Why Your Best People Give You The Worst Information
Killer Innovations with Phil McKinney
The $25 Million Perfect Presentation Picture this: You're in a conference room with 23 executives, everyone has perfect PowerPoint presentations, engineering milestones are ahead of schedule, and you're about to sign off on a $25 million bet that feels like a sure thing. That was the scene at HP when we were developing the Envy 133—the world's first 100% carbon fiber laptop. Everything looked perfect: engineering was ahead of schedule, we projected a $2 billion market opportunity, and the presentations were flawless. Six weeks after launch, Apple shifted the entire thin-and-light laptop...
info_outline
3 Innovation Decision Traps That Kill Breakthrough Ideas (And How to Avoid Them)
Killer Innovations with Phil McKinney
Every breakthrough innovation starts the same way: everyone thinks it's a terrible idea. Twitter was dismissed as "breakfast updates." Google looked "too simple." Facebook seemed limited to "just college kids." Yet these "stupid ideas" became some of the biggest winners in tech history. After 30 years making innovation decisions at Fortune 100 companies, I've identified why smart people consistently miss breakthrough opportunities—and how to spot them before everyone else does. Why Smart People Miss Breakthrough Ideas The problem isn't intelligence or experience. It's that we ask the wrong...
info_outline
The $1.2 Billion Innovation Disaster: 5 Decision Mistakes That Kill Breakthrough Technology (HP WebOS Case Study)
Killer Innovations with Phil McKinney
In 2011, HP killed a $1.2 billion innovation in just 49 days. I was the Chief Technology Officer who recommended buying it. What happened next reveals why smart people consistently destroy breakthrough technology—and the systematic framework you need to avoid making the same mistake. HP had just spent $1.2 billion acquiring Palm to get WebOS—one of the most advanced mobile operating systems ever created. It had true multitasking when iOS and Android couldn't handle it, an elegant interface design, and breakthrough platform technology. I led the technical due diligence and recommended the...
info_outline
Your Child's Creative Brain on AI: The Emergency Parents Don't See
Killer Innovations with Phil McKinney
University of Washington researchers discovered something that should concern every parent: children who use AI to create can no longer create without it. And here's the concerning part: most parents have absolutely no idea it's happening. If you've been following our series on Creative Thinking in the AI Age, you know I've been tracking how artificial intelligence is rewiring human creativity. We've explored the 30% decline in creative thinking among adults, the science of neuroplasticity, and practical exercises to rebuild our creative capabilities. But today's episode is different. Today,...
info_outline
Human-AI Creative Partnership: How to Harness AI While Preserving Your Innovative Edge
Killer Innovations with Phil McKinney
The most innovative creators don't use AI as a replacement – they use it as a strategic partner in a carefully choreographed dance of human and machine intelligence. Welcome to Part 4 of our series, Creative Thinking in the AI Age – on strengthening your uniquely human creativity while using AI as a partner, not a replacement. In Part 1, we explored the alarming decline in creative thinking as we've grown dependent on AI. In Part 2, we discovered how neuroplasticity allows us to rebuild and enhance our creative capabilities. And in Part 3, I gave you a practical 10-minute daily workout to...
info_outline
How to Strengthen Creative Thinking The 10-Minute Daily Brain Workout Based on Neuroplasticity Research
Killer Innovations with Phil McKinney
Humans who committed to four thinking exercises for 10 minutes daily generated 43% more original solutions than the most advanced AI systems. Welcome to Part 3 of our series, Creative Thinking in the AI Age – on strengthening your uniquely human creativity while using AI as a partner, not a replacement. In Part 1, we explored the concerning 30% decline in creative thinking as our use of AI tools has increased. In Part 2, we discovered how neuroplasticity – your brain's lifelong ability to reorganize itself – offers us a pathway to not just recover but enhance our creative abilities....
info_outline
Train Your Brain to Outthink AI Boost Creativity 40% (2025)
Killer Innovations with Phil McKinney
Harvard neuroscientists confirm: creative thinking uses neural pathways that AI can't replicate – and never will. Hello, I'm Phil McKinney, and welcome to my innovation studio. Welcome to Part 2 of our series, – on strengthening your uniquely human creativity while using AI as a partner, not a replacement. In Part 1, we explored the alarming decline in creative thinking as we've grown dependent on AI. We saw how our ability to solve complex problems without algorithmic assistance has dropped by 30% in just five years, and how this cognitive atrophy affects everyone from students to...
info_outline
Train Your Brain to Outthink AI Boost Creativity 40% (2025)
Killer Innovations with Phil McKinney
Harvard neuroscientists confirm: creative thinking uses neural pathways that AI can't replicate – and never will. Hello, I'm Phil McKinney, and welcome to my innovation studio. Welcome to Part 2 of our series, – on strengthening your uniquely human creativity while using AI as a partner, not a replacement. In Part 1, we explored the alarming decline in creative thinking as we've grown dependent on AI. We saw how our ability to solve complex problems without algorithmic assistance has dropped by 30% in just five years, and how this cognitive atrophy affects everyone from students to...
info_outline
Your Brain on AI: The Shocking Decline in Creative Thinking (2025)
Killer Innovations with Phil McKinney
Our ability to solve complex problems without AI has plummeted 30% in just five years. That's not just a statistic – it's the sound of your brain cells surrendering. We are announcing a new series we are calling – Creative Thinking in the AI Age – on strengthening your uniquely human creativity while using AI as a partner, not a replacement. Today, we will explore how AI dependency is creating a pandemic of reduced creative thinking and why this matters more than you might realize. Look around. We've all seen it – colleagues endlessly prompting AI for answers, friends asking...
info_outline
5 Questions that Unlock Breakthrough Innovation
Killer Innovations with Phil McKinney
In 2007, two designers struggling to pay rent in San Francisco had a seemingly simple thought: "What if people could rent out their spare rooms to travelers?" This question—posed by Brian Chesky and Joe Gebbia—sparked what would become , a company now valued at over $100 billion that has fundamentally reshaped how millions of people travel. The power of their question wasn't just in identifying a market gap. It challenged fundamental assumptions about hospitality, property use, and trust between strangers. It wasn't just incremental—it was transformative. And here lies the innovation...
info_outlineYour brain often lies to you about what’s possible. Success isn’t just about skills, connections, or even luck. The real differentiator is your mindset—the internal operating system that drives how you interpret challenges and opportunities. Developing a success mindset isn’t about forced positivity or empty mantras; it’s about reshaping the way your brain processes the world, making success a possibility and a consistent outcome.
The Hidden Architecture of Achievement
Consider two people with identical skills. Why does one excel while the other stagnates? The answer lies in mindset. Your success mindset determines how you approach uncertainty, learn from failures, and seize opportunities. Neuroscience confirms that beliefs shape neural pathways, influencing everything from creativity to resilience.
Mindset vs. Thinking Skills
Think of your brain as a computer. Your thinking skills—problem-solving, decision-making, planning—are like software programs. However, even the best programs falter on an outdated operating system. A success mindset is the foundational architecture that enables your thinking skills to thrive. Here’s how they differ:
- Thinking Skills:
- Solve problems and generate ideas.
- Plan strategies and make decisions.
- Mindset:
- Believes in possibilities.
- Assigns meaning to failure.
- Views personal potential as dynamic.
A robust mindset ensures your brain operates entirely, turning challenges into opportunities.
Four Game-Changing Mindsets for Success
Exceptional achievers often share four key mental frameworks. Adopting these can help you navigate challenges and unlock potential:
- The Explorer Mindset
Embrace uncertainty as a doorway to discovery. Treat confusion as a natural part of growth and ask, “What can I learn?” instead of fearing failure. - The Experimenter Mindset
View life as a series of experiments. Separate self-worth from outcomes and transform failures into valuable data for future success. - The Connector Mindset
Foster collaboration over competition. Recognize the power of diverse perspectives, and learn from the successes of others rather than comparing yourself. - The Navigator Mindset
Stay flexible in the face of challenges. Focus on progress over perfection and ask, “What’s my next best move?” to maintain momentum.
Avoiding the Silent Success Killers
As empowering mindsets propel us forward, specific patterns can silently sabotage our progress. Beware of these destructive tendencies:
- The Fortress Mindset: Over-prioritizes safety, avoiding growth opportunities.
- The Fixed Identity Mindset: Equates current abilities with permanent limitations.
- The Finite Game Mindset: Treats success as a zero-sum game, fostering scarcity thinking.
Rewiring Your Mental Operating System
The good news? My mindset remains flexible. You can rewire your brain and build a success mindset with deliberate effort:
- Map Your Current Programming:
Identify recurring beliefs about your capabilities and how you respond to setbacks. - Install New Mental Software:
Replace self-limiting thoughts with open-ended questions like, “How might this work?” - Run Regular System Updates:
Test new approaches, gather evidence that challenges limiting beliefs, and surround yourself with growth-oriented individuals.
The Compound Effect of Mindset Shifts
Minor mindset adjustments can yield massive long-term results. Like an airplane that changes its trajectory by just one degree, even slight changes in how you interpret challenges or respond to failures can lead to entirely new destinations in life.
Your Next Step
Take a moment to reflect: where do you feel stuck? What belief might be holding you back? Remember, your mindset stays flexible—it functions as software you can update. Choose your mental operating system wisely because your success mindset is the key to unlocking your true potential.