Innovation and The City
I don’t remember when the idea hit me. Sometime in early July, I suppose. I found out my astro-mentors were going to be speaking at the Fast Company Innovation Festival and something in my brain whispered, “You know, you used to thrive on innovation”.
And so, after a few stops and starts and “I don’t know” moments, I found myself on the plane to NYC for the first time in at least a decade. The plan - hit a fancy astrology themed dinner at The Walker, fill my brain with all the Innovation speakers I could manage, and do some brainstorming.
As it turned out, this trip was so much more.
Let me start with the city itself. I’ve always loved NYC. The first time I visited was a summer during my time at the University of South Carolina, when my main advertising professor took a handful of us to see the big ad agencies where he had alumni working. I was immediately at ease and entranced by the hustle and bustle, the progressive mentality, the organized chaos. I loved hearing all the languages on every street corner, the dollar slices, and the way you could walk anywhere.
Fast forward and my mother and I made yearly pilgrimages (during the okay years). Her favorites were the Opera, MOMA, and the Rizzoli bookstore. Sometimes, we’d explore the city together. Other times, we’d head our separate ways and meet for our dinner reservations.
Then, I’d go for work - being called to headquarters on an annual basis to learn the changes and training for the new year. But then life happened. We had another baby. I changed jobs. And I stopped traveling for myself. Trips became family-focused, and usually included a beach.
I was a little nervous as the plane was touching down. Would I remember how to be in NYC? Had I become a dinosaur as I head into my 47th year? What was I actually doing - my only plans were with people I’d only interacted with on the phone and online.
But I got off the plane, got my luggage, and got in the car. And as soon as I saw the skyline, my soul settled in. Important factoid .. in the rest of my life, I’m a Taurus Rising (a fixed Earth sign). In NYC, that shifts to an Aquarius Rising (a fixed Air sign). And I felt it almost immediately. I’d misjudged the amount of time to get to the hotel, change out of sweats and get to dinner. Taurus Rising Adrienne would have been panicked and apologetic. Aquarius Rising Adrienne just got there when she got there. I don’t think I ever fully unpacked in my hotel room, which is something that’s usually the first order of business. I arrived at dinner, sat down with strangers, and walked away with friends.
I’ve always been more of an introvert, but having a daughter with sensory disorder plus telecommuting since 2017 and the pandemic just intensified it. But in NYC, I remembered how to talk to people. Or how to throw on my headphones and just walk. I made connections. I was authentically me. I let myself sparkle without worry of judgment or reactions. Plans shifted and morphed and I went with the flow because that’s how the city is.
And then, there was the conference. Hands down, an amazing event that I’ll try to attend again. Here’s the best way for me to sum it up for you: I was reminded of who the fuck I am.
I am innovative. I am creative. I am a certified Lean Six Sigma Black Belt, and that’s not common. I am literally certified in how to make things the best they can be.
So without further adieu, here’s a crash course from the sessions I attended:
One on One with Ted Sarandos (Co-CEO, Netflix)
Focus on your market because there is no such thing as a global market.
There are human limitations on imagining success. We often put the limit as the most successful thing we’ve seen.
History is made of singles, doubles and triples .. not just home runs.
Never is a focusing word. It’s ok to reserve the right to change your never by getting smart and rising yourself to a different location.
In case we need to do this, we need to get good at it.
People need to bring the skill set from where they were with the open-mindedness to build it differently.
Kim Rittberg’s AI Checklist
When using AI, run it through a checklist .. Does it sound like you? Do you agree with the content? Is it generic?
Unlocking your Success Archetype with the AstroTwins
What’s the point of a system if you can’t apply it?
You’re not procrastinating, you’re downloading.
Stop looking for constant results.
The Next Wave of AI Innovators: How AWS, Moderna and Whoop are Prepared for It (Colleen Aubrey from AWS Solutions, Emily Cagodflugo from Whoop, and Brad Miller from Moderna)
Think small - what simple problem are you going to solve today with this new capability?
Small focused efforts have higher impact
Start a journey with fun.
You can have an ROI mindset while letting go of tracking. Instead of spending time measuring everything little thing we’re doing, teach.
How Business are Fighting the “War on Woke” (Elizabeth Gore from Hello Alice, Russell Jackson from Reverence, and Neal Katyal from Hogan Lovells US)
“I’m damn good at what I do and I make people happy when I do”
Be smart about your vision.
Good things come out of Black Swan events.
What you see on the news is not what you see on Main Street.
Your Inventory of Courage: How to Shift from Ambiguity to Clarity with Natalie Nixon
To be an elite problem-solver, you have to be comfortable with the grey.
One on One with Issa Rae
The key is purpose-driven work
A blank page can be filled with anything; there’s freedom in throwing away trash.
It’s okay to be in the weeds when you’re building a brand.
You build credibility with your values, it’s easy to say no when things are not for you.
Would you work for you?
From Start-Ups to Scale-Ups: How to Balance Growth with Innovation (Lisa Bodell from FutureThink, Gaurav Gupta - author of Change, and Sterling Shury from Smartsheet)
How we respond to change has changed.
Where is the change coming from: a threat or an opportunity?
Change Management suggests that change is something we have to manage our way through
“When a person does something over and over expecting different results, it’s the definition of insanity. When a corporation does it, it’s called strategic leadership.”
People will work on complex things that have meaning.
Set your capacity at 80% so you have time for true work.
Get away from executing your calendar.
Find the alligator closest to the boat, and deal with that first.
The themes I heard over and over again were focused on asking questions and taking risks. The idea that projects and ideas will fail. That time is our greatest resource. That creativity takes space and collaboration.
Honestly, it’ll take me months to download everything I learned. And I’m ok with that. Step outside your comfort zone. Learn about the things that fascinate you. Invest in yourself. Onward and ever upward.