The Proximity Paradox, Kiirsten May
The Proximity Paradox, Kiirsten May
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The Proximity Paradox
How to Create Distance from Business as Usual and Do Something Truly Innovative

Author: Kiirsten May, Alex Varricchio

Narrator: Stephen Bowlby

Unabridged: 5 hr 26 min

Format: Digital Audiobook Download

Publisher: Ascent Audio

Published: 04/28/2020


Synopsis

You're too close to your business, and it's killing your creativity

Traditional business structures love stability and predictability. Yet many organizations believe the two essential ingredients for long-term success are creativity and innovation. Kiirsten May and Alex Varricchio, founders of the marketing agency UpHouse, call the relationship between these two opposing expectations the Proximity Paradox™—the belief that those who are closest to a subject are best-qualified to innovate for it, when, in reality, intense proximity limits creativity. Instead, people need to create distance from challenges in order to see the best way forward. May and Varricchio believe that until we can separate innovation and execution within ourselves, we will only innovate to the level at which we can execute the idea. To be effective, we need to create distance between our innovation brain and our execution brain.

Unpacking ten common Proximity Paradoxes that affect a company's people, processes, and industry, the authors share some practical ideas to create the distance necessary for your next great idea. An especially valuable book for creatives, and non-creatives in creative industries, but equally applicable to all businesses that depend on innovation.

Reviews

Goodreads review by Larissa on January 30, 2021

This book is a fantastic resource and one I know I will come back to time and time again. It’s a quick read, full of well-researched case studies and super valuable nudges and exercises to shift your perspective. I read it once as a manager of an internal marketing team, and once as an entrepreneur/......more

Goodreads review by Jordan on January 15, 2021

This is such a refreshing read and highly recommended for anyone in the marketing and creative industry. This book provides tips and ideas on how to step back and think unconventionally that will truly help innovate. I found myself relating to this book quite a bit and will start putting these ideas......more

Goodreads review by Wendy on February 05, 2023

Insightful. Relevant. Challenges out-of-the-box thinking needed to be innovative and not get stuck in the proverbial creative rutt. Great, practical examples to try now and implement into your creative practice. Easy read. Definitely recommend. Now if someone would only kindly remind me how I came a......more

Goodreads review by Josee on February 02, 2020

I was attracted to The Proximity Paradox by Alex Varricchio and Kiirsten May because I work in a university’s research and innovation division and the book’s subtitle is: How to create distance from business as usual and do something truly innovative. The Proximity Paradox is an easy and fast read. T......more