When’s the last time you turned off your email, silenced your phone, and gave yourself the space to really brainstorm? Not just to make a to-do list, but to step back and think big—about your business, your team, your industry, or even yourself.
I recently had the opportunity to attend the Association of Chamber of Commerce Executives (ACCE) Convention in Philadelphia. While there, I heard a keynote from Steve Lerch, founder of Story Arc Consulting and former Google Executive, titled Innovation Leadership. He reminded me that innovation isn’t a lightning bolt moment — it’s something we cultivate when we create the space to think differently.
Look for Innovation Everywhere
One of Steve’s challenges was simple: stop waiting for innovation to show up fully formed and start looking for it everywhere. The best ideas often come when people feel safe sharing the random, messy, or “this might sound crazy” thoughts that usually stay unspoken. What if you asked your team for a new idea at each staff meeting? What if you invited clients or customers to share what they’d change if they could? By making curiosity part of the culture, you’ll start to see opportunities you never would have uncovered otherwise.
Prioritize Iteration and Feedback
Another one of Steve’s points that stuck with me is something I repeat to myself often: “Perfect is the enemy of done.” If I say it enough times, maybe I’ll start believing it. The truth is, not everything we try will be flawless — and that’s okay. Sometimes the goal is simply to get to Version 1 (and I will not share what version number this edit is). I encourage my team to embrace that mindset, but applying the same rule to myself is much harder. When we wait for perfect, we get stuck. That’s why carving out time to name challenges and opportunities—without rushing to solve them — is so valuable. Real brainstorming starts there: identifying what’s possible, surfacing what needs attention, and then taking the next step forward. That Version 1 allows us to try things out and gather valuable feedback, which fuels growth.
Embrace Passions, Curiosities, and Skills
We don’t show up to work as just a job title — we show up as whole people. This isn’t Severance. We all bring unique backgrounds, curiosities, and skills that may not be in our job descriptions but can shine a light on new ways to tackle challenges. Creating space for people to share those passions not only builds connection but sparks creativity. It’s that d
creativity and curiosity that encourages new ideas and growth—for your company, your employees, and you.
I appreciated Steve’s keynote—it echoed so many things I believe and emphasized the importance of curiosity, feedback, and ideation. At the same time, it was a needed reminder that perfect really does make you stuck. That’s the part I still struggle with—not the ideas themselves, but giving myself the same permission I give others to move forward without waiting for perfect. I have the privilege of working with Business and Leadership Coach Rick Lochner of RPC Leadership Associates Inc., who reminds me that perfect is the enemy of done. He also reminds me to protect and prioritize time on my calendar for all of this—brainstorming, feedback, new ideas, and strategic thinking. I often protect every meeting on my calendar with others, but the time I set aside for myself is the first thing I move. Yet that space matters. Protecting it isn’t selfish—it’s an investment in both the person and the organization.
And let’s be honest— none of this is easy. Some days it feels like you’re just trying to stay afloat, and the idea of carving out extra time for brainstorming or strategic thinking seems impossible. But that’s exactly when it matters most. I challenge you to make the space anyway—for curiosity, for feedback, and even for the “crazy” ideas. Because sometimes that one new idea or piece of feedback is exactly what gives you the momentum to keep moving forward.
I’ll close with the questions Steve challenged us with:
When was the last time you truly asked your clients and customers directly for their ideas, feedback, and fresh perspectives?
And most importantly:
When is the last time you gave yourself, your team, or your business the gift of real brainstorming?
*crafted with assistance from Chatgpt
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