The monkey, the tiger beetle and the language of innovation

Astro Teller coined the phrase “tackle the monkey first” — as in, if you’re trying to teach a monkey to stand on a pedestal reciting Shakespeare, what should you spend your time and money on first? Most companies end up wasting resources on pedestals because it feels great to make progress and have something to show your boss. But pedestal-building

Chosen carefully, words don’t just describe innovation; they enable it.

It might be surprising to you that an organization known for cutting edge technology cares so much about something as soft and abstract as language and how it makes people feel — and that’s exactly why we’re sharing these tips. Everyone has the potential to be brave, audacious, and radically creative, but we often put ceilings on ourselves with min