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Backstory
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You can call me Matt. I'm a blogger for the American Express OPEN Forum Ideas Hub, which I reprint here. I've written three books, with the fourth, The Laws of Subtraction, coming out in a few months. I run a small ideas agency called Edit Creativ (formerly Shibumi Creative Works...practicing subtraction...and no, it isn't a typo in the name).
I spent 8 years as an independent advisor to the U.S. corporate headquarters of Toyota. It changed my outlook on work and life. I learned how to learn and solve problems. I learned to "think lean". I learned the power of less. I took those lessons on the road to other organizations. Now I write, speak, coach others on creativity, innovation, and design strategy.
You can read more on my About page, or connect with me on my Contact page.
Why Subtraction?
Lao Tzu said: "To attain knowledge, add things every day. To attain wisdom, subtract things every day."
When you remove just the right thing in just the right way, something good happens.
That's my go-to philosophy, and this blog is dedicated to sharing it along with all the amazing things that amazing people are doing to improve the world by waging "war on more" through subtracting from our collective experience anything obviously excessive, wasteful, complicated, unnatural, hazardous, hard to use, or ugly. Or better yet, refraining from adding those things in the first place!
I've just finished a new book entitled The Laws of Subtraction, which are these 6 simple rules for winning in the age of excess everything:
#1: What isn’t there can often trump what is.
#2: The simplest rules create the most effective experience.
#3: Limiting information engages the imagination.
#4: Creativity thrives under intelligent constraints.
#5: "Break" is an important part of any breakthrough.
#6: Doing something isn’t always better than doing nothing.The book will be out October 26, 2012. I've asked some of the most brilliant people I know to contribute short insights on these laws. Almost everyone said yes...54 to be exact. You'll be amazed and inspired by their stories of how subtraction has played a role in their work and life.
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Monthly Archives: January 2012
Artistry at Work: Heeding Basic Instinct
When actors ask, “What is my motivation?” they’re asking about what’s most important to the character they are playing so that they can make and commit to an authentic artistic choice in their role. But they’re also talking about values. … Continue reading
Why Creativity?
It’s a simple enough question. But rarely asked. More rarely answered. Even more rarely answered seven different ways. Without further ado, download this wonderfully short and FREE ebook put together by my friend Tanner Christensen, available now at Aspindle, that … Continue reading
The 7 Deadly Sins of Innovation
According to Scott Anthony, who directs the Asia-Pacific office of innovation consulting and venture-capital firm Innosight, “the seven deadly sins have very clear parallels in the world of innovation, serving as a useful and memorable way to highlight an innovator’s … Continue reading
Little Black Book Of Innovation
How would you like an innovation program in a box? Well, The Little Black Book of Innovation, just out by Scott Anthony, comes pretty close. Scott Anthony is Managing Director of Innosight Asia-Pacific, where he leads its Asian operations and … Continue reading
Artistry at Work: Depth Over Breadth
If people knew how hard I worked to get my mastery, it wouldn’t seem so wonderful after all. -Michelangelo Talent is merely potential, and everyone has it. Talent is everywhere – but by itself it is nothing special. It is … Continue reading
