Research without strategy isn’t just inefficient, it’s risky. It can lead you in circles, waste time and budget, and worst of all, make you feel like you’re learning something when you’re not. Before you spend a dollar or schedule a single interview, take these steps:

Hiring a Director of Innovation can be a smart starting point, but here’s the mistake: too many leaders think hiring someone to “own” innovation is enough.

It’s not. And if that’s all you do, it could create more problems than progress.

I’ve helped large and small companies develop new products and services across industries based on this innovation principle. If you’re trying to create something new for customers, whether it's your next product, service, or business model, here are five best practices to guide your process to help your creativity lead to real-world business success:

Uncertain times can be scary—whether you’re leading a team or just trying to keep your job. But uncertainty doesn’t have to mean stagnation. Here are a few key strategies that can help you stay steady when the ground beneath you starts to shift.

One of the biggest reasons innovators fall short of their goals is because they don’t include failure in their financial planning. So instead of fearing failure, the best way to succeed is by planning for it. Here’s a simple process for doing that: