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The Innovation Paradox : The Success of Failure, the Failure of Success [Paperback]

Richard Farson (Author), Ralph Keyes (Author)
4.4 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (21 customer reviews)
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Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com Review

Precious few of us--and that includes Hall of Fame achievers like J. Paul Getty and Bill Gates--ever travel a straight line to the winner's circle. Whoever Makes the Most Mistakes Wins, by Richard Farson and Ralph Keyes, builds on this basic assumption to suggest that some failures may not only be inevitable on our road to success, but might actually help us attain it. In earlier books, Farson (Management of the Absurd) and Keyes (Chancing It) wrote separately about risk taking and reexamining assumptions. Here, they jointly proclaim that in the age of Oprah it might truly be counterproductive to accept the traditional meaning of business yin and yang. "Relying on conventional, outmoded ideas about success and failure stands in the way of your ability to innovate, compete and stay ahead of the curve in a changing economy," they write. While slim, their book goes on to make a compelling case for "managing in the postfailure era" by supporting the type of traditionally discouraged behavior that resulted in breakthrough creativity over the years at firms like 3M, Monsanto, and Apple. Since crises, setbacks, and adversity help shape and advance our lives, the authors argue, why can't enlightened managers also turn them into forward movement in the workplace? Contrarian food for thought. --Howard Rothman --This text refers to the Hardcover edition.

From Publishers Weekly

From the "learn from your mistakes" school of thought comes Whoever Makes the Most Mistakes Wins: The Paradox of Innovation. Today's business world calls for taking risks and accepting setbacks, say authors Richard Farson (Management of the Absurd) and Ralph Keyes (Chancing It). In this tiny volume, they cite examples from Rudy Giuliani's performance amid the chaos of September 11 to inventor Charles Kettering's perseverance in the face of adversity. Recognizing obstacles is essential to victory, Farson and Keyes contend, and despite their book's brevity, they demonstrate concrete ways to do so.
Copyright 2002 Cahners Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to the Hardcover edition.
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Product Details

  • Paperback: 144 pages
  • Publisher: Free Press (July 2, 2003)
  • Language: English
  • ISBN-10: 0743225937
  • ISBN-13: 978-0743225939
  • Product Dimensions: 8.4 x 5.5 x 0.5 inches
  • Shipping Weight: 7.2 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
  • Average Customer Review: 4.4 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (21 customer reviews)
  • Amazon Bestsellers Rank: #331,481 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Richard Evans Farson
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Front Cover | Front Flap | Table of Contents | First Pages | Back Flap | Back Cover | Surprise Me!
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New York, John Wooden, Big Blue, Bill Gates, Bill Russell, Silicon Valley, Michael Jordan, New Coke, Robert Shapiro, Spencer Silver, Vince Lombardi, Art Fry, Jim Clark, Paul Getty, Phil Jackson, Roberto Goizueta, Tom Watson, White House, World War
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Customer Reviews

21 Reviews
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Average Customer Review
4.4 out of 5 stars (21 customer reviews)
 
 
 
 
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8 of 9 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars From a manager who has made a lot of mistakes, May 7, 2003
By edward sadauskas (Chicago, IL United States) - See all my reviews
This review is from: Whoever Makes the Most Mistakes Wins (Hardcover)
Where was this book when I started my career. Ralph Keyes & Richard Farson have created a path that needs to be followed. I remember begging for forgiveness on a regular basis waiting for the hatchet to fall. The insight and clairity of this book is inspiring. If you find yourself standing on the "razors edge" and you need that little push, pick up this book and devour it. You will ask yourself why you didn't jump years ago. A true "must read" for all managers and executives who want to survive in todays economy. You are your own worst enemy if you walk the path that is worn thin, find the alternative paths that makes you heart pound with energy and you will find excitement and true fulfillment. Ralph and Richard have given us that push.
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8 of 9 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars Sucess by another name, November 16, 2002
By Martin Schray (West Chicago, IL United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   
This review is from: Whoever Makes the Most Mistakes Wins (Hardcover)
This is a great book and a quick read. Be ready to do some deep thinking though. This book will make you consider the metal modals that you use to measure success and failure.

In the light of the dot com meltdown this book seems very timely. Companies with no operating history or sustainable operating model were called success and become the companies to emulate. Most of the dot coms are gone now and WorldCom and Enron are known to be what they are it seems very timely to look at success and failure.

Reading this book also makes you look at your life in a different way when reviewing past events. As you review your personal history you may find that what you thought to be a big failure was in fact the thing that led to recent success.

One of the key take a ways of this book for me was that was those I consider successful often view not trying as the opposite of success rather then failure. For these folks the failures are the mile markers on the way to success.

This is a great book because it makes you look hard at success and failure and consider what they mean in you life. Highly recommended.

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5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars Definately Worth Reading, December 6, 2004
By Jeremy Gragg (Corvallis, OR USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   
This review is from: The Innovation Paradox : The Success of Failure, the Failure of Success (Paperback)
I was first drawn to this book when I was writing a college research paper on the topic of "Success". This book is extremely intersting in that it documents exellent, real-world examples of how failure leads to success (as well as the paradox, how too much success can/will lead to failure).

I found this book to be a quick and easy read that caused me to question our societal norms and values in the subjects of success and failure.

On another note, I think that this book can be particularly useful to people who are perfectionists or who are stressed out about their need to succeed in whatever they are doing. This book helps to demonstrate that succeeding in everything is not always the route to being "successful" in the long run, and that playing it safe can end up costing you later on.

Thus, if you have any interest in the subjects of success/failure, economics, business, psycology or really any other topic...I would recommend this book. Definately glad I read it. Helped me to "succeed" in my paper about success.
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Most Recent Customer Reviews

4.0 out of 5 stars good for self-evaluation
Given today's business climate and the ongoing recession, this is a good book to read. The book is hardly groundbreaking, but it does reiterate everything we know but were waiting... Read more
Published 10 months ago by LCMoya

4.0 out of 5 stars Success And Failure In A New Light
This book makes a good case for not making a big distinction between success and failure; that mistakes are a necessary part of the learning process; and that managing risk and... Read more
Published 13 months ago by Joao Cortez

3.0 out of 5 stars A good read, but slightly off point
The following is my positive review of The Innovation Paradox, by Farson and Keyes. The book actually didn't become interesting until 40 pages in. Read more
Published 18 months ago by Adam Temple

5.0 out of 5 stars A Paradign Changing Book
Farson and Keyes offer a book that will change the way you view success and failure. The authors convincingly argue that neither of these two phenomena are necessarily what they... Read more
Published on June 3, 2008 by bronx book nerd

5.0 out of 5 stars The Limits of the Concepts of Success and Failure
Making mistakes is a key part of succeeding at anything, the authors believe. Mistakes educate, and education leads to success. Read more
Published on February 25, 2007 by Mark B. Cohen

5.0 out of 5 stars Uncommon Common Sense
Richard Farson and Ralph Keyes are unique thinkers whose refreshing insights and reflections on how we live our lives - what we bring to our workplaces and relationships -are... Read more
Published on February 11, 2007 by Andrew Malekoff

4.0 out of 5 stars Philosophical and inspirational! Quite zen!
Recently I had read three great books on mistakes:- "Will your next mistakes be fatal? by Robert Mittelstaedt", "Why Smart Executives Fail: And What You Can Learn from Their... Read more
Published on October 23, 2006 by ServantofGod

5.0 out of 5 stars Fantastic!
This is the best business book I've ever read- and I've read tons already! It lets you completely re-imagine your attitude toward success, failures and LIFE. Very deep and wise.
Published on December 21, 2005 by Michal Sobczyk

4.0 out of 5 stars Farson's Essay
A 130 page rant on why conservatives will never completely rule the world. Read if you have ever wanted your employees to take more chances or your employers to let you. Read more
Published on September 3, 2003 by wayne a mortensen

4.0 out of 5 stars not a mistake
a refreshing, amusing look at the scientific method of life.

Gives new clues into the process of innovation and methodology.

Published on April 22, 2003 by Author Brian Wallace (Mind Tra...

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