The NYC Innovation for Life March Meeting

In the earliest stages, I will present the theory of "pure innovation" that is the core theme of the book I am now writing (current title: "The Glass is Always Full: Thinking Outside the Box...About Inside the Glass (and Everywhere Else in Life)" ["TGIAF," for short]. While I have rather clear and fairly well thought-through rationale as to what innovation is, where it applies, and who can (and should) be doing it...I remain open to anyone who might like to add, delete, edit, spin, or otherwise question any element of my theories (which is an aggregation of many others' thoughts already). By questioning it -- even with skepticism -- you will better understand the concept. And so will I. So will others engaged in the same discussion. That's what this group is all about. A "pure innovator" is, among other things, dedicated to the pursuit of absolute truth. So I cherish contrarian opinion, conflict, questions, skepticism, and challenge. This is how we learn! This is how we evolve.

TGIAF presents a "re-definition" of innovation. It is accurate, but its simplicity will open your eyes. Innovation applies to every single aspect of your life. Innovation is NOT just computer technology, pharmaceuticals, invention, elaborate business models, and scientific "gobbledegook." Innovation, in its purest sense, is a new, enlightened way of thinking...followed by the inspiration to put that thinking into action, to create something of value. It can be absurdly simple. It doesn't need to take years, months, weeks, or even days. It doesn't need to cost a lot of money, be done by someone with advanced degrees, or require endless stressful work and headache. It is so easy, that eventually you will be practicing the innovation process as second nature. It will become part of your core competency. And you can, and will, grow it and develop it from there, and start applying it everywhere.

Many of you will roll your eyes at my frequent use of the term, "THINKING OUTSIDE THE BOX." But I promise you, "TOTB" as I use it is like nothing you've ever conceived of before. It happens to work very well in this context. If you hate the term...try to get over it. You'll be glad you did (yes, that's another "guarantee" of mine). I will show you how the very same concept of innovative thinking you can apply to relationships is the same core process you can also apply to your own psychology, to education, to parenting, to substance abuse, to humor, to art, to sports, to politics, to conflict resolution, to energy, to water, to health, to racism and sexism, to terrorism, and yes...even to business and technlogy! I have studied this for years. I have assembled a wide variety of real-life examples, case studies, success stories, models, formulas, tools, techniques, and everyday items and situations that will have you looking at everything (and everyone, including yourself) in your world in a whole new way.

The title, "the glass is always full," is NOT merely a cute new way of expressing optimism. It is meant to let you know that you have a choice. That choice, that transcends "optimism" and "pessimism"...is nothing less than "realism." When we say "the glass is always full," we refer to the air in the glass as that forgotten resource. Air is not NOTHING. I won't go into detail here, but suffice it to say, the title is a metaphor for how conventional thinking leads us to presume that such an unappreciated resource IS nothing (that it has no value). We'll discuss this in more detail, of course, but for now, just realize the title symbolizes a consciousness that every single thing around us has potential value. You just need to learn to see, listen to, feel, analyze, consider, and think about it...in new, curious, and inspired ways. By practicing this, along with the enlightenment of how it is easily proven in thousands of everyday items, scenarios, and concepts, you will gain the confidence that this perspective works and has universal, global application.

I will supply all attending members with copies of my book's contents, starting with its introduction and table of contents. Is this merely a sly way for me to sell my book (its contents) to unsuspecting members? Absolutely not. For one thing, the only expense you'll bear is what it costs me to make copies, etc. I am not making a profit here. Not a penny. What I WILL gain, however, is a tremendous amount of insight and feedback from each of you. This will be a mutual learning process; if it is not, I will be profoundly disappointed! So it will indeed "cost" you by way of your creative thinking, your energy, and your valuable time. But I promise they will all be well worth it (do so, and you'll be acknowledged in the book)!

We all have relationships. Every one of them can be improved. We're going to find out together, precisely how. And how it applies to much, much more. Thank you for your attention and passion. This is going to be fun.