Synopses & Reviews
Slingshot explores the connection between systematic creativity and smart strategy. What if you could reignite your childhood creativity in a systematic way, to overstep self-imposed limitations and to discover what you are really capable of achieving? It's all here at your fingertips. Defy conventional wisdom and give reign to your imagination for success in your business and your life. Continuous innovation is both necessary and exhilarating, and we all possess the inner capacity for it. Our capacity has simply been buried and lays dormant within us. As children, our imagination knew no boundaries. We would grab a slingshot and be instantly transformed into a warrior, a spy, a huntress, or protector of treasure. But as we grew older, our intellectual comfort zone shifted from that of continuous exploration and inquisitiveness to that of conformity with accepted norms of perception. All is not lost, however. We just need the right framework to re-engage our youthful creativity: the Slingshot Framework. Find out why you need to infatuate your target audience and to provide them continuous lifestyle enrichment; how to become market-driving and to shape your offering for broadest relevance; and how to channel your reclaimed creativity into smart strategy. Launch yourself to new business and personal heights and have fun doing it. Re-enforcing the book's message, brilliant illustrations by children accompany the text from beginning to end, while original music and toy slingshots (accessible via www.slingshotliving.com ) provide readers with a truly multi-sensory experience.
Review
"Slingshot is a great exploration of how to be great in the world!" —Jeff Hayzlett, former CMO of Eastman-Kodak, change agent and marketing authority, author of The Mirror Test "I am really drawn to Slingshot." —Sir Ken Robinson, leading global expert on education and creativity, best-selling author "An uplifting and universal blueprint for inventive thinking." —Chip Conley, founder and executive chairman of Joie de Vivre, second largest boutique hotel company in the U.S., acclaimed author "This book helps us unleash the vast potential of regained creativity and apply it in business, art, and other pursuits of our adult life." —Erno Rubik, inventor of the Rubik's Cube (the world's best-selling toy) "Slingshot is like looking at things through the other end of a telescope." —Dave Stewart, legendary musician and fearless innovator "Slingshot opens up possibilities - no preconceptions, no boundaries." —Jonathan Hornby, director of worldwide marketing, SAS (voted America's best company to work for) "Slingshot helps to understand how much you need to find new solutions." —Barbara Kuit, co-architect of the world's tallest tower "This is a rare book. Playful yet informed, creative and proven." —Rob Bell, spiritual pioneer and best-selling author, on TIME's "100 Most Influential People" list "Slingshot enables the critical link between creativity and effective application." —Dudley 'Tal' Stokes, 4-time Olympian, founding member of the Jamaican Bobsled Team, entrepreneur "I love defying conventional wisdom. Great spirit to this book." —Richard Lobel, executive vice president, CBS Radio "The concepts of Slingshot come at a time when we must learn to re-tap our imaginations!" —Evan Farmer, visionary artist and television personality
Synopsis
It may be hard to believe, but all of us were children once. And as children, we all experienced the sense of elation and accomplishment from inventing our own games - making use of random props and terrain to choreograph a customized pastime that was a blast to play. There was virtually no limit to what we could play and where. So what if we could re-ignite our childhood creativity, and de-construct our realm of acquired assumptions in the process? It would not only be disarmingly fun, but deeply meaningful in guiding our strategic thinking. Continuous innovation is both necessary and exhilarating, and we all possess the inner capacity for it. Our capacity has simply been buried and lays dormant within us. As children, our imagination knew no boundaries. We would grab a slingshot and be instantly transformed into a warrior, a spy, a huntress, or protector of treasure. But as we grew older, our imagination was gradually reigned in, and our thinking eventually settled within the accepted boundaries of conventionality. It seems that our intellectual comfort zone has shifted from that of continuous exploration and inquisitiveness to that of conformity with accepted norms of adult perception. All is not lost, however. We just need the right framework to re-engage our childhood creativity:
the Slingshot Framework. . Re-enforcing the books message, wonderful children illustrations accompany the text from beginning to end, while original music, toy slingshots and interactive forums (accessible via the books website) provide readers with a truly multi-sensory experience.
Synopsis
A Slingshot is a fitting symbol of our childhood playfulness and lost, yet recoverable creativity. And by its very mechanics, it represents the power of unconventional thinking.. The intrernationally acclaimed proponent of Blue Ocean Strategies, Gabor George Burt takes the next step in his quest to draw business leaders out of their existing space into new frontiers.
Synopsis
As children, we all experienced the sense of elation and accomplishment from inventing our own games – making use of random props and terrain to choreograph a customized pastime that was a blast to play. There was virtually no limit to what we could play and where. So, what if we could re ignite our childhood creativity, and de construct our realm of acquired assumptions in the process? It would not only be disarmingly fun, but deeply meaningful in guiding our strategic thinking. Continuous innovation is both necessary and exhilarating, and we all possess the inner capacity for it. Our capacity has simply been buried and lays dormant within us. Slingshot will enjoy a wide audience and become a lasting hit in the tradition of Blue Ocean Strategy which preceded it. But much more, the book is positioned to be a cultural phenomena, as its message and style has universal and immediate relevance to all aspect of society, from business, to education, politics, and entertainment – as evidenced by the broad audience of the author’s nationally broadcast, influential radio show. (see www.slingshotliving.com )
About the Author
Gabor George Burt was born in Budapest, Hungary. He holds a BA degree from Amherst College in psychology as well as an MBA degree from INSEAD, France. Between 1990 and 2000 Mr. Burt returned to Hungary as a founding member of Citibanks first regional team involved in privatizations, then went on to establish and run a software company. During this period he was able to partake in the extraordinary transformation of Eastern Europe to democracy and market economy. Over the past decade, Gabor has gained international recognition in the management world as a pioneer in the strategic perspective of Defying Conventional Wisdom, as well as a leading expert on Blue Ocean Strategy, a framework that transforms unconventional ideas into successful strategies. Mr. Burt is the chief architect of the Immersive Executive Experience series, an exclusive forum for adventurous learning. He is actively involved in shaping strategy for a diverse group of international clients spanning from Fortune 500 firms to successful start-ups, as well as in applying DCW and BOS principles through his own initiatives. The main source of inspiration for this book was Mr. Burts diverse experience as strategist, business developer, host, and provocateur. Mr. Burt writes articles for leading business publications, has been featured in the book ‘Radical Action for Radical Times, contributed the story for one of the case-studies in the best-selling book ‘Blue Ocean Strategy, and is the author of the upcoming book ‘Appetizers of Wit and Wisdom, a collection of comic anecdotes and provocative observations. In addition, Mr. Burts website (CreatingBlueOceans.com) has been selected as one of the world's top blog resources on the topic of innovation
Table of Contents
TABLE of CONTENTS Introduction I. We Can Get No Satisfaction II. Lifestyle Enrichment a la Carte III. Defying Conventional Wisdom IV. Accordion Charts V. Creating Blue Oceans VI. The Proof of the Pudding: Case-Studies Appendix I: Radical Ideas Appendix II: Useful Habits and Grownup Toys Resources & Index