Free the Idea Monkey to Focus on What Matters Most: How the Most Successful People Make Big Ideas Happen

by G. Michael Maddock, Raphael Louis Viton

Are you an Idea Monkey? Someone who can produce 183 product or service concepts before lunch, if you had to? Idea Monkeys are unconcerned with all the reasons why an idea might not work and, instead, choose to pour their energy into possibilities. They inspire those around them with their quick wit, nimble minds and ability to turn any challenge into a brainstorm. They are upbeat, remarkably talented and all too often a major pain in the butt to rein in. Do you manage these kinds of people? If so, you are a (Ring)leader. (Ring)leaders know how to awaken and focus the Idea Monkeys within their organizations. (Ring)leaders are an incredibly valuable resource. They set the strategy. They execute with precision. They make the company money. They get the essential things done. They focus the Idea Monkeys on what matters most. In a series of short (extremely entertaining) chapters, Free the Idea Monkey...to focus on what matters most! shows how the most innovative leaders and organizations work and play to find the proper balance between its divergent and convergent thinkers--between the Idea Monkeys and (Ring)leaders. That's the secret, and it's what creates real progress. Just think about the founding of Disney. Walt Disney partnered with his brother, Roy Disney. (Walt handled the Imagineering; Roy made sure they made money at it.) Examples of these kinds of partnerships are Orville and Wilbur Wright; Steve Jobs and Steve Wozniak; Paul Allen and Bill Gates. Free the Idea Monkey...to focus on what matters most! is filled with true stories, practical tips and illustrations--all designed to show you how to create these types of profitable partnerships in life and in business. Written by the proven entrepreneurs who are leading a globally recognized innovation agency, this book can help any company, manager or creative person become more effective. Special Idea Monkey This book can be reengineered to wrap more than 200 small fish, line the bottoms of more than 63 hamster cages, or play a leading role in your origami club. So it's green, too. Oh, boy! Buy the book and start focusing on what matters most!

Genres: Business

308 pages, Kindle Edition

First published February 3, 2012

Reviews

[Stephanie Marcinkowski · Rating 3 out of 5]

A former business advisor once commented that my industry was "old school." At first, I was a bit taken aback by his comment; however, having had time to think more about it, I took it more like a rally cry. This book was meant to help in my quest to disrupt the "old school" and continue to be relevant during rapidly changing landscapes.

I took a lot more time to read this book than expected because it was packed with information that prompted some deep thinking. For the idea monkey, that creates an opportunity to mull ideas over in between chapters.

I liked the layout of the book which provides opportunities for notes and brainstorming. The end of chapter "to do" lists are great recaps.

[Anisha · Rating 3 out of 5]

My favorite chapter was "discovering a yin to your yang". If you feel you are better at brainstorming ideas then team up with a person who is great at shipping the product. This way each person gets to be brilliant at what they do best. I found this idea profound! This book does have some really good ideas and stories - the only catch is you have to patiently sort through the pages to find it.

[Eliot · Rating 3 out of 5]

Large company focused book.

To innovate have lots of idea people in your company -some divergent/creative and some convergent/ring leaders who focus on what matters most.

The art of strategy is sacrifice - know what to stop doing, so you can focus on the things you are good at.

You can't read the label when you are sitting inside the jar.

[Andrea Hill · Rating 4 out of 5]

G. Michael Maddock has penned this enjoyable, easy read to introduce the two types of people essential for innovation success: Idea Monkeys and (Ring) Leaders. He offers guidance in how to encourage Idea Monkeys to be creative, and balance that with research and execution. Helped me reflect on my interactions with coworkers and how I can best help bring new ideas forth.

[Yang Zheng · Rating 3 out of 5]

Worth a skim but probably not a read. A Cliff Notes version could have sufficed. Although there were some insights related to the idea of needing an Idea Monkey AND a Ring Leader for innovation, most of the book is just repetition of basic high level business/innovation concepts. If you get a free copy (as I did) worth flipping through, but don’t buy.