Posts by Deborah Mills-Scofield
How Big is Your Comfort Zone?
I’ve been thinking about comfort zones. Most of the discussion makes it seem like comfort zones are static. They’re not. We can decide if our comfort zones…
Read MoreThe Lego Kit of Life (by Design)
What if I said that life was a set of Lego® bricks ~ all sorts of sizes, shapes, colors with a few bricks fixed together, unbreakable, but mot of them easily taken apart and rearranged? If you’re like me, you love (yup, you still do, face it!) playing, building, creating with lego (that’s why I hang out with engineers and makers).
Read MoreTrust Trumps Everything
A series of personal innovation stories from a new book by Luis Solis, “Innovation Alchemists: what every CEO needs to know to hire the right Chief Innovation Officer”. Today’s chapter comes from Deb Mills-Scofield, an innovator, entrepreneur and non-traditional strategist…
Read MoreThe Slippery Slope of Not Asking Why
I’d like to think I’m good at challenging the status quo. To get regular reality checks, I spend time with college kids creating for-profit and not-for-profit businesses aimed at solving wicked problems. They truly challenge the status quo and it is, fortunately, invigoratingly contagious.
Read MoreThe Truth About Your Network
Deborah Mills-Scofield live on disrupting your network. Deb recently challenged audiences at 2013 Business Innovation Factory’s 9th annual summit (BIF9), and also at the UnleashWD Innovation Summit 2013, on one of her favorite topics: networking (and survival).
Read MoreInvesting in Innovation: A Venture Capital POV
Take a look at most VC pitches and usually more slides are on the technology and functionality than sales and marketing. Take a look at most ‘use of funds’ and most of the money goes to product development, with not that much towards sales and marketing.
Read MoreIf You Aren't Scared, You Aren't Leading
Do you find leadership daunting? Even scary? I do. Frankly, I think we should. Leading others carries a huge responsibility. It is not for the faint of heart, for those afraid of being wrong, for those who want comfort and stability, or for those who need external affirmation.
Read MoreEntrepreneurs Define Risk Differently
Most people think entrepreneurs are willing to take on more risk than the average person. I’ve often wondered if that’s really true. After almost three decades of working with large corporations and entrepreneurs, I’ve developed a theory.
Read MoreInnovation: a Case for Entitlement (really!)
Well, I’d like to challenge orthodoxy and make the case for entitlement as a necessary ingredient for innovation, not a necessary evil. Let me explain…Here are just a few examples, though it’s hard to pick:
Read MoreEvery Business Is (Or Should Be) a Social Business
I believe the distinction between social and non-social business is a false dichotomy. And yet, it’s one we continually want to make. We talk about “social businesses” — those that are mission-led and focused on creating positive social change — and “non-social businesses” — those that focus on revenue and profit.
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