If you stand for great service, low prices, superb quality, stylish design and environmental friendliness, you actually stand for nothing.

Fear is the single biggest blocker of creativity.

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.

In 2008 we suffered an economic catastrophe, and the rules of the game fundamentally changed forever. A few years ago, you might hear a leader talking about doing things "the way we've always done it." No more. Today, nearly every industry is in the midst of massive upheaval. Today, we live in a world of dizzying speed, exponential complexity, and ruthless competition. Leaders today realize they need to innovate, and their chief concerns now focus on fostering creative and innovation within their organizations.

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

Ask yourself this: If there was zero chance of failure, what would you do? Now, go do that.

It's better to over-pay for A-level talent early on, even if you can't afford it. They will drive exponential value and help you win faster.