"Best Practices Are Stupid" Author Stephen Shapiro Sheds Light on the "Goldilock s Principle" Innovative ideas can

all too easily be classified as either too abstract or too specific. But innovator extraordinaire Stephen Shapiro shows how to begin the qu est for "just right" in his latest book, "Best Practices Are Stupid". Boston, MA - October 27, 2011 (PR Solutions) -- When it comes to describing inno vation challenges, we can learn a thing or two from Goldilocks. Creative problem solving is at its best when challenges aren't too big (broad or abstract) or to o small (overly specific). Instead, problems need to be framed in a way that max imizes the likelihood of finding a solution - in other words, "just right", says innovation mastermind Stephen Shapiro. "I think this is a nice way of putting it," says Shapiro, author of Best Practic es Are Stupid ( http://amzn.to/BestPracticesAreStupid ). "We'll never forget thi s innovation principle because, well, who doesn't remember Goldilocks?" Instead of asking for new ways to increase revenue (abstract), ask employees whe ther there are specific markets that the company hasn't penetrated ("just right" ). Or, to cite another example: Instead of simply expressing a desire to improve th e educational system in England, research the root of the problem. And from ther e, Shapiro ( http://SteveShapiro.com ) says, ask the question: "How do we increa se parental involvement?" This is also "just right." And "just right," at its core, is: * More focused * More practical * More valuable The Goldilocks Principle is truly a search for "just right" every time. And that 's a goal worth chasing. Entering a home belonging to three bears in the woods is not very sound thinking . But Goldilocks slept soundly. There's a lot of meaning there. "If we adopt this same rigor when defining challenges, we too just might sleep a bit better at night, knowing a workable solution is just around the corner," sa ys Shapiro (sign up for his monthly Free Innovation Tips at http://www.steveshap iro.com/keynotes/ ). "So remember: Goldilocks is a great way to innovate." The latest book by Stephen Shapiro, Best Practices Are Stupid discusses the Gold ilocks Principle and other paradigm-breaking ideas, and can be found on Amazon.c om at http://amzn.to/BestPracticesAreStupid About Stephen Shapiro: Stephen Shapiro is one of the foremost authorities on innovation and collaborati on, and has personally touched hundreds of thousands of lives in over 40 countri es. While Stephen's insights apply to virtually any organization, big or small, he has contributed to shifting the innovation culture for such Fortune 500 organ ization as Staples, GE, BP, Johnson & Johnson, Fidelity Investments, Pearson Edu cation, Nestle, and Bristol-Myers Squibb. As the founder and creator of a 20,000 person internal innovation practice within Accenture, and advisor to hundreds o f organizations worldwide, Stephen possesses a rare and extensive arsenal of too ls, allowing him to arm any organization with the knowledge they need to shift t heir most threatening challenges.

Stephen can be reached at 617-379-1177 or online at http://SteveShapiro.com Press Contact: Stephen Shapiro 24/7 Innovation 2001 Marina Drive Suite 8078970 Quincy, MA 02171 617-379-1177 steve@24-7innovation.com http://SteveShapiro.com http://linkedin.com/in/shapiroinnovates # # # Please contact http://www.PressReleaseNation.com for corrections or updates.