The Idea Hunter

April 1, 2011
With journalist William Boles assistance, academics Andy Boynton and Bill Fischer set forth their thesis that outstanding business ideas do not come from creative and brilliant people but from those who are always looking for new ideas that are already in the marketplace, just waiting to be found. They cite many examples of idea hunters, including Thomas Edison, Sam Walton, and Twyla Tharp. They describe the principles of idea hunting, which are I ( interested, reading widely, sharing ideas through conversations, curious with an abiding interest in all matters relating to the job), D (diverse, seeking and learning from many different sources, thinking broadly and creatively), E (exercised, searching for ideas habitually and continually, being immersed both inside and outside their fields), and A (agile, setting in motion an idea and letting it develop in combination with other ideas). Boynton and Fischer contend, Breakaway ideas come to those who are in the habit of looking for them. Thought-provoking and interesting.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2011, American Library Association.)