Entrepreneurship is needed by everyone, from aspiring inventors to business owners.
In a new episode of eCornell’s Cornell Keynotes podcast, Richard Cahoon, a professor in Cornell’s College of Agriculture and Life Sciences, explains how we can combine the creative and analytical parts of our minds — our right and left brains — to give ideas life and longevity.
Cahoon is a well-known example of combining analytical and creative thinking to provide unexpected solutions, providing essential office supplies.
“Post-it notes were invented by chemists at 3M who were trying to develop a new adhesive, but it failed because it didn’t stick very well. If you’re looking for a really permanent, good adhesive, this is a failure.”
But now we have to take a step back, use the right side of our brain and say, wait a minute, maybe other attributes wouldn’t be a failure in other uses.
It’s exactly that level of creativity I’m talking about.”
—Richard Cahoon
In this episode we cover:
- The role of creativity in invention is as a catalyst for validation and longevity
- Left-right brain dichotomy and metacognition (thinking about your own thoughts)
- “Inventiveness Analysis” and “Failed” Inventions (e.g. Post-it® Notes)
- Combining analytical and creative thinking as an entrepreneur or intrapreneur
- Entrepreneurship in team dynamics
- Obtaining support for starting a business through angel investors and networks
- How AI will impact inventiveness and innovation
- Common mental obstacles that impede the creative process
Listen to Episode 38: Combining Right- and Left-Brain Thinking as an Inventor, Entrepreneur, and Intrapreneur:
Learn more with Cahoon’s Invention and IP Management online certificate program and eCornell’s Technology, Leadership, and Business program.
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