• Killer Innovations with Phil McKinney

  • Auteur(s): Phil McKinney
  • Podcast

Killer Innovations with Phil McKinney

Auteur(s): Phil McKinney
  • Résumé

  • Step into the world of relentless creativity with the Killer Innovations Podcast, hosted by Phil McKinney. Since 2005, it has carved its niche in history as the longest-running podcast. Join the community of innovators, designers, creatives, entrepreneurs, and visionaries who are constantly pushing boundaries and challenging the status quo. Discover the power of thinking differently and taking risks to achieve success. The podcast covers a wide range of topics, including innovation, technology, business, leadership, creativity, design, and more. Every episode is not just talk; it's about taking action and implementing strategies that can help you become a successful innovator. Each episode provides practical tips, real-life examples, and thought-provoking insights that will challenge your thinking and inspire you to unleash your creativity. The podcast archive: KillerInnovations.com About Phil McKinney: Phil McKinney, CTO of HP (ret) and CEO of CableLabs, has been credited with forming and leading multiple teams that FastCompany and BusinessWeek list as one of the “50 Most Innovative”. His recognition includes Vanity Fair naming him “The Innovation Guru,” MSNBC and Fox Business calling him "The Gadget Guy," and the San Jose Mercury News dubbing him the "chief seer."
    See http://philmckinney.com
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Épisodes
  • How to Think Like Nicola Tesla
    Feb 18 2025
    Picture this: A man stands in a dusty Colorado laboratory, surrounded by crackling electrical arcs illuminating the night sky. While others might flinch at the raw power, Nicola Tesla, sketching in his notebook, remains unfazed. He isn’t just observing—he’s envisioning the future of wireless energy, mentally simulating systems with perfect clarity before ever building a prototype. His thinking process wasn’t just innovative—it was revolutionary. But what if you could think like Nicola Tesla? What if you could harness his ability to see solutions before others even recognize the problem? His mental approach, built on visualization, systems thinking, and rigorous problem-solving, isn’t just for engineers—it’s a framework that can help entrepreneurs, creatives, and business leaders. The Foundation of Tesla’s Thinking Tesla’s cognitive edge rested on three powerful mental models: Mental Visualization: Unlike most inventors who relied on trial-and-error with physical prototypes, Tesla designed and tested machines entirely in his mind. Before touching a tool, he could run a full simulation of a working motor, identify flaws, and refine the design. This exemplifies aesthetic thinking, where function and form create a unified whole. Systems Thinking: Tesla never saw inventions in isolation. When he developed alternating current (AC), he wasn’t just creating a motor—he envisioned an entire power grid. This interconnected view is what modern businesses use today when designing ecosystems like Apple’s hardware-software integration. Divergent and Convergent Thinking: Tesla generated bold, out-of-the-box ideas (divergent thinking) and then rigorously tested them mentally to narrow down the best approach (convergent thinking). This allowed him to sidestep costly trial-and-error cycles that slowed other inventors. By applying these thinking methods, Tesla reshaped industries. And these same principles can transform the way you approach innovation. How Tesla Thought Through Problems Tesla didn’t just stumble upon breakthroughs—he followed a structured process that made his ideas a reality: Initial Visualization – He built a complete mental image of the problem and potential solutions before working with materials. Mental Simulation – He ran mental “experiments,” observing how his imagined designs behaved under different conditions. Systematic Refinement – Through repeated mental iterations, he perfected his designs before moving to real-world implementation. Physical Verification – Only after exhaustive mental testing would he construct the prototype, often achieving success on the first attempt. Integration Thinking – Tesla considered how his inventions fit into a broader system, ensuring long-term relevance and scalability. This process helped him develop the AC motor, wireless transmission, and even early robotics concepts—years ahead of his time. Think Like Nicola Tesla in the Modern World Tesla’s methods aren’t relics of the past—they are actively used in today’s most successful companies: Mental Prototyping – SpaceX engineers run digital simulations before building rockets, just as Tesla tested his inventions mentally. Systems Integration – Companies like Amazon don’t just launch products; they create ecosystems that work seamlessly together. Applied Visualization – Designers at companies like IDEO and Apple use mental modeling techniques to refine user experiences before creating physical prototypes. Tesla’s thinking isn’t just for scientists—it’s a powerful tool for anyone solving complex problems. Avoiding Tesla’s Pitfalls Even Tesla had his struggles. His perfectionism sometimes delayed execution, allowing competitors like Marconi to commercialize radio technology first. The lesson? Mental modeling is powerful, but at some point, you must act. Modern innovators balance deep thinking with agile execution. Companies like Toyota use minimum viable products to test ideas quickly, avoiding Tesla’s tendency to over-refine concepts without real-world validation. A Challenge: Apply Tesla’s Thinking Try this exercise: Pick an everyday object—a coffee maker or smartphone charger. Mentally Disassemble It – Close your eyes and visualize every component. How do they fit together? Run a Mental Simulation – Imagine it working. Where is energy lost? What could be improved? Reimagine It – What if it used a different power source? Could it serve another function? Share your discoveries using #TeslaThinking. You might be surprised by what you uncover. What’s Next? Next, we’ll explore Thomas Edison’s approach to innovation—how his relentless experimentation turned failure into success. While Tesla perfected ideas mentally, Edison made progress through iteration. Their contrasting methods offer valuable lessons for modern innovators. Subscribe and hit the notification bell so you don’t miss out...
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    21 min
  • Building an Innovation Studio - Part 2
    Feb 11 2025

    Ever wondered what it takes to build a space that sparks creativity and enables innovation? I've been on a journey transforming my studio from a simple podcast recording room into a full-fledged innovation workspace, and I'm excited to share the progress with you.

    Five months ago, we embarked on a complete teardown and reconstruction. While we missed our January completion target, the transformation has been remarkable. We've installed hardwood flooring (goodbye, dust allergies!), added professional-grade tool organization with Husky cabinets, and installed a suspended lighting grid that would make theater technicians proud.

    The studio now features dedicated zones for different types of creative work. There's a 3D printing station with the constantly-running Bamboo Labs X1 Carbon, professional audio and video equipment storage, and flexible workspace areas for prototyping and ideation sessions. Everything is designed to keep the floor clear and maximize the space's versatility.

    Some challenges have emerged along the way – like the unexpected acoustic effects of the hardwood flooring (hello, echo!) and the adventure of hoisting heavy tool cabinets above the garage with a man lift (don't tell my wife!). We're still working on sound suppression solutions and evaluating options for a collaboration display wall.

    Want to see how it all comes together? Check out the full video tour where I dive into the details of each upgrade and share the thinking behind the design decisions. You'll get an inside look at the professional-grade lighting grid installation, the cable management solutions, and even some fresh 3D prints hot off the printer.

    If you're interested in innovation, making, or creating your own creative workspace, consider supporting the channel by becoming a member. You'll get exclusive content, live stream invites, and early access to videos. Plus, you might even get a chance to collaborate on prototyping your own ideas in the studio.

    Subscribe and join me on this journey of creation and innovation.

    Become a member on:

    YouTube Members: https://www.youtube.com/@PhilMcKinney

    Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/philmckinney

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    17 min
  • The 90-Second Rule
    Feb 4 2025

    Ever wondered why simple decisions feel like defusing a bomb? In this week's episode, we unpack the 90-Second Rule – a game-changing approach to conquering decision paralysis that's transforming how top performers work.

    Did you know you lose an average of 37 minutes overthinking each important decision? Multiply that by dozens of decisions per day, and you're wasting weeks of your life each year to mental paralysis. But what if you could make better decisions in just 90 seconds?

    We dive deep into the neuroscience of decision-making, revealing why your brain treats choosing lunch like it's choosing a career path. You'll discover the surprising link between decision fatigue and poor choices, and learn a counter-intuitive technique used by successful leaders to make faster, better decisions.

    Plus, we'll show you exactly how to implement this system in your daily life, with real examples from work, creative projects, and personal situations.

    Ready to transform your decision-making? Our member community gets access to the complete decision-making toolkit, including:

    Monthly Q&A sessions

    Decision-making templates

    Priority topic requests

    Behind-the-scenes content

    Support the creation of more science-backed productivity content by joining us on Patreon at [LINK] Your membership helps us continue bringing you strategies that actually work.

    Listen now to stop overthinking and start

    doing. 🎧

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    14 min

Ce que les auditeurs disent de Killer Innovations with Phil McKinney

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