Kipling & “If”: Inspiration for Life Science Innovation
Besides great summertime reading, I’d say that Rudyard Kipling’s poem ‘If’ qualifies him as the poet laureate of life sciences and innovation. Back in the days when King Edward VII ruled the once-mighty British Empire, Kipling’s inspirational poem ‘If’ was published in 1909. ‘If’ proved so exceptional in touching the soul of the British reader that, even in the mid-1990’s, Brits voted ‘If’ as their all-time favourite poem. ‘If’ is inspirational and gives us a clue as to what actual leaders need to do – to inspire one to persevere, sometimes against long...
Read MoreThe Zen of Innovation
Wikipedia defines Zen as “emphasizing experiential wisdom in the attainment of enlightenment…” Sounds a bit deep and cerebral but it really isn’t. It’s actually quite practical. Almost every organization and certainly the vast majority of Biopharma companies would say that they are innovative. But when you speak with many of these companies, they are quick to share stories about just how challenging it is to innovate. Their experiential wisdom seems to be about the attainment of capital to innovate – not innovation itself. Is there a way to rectify this? I recently read...
Read MoreTop 3 reasons good science becomes bad business.
Most scientific work is inherently good, especially in the Life Sciences. Our understanding of our physical selves and our physical environment is being expanded and arguably, that helps us all be more complete beings. It also creates a powerfully altruistic and virtuous cycle, whereby our increased understanding provides benefit to ourselves and to others and in turn spurs others on to continue the quest. Science and the search for scientific truths speaks to our highest selves but it also calls for practical focus and patience.A sobering reality of Science and Scientific innovation is...
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