Diana Kander, New York Times Bestselling Author and Renowned Innovation Keynote Speaker
Post 1: All of the reasons not to do it. (Posted 9.9.2023) I have a big new goal I’ve been coveting, and I thought I would document my journey from the very beginning. I recently learned of the Maccabean Games or the Jewish Olympics. It is the third largest sporting event in the world, after the world … Read more
For the past 60 years the financial services industry has been booming. Since 1980, year over year growth rates tripled and large entities flourished as smaller competitors crumbled. With low interest rates and new regulations, banks grew quickly as the rest of the marketplace piggybacked off their success. Savvy and risk-averse business men and women … Read more
Many of our daily actions are habitual, meaning they are performed automatically and without conscious thought. It’s a useful way for us to save mental energy and streamline tasks that are performed frequently. These automatic actions are often based on our learning mental models, which are the assumptions, beliefs, and frameworks that we use to … Read more
I set a goal to do the splits this year. I’ve never done the splits. I’m not even close. Here’s my laughable starting photo. And yet the goal doesn’t really matter. What matters is my mental model of how I, Diana, learn to do new things. Sometimes impossible seeming things. And my real goal is … Read more
While growth only occurs in a state of curiosity, it’s equally important to acknowledge that it’s not effortless to get into a state of curiosity through the fixed mindset and a growth mindset. In fact, if we aren’t mindful about it, we can find ourselves in various states that inhibit growth: 1. Apathy or Complacency: … Read more
When it comes to life’s trajectory, most of us spotlight our wins. But what if we began viewing our growth through the lens of opportunities we consciously sidestepped? In our hustle and bustle world, almost everyone has a résumé. It’s that trusty document, detailing our proudest moments, like a passport stamping our professional journeys. But, … Read more
In my journey from a 2.5 to a 4.5 tennis player, I’ve learned a profound lesson that goes beyondthe boundaries of the tennis court: The immense value of deliberate practice. It would be easy for me to spend hours on the court, hitting ball after ball, hoping to improve.In fact, that’s how I spent my … Read more
They recognize that every excuse, no matter how valid it may seem, is a self-imposed roadblockon the path to transformative change. Rather than getting bogged down by challenges or setbacks, innovators harness them ascatalysts for creativity and adaptability. They maintain an unwavering belief in their vision for organizational growth and development, knowing that for every … Read more
Human beings hate change. All of us. When Zoom has to update right before an important call, I’m not thinking “yay! an update! I’mthinking, ah. I don’t have time for this. I just want to do my call.” And I’m an innovation expert. When Midwest express stopped serving cookies or Southwest Airlines stopped serving peanuts,I … Read more
This kind of strategic decision making is one of the top skills innovators must master. Here’s how I make the decision without letting my pride take over: Data-Driven DecisionsI insist that every project measure what I call Pivot Indicators. These are pre-defined metricsthat answer two important questions: “When will we know if it’s not working?” … Read more