Fear is the single biggest barrier to creativity. Unless we're brave enough to risk looking foolish, we'll inevitably find ourselves sticking to the status quo. That fear is disabling, One of the things we need to do as business leaders is build and nurture cultures that encourage responsible risk taking so making mistakes is OK.

Creativity is not a talent; It is a skill. A talent is something you are born with. A skill is something you learn.

You can't be great at everything, but you are world-class at something. Go. Figure out what that is. It's how you win.

Institutions too often focus their energy preserving the problem to which they are a solution than to innovate their way to success.

Today, nearly every competitive advantage of the past has been commoditized. Creativity is the one thing that can't be outsourced. The one thing that can separate a company, team, or individual from the competitive set. Today, precision execution is merely the ante to play. Sustained differentiation can only come from breakthrough creativity.

Is the game plan you are currently running the most direct path to your destiny?

I admire mold-breakers. People that bust free from traditional thinking and change the game completely. Steve Jobs. Charlie Parker (jazz saxophonist). The Groupon guys. Seth Godin (author). People who dare to be different and end up creating something truly different and remarkable.