Goal Setting

True innovation often stems from enhancing existing ideas rather than starting from zero. Take 'The Toaster Project,' for instance, which demonstrated the complexity behind seemingly simple modern inventions. Just as feathers evolved from scales and the Wright brothers refined gliders into airplanes, small improvements can lead to significant advancements. Building on proven concepts minimizes risk and encourages sustainability.

It's crucial to understand the interplay of various components within a system. By concentrating on incremental improvements and learning from nature and successful business practices, we can develop robust, innovative solutions. These principles apply broadly and can transform how we approach problem-solving and growth.

The Toaster Project

Despite early progress, Thomas Thwaites' 'The Toaster Project' hit major roadblocks, especially when it came to sourcing crude oil for the plastic casing. Thwaites reached out to BP for crude oil, but they turned him down, putting him in a tight spot.

Without crude oil, he had to improvise. He opted to melt down old plastic scraps to make the casing, showing real ingenuity. However, the final product was far from ideal. The toaster ended up looking like a melted cake, underscoring the immense challenges of recreating modern technology from basic materials.

This project highlighted the complexities and interdependencies of everyday objects, revealing just how tough it is to produce them from scratch.

Don't Start From Scratch

Don't Start From Scratch

The challenges faced in The Toaster Project highlight a key lesson in innovation: starting from scratch is often … Read the rest

The Creative Process Behind Innovation

Innovation starts with a creative mind noticing problems and finding unique ways to address them. Take Frederic Eugene Ives as an example. He changed the printing industry by inventing the halftone printing process in 1881. This method turned expensive, slow photoengraving into a quick, cost-effective technique. His journey followed key stages: learning, thinking deeply, having that 'aha!' moment, and then refining the idea.

This creative process is not exclusive to printing; it can drive change in various fields, from technology to healthcare. By adopting this approach, you can develop impactful solutions and achieve significant advancements in any area you are passionate about.

Quote:

'Innovation is about seeing the world not as it is, but as it could be.' – Steven Banks

By following this blueprint, you can make a meaningful difference in your chosen field.

Identifying the Problem

In the 1870s, the printing industry encountered major difficulties in producing high-quality images efficiently and at a reasonable cost. Newspapers and printers struggled with the limitations of photoengraving, a method that was both slow and expensive.

This process depended on hand-etched steel plates, which frequently broke, further increasing costs and delays. This inefficient method made it hard for the industry to keep up with the growing demand for images in print media.

Newspapers needed a more efficient solution to improve their visual content without facing prohibitive expenses. Finding a solution required innovative thinking and a new approach to image reproduction, paving the way for future … Read the rest

When it comes to the subject of diecast model cars, there’s not much more important than the matter of scale. There seems to be a bewildering number of choices when it comes to this subject and it can be very confusing for anyone who is starting to think about collecting them or buying one as a gift for a loved one. That’s why I thought I would try and clear things up a little with my handy guide to scale – what it means and how it affects detail and pricing etc. Enjoy.

So lets start by considering the different Scales

Let’s start with a definition: Scale ( skal ) n. –

A proportion used in determining the dimensional relationship of a representation to that which it represents ( Answers.com )

Diecast cars come in many different scales from small 1:64 scale models to large 1:12 scale models. Often you will see scale denoted in different ways. The most common two ways are using the forward slash ” / ” and the colon ” : ” We will use them interchangeably in this article. Scale is a fractional representation of the size of a model in comparison with the real car. So, a 1:18 scale diecast car for example will be 1/18th the size of a real car. Every 18 inches of the real car will be represented by 1 inch of a scale diecast car.

The easiest way to visualize this is through an example. Using a 1/18 … Read the rest

Unlike the good old days where you had to stick to the already tested and proven ways of cooking, people from different cultures can now share new and adventurous fish and seafood recipes across different platforms. This is proof that globalization and technological advancement is not only good for massive businesses that drive the world economy, but also for the simpler, yet essential dining experiences of us, everyday folks. Think of how an Indian woman can easily discover a new way of cooking her tuna, and then share the same experience with her neighbors. Before long, if her recipe mesmerizes the taste buds of diners in her local community (and online communities of course), it soon finds its way into local hotels and later into kitchens preparing and cooking international cuisine. I love to cook but I insist on the freshest, best quality ingredients – especially when it comes to seafood. That’s why I always source from the good people at Maresca Fish – please check out their website for details.

The internet is, naturally, the best place to find different and fascinating fish and seafood recipes. Typing the right keywords into any search engine will, almost definitely return numerous search results. As every chef who uses the internet to find recipes knows, not every recipe will appeal to everyone’s tastes. Because of this chefs always ask some of their colleagues to taste and comment on their new recipes before serving it up to their clients. If you are cooking … Read the rest