Can California Still Lead the Nation in Innovation?

Since the recession began, California's budget deficit issues and double digit unemployment rates have a lot of people wondering if the state can continue leading the nation in technology and innovation. Ask most Californians, and they will tell you they don't believe their state is quite ready to throw in the towel. In fact, their ability to innovate will not only play a role in their recovery, but in America's recovery as well.

And even though I am a Texan living on the Silicon prairie in Austin, a city with one of the lowest unemployment rates in the country, I am convinced that California will do more than their share in helping lead this country out of recession. Why am I convinced California can bounce back and provide leadership in our nation's recovery? Even when I was a young guy growing up in the fifties, I noticed that most trends began in California and didn't hit the other states for at least six months to a year. Some trends never made it to Dallas, Des Moines or Minneapolis.

Of course, if that were my only evidence, I am not sure I could convince anyone that California would be able to maintain its position as a leader in technology and innovation. First, let's talk about green industries. There's Tesla, Fisker and Better Place. These are three electric car companies that believe they can compete with the big three automakers. California leads the nation in fuel economy standards and registered clean energy vehicles. The state leads the nation in the number of Hybrids, electric cars and natural gas powered vehicles on the road.

40% of the solar roof installations in this country exist in California. Solar prices are falling every day and most of the solar companies reside in California. Companies like SunPower, BrightSource, Solar City, eSolar, Nanosolar, and Solyndra. SunPower has over 5,000 employees and builds solar panels not just for residences, but massive power plants for utilities and roof top installations for big box stores. SunPower's Richmond, California plant assembles the world's most efficient solar panels in a plant where Ford built Model A's before World War II.

The computer scientists and engineers are moving into renewable energy and combining their computer technology expertise with solar and LED technologies. eSolar is really a software application for controlling solar arrays in order to extract the maximum energy from these arrays regardless of the position of the sun. Biotech has been displacing the defense contractors in the San Diego area.

Biotech covers sectors such as Genomic medicine and photosynthetic algae technology. A number of discoveries and treatments have been developed recently through genomic medicine and they are really just scratching the surface. Photosynthetic algae technology could ultimately produce more fuel than corn, sugarcane or soy in the same space. Exxon Mobil and Synthetic Genomics are working on a $600 Million project together to develop fuel from algae.

Vinod Kosla, a co-founder of Sun Microsystems has raised $1.1 billion in venture capital to fund clean energy and biotech companies. Mr. Khosla has invested in Calera, a company working on a carbon capturing cement and Soladigm which is using semiconductor technologies to make energy efficient windows. Another of his investments is Amyris, a startup that is working on a process that will turn sugar into diesel fuel.

A major factor that puts the state on the leading edge has to do with the fact that California venture capitalists invested 43% of all the U.S. venture capital that went into high tech, biotech, renewable energy and other leading edge technology companies in 2008. They also have more scientists, engineers, marketers, lawyers, accountants and other knowledge workers than any other state in the union.

Cisco Systems, a California success that provides a significant portion of the infrastructure that powers the internet, spent millions developing their Telepresence system. Telepresence is the ultra high definition video conferencing system that has reduced the carbon footprints of large corporations that in the past found it necessary to meet with their contemporaries in person at locations around the world. One of Steven Speilberg's cinematographers helped create the feeling of intimacy in the video output. This is another example how one sector of California's economy teamed with another sector to improve the breed of both.

Generally, the little guys like to see the movie star stumble and fall into disfavor. So while the rest of America might be writing off the state governed by a former actor and body builder, folks in California are saying that the recession of 2009 is just another speed bump on the road to glory. And I, for one, would not consider counting them out just yet. You know if California were a country, it be in the G-8.

Baby Boomers represent 1 out of every 3 adults in the U.S. They control 70% of the wealth in the U.S. and spend $400 billion more annually on consumer products and services than any other generational group. Consequently, the Boomer's opinions and thoughts about the most pressing issues facing America is very important to all Americans, as well as America's business and political leaders.

What's you take on this topic? Do you think California will lead the nation out of recession?

If you are a Baby Boomer and haven't joined our community, [http://www.boomeropinion.com], please consider it. It is free and only takes a couple of minutes to sign up. You can share your viewpoint and voice your opinion on the critical issues facing America. And if we recruit enough of you, we can positively impact business and political policies around the country.

I have spent the last 25+ years in high tech marketing, sales and general management. I am a founding partner and CEO of BoomerOpinion.com. [http://www.boomeropinion.com] is an web opinion portal targeting Baby Boomers. Our mission is to be the Boomer's Voice in America. We provide polls, surveys and discussion forums on the most pressing issues facing America and issues specific to Baby Boomers. BoomerOpinion.com also offers the latest content on world and national issues as well as fresh content specific to Baby Boomers. We are challenging the Baby Boomer generation to re-engage and broadcast their opinions to America and Washington on these important issues.

Innovation Nation

For the past year we have heard much about the need for creative thinking, for new solutions to old problems and how we can navigate through the global recession. Creativity is the mental process of connecting unrelated ideas or experiences to form new ideas. Many ideas are never transformed into new products, new solutions, or new services. I am a perfect example; I have sticky notes, backs of envelopes, margins of programs, deposit slips, paper bags and yes, sometimes even regular paper filled with ideas that come to me when I least expect them. I capture every idea, observation and insight that sparks my brain and put them into an idea file because I never know which one will be the ONE that changes everything, that is the breakthrough that will make the world a better place. The late author and radio personality Earl Nightingale once said, "Ideas are like slippery fish; they have a peculiar knack for getting away from us unless we gaff them on the point of a pencil." Do I act on every new idea? No, but I do revisit the file on a regular basis to see which ideas are still viable and which ones should be discarded. The brilliant thought I have at four in the morning often dims with the light of day and reason, however it may be the stepping stone to an even better idea that will make all the difference!

Creativity alone does not guarantee innovation. Creativity involves thinking while innovation involves doing. Theodor Levitt, author and Harvard Business Review editor said it best, "A powerful new idea can kick around unused in a company for years, not because its merits are not recognized, but because nobody has assumed the responsibility for converting it from words into action. Ideas are useless unless used. The proof of their value is only in their implementation."

Start generating ideas that can be acted upon to produce innovation by implementing the following techniques.

5 WAYS TO ENCOURAGE CREATIVITY IN YOUR ORGANIZATION

1. Reduce fear of failure: If the stakes are high and success is the only goal, you can bet the most creative ideas will not be shared for fear of failing. Where there is fear there is worry, self-judgment and anxiety that will inhibit the flow of ideas. Forget about punishing failure and let the ideas flow.

2. Encourage everyone to offer ideas: The most creative people are not always the most forceful and may need encouragement to share their ideas with those they perceive as more powerful. Ideas should be allowed to flow from bottom to top not just from the leaders on down.

3. Suspend judgment: No idea is a bad idea and shooting down another's idea is not allowed. Be alert for what I call 'Killer Phrases' that squelch creativity such as, "We tried that before and it didn't work", "Why not leave well enough alone", and "If it ain't broke, don't fix it". (You can get a copy of my newest Top Killer Phrases list by emailing me at darla@darlaarni.com.)

4. Make creativity/creative thinking a habit: Pose questions and challenging statements to encourage creative thought in yourself and others. Take initiative and form a group that bounces creative ideas off of each other on a regular basis.

5. Institute an idea journal: The best ideas come to us throughout the day as we encounter frustrations with reality. I frequently find myself musing, "I wish someone would invent" and then fill in the blank with whatever it is that I need at the time. Why not write those ideas down in a journal and become the person that invents the new item, or process, or technology instead of waiting for someone else to do it for you? You will be surprised with the number of good creative ideas you generate!

By implementing these techniques you are well on your way to turning us into an Innovation Nation. Start now!

Darla shows people how creativity and personal responsibility can change the world by positively effecting perceptions, attitudes, and relationships. For additional information on Darla's presentations, consulting, and artwork or to sign up to receive her Sharing Creative Energy Newsletter, visit http://darlaarni.com