John L. Janning—Innovation Strategies |
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By Mark Martel
In recent years John Janning has become a speaker on creativity, giving over 450 talks to groups like the National Management Association. He appeared in an educational video, spearheaded the Inventors Council of Dayton and taught in the Women in Engineering program at the University of Dayton. In the forward to a recent book on inventing he warned that ideas are common and possible but not all turn out to be practical. Everywhere he appears, Janning describes some of his innovation techniques, such as:
“Gonnas” don’t count
Janning says this will be the epitaph on his tombstone.
Ideas are like Belly Buttons — everybody has one
“Make something happen with your ideas — don’t expect someone else to do it for you. Too often, people want others to make their idea happen and all they want to do is cash big checks.”
Find solutions looking for problems
“Look for un-mined diamonds waiting to be unearthed. Develop an idea bank of such solutions for possible future uses.”
Dream big
“Develop a vivid imagination. All things are possible; not all things are practical; wisdom lies in knowing the difference.”
Tinker
“Take things apart and learn how they work. Get stuff free or cheap items at garage sales. You may ruin it, but what you learn will be more valuable.”
Ignore put-downs
“’Why don’t you grow up?’ Don’t pay attention to ridicule and put-downs. ‘What you want to do that for?’ If you always need a reason you may never try it.”
Think and act different
“Avoid habits that keep us from learning—always eating the same way, always dressing the same, always sitting in the same chair, etc. Learn by doing things differently. ‘No one knows where they are best suited until they try.’”
Confident persistence
“When you say ‘I can’t’ it really means ‘I won’t.’ Be like the little engine that could. It always said, ‘I think I can, I think I can.’ I did it by trying—I think I can” says Janning.
In recent years John Janning has become a speaker on creativity, giving over 450 talks to groups like the National Management Association. He appeared in an educational video, spearheaded the Inventors Council of Dayton and taught in the Women in Engineering program at the University of Dayton. In the forward to a recent book on inventing he warned that ideas are common and possible but not all turn out to be practical. Everywhere he appears, Janning describes some of his innovation techniques, such as:
“Gonnas” don’t count
Janning says this will be the epitaph on his tombstone.
Ideas are like Belly Buttons — everybody has one
“Make something happen with your ideas — don’t expect someone else to do it for you. Too often, people want others to make their idea happen and all they want to do is cash big checks.”
Find solutions looking for problems
“Look for un-mined diamonds waiting to be unearthed. Develop an idea bank of such solutions for possible future uses.”
Dream big
“Develop a vivid imagination. All things are possible; not all things are practical; wisdom lies in knowing the difference.”
Tinker
“Take things apart and learn how they work. Get stuff free or cheap items at garage sales. You may ruin it, but what you learn will be more valuable.”
Ignore put-downs
“’Why don’t you grow up?’ Don’t pay attention to ridicule and put-downs. ‘What you want to do that for?’ If you always need a reason you may never try it.”
Think and act different
“Avoid habits that keep us from learning—always eating the same way, always dressing the same, always sitting in the same chair, etc. Learn by doing things differently. ‘No one knows where they are best suited until they try.’”
Confident persistence
“When you say ‘I can’t’ it really means ‘I won’t.’ Be like the little engine that could. It always said, ‘I think I can, I think I can.’ I did it by trying—I think I can” says Janning.
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Dayton Innovation Legacy is a multimedia website and educational resource about Engineers Club of Dayton members who represent a living history of innovation for over 100 years. Dayton Innovation Legacy was made possible in part by the Ohio Humanities Council, a State affiliate of the National Endowment for the Humanities. |
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