10 Ways I Stay Fresh and Innovative – And How You Can Too

Curiosity fuels innovation, and failure shapes it.

After more than 25 years leading DBS Interactive, people often ask me how I manage to keep ideas fresh and energy high, especially in an industry that never sits still. 

The truth is, staying innovative isn’t just about chasing trends or outsmarting the competition. It’s about nurturing your own curiosity, resilience, and joy for work—and for life.

Innovation is a way of life. It might sound cliché, but it’s absolutely true – it’s a journey, not a destination.

It’s about showing up every day with an open mind, a willingness to experiment, and the humility to learn from both wins and setbacks. 

And, perhaps most importantly, it’s about developing the knack for seeing connections, linking ideas, experiences, and lessons from everywhere, and letting them spark something new.
 

My Innovation Playbook

Innovation isn’t a lightning strike. It’s a rhythm, a mindset, a daily practice. These 10 habits are my personal playbook for staying sharp, curious, and relentlessly forward-moving. Each one helps me connect dots others miss and turn sparks into breakthroughs.
 

1. Meditate for Mental Clarity
 

Meditation is my daily reset button. Even ten minutes helps me declutter my mind, manage stress, and spark creativity. It’s where I find those “aha!” moments and regain focus before big decisions or meetings. Meditation is my secret weapon for staying sharp and resilient.
 

2. Be a Lifelong Learner
 

I never stop learning. I read voraciously, everything from business books and biographies to science magazines and even the occasional novel. I attend conferences and seek out new perspectives, even outside my industry. The moment you think you know it all is the moment you start falling behind. The more diverse your input, the more connections you’ll see between seemingly unrelated ideas.
 

Read, Watch, Listen
 

Top 5 inspirational books
 

• Good to Great
• Rich Dad Poor Dad
• Jonathan Livingston Seagull
• Kahil Gibran. The Prophet
• Getting Naked
   

5 Favorite Movies
 

• Good Will Hunting
• Selma
• Cool Hand Luke
• The Green Mile
• Morning Glory
   

5 Songs, groups, or musicians that make sparks fly 

• It's a wonderful world - Louis Armstrong
• Golden Hour - Kelly Musgrave
• In the air tonight - Phil Collins
• Roxanne - The Police
• Astral plane - Valerie June
   

This media stokes the flames for me. Make sure you find your own books, shows, and songs that ignite your curiosity and keep your creative energy burning bright. Inspiration is everywhere. Just keep your eyes, ears, and heart open.
 

3. Build a Team That Challenges You

I surround myself with people who aren’t afraid to disagree with me. Diverse perspectives and open debate are the birthplace of innovation. I want my team to bring bold ideas—even if they contradict my own. 

When different viewpoints collide, that’s when the magic of new connections happens.

4. Test and Tinker Relentlessly

At DBS, we “eat our own dog food.” We test new tools and strategies on ourselves before recommending them to clients. Piloting, measuring, and refining keep us nimble and honest.

Experimentation is how you discover unexpected connections and solutions. Sometimes, our best ideas come from happy accidents.

5. Stay Close to Customers

I make a point of talking directly with clients and even their customers. Their real-world challenges and feedback spark my best ideas and keep our work grounded in what matters.

Often, the ability to connect a customer’s pain point with a solution from another industry leads to real innovation.

6. Embrace Failure as a Teacher

Every setback is a lesson in disguise. I analyze what went wrong, adjust, and try again—without losing my nerve or my sense of humor. 

Failure isn’t fatal; it’s fuel for the next breakthrough. When you look for patterns in your failures, you start to see connections that reveal what to try next.

7. Take Strategic Risks With a Safety Net

I’m not reckless, but I’m not afraid to bet on a bold idea if I’ve got a Plan B. Whether it was pivoting our tech stack or mortgaging my house in tough times, every leap was calculated. 

Risk is the price of admission for innovation, and often, the biggest leaps come from connecting the dots between risk and opportunity.

8. Revisit Old Decisions

What worked yesterday might not work tomorrow. I regularly ask, “If I were starting DBS today, what would I do differently?” This keeps me honest and open to new directions. 

Revisiting decisions with fresh eyes helps you spot new connections and opportunities you might have missed before.

9. Savor Life’s Pleasures

Never get so busy building the future that you forget to savor the present. Life’s pleasures are the fuel for fresh thinking. Innovation isn’t born in a vacuum. I make time for good meals, long walks in nature, and time with friends and family. 

These moments recharge me and often spark my most creative ideas. Dining out, exploring new places, or simply unplugging in the woods helps me return to work with fresh eyes and renewed energy—and often, that’s when the most unexpected connections happen.

10. Celebrate Small Wins

Momentum matters. I celebrate not just the big client wins, but also the small victories. It might be a successful proof-of-concept experiment, a new skill learned, or a team member’s growth. It keeps the energy high and reminds us that progress is that journey. 

Every small win is a new connection on the path to bigger breakthroughs.

Bonus Tip in One Word

Laugh. 

Bottom line

Keep your curiosity alive, look for connections everywhere, and never stop evolving. That’s how you keep your edge, no matter how many years you’ve been in the game.

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