdom Mining: Don't Cut Your Price :: Customer expectations of value received and cost paid are set when they make a purchase.
Insight Mining: Hipsters :: A subculture of men and women typically in their 20's and 30's that value independent thinking, counter-culture...what rules do you always follow, but maybe should break?
Unrelated Mining: The Internet of Things :: The network of physical devices, vehicles, and other items which enable these objects to collect and exchange data.
