Red Thread Thinking: Weaving Together Connections for Brilliant Ideas and Profitable Innovations

by Debra Kaye

Success is all about connections.

Debra Kaye explodes conventional thinking about innovation and provides an approach that anyone or any business can use to expose the crucial links among observations, experiences, facts, and feelings that on the surface do not seem related--but are--to uncover fresh, brilliant insights. In Red Thread Thinking, Kaye shows you how to weave originality from disparate information and turn it into a product or service that can shake up the marketplace--and your business.

What sets Red Thread Thinking apart from other books is that it reveals exactly how to identify and understand hidden cultural codes and shifts in consumer perceptions that speak to emerging and existing markets and, as a result, catapult fresh products to iconic status.

A mold-breaking system, Red Thread Thinking sharpens your innovation skills and can assist in problem solving, whether preparing a talk, pitching a project to your colleagues and boss, managing staff in a more productive way, or taking business to a new level. Learn the ways of Red Thread Thinking:

Red Thread One: "Innovation--It's All in Your Head"--We can fire up our brains to become better at observing and interpreting what we see around us

Red Thread Two: "Everything Old is New"--Take a fresh look at the past to gain remarkable advantage

Red Thread Three: "People: The Strangest Animals in the Zoo"--Know what makes your market tick, and you'll know what makes them spend

Red Thread Four: "What You See Is What You Get"--Learn how to create an entirely new and accessible "language" to make your product stand out and be universally understood

Red Thread Five: "The Force of Passion"--Persevere, review, and refine your ideas without compromising your integrity or core beliefs.

Red Thread Thinking teaches you to activate your own knowledge and resources to make better connections, have more and superior insights, and apply history as a valuable source for future-leaning innovation--without the need for high-cost development.

Genres: Business, Nonfiction, Psychology

288 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 2013

About the author

DEBRA KAYE is an international innovation consultant specializing in brand and culture strategy for consumer businesses. A frequent commentator on American Public Radio's "Marketplace", columnist for Entrepreneur.com and contributor to Fast Company, she is head of the innovation consultancy Lucule and former CEO of TBWA\Italy.

Reviews

[Joannah Keats · Rating 4 out of 5]

This review refers to the NetGalley edition, titled "Red Thread Thinking."

I enjoyed this book much more than I thought I would. Did I learn how to think innovatively? Who's to say? But I loved reading the tidbits about innovations in our culture and around the world, and just reading the book caused my brain to start popping out ideas and looking at things from different angles.

I found it to be in a similar style to Malcolm Gladwell, whom I adore, but with a self-help slant. The narratives are interesting enough to catapault it to the featured table in the "Business" section of the bookstore, in my opinion.

Debra Kaye has written a fun book about being different, being unique, and being useful, and as I read I thought to myself "I would love to work for this woman."

[Haplea · Rating 2 out of 5]

The book subject are methods to increase personal creativity and spur inventions. Being a skeptic I consider this book the typical product of an American culture who believes in the miracles of positive attitude to change reality (to make the grass grow faster than otherwise, as with tongue in cheek a Frenchman put it), in the power of religious prayers to positively solve problems in this world, in the widespread belief that by baptizing situations with a misleading name it would change reality (like by naming a town close to the Arctic Circle “Paradise City” its weather will change and palms with grow under a scorching sun), and the list of gullible beliefs goes on.
In short, to me, the advertised methods for becoming creative look like platitudes and smoke and mirrors solutions covered by a skillful verbiage; after all, individual talents like real creativity, intelligence or geniality are innate, and impossible to acquire in a crash course.

The author, a marketing consultant, fills the book with examples of product introduction and marketing techniques, labeling them as creativity, which on one hand they are not, and on the other hand they are of no interest to the general readers who are not employed in marketing, but work in many different professions.

In engineering, a field I know well, the road to useful minor innovations (as opposed to inventions, which belong only to geniuses like Freyssinet, the inventor of prestressed concrete or Newton, the discoverer of gravity law) and to professional creativity in solving problems nobody around could solve pass through a long carrier (at least ten years according to a famous book I heard of, better twenty or thirty in my opinion), a broad knowledge of foreign codes and ways of doing things in different parts of the world, a passion which translate in sacrificing numerous hours of free time and research of specialized papers and of course a decent IQ. I am sure the same is valid in music, medicine, academic life and most others professions. Paraphrasing Euclid, there is no royal way to creativity except long and hard work. I did not learn anything useful from this book and consider its reading a waste of time for me, but I recognize that this is only a personal opinion.

The book is a pleasant reading despite its lack of convincing content and some may enjoy reading it.

[penny shima glanz · Rating 4 out of 5]

Kayne has written a deeply researched book on how to change one’s thinking habits to increase creativity. She shows how the innovative thoughts we all desire to take our businesses and work to the next level are actually not-so-elusive. By drawing on experience with her clients, research into traditional literature, exploring what other innovators are doing, and looking into many other sources (including Strunk & White, pinterest, and other modern technologies) Kayne proves that it is possible to methodically produce innovative thought.

What is innovation? It is the braiding or weaving together of core areas (developing new ideas, engaging in challenging tasks, broadening knowledge, and interacting with stimulating people and places), areas which when specifically worked on, enhance people's ability to innovate.

I also appreciated two aspects of her book. First, reminding us to sleep on it. When I'm trying to solve a sticky issue, I try to do one (or all!) of the following: go for a trail run, knit something, take a nap... this time taken for mediation, me time, or sleep has been shown to help boost creativity. Second, and this should come as no surprise, the inclusion in the appendix of "Discussion and Question Guide for Cat Research" found me head over heels in love. First that it is for cat research, second because of how detailed it is and how by not being just a bland and irreverant focus group but an in-depth interview that includes a request to allow the interviewer to see the owner interact with their cat reminded me that this is a well thought out book.

This book is not for the faint-of-heart. It is not one of those super quick light reading business books that crowd the shelves. It is a valuable resource if you wish you thought a little more differently or you wanted to more systematically refine your approach. I highly recommend it.

I received my ARC of this title through Net Galley.

[Freedom Hayak · Rating 5 out of 5]

Debra Kaye did an excellent job explaining a process of innovation that can really be used by anyone who has thought about turning their ideas into viable businesses. In fact, I confess, I am one of those people. I have many ideas and a few of them seem ripe for development. Kaye showed me not only how to take the idea and delve into it, she shows how to make connections between the bits and pieces of information and observations you have while in the "product development" stage. I really like that aspect of the book - but she also tells a lot of very good stories, has some interesting science tucked in, and good data but not so much that it gets the main thrust of the book bogged down. I have already recommended this book to a couple of my more independent minded friends and colleagues and I recommend it to other Good Reads participants. It's especially good for those who want to break out on their own but I can also see it being very helpful for those who want to stand out in a corporate setting.

[Casey · Rating 4 out of 5]

"Red Thread Thinking weaves a marvelous tapestry of insight and wisdom. A must read for entrepreneurs hoping to take their ideas from fuzzy to firm" ~Susan Cain.
I couldn't have said it better myself. This book sets up a great framework and really helps round out your ideas. Definitely would suggest it to any entrepreneur!

I received this book free from Goodreads First Reads.

[Bob Bare · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have to be careful because of my 'shiny object syndrome' which often distracts me with new opportunities. "Red Thread Thinking" is helping me see the connections between the theoretical and reality, and is improving my objectivity during innovation.

[Wayne McCoy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Red Thread Thinking by Debra Kaye is one of the better books on innovation that I've read lately. Rather than talk about innovation and creativity as abstract concepts, there are concrete approaches here that seem to be of some benefit for business innovation.

With chapters on how to stimulate and channel creativity for best business uses, to getting out and seeing how customers are really using your products, to packaging and selling your ideas.

The overall book seems to be focused more on marketing and product research, and there is a lengthy appendix the author offers as a sample for research, but there is better quality here than in many recent books I've read and I will be recommending this book to colleagues.

I was given a review copy of this book by McGraw-Hill Professional and Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. Thank you for letting me review this book.

[Adam Gossman · Rating 5 out of 5]

Amazing book... well sourced, well written, clear and consistent. A lovely read.

[Fitra Rahmamuliani · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ingin belajar tentang bagaimana para penemu bisa menemukan inovasi baru yang merubah dunia? Ingin mendapatkan insight dari cerita orang-orang sukses di dunia dengan berbagai bidang area? Buku Red Thread Thinking ini cocok untuk kamu yang ingin mendalami dunia para inovator.

Apa itu Red Thread Thinking?
Dengan banyaknya aspek-aspek yang harus kita pikirkan ketika menginovasikan sesuatu, kita harus menyambungkan semua aspek-aspek tersebut seperti benang merah (red thread) yang ada di dalam pikiran kita. Sehingga, kita akhirnya dapat menyelesaikan masalah yang terdapat di sekitar kita, membuat inovasi baru, dan menyebarkannya kepada market kita.

"For an innovation to really "work", it has to succeed from bot the consumer side and the business side, not just be creative".

Inovasi tidak hanya untuk orang-orang pada kalangan tertentu, inovasi dapat ditemukan oleh siapa saja berdasarkan observasi mereka terhadap lingkungan. Tidak peduli usia dan kelas ekonomi kita. Dengan mempelajari konsep Red Thread Thinking, kita dapat mempelajari bahwa tidak apa-apa untuk tetap optimis, untuk gagal dan memulai kembali untuk memodifikasi inovasi kita, dan tidak apa-apa untuk berbeda dari yang lain. Tidak apa-apa untuk dikatakan "gila" karena inovasi kita, karena jika inovasi kita benar-benar menyelesaikan masalah dan menemukan kostumer dan investor yang tepat, akan ada saat di mana inovasi kita akan menjadi kenyataan.

Buku ini memberi tahu kita lebih banyak tentang cerita-cerita penemuan atau inovasi dibandingkan dengan sepenuhnya mengajarkan kita bagaimana menemukan sebuah inovasi. Memang, pada akhirnya inovasi hanya dapat ditemukan oleh diri sendiri berdasarkan observasi kalian sendiri, bukan dengan diajarkan. Observasi target market atau pengguna kita, tidak hanya sesimpel 5 menit interview, tapi observasi kebiasaan mereka hingga akhirnya kita dapat menemukan sebuah inovasi.

Sudah belajar banyak tentang productivity dan self-development atau self-improvement?
Mungkin buku ini cukup membuat kalian merasa redundan (seperti yang saya rasakan), karena buku ini menjelaskan kembali mengenai betapa pentingnya meditasi, tidur, dan "me" time. Namun, buku ini dapat menjelaskannya secara ringkas dengan pemilihan kata yang lebih bersahabat. Maka dari itu, saya memberikan bintang 4 karena saya tetap akan merekomendasikan buku ini kepada orang-orang yang baru akan menyalami dunia inovasi, productivity, maupun self-development atau self-improvement.

[Rob Baker · Rating 4 out of 5]

I finished Read Thread on Monday. The research leaves no doubt about what she calls the intellectual history of the Left. In a kind of genealogy, West traces Marxist academic infection from the Stalin apologists in Europe to American universities, to the U.S. government (the "thread"), precisely down to Nelly Ohr, Comey, Brennan, Kerry, Clinton, Axelrod, Obama, Susan Rice, and others. To those names, I would add Warren, Buttigieg (whose father was a Marxist), and Sanders. One point she illuminates nicely is the dual objective of espionage: (1) discover information and (2) influence the enemy, the second being the most important. Shining this light on Russia collusion and the impeachment hoax explains the depth of calculation and planning that goes into pulling them off, reminding me of a good spy novel. Her conclusions about David Browder and Veselnitskya are convoluted but thought-provoking. I would love to bring West's book up more often in conversation with my friends, but her argument is fact intensive. That's what makes it real, of course. I can only say that if you care, you should read it and make up your own mind. I've been thinking about Red Thread as I wonder what the hell the deep DNC is plotting in this election. Rush is right. They have always been Socialists, and they will not give up

[Lorraine Gregory · Rating 4 out of 5]

Tangible advice on how to build an innovation mindset for profitable, and socially responsible, growth with inspiring examples of people who have dared to think differently and had it pay off!

[Matteo Cellini · Rating 3 out of 5]

Some good examples, but not a lot more

[Dagny · Rating 5 out of 5]

Decent book. I like the mention of for profit companies being able to do good in a shorter period of time.

[Rakshit Monga · Rating 3 out of 5]

Kne good point is - it tells simplicity is very much required in business

[Derek · Rating 4 out of 5]

Meh.

I felt like I had already read most of the core ideas (and supporting example stories) in other books.

Good stuff overall

[Synexe · Rating 3 out of 5]

THE MAIN IDEA

Innovation is about making linkages between things that people haven’t thought to link together before.

INTERESTING TIDBIT

The author is a member of Count Me In, an organization dedicated to helping women-owned businesses grow and prosper.

WHAT YOU REALLY NEED TO KNOW

The key message in the book is, to paraphrase a comment that actually isn’t in the book, you need to make sure that continue to look at the world with the eyes of a child. The book argues that innovation is about creativity. The author provides a range of techniques and options to help readers be creative and, as a result, hopefully be innovative. Using the quote by Steve Jobs that the author uses to open the book:

"Creativity is connecting things."

This then is the true message of the book.

THE GENERAL OVERVIEW

It took a while to get into the book. It’s not a difficult read but for the longest time it wasn’t easy to discern what this book that was doing that was new. Innovation is becoming one of those words that has become so ubiquitous that it has started to lose its edge. Everybody is talking about innovation nowadays. So, what is it that this book does that’s new? Ironically, the question was what was the book doing that was innovative?

The further into the book you get the more you begin to discern what it is in this book that’s actually novel. It’s real strength lies in bringing together a wide range of really interesting and useful mini-case studies on how different groups and people have been innovative in their work. In this respect then the book’s real use is a synthesis of people’s experiences innovating in their work. This is where the book differentiates itself from the many books on the market talking about innovation.

As much as the book seems to set itself out as a guide to ‘red thread thinking’ there doesn’t seem to be an obvious logic to a methodological approach to innovative thinking beyond looking for connections between things. This, in itself, isn’t very useful as either a methodology or in general for that matter. But, as a collection of interesting vignettes as to how people have made these types of connections in their own work for a range of different organizations the book has value. In this respect then this is a book that can usefully be ‘dipped’ into on occasion when one has a bit of time on their hands to see how different people have acted innovatively in their own work.

A fun read. But, if time is pressing, there are other books that are more useful or important to read.

[Don LaFountaine · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was an interesting book, and if possible I would rate it 3 1/2 stars. It is geared towards entrepreneurs, inventors, and corporate workers who have a say in the development and marketing of a new and/or updated product. The basic premise is that anyone can innovate and be successful in marketing a new or updated product by using connections that others don't see. These connections come from experience, both good and bad, knowledge, research, and interactions with other people. It also includes understanding psychology, understanding what will motivate you to bring a product forward, and understanding what will motivate consumers to want to purchase and use the products.

However, this book does not only have to be used by it's target audience. For instance, as a consumer, I am a little better aware of how I may look at things I may want to purchase. I am also a little better aware of not only how companies are trying to entice me to purchase a particular product, but how a customer's feedback can be used to improve the item more so than ever before.

The author stated how important it is for people to exercise their brain to have a more wide range of knowledge on topics. This is critical for making connections between two topics that are not readily connectable. I think this is something that anyone can learn and make an important part of their life, regardless of whether they ever plan to invent something or innovate a current product. It is a book worth reading no matter your career plans, though I am sure it will be more effective with its target audience.

[Mike Eccles · Rating 3 out of 5]

I cannot remember how I came across this book - I think it may have been through a reference in the HBR. The subject appealed to me as I have worked with businesses claiming to be both innovative and entrepreneurial, but I don't feel that I have either of these attributes built into me. The image of weaving connections (connexions?) with the red thread also attracted me. I reach the end of the volume strangely disappointed. I definitely lost sight of the thread in the latter stages, although in those latter stages some of the examples described were quite fascinating. I became a little frustrated by the number of times Debra Kaye's consultancy business was named - is the whole thing an entrepreneurial trick to get more clients I wondered on more than one occasion. I was also struck by the Susan Cain endorsement (someone I really admire), but the book does not live up to her enthusiastic words. I'm glad I've read it... I did get to the end... But what have I learned... I need some reflection time...

Edit: typos corrected! Debra has kindly and graciously responded to my observations. She was particularly concerned about my references to her consultancy. The frequency may not have been great, but my emotional response was as described above. Perhaps the answer lies in describing the consultancy role (with the business name) in the introduction, and then not mentioning the name again. The business is of course a source of significant input to the work.

[Kevin · Rating 3 out of 5]

Red Thread Thinking is a high level overview of how to come up with innovative ideas, assess their viability in the context of consumers, and package them so that they reach their target audiences effectively. It's written at such a level that you can't take concrete actions from it, nor can you get to any deeper theory from it, but it will give you something to think about while you think about creative ideas.

I was disappointed because I felt the concept of Red Thread Thinking was too derivative of the way that Steven Johnson describes the inevitability of innovative ideas (or good ideas as he calls them) without touching on the why of it. The Red Thread aspect also felt forced in the last 3 sections of the book.

I rated this book so high because it would be very enjoyable for a new person to the innovation and ideation space, but the core concepts are described in about 5 other books far more thoroughly. If you have time for one book, read this one, but if you have time for a deeper dive, read Drucker's Innovation and Entrepreneurship, Kahneman's Thinking, Fast and Slow, Christensen's Innovator's Dilemma, and Johnson's Where Good Ideas Come From.

[Rebecca Waring-Crane · Rating 3 out of 5]

I've read too many books with referencing the invention of velcro, wite-out, the Barbie doll, and post-it notes. However, Kaye inclues just as many unfamiliar examples of innovation and solid writing to merit 3 stars.

If I'd read this before a few others, or perhaps if I read it with a group, Red Thread Thinking: Weaving Together Connections for Brilliant Ideas and Profitable Innovationswould earn four stars. Timing. Once again timing. I hope that by reading similar material from time to time, the lovely light of innovation comes on for me.

Because of a mention near the end of the book, I will be researching Daniel Epstein's Unreasonable Institute, an academy for entrepreneurs who want to solve social problems and make money. Yes. Me too.

[Chu Qiao · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book explains how innovation works. It details about where we can identify new ideas, how we develop the ideas, and how make them successful. Direct observations, cultural nodes, experiences, reasons, and emotional leads are all sources of inspirations. What an innovator need to do is connect these sources, and make consumers feel and sense it, not just reads. The ultimate goal of product design is to build connections to inspire customers. To make a product successful, you need take a probing approach to discover the ethnographic patterns of your consumers.

[Tiffany · Rating 3 out of 5]

For those new to innovation, you will find the practical advice in this book very useful. However, for those that are looking for novel ideas and approaches around innovation, this book will disappoint. Also heavily focuses on innovative products with more limited coverage if innovative services. With that said, the red threads presented are transferable to the services realm and to social enterprises.

[Naomi · Rating 4 out of 5]

Kaye brings contemporary neuroscience to bear in this tool to help us think differently in order to create positive change. The numerous stories and examples provided and practices to approach life in helpful, creative, and moving ways to help others live a new story with what we create are inspiring, encouraging, and illuminating.

[Marilyn · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a solid three - but I received it as a Goodreads Giveaway Advanced Reader Copy, so I rounded up. The book encouraged reflection about specific ways of being innovative in a variety of situations. It is largely a compilation and analysis of ideas, and this had value for application. I did not have "wow" moments, which is the measure for a 5-star book in this category.

[Trevor Pearson · Rating 3 out of 5]

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[Digit · Rating 3 out of 5]

The five strands of “Red Thread Thinking” can determine the difference between
commercially “viable” innovations and “creative ideas” that don’t go anywhere.

[Chris Garin · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of the best I've ever read

[Samantha Hines · Rating 3 out of 5]

Interesting read but it seemed very surface level. Got lots of good ideas of other things to read from it!

[Mark · Rating 2 out of 5]

I feel innovation books and ideas have to resonate with the reader to allow you to work through the book to glean the few nuggets of value: fell flat for me.