Crack the Code

Brilliant self-help book, was an eye opener and super insightful! I learnt a lot and didn’t want to put it down! Cant wait to put my newfound knowledge in to action

I am a big fan of innovation 💡 development and self growth in this area. The practical aspect of this book is just what it is supposed to be! The exercises and how they should be applied to deal practical life will guide you towards the development of your level of innovation. Some stories are well-known and some of them I have read for the first time, some exercises I knew and were new to me. Very good book for everyone interested in creativity and innovation.

In the Introduction, Yang explains why human creativity is actually “the greatest technology today.” He notes that creative problem solving skills are highly sought after by employers, and vital to economic growth. He lists five traits that creative problem solvers have: they associate, they observe, they experiment, they network, and they question everything. Then he identifies seven “deadly sins” that hinder creativity: fear, rigidity, premature editing, group think, outdated traditions, playing it safe, and the status quo.

Over the next few chapters Yang explores four different Mindsets that focus innovation, and discusses a few tactics to put each Mindset into action.

Mindset 1 – Every Barrier can be Penetrated; Tactics: Deconstruction, Rapid Experimentation
Mindset 2 – Compasses over Maps; Tactics: Start Small, Start at the End
Mindset 3 – Nothing is Static; Tactics: The Judo Flip, The Mash-Up
Mindset 4 – Diversity is a Force Multiplier; Tactics: The Imbizo Group, The Borrowed Idea

With each of these Tactics, Yang gives specific exercises and examples to try out for yourself. There is a chapter at the end tying all of the concepts together, and also listing “The 10 Commandments of Brainstorming.”

Overall, I enjoyed this book. There are some creative ideas here, and Yang does a good job of explaining the concepts that he is describing. There are helpful practice exercises, and the tone of the book is very positive and motivating. There are a few things that I would've liked him to spend more time on, and some suggestions might be more useful than others, but overall it is a stimulating book that doesn't take long to read.

Want to know how to ‘Crack The Code’? This super new book by Kaiser Yang, Co-Founder of Platypus Labs is a hands-on practical book to show the reader ways to be creative and unlock innovation.

Evolution and innovation is essential and business leaders are concerned that our failing traditional models do not facilitate this. No-one denies that it is important to build innovative cultures and the author cites the 70/30 rule, that relying on existing systems only gets you 70% of the way towards your potential. This book addresses how to harness that final 30%.

The value of human creativity and creative problem solving is the core of the code and with the belief that anyone can be creative, and that creatives are made and not born that way, Yang addresses the four core mindsets common to all problem solvers and the tactics needed to put this mindset into action.

The book is built on stories of innovation and practical exercises to train yourself with a superb wrap up on the eight keys to unlock innovation and the Ten Commandments of brainstorming.