Sensazione is the continual refinement of the senses, sight, sound, smell, taste and touch, especially sight, as the means to enliven experience. After another mind clearing Sunday of wandering the National Gallery I picked up Michael J. Gelb’s, book How to Think Like Leonardo da Vinci, and had to smile when I discovered that Gelb is a creativity and innovation expert whose writing inspires both the innovator and everyday individuals looking to disrupt their own thinking. Ironically, it was Gelb that helped me to connect the dots on the success and growth of HeartMath LLC, a company which understood its creative potential from the very beginning. After my interview with innovator Bruce Cryer, a founding member and Global Director of HeartMath, I am certain that the concept of sensazione and understanding how to leverage time were two key ingredients to their success. Cryer explains that they started with a simple concept “when your heart is involved in what you do, things go better.” I’ll borrow a quote from author, Catherine Hrudicka who says that creativity is the, “synthesis of ideas and that we must have a vision or an intuition of a place to go, new products, innovations and business models.” What steps did HeartMath take to make it to the global market from having a great idea? Designing a product around a new understanding of how the heart and brain talk to each other is not so simple. << MORE >>

Brian Solis has it right, it is the end of business as usual, and healthcare is no exception. Has the market reality produced a new set of assumptions, emerging opportunities, or a better climate for disruptive innovation? In my interview with Jack Corrao, the managing director of the Corrao Group, he stated that the healthcare landscape is being challenged by innovations such as cloud computing, microsensor devices, and most of all, healthcare consumerism. Just as Solis wrote his book to “groom a new generation of leaders, people who want to lead and are looking for the answers and inspiration necessary to guide others into uncharted territory,” Corrao observed that there is a new generation of innovators and entrepreneurs who want and need to learn quickly how to diminish any probability of failure.<< MORE >>

When I asked Rick Lee, the CEO of Healthrageous, where his entrepreneurial roots came from, he did not give an expected answer. When I asked him about healthcare and innovation, again, he did not give an expected answer. This is why I am certain that his company is going to make a distinctive difference - he was not imitating someone else or their philosophy . Rather than quell innovation by a passive acceptance of the status quo in healthcare, his eloquent ease with questioning authority has resulted in innovation that provides a unique experience for healthcare consumers. You will enjoy this interview, because while Lee acknowledges his roots from the 60's, he clearly has crafted a well thought out company that has responded to the changing and unmet needs of the healthcare consumer. << MORE >>

Biz Stone said, "timing, perseverance, and ten years of trying will eventually make you look like an overnight success." This quote is a perfect description of Tom Lee, who shared with our listeners that his roots in healthcare business began in high school while washing dishes in an acute care facility - the business equivalent of starting in the mail room. He shares that when he was presented with the task of creating a facility from the ground up, he saw an opportunity to differentiate care delivery. Over time Tom has developed an unparalleled reputation for both timing and recognizing business entry points. As we explored the impact of social media within the healthcare landscape, he emphasized that we have moved from discussions debating the benefit of an online presence, to how that presence is controlled. << MORE >>

Where does creativity come from? According to Ken Robinson's Out of Our Minds, some people have strong abilities in many areas, music, mathematics, verbal reasoning, visual thinking and so on, and typically think of such people as Renaissance type figures. And while he explains that high ability in one area does not entail in others, he also frames creativity as not only a matter of inspiration, but that skill is involved as well. There could not be a better description of Dr. Steven Eisenberg, a board certified doctor of Internal Medicine, Medical Oncology and Hematology, who connects with his patients beyond their diagnosis of cancer, by creating and singing music for them. << MORE >>

Tom Peters said, “If a window of opportunity appears, don’t pull down the shade.” There is an abundance of information on how to run or launch a successful business, but when it comes to turning around a business, the thinking elevates to an entirely new level. Yesterday, I had the privilege of interviewing Baron Hanson, the lead consultant for Red Baron Consulting on the mindset and communication skills necessary for implementing successful business turnarounds – they have 220 successful turnarounds under their belt. When I asked if most CEO’s are cognizant that they need help, he responded with genuine insight on what keeps the C-suite and employees up at night. I think that you will find this interview full of useful and rich content, please listen and enjoy! << MORE >>

Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi, defines flow as "...being fully immersed in what he or she is doing by a feeling of energized focus, full involvement, and success in the process of activity," in other words, optimal experience, engagement and skill. This morning, I interviewed, communication expert, Jill Royston, on how she discovered the meaning of flow in a very unexpected adventure while in London. Please listen to Jill's amazing story as she encourages all of us to challenge our boundaries, be intentional and to open up to flow... << MORE >>

The key to successful leadership today is influence, not authority, Kenneth Blanchard. In my second interview with executive coach and communication expert, Jill Royston, we explore influence from the perspective of leadership communication. Jill points out that formulating what you want to achieve when first engaging, is a basic communication skill that acknowledges intention - 'it's unlikely, that if you cannot formulate, you'll be able to influence."<< MORE >>

In my blogtalkradio show this week, I had the privilege of interviewing Gunter Wessels, Ph.D., MBA, B.Sc., Partner and Health Care Practice Principal at The Total Innovation Group. He shares his communication template for navigating around emotional issues, like healthcare reform, to ultimately accomplish business goals. Gunter's strategic approach begins with understanding the mission, discerning the success metrics, follow up, and then matching up the same framework to the potential client before a conversation takes place. He provides examples of recent conversations where current legislation had the potential to disrupt the business process and how he used knowledge and expertise to redirect. I invite you to listen to a respected industry pro and thought leader provide insight on getting to the other side of the conversation.<< MORE >>

This morning, I had the pleasure of interviewing communication expert, Jill Royston, on the art of communication and authentic listening. Jill shares three key perspectives that will yield positive outcomes when communicating.<< MORE >>