Balancing Creativity and Practicality
Killer Innovations with Phil McKinney
Release Date: 10/03/2023
Numerical Thinking: How to Find the Truth When Numbers Lie
Killer Innovations with Phil McKinney
Quick—which is more dangerous: the thing that kills 50,000 Americans every year, or the thing that kills 50? Your brain says the first one, obviously. The data says you're dead wrong. Heart disease kills 700,000 people annually, but you're not terrified of cheeseburgers. Shark attacks kill about 10 people worldwide per year, but millions of people are genuinely afraid of the ocean. Your brain can't do the math, so you worry about the wrong things and ignore the actual threats. And here's the kicker: The people selling you fear, products, and policies? They know your brain works this way....
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The Clock is Screaming
Killer Innovations with Phil McKinney
I stepped out of the shower in March and my chest split open. Not a metaphor. The surgical incision from my cardiac device procedure just… opened. Blood and fluid everywhere. Three bath towels to stop it. My wife—a nurse, the exact person I needed—was in Chicago dealing with her parents’ estate. Both had just died. So my daughter drove me to the ER instead. That was surgery number one. By Thanksgiving this year, I’d had five cardiac surgeries. Six hospitalizations. All in twelve months. And somewhere between surgery three and four, everything I thought I knew about gratitude…...
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Second-Order Thinking: How to Stop Your Decisions From Creating Bigger Problems (Thinking 101 - Ep 6)
Killer Innovations with Phil McKinney
In August 2025, Polish researchers tested something nobody had thought to check: what happens to doctors' skills after they rely on AI assistance? The AI worked perfectly—catching problems during colonoscopies, flagging abnormalities faster than human eyes could. But when researchers pulled the AI away, the doctors' detection rates had dropped. They'd become less skilled at spotting problems on their own. We're all making decisions like this right now. A solution fixes the immediate problem—but creates a second-order consequence that's harder to see and often more damaging than what we...
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Make Better Decisions When Nothing is Certain
Killer Innovations with Phil McKinney
You're frozen. The deadline's approaching. You don't have all the data. Everyone wants certainty. You can't give it. Sound familiar? Maybe it's a hiring decision with three qualified candidates and red flags on each one. Or a product launch where the market research is mixed. Or a career pivot where you can't predict which path leads where. You want more information. More time. More certainty. But you're not going to get it. Meanwhile, a small group of professionals—poker players, venture capitalists, military strategists—consistently make better decisions than the rest of us in exactly...
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You Think In Analogies and You Are Doing It Wrong
Killer Innovations with Phil McKinney
Try to go through a day without using an analogy. I guarantee you'll fail within an hour. Your morning coffee tastes like yesterday's batch. Traffic is moving like molasses. Your boss sounds like a broken record. Every comparison you make—every single one—is your brain's way of understanding the world. You can't turn it off. When someone told you ChatGPT is "like having a smart assistant," your brain immediately knew what to expect—and what to worry about. When Netflix called itself "the HBO of streaming," investors understood the strategy instantly. These comparisons aren't just...
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How To Master Causal Thinking
Killer Innovations with Phil McKinney
$37 billion. That's how much gets wasted annually on marketing budgets because of poor attribution and misunderstanding of what actually drives results. Companies' credit campaigns that didn't work. They kill initiatives that were actually succeeding. They double down on coincidences while ignoring what's actually driving outcomes. Three executives lost their jobs this month for making the same mistake. They presented data showing success after their initiatives were launched. Boards approved promotions. Then someone asked the one question nobody thought to ask: "Could something else...
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How to Improve Logical Reasoning Skills
Killer Innovations with Phil McKinney
You see a headline: "Study Shows Coffee Drinkers Live Longer." You share it in 3 seconds flat. But here's what just happened—you confused correlation with causation, inductive observation with deductive proof, and you just became a vector for misinformation. Right now, millions of people are doing the exact same thing, spreading beliefs they think are facts, making decisions based on patterns that don't exist, all while feeling absolutely certain they're thinking clearly. We live in a world drowning in information—but starving for truth. Every day, you're presented with hundreds of...
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Why Thinking Skills Matter More Than Ever
Killer Innovations with Phil McKinney
The Crisis We're Not Talking About We're living through the greatest thinking crisis in human history—and most people don't even realize it's happening. Right now, AI generates your answers before you've finished asking the question. Search engines remember everything so you don't have to. Algorithms curate your reality, telling you what to think before you've had the chance to think for yourself. We've built the most sophisticated cognitive tools humanity has ever known, and in doing so, we've systematically dismantled our ability to use our own minds. A recent MIT study found that students...
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How to Build Innovation Skills Through Daily Journaling
Killer Innovations with Phil McKinney
Most innovation leaders are performing someone else's version of innovation thinking. I've spent decades in this field. Worked with Fortune 100 companies. And here's what I see happening everywhere. Brilliant leaders following external frameworks. Copying methodologies from people they admire. Shifting their approach based on whatever's trendy. But they never develop their own innovation thinking skills. Today, I'd like to share a simple practice that has transformed my life. And I'll show you exactly how I do it. The Problem Here's what I see in corporate America. Leaders are reacting to...
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The WSJ Got Quarterly Reporting Wrong
Killer Innovations with Phil McKinney
Michael Dell and his investors spent twenty-five billion dollars to buy back Dell Technologies. But they weren't really buying a company. They were buying freedom from quarterly earnings pressure. I'm Phil McKinney, former CTO of Hewlett-Packard, and I witnessed how this pressure shaped decisions for years. Today, we are exploring why the misses what actually happens inside corporate boardrooms. The Reality of Quarterly Pressure I want to show you what quarterly reporting actually looks like from the inside. Let me paint you a picture. It's week seven of the quarter, and you're in a...
info_outlineCreativity and practicality are often two opposing forces in problem-solving and decision-making. On the one hand, we desire to develop innovative ideas and think outside the box. On the other hand, we require practical solutions that we can efficiently implement. However, contrary to popular belief, these two forces do not have to be at odds. When balanced correctly, they can complement each other, leading to even greater success.
The Importance of Creativity
Creativity is the ability to think in new and original ways, enabling us to find unique solutions to problems. It allows us to avoid traditional thinking patterns and explore alternative perspectives. In today's fast-paced and ever-changing world, creativity is becoming increasingly important. The skill ranked by CEOs as #1 is the ability to think creatively. It allows individuals and organizations to stay ahead of the curve and adapt to new challenges.
Creativity drives innovation and progress. Without it, we would still use outdated methods and technologies. Creativity is the driving force behind all major advancements, from art and design to science and technology. It enables us to push boundaries and explore new possibilities.
The Need for Practicality
Practicality is essential for turning creative ideas into tangible results. It involves considering the feasibility, cost-effectiveness, and efficiency of a solution. Without practicality, even the most brilliant ideas would remain mere concepts and fail to make an impact.
Practicality also helps us stay grounded and focused on achieving our goals. It ensures we use resources wisely and make decisions based on practical considerations rather than abstract ideas.
Finding the Balance
While creativity and practicality may clash, they are two sides of the same coin. Both are crucial for achieving success in any endeavor. The key is finding the right balance between the two.
Too much focus on creativity without practicality can lead to unrealistic and unattainable goals, wasting valuable time and resources. On the other hand, too much emphasis on practicality can stifle creative thinking and limit potential breakthroughs that can drive progress.
Fulfilling a culture that embraces creativity and practicality is essential to strike the right balance. Encouraging open-mindedness, risk-taking, and experimentation can achieve this while promoting critical thinking, strategic planning, and effective implementation.
Ask Yourself the Right Questions
If you want to ensure the proper balance between creativity and practicality, ask yourself the following questions before deciding to go forward:
Is the idea practical?
When we ask if an idea is practical, we examine its feasibility, viability, and ease of implementation in real-world scenarios—being practical means grounding creative innovation in reality and ensuring that we can translate ideas into actions that produce impactful, measurable outcomes.
This requires an assessment of various factors, such as the resources necessary, general approach, and timeline.
- Resources: A comprehensive understanding of the resources at your disposal is vital. This includes manpower, skills, finances, tools, and technology. An idea that requires resources beyond your current capacity may not be achievable.
- Approach: The method of implementation is another crucial aspect. Is there a clear path from conception to execution? One should have a well-defined approach for a feasible idea to turn an idea into a reality.
- Timeline: One should also evaluate time constraints. An otherwise achievable idea might become unrealistic if it requires implementation within an unfeasible timeline.
- Risk Assessment: Potential risks and roadblocks should be identified and addressed. Are there any foreseeable challenges that could derail the implementation process? If the risks outweigh the potential benefits, it is wise to reconsider.
Does the idea align with the organization's culture and mission?
The alignment of an idea with the organization's culture and mission is a key determinant of its potential success and acceptance. A culture-embracing idea fosters cohesion and unity, reinforcing the values and principles that underpin the organization. It resonates with the workforce, encouraging a sense of ownership and commitment that significantly boosts morale and productivity.
The alignment with the mission ensures that the idea contributes directly to the organization's overarching objectives. It helps maintain focus on the company's strategic direction, ensuring that innovation and creativity do not divert resources from the core goals. An idea that aligns with the mission statement is inherently valuable, as it reinforces the company's purpose and propels it toward its envisioned future.
The congruence of an idea with the culture and mission of the organization is not merely desirable but crucial. It ensures that the innovation strengthens the organization's identity, drives its strategic progress, and garners widespread support from the workforce.
Do you think the idea will be profitable?
Profitability is a crucial determinant of an idea's viability. We deem an idea profitable if it can generate a significant return on investment. This implies that the revenue produced by implementing the idea should be greater than the total cost associated with its execution, including production, marketing, distribution, and other related expenses.
When evaluating an idea's profitability, you should consider several factors.:
- Market Demand: High demand for a product or service suggests potential profitability. Comprehensive market research can provide valuable insights into consumer needs, preferences, and buying behavior.
- Pricing Strategy: An effective pricing strategy can significantly enhance profitability. The price should not only cover the cost of production but also bring in a decent profit while appealing to customers.
- Competition: Competitive analysis is crucial. Achieving profitability can be challenging if the market is saturated with similar products or services.
- Cost Efficiency: Streamlining operations and processes to reduce costs can increase profitability. This includes optimizing resource utilization, eliminating wastage, and improving productivity.
- Risk factor: An idea may seem profitable on the surface, but conducting a thorough risk analysis is important. This includes assessing the potential for market changes, regulatory issues, or unforeseen costs that could impact profitability.
An idea's profitability is not merely a calculation of revenues and costs, but a comprehensive assessment that considers market conditions, competitive landscape, pricing dynamics, cost efficiency, and potential risks.
Examples of Success and Failure
While many businesses have learned to achieve harmony between creativity and practicality, some have not been as fortunate.
Tesla
We could position Tesla as the poster child of the successful balance between creativity and practicality. The company's innovative electric vehicles are a creative response to the environmental challenges posed by traditional gasoline-fueled cars. Yet, Tesla's vehicles are eco-friendly and practical, with competitive driving ranges, high performance, and luxury features that appeal to a broad range of consumers.
Elon Musk had to push his team on creativity to achieve this balance while ensuring they adhere to practical considerations such as cost, safety, and consumer demand. As a result, Tesla has not only achieved profitability but also disrupted the automotive industry and become a leader in sustainable transportation.
Google Glass
Google's ambitious product, Google Glass, is an example of creativity not backed by practicality. Despite being a feat of creativity with its groundbreaking technology and futuristic appeal, Google Glass failed to resonate with consumers. They criticized the product for its impractical design, high cost, and privacy concerns, which made it less appealing to the public. This example underscores the importance of balancing creativity with practicality. While out-of-the-box thinking can lead to groundbreaking innovations, ensuring these ideas are practical and in line with market needs and consumer expectations is crucial.
Segway
The Segway Personal Transporter, despite being a creative invention, did not achieve market success due to its lack of practicality. When it debuted, it introduced the innovative two-wheeled, self-balancing personal transporter, unlike anything else on the market. However, the Segway failed to be practical for most consumers due to its high cost, difficulty navigating urban environments, and regulatory issues.
The iBot, developed by Mobius Mobility using Segway technology, is a remarkable example of creativity needing to find its true purpose. When this technology was reimagined and repurposed into the iBot, it discovered a market among those who needed it most - individuals with mobility impairments. This next-generation wheelchair offered mobility and independence previously unattainable with traditional wheelchairs.
Despite its initial failure, Segway technology could find its place in the market, albeit in a different form, and create a significant impact.
Practical Experience
Given my 30-plus-year career in innovation, I have learned that balancing creativity and practicality is an ongoing process - and more complex than it looks. It requires strategic thinking, market understanding, and consumer insights. As a leader in innovation, I have had to find this balance for countless projects throughout my career.
One particular project that stands out was the development of a new business unit at HP called HP Gaming. The idea was to leverage HP's existing technology and expertise, combined with some acquisitions, to enter the high-growth gaming market. However, we faced a significant challenge - how do we make HP Gaming stand out in an already crowded market? We knew that just releasing another gaming laptop or desktop would not be enough; it must be unique and innovative.
Through collaboration with our team of designers, engineers, and marketing experts, we developed the concept of "premium gaming" - a combination of high-performance hardware with luxury features and design elements. This idea focused on creativity and practicality - appealing to gamers' desire for top-of-the-line technology while catering to their growing interest in customizable, aesthetically pleasing devices.
We conducted extensive market research to ensure our idea was practical, testing different designs and features with potential consumers. We also iterated our concept multiple times, refining it until we found the perfect balance between creativity and practicality.
The result? We introduced such award-winning products at the HP Blackbird and HP Firebird.
HP Gaming became a meaningful player in the gaming market, gaining recognition for its innovative approach and achieving success through balancing creativity and practicality.
Even after leaving HP over a decade ago, you can still see the fruits of our team's efforts in HP products such as the Omen.
How to Balance Creativity and Practicality
The following are the lessons learned from the examples on the success and failures of balancing between creativity and practicality:
Involve the Right People
Collaborate with a team of creative individuals, including product developers, designers, and marketers, to ensure that your idea is practical and doable. You can harness individual strengths and expertise to balance creativity and practicality by involving the right mix of people.
Set Realistic Expectations
Don't get carried away with your creativity; establish realistic expectations to keep your project on track and avoid unrealistic goals. Consider market demand, competition, and cost when setting expectations for your idea's success. This will help you stay grounded and make practical decisions throughout the project.
Test and Validate Your Idea
Conduct market research to ensure your idea is innovative and practical and meets a specific market demand. Validate your idea with potential consumers, gather feedback, and make necessary adjustments to ensure its feasibility and success.
Iterate Your Idea
Don't try to get everything right the first time. Reworking your original idea to make it practical and sustainable might be necessary. By iterating your idea, you can identify and address any potential issues before they become costly mistakes.
Don't Be Afraid to Change Direction
If an idea is not working out, pivot and try something different. Changing direction and finding a practical solution is better than sticking with an unfeasible idea. Please stay open and flexible, and be willing to adapt your initial idea to make it more practical.
The Fine Line
When balancing creativity and practicality, it's easy and less risky to pull back and put more emphasis on practicality. Don't. Know where the line is and balance your creativity with practicality.
Leave room for innovation while considering an idea's market needs and feasibility. By finding this sweet spot, you can achieve profitability and sustainably impact your industry. So unleash your creativity, but remember to keep it grounded in practicality. Keep pushing the boundaries, but ensure they align with market demand and consumer expectations.
That's the key to success and a sustainable future for your business. Don't be afraid to take risks; ensure they are calculated and aligned with practical considerations. You can create a winning formula for success in any industry by finding the perfect balance between creativity and practicality.