creativity – leadership dots

leadership dot #4929: amplify

April 18, 2026April 17, 2026by leadership dots by dr. beth triplettLeave a comment

Ever wonder if anything good came from COVID? Well, here’s something that did.

During the pandemic, artist Hercule VanWolfwinkle drew some silly pet portraits and shared them with his mates on social media. It was designed to make them smile during a dark time, and he thought it would be the end of it.

But it wasn’t. Demonstrating the best of what social media can do, the drawings spread — and spread. He decided to accept donations for his drawings to support two charities that serve the homeless and their pets, setting an ambitious goal of 299 pounds. He has now raised 500,000 pounds from 30,000 donors and has received 80,000 portrait requests, all from “rubbish” drawings he shared just to bring a laugh to some friends.

Never underestimate the difference one person can make. Social media can amplify the good as well as the bad and help people turn “a jokey comment” into a major fundraising effort. What can you do with it?

Screenshot from Pet Portraits by Hercule

leadership dot #4923: pedal power

April 12, 2026April 10, 2026by leadership dots by dr. beth triplettLeave a comment

If you want efficient movement through the streets of New York City, using a truck isn’t the way to do it. So, rather than use the same delivery system that they use elsewhere in the country, Amazon developed an e-bike delivery vehicle to navigate the crowded streets of the Big Apple.

It would have been easy for them to say that delivery times were delayed due to ongoing congestion, but instead they acknowledged the issue and came up with a creative solution.

Do you insist on staying with the same tried-and-true system that works for most, or are you open to considering new options to address micro-needs? One size does not fit all.

Thanks, Amy!

leadership dot #4898: not lofty

March 17, 2026March 13, 2026by leadership dots by dr. beth triplett1 Comment

The people of Minneapolis have done creative, amazing things to show their peaceful opposition to the ICE invasion of their town: luminaries on the lake spelling ICE OUT to be seen as planes fly over, projected messages on water towers, protest signs sent sledding down hills, coordinated warning networks, organized helping brigades, and, of course, their mass demonstrations and marches. I hope the city wins the Nobel Peace Prize.

But being a helper doesn’t have to be lofty. An acupuncturist’s office distributed “Community Resource Packets” in different languages. These kits were packaged in a sandwich bag and included: a sample ICE Warrant vs. a Court Judicial Warrant, highlighting what to look for; an outline of your Constitutional Rights if an immigration agent is knocking; a Don’t Tread on Us sticker; and a 3-D printed heart-shaped whistle. Nothing fancy, but useful and practical tools for these extraordinary times.

On an episode of The West Wing, Danny Concannon tells C.J., “Don’t get hypnotized by complexity; make it count.” He was urging her to take advantage of the remaining months of Bartlet’s presidency to pass legislation, but I think it applies to any problem that seems overwhelming. Make your kits in a plastic bag and just get them out there.

Thanks, Amy!

leadership dot #4889: occupy

March 8, 2026March 6, 2026by leadership dots by dr. beth triplettLeave a comment

This isn’t in Las Vegas — but it should be!

A casino in Venice turned the baggage carousel into a giant roulette wheel, allowing passengers to guess where their luggage would land. Not only did it immediately immerse travelers in the city’s gaming culture, but it occupied their minds during that interminable wait for their suitcases.

What can your organization do to make waiting time less like wasting time? Can you add a video, televisions, games, or other mind-occupying tactics to help the time pass more quickly? Bonus if you’re like Venice and can tie it to your brand. The carousel roulette is a winner!

Screenshot

leadership dot #4887: sphere

March 6, 2026March 5, 2026by leadership dots by dr. beth triplettLeave a comment

I went to Las Vegas specifically to see the Sphere—the newest entertainment venue on the Strip. This place is unlike anything I have ever seen: massive beyond words, the ultimate in high-tech, and a perfect place to see a concert.

The Sphere has the largest screen in the world — 160,000 square feet, floor to ceiling, side to side, all at 16K resolution. It has 167,000 speakers, so advanced that they can focus different languages to different sections of the venue! The outside is a show in itself, with 1.2 million lights, continuously displaying different patterns and videos. (Even the Eagles commented on the quality of the venue, and if you know anything about bands, they are never happy with the facilities or sound.)

Because the scale is so massive, the visuals at the Sphere must be filmed with a special “Big Sky” camera to achieve crisp resolution on a screen that size. Consequently, they needed to build a smaller “Sphere Studio” in Burbank, one-quarter scale of the Sphere, to create and test videos before bringing them to the giant Sphere screen.

I like the idea of having a separate space for experimentation. There are organizations that have off-site innovation labs, test kitchens, theater workshops, or proving grounds that allow them to create outside the constraints of doing so in public. Like the Sphere, this freedom allows them to think bigger (literally) and produce outcomes that likely would not be possible otherwise.

What can you do to pilot new offerings offline, relieving some of the pressure of a “live” setting where the cost of failure is higher? The sphere of possibilities is limitless if you give your team freedom to dream big.

leadership dot #4872: archetypes

February 19, 2026February 18, 2026by leadership dots by dr. beth triplettLeave a comment

As part of my class on change, I had my students take the Innovation Assessment by Jeremy Gutsche. The instrument identifies your primary and secondary innovation traits and shares strengths that you can use to accelerate your creativity.

I like it because it also highlights the traps and gaps that correspond to them and becomes a guide to forecast blind spots that may hinder your innovation.

Many self-assessments focus only on the positive aspects of your traits, but in reality, every characteristic has a downside. Being too cautious causes people to miss out on opportunities. Being too loyal can blind you to others’ faults. Being too risky can turn into recklessness. Being too nice can lead to people taking advantage of you. Being too curious can cause you to be distracted.

Some of my students were frustrated by the questions in the assessment, and others were dismayed with their results (hoping they were “more creative”), but all agreed it was a worthwhile exercise that got them thinking. There is no “wrong” kind of creative, and becoming more self-aware is always a good thing. I’m not on the “willing to destroy” end of the innovation spectrum, but the world needs those of us on the “disciplined” axis, too.

Take the (free) assessment here and learn something about your innovation archetype today. The knowledge may help you better handle the constant change we face.

Screenshot from Innovation Assessment referenced in *Create the Future* by Jeremy Gutsche, 2020

leadership dot #4867: puppygrams

February 14, 2026February 13, 2026by leadership dots by dr. beth triplettLeave a comment

It’s hard for people to resist cooing over a puppy — let alone an entire litter of them. That’s one of the Valentine’s Day options where people can make a (hefty) donation and have a 20-minute snugglefest in their office or organization. There are also options for “a couple o’ pups” or even one puppy to make an individual visit. Sign me up!

The “Puppygrams” are a fundraiser for One Tail at a Time (in Chicago), a nonprofit pet rescue organization. It’s a perfect fit for their organization — in addition to securing donations, the service helps them raise awareness and perhaps even spur an adoption or two. And they have the pups, so no financial outlay is required beyond gas for the visits.

There is also a tongue-in-cheek option to donate $10 for those who want to have an anti-Valentine. One Tail writes: “Times are tough. We might as well turn those less-than-lovey feelings into something meaningful. We’ll write the name of whoever or whatever is giving you the ick these days on a bag of dog poop or in a cat litter box. It’s a small, silly act with a big impact for rescue pets.” Again, a no-cost fundraiser for them.

Take a lesson from One Tail and craft a fundraiser that actually raises funds, rather than pre-spending the proceeds to raise the money. Happy Valentine’s Day!

Thanks, Meg!

leadership dot #4855: empowerment

February 2, 2026January 30, 2026by leadership dots by dr. beth triplettLeave a comment

When design student Veronika Scott was challenged to create a product that filled a need, she designed a coat that could transform into a sleeping bag to help the homeless. She won an international award for her creation, but more importantly, worked to bring the product to life.

Veronika created a nonprofit, the Empowerment Plan, and hires people from homeless shelters to help make the coats. At work, they also receive on-site programming and support, allowing 100% of those employees have stable housing a year after leaving the organization. Over 100,000 EMPWR coats have been distributed free of charge to those in need, all provided through sponsorships of $150/coat.

Veronika is a beautiful example of the power of synergy. It’s not just the coat design, offering them through partnerships, hiring the homeless, or providing life resources to her employees, but the entire cycle that works in harmony to create something special.

Veronika could have stopped with her class project, or design award, or outsourced production, or offered jobs but not training, or sold the coats to outdoor adventurers — but she was intentional about each step in the process and remained focused on helping the homeless.

Take a lesson from the Empowerment Plan and create a greater impact in the whole system, not just one piece of it.

To learn more, click here.

leadership dot #4840: originals

January 18, 2026January 16, 2026by leadership dots by dr. beth triplettLeave a comment

Often, one of the most popular items at silent auctions is an experience you can’t get anywhere else. Airbnb is bringing what was once exclusive to the masses.

The company now allows guests to book additional experiences and services beyond lodging. In addition to tours, workshops, and outdoor adventures, guests can book chefs, massages, and trainers to provide services to their Airbnb. But the real place that the company has leveraged its power is in providing “Originals” options to guests.

People are now able to book experiences such as:

Exploring Notre Dame with its restoration architect
Having afternoon tea with the Royal Butler
Wheelchair curling with an Olympian
Carving marble with a third-generation sculptor
Learning mixology in a Spanish speakeasy
Building strength with a former NFL player
Exploring a museum with its curator

Airbnb realized it could provide more than just a place to stay, and instead of offering car rentals or restaurant reservations like others do, it curated a collection of experiences that set it apart from traditional hotel bookings. It’s rare to create growth in a logical, yet unclaimed category, but Airbnb seems to have pulled that off. What’s not being offered is often far better than more of the same.

leadership dot #4807: disguised

November 30, 2025November 26, 2025by leadership dots by dr. beth triplettLeave a comment

If you were a company shipping fragile items overseas and found that your product often arrived damaged in transit, what would you do to solve this?

Many companies may reinforce their packaging, plaster the containers with bold “Fragile” warnings, or contract with a different vendor, but Dutch manufacturer VanMoof came up with a more creative option. To protect their high-end bicycles on their journey, they printed a picture of a flat-screen television on the box. This simple move reduced damages by 80%!

Before you reach for a complicated solution, see if you can’t find a creative one instead.