This is The Edge Of Innovation, a business weblog for entrepreneurs. Curated by the folks at New Methods.

Lifestyle Articles

There's No Escaping It

Reading books is one of the best ways to invest your time. But as a busy entrepreneur, you probably don’t often find the time to sit down and read.

And a common cure is to turn your commute, trips, and other adventures into a mobile library. In other words, audiobooks.

But the problem with the traditional audiobook is two-fold. They’re on CD’s, which isn’t the most preferred format these days. And more importantly, they are expensive. Often over thirty bucks an audiobook. Yikes!

What if I told you there was a better way to consume a book?

Well I am…
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Testing

I despise most networking events.

Of the countless networking opportunities I’ve been invited to, I oftentimes decline. Mostly because they are at the crack of dawn and require me to use a handful of alarm clocks to successfully wake up… Only to meet a bunch of self-serving business people.

But when I do take the plunge and attend networking events, it’s for one main reason:

Experimenting with Interactions

Where else can you go into a room filled with dozens of business people, all wanting something from you?

Whether it be to give you their business card or sell you something, most people’s intentions at networking events are egocentric. And this makes them perfect guinea pigs for testing business interactions, communication techniques and a multitude of other people skills.
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Chalkboard Tray

As we settle into this second decade of the 21st century, our world is rapidly changing. Moore’s Law, which states technology doubles every 18 months, is fostering an exponential growth in the way we conduct business and live our lives. Or so it seems…

We can video chat with a business colleague in Japan via Skype, effectively creating a global business landscape.

We can track the exact distance and how many calories burned during our last run via a smartphone app, signifying our growing integration of technology into our everyday lives.

But what notable changes have we seen in the world of education? In our pedagogic foundation for which our entire lives are based?

America’s Population of Products

Our industrial-age mindset still holds prevalent when thinking about learning. That we are nothing but products on a factory line. And after 18 or so years of systematic construction we are sent out into the world, a “finished product.”

“Intellectual growth should commence at birth and cease only at death.”
- Albert Einstein

However, this age-old mentality doesn’t work anymore. If you truly want to stay on the top of the education hierarchy, there must be a smarter way to learn. And it shouldn’t be generically designed for you by someone else who thinks they know what’s best. There’s got to be a revamp of our frame of mind towards educational design.
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I'm on a Boat!

I'm on a Boat!

I remember this vividly: It was the summer of 1994. I was 8 years old. And my Dad and I were out fishing during a weekday.

I asked a simple question from my young inquisitive mind. And his answer was the catalyst for why I’m typing this outdoors from a cedar lawn chair at 1:30 on a Friday afternoon.

As I watched him put a minnow on my hook, we had a 30 second chat that changed my life forever…

“Why aren’t you working?” I ask.

“Because I own a business,” he replies.

“But don’t you have to work?”

“Yes, but my business is still running and I choose when I work”

“So this is how you can go fishing with me right now?”

And with a big smile he says, “Yes, buddy.”
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There is a Sun in Every Flower

When was the last time you hopped out of bed, excited for the day to begin? To wake up with a smile on your face, knowing you have the chance to improve the lives of others around you? For most, it’s been far too long. And for some, it’s a daily routine.

But why is this?

In the history of the world, it’s never been easier to do what you love. To work where you want, when you want, if you want. And create remarkable lives for you and your loved ones. But it’s only possible with a passion for what you do.

The Hard Truth

Your passion takes money. It’s true. Those who say money isn’t everything, hasn’t lived without it for long. I’ve had days I was unsure if I’d be able to eat while praying my cell-phone isn’t disconnected and hoping that my last pair of jeans didn’t rip further beyond repair. Trust me, money is a necessity.

Don’t get me wrong, money does not cause success nor happiness. Money is simply the gateway to doing what you love. It creates the ability to help others, to travel the world, to support your favorite charity or whatever else you dream of doing.
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