The Idea Hunter: How to Find the Best Ideas and Make them Happen

Andy Boynton, Bill Fischer

John Wiley & Sons, Apr 26, 2011 - Business & Economics - 192 pages

A different way of discovering and developing the best business ideas

Jack Welch once said, "Someone, somewhere has a better idea." In this myth-busting book, the authors reveal that great business ideas do not spring from innate creativity, or necessarily from the brilliant minds of people. Rather, great ideas come to those who are in the habit of looking for great ideas all around them, all the time. Too often, people fall into the trap of thinking that the only worthwhile idea is a thoroughly original one. Idea Hunters know better. They understand that valuable ideas are already out there, waiting to be found - and not just in the usual places.

• Shows how to expand your capacity to find and develop winning business ideas
• Explains why ideas are a critical asset for every manager and professional, not just for those who do "creative"
• Reveals how to seek out and select the ideas that best serve your purposes and goals and define who you are, as a professional
• Offers practical tips on how to master the everyday habits of an Idea Hunter, which include cultivating great conversations

The book is filled with illustrative accounts of successful Idea Hunters and stories from thriving "idea" companies. Warren Buffet, Walt Disney, Thomas Edison, Mary Kay Ash, Twitter, and Pixar Animation Studios are among the many profiled.

Contents

• Know Your Gig: 11
• The IDEA Principles: 23
• DIVERSE: 45
• THE IS AND TS: 65
• Mastering the Habits of the Hunt: 71
• ASSEMBLING: 91
• AGILE: 99
• Create Great Conversations: 129
• oreau and the IDEA Assessment: 143
• References: 151
• Acknowledgments: 161
• Index: 167

About the author

ANDY BOYNTON IS THE DEAN of the Carroll School of Management at Boston College. He was a professor of strategic leadership at IMD (International Institute for Management Development) in Lausanne, Switzerland, where he created and directed the school’s highly-rated global Executive MBA program.

BILL FISCHER IS A PROFESSOR at IMD. He previously served as dean and president of the China-Europe International Business School, a joint venture of the European Union and Chinese government, in Shanghai, China.

WILLIAM BOLE IS A JOURNALIST and a research fellow of the Winston Center for Leadership and Ethics at Boston College.

Bibliographic information

• Title: The Idea Hunter: How to Find the Best Ideas and Make them Happen; Business book summary
• Authors: Andy Boynton, Bill Fischer
• Contributor: William Bole
• Edition: illustrated
• Publisher: John Wiley & Sons, 2011
• ISBN: 0470767766, 9780470767764
• Length: 192 pages
• Subjects: Business & Economics / General; Business & Economics / Management