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Celebrating the the best best ideas ideas in in business business Newsletter Newsletter Events Events Innovation Innovation Festival Festival Courses Courses and and LearningAdvertiseCurrent LearningAdvertiseCurrent Issue Issue Current Current Issue Issue SUBSCRIBE SUBSCRIBE Follow Follow us us Social Social media media icons icons Social Social media media icons icons Social Social media media icons icons Social Social media media icons icons advertisement advertisement advertisement advertisement What What Zen Zen Taught Taught Silicon Silicon Valley Valley And And Steve Steve Jobs Jobs About About Innovation Innovation Several Several new new books books explore explore the the relationship relationship between between Silicon Silicon Valley Valley innovation innovation and and Eastern Eastern philosophy philosophy So So can can ancient ancient principles principles help help spark spark modern modern breakthroughs breakthroughs What What Zen Zen Taught Taught Silicon Silicon Valley Valley And And Steve Steve Jobs Jobs About About Innovation Innovation By By Warren Warren Berger Berger minute minute Read Read Was Was the the revolutionary revolutionary circular circular scroll scroll wheel wheel on on the the Apple Apple iPod iPod inspired inspired by by kinhin kinhin the the Zen Zen practice practice of of walking walking in in circles circles while while meditating meditating There There s s no no hard hard evidence evidence but but a a new new book book The The Zen Zen of of Steve Steve Jobs Jobs suggests suggests a a connection connection The The illustrated illustrated and and partly partly fictionalized fictionalized book book which which focuses focuses on on the the real real life life relationship relationship between between the the late late Apple Apple co co founder founder and and a a Zen Zen Buddhist Buddhist priest priest juxtaposes juxtaposes the the lessons lessons Jobs Jobs learned learned from from his his Zen Zen master master with with design design breakthroughs breakthroughs in in his his products products In In so so doing doing the the book book picks picks up up and and expands expands on on a a theme theme also also discussed discussed in in Walter Walter Isaacson Isaacson s s recent recent biography biography of of Jobs Jobs that that the the great great innovator innovator was was himself himself greatly greatly influenced influenced by by Zen Zen principles principles and and practices practices advertisement advertisement advertisement advertisement Which Which raises raises a a question question that that may may seem seem crude crude aggressively aggressively Western Western and and not not at at all all Zen Zen Can Can the the rest rest of of us us boost boost our our innovation innovation mojo mojo by by applying applying some some of of these these centuries centuries old old principles principles to to modern modern day day challenges challenges Folks Folks from from Google Google and and Apple Apple are are regulars regulars at at the the Do Do Zen Zen Meditation Meditation Center Center It It s s an an idea idea that that s s in in the the ether ether these these days days A A recently recently published published title title from from Wiley Wiley Zennovation Zennovation proffers proffers an an East East West West approach approach to to business business success success There There s s also also a a popular popular blog blog called called Valley Valley Zen Zen that that explores explores the the synergy synergy between between Silicon Silicon Valley Valley innovation innovation and and Zen Zen philosophy philosophy And And according according to to Les Les Kaye Kaye a a Zen Zen abbot abbot based based in in the the Valley Valley there there s s no no shortage shortage of of innovative innovative types types coming coming to to his his Kannon Kannon Do Do Zen Zen Meditation Meditation Center Center in in Mountain Mountain View View including including folks folks from from Google Google and and Apple Apple along along with with entrepreneurs entrepreneurs and and the the odd odd venture venture capitalist capitalist That That s s not not to to suggest suggest that that Valley Valley denizens denizens who who are are embracing embracing Zen Zen are are doing doing so so for for career career advancement advancement purposes purposes and and if if they they are are says says Zen Zen master master Kaye Kaye they they re re missing missing the the whole whole point point of of Zen Zen and and are are probably probably destined destined to to be be disappointed disappointed in in the the results results But But Kaye Kaye does does say say that that Zen Zen meditation meditation can can help help the the innovation innovation process process by by calming calming the the mind mind and and letting letting insights insights come come through through And And he he acknowledges acknowledges that that some some of of the the principles principles of of Zen Zen align align nicely nicely with with the the challenges challenges faced faced by by would would be be innovators innovators advertisement advertisement The The Question Question Everything Everything Mindset Mindset Start Start for for instance instance with with the the Zen Zen emphasis emphasis on on questioning questioning In In my my own own research research looking looking at at how how fundamental fundamental questioning questioning can can lead lead to to innovation innovation I I ve ve found found that that some some of of the the most most successful successful innovators innovators adopt adopt a a question question everything everything mindset mindset that that could could be be compared compared to to the the Zen Zen notion notion of of shoshin shoshin or or beginner beginner s s mind mind This This approach approach encourages encourages one one to to step step back back look look at at challenges challenges from from a a fresh fresh or or naïve naïve perspective perspective and and ask ask the the most most basic basic questions questions as as a a means means of of getting getting beyond beyond fixed fixed assumptions assumptions and and conventional conventional wisdom wisdom According According to to Randy Randy Komisar Komisar a a Zen Zen practitioner practitioner who who s s also also a a partner partner with with the the Silicon Silicon Valley Valley venture venture capitalist capitalist firm firm Kleiner Kleiner Perkins Perkins Caufield Caufield Byers Byers Zen Zen practice practice is is about about stripping stripping away away one one s s biases biases prejudices prejudices blindness blindness It It is is about about realizing realizing the the essence essence of of things things Zen Zen teaches teaches one one to to look look at at challenges challenges from from a a naïve naïve perspective perspective The The author author and and Stanford Stanford University University professor professor Bob Bob Sutton Sutton notes notes that that at at innovation innovation hotspots hotspots such such as as Ideo Ideo the the beginner beginner s s mind mind approach approach plays plays an an important important role role as as does does the the Zen Zen notion notion of of bringing bringing together together masters masters and and neophytes neophytes At At places places where where intense intense innovation innovation happens happens they they often often combine combine people people who who know know too too little little and and people people who who know know too too much much Sutton Sutton says says The The goal goal is is to to foster foster tension tension between between massive massive expertise expertise and and the the ability ability to to see see with with fresh fresh eyes eyes advertisement advertisement Sutton Sutton also also notes notes that that there there are are interesting interesting parallels parallels between between some some of of the the principles principles of of design design thinking thinking as as practiced practiced at at innovation innovation led led companies companies and and taught taught at at Stanford Stanford s s d d school school and and various various Zen Zen principles principles and and practices practices For For instance instance the the Zen Zen emphasis emphasis on on listening listening is is very very design design thinking thinking y y Sutton Sutton notes notes And And Zen Zen practitioners practitioners are are taught taught to to remain remain attentive attentive and and mindful mindful even even during during life life s s mundane mundane moments moments an an approach approach that that also also helps helps design design researchers researchers and and ethnographers ethnographers gather gather observations observations and and insights insights on on everyday everyday behavior behavior and and needs needs Even Even the the iterative iterative process process of of prototyping prototyping has has echoes echoes of of the the Zen Zen idea idea that that one one learns learns and and advances advances by by small small steps steps Conceptualizing Conceptualizing and and Collaborating Collaborating Jesse Jesse Thomas Thomas who who runs runs the the visualization visualization firm firm Jess Jess which which did did the the illustrations illustrations for for The The Zen Zen of of Steve Steve Jobs Jobs thinks thinks that that Zen Zen can can help help designers designers and and innovators innovators to to see see things things from from more more of of an an outside outside user user based based perspective perspective Conceptualizing Conceptualizing and and prototyping prototyping the the path path of of a a user user s s experience experience takes takes a a lot lot of of concentration concentration Thomas Thomas says says The The Zen Zen approach approach can can help help focus focus on on the the vision vision for for the the experience experience of of the the customer customer Zen Zen practice practice also also encourages encourages working working and and thinking thinking together together in in groups groups It It can can help help individuals individuals to to collaborate collaborate better better by by teaching teaching them them how how to to listen listen and and ask ask better better questions questions within within a a group group discussion discussion says says Kaye Kaye advertisement advertisement And And if if all all that that weren weren t t enough enough there there are are the the fundamental fundamental design design ideals ideals associated associated with with Zen Zen including including among among others others kanso kanso simplicity simplicity and and koko koko austerity austerity Matthew Matthew E E May May author author of of the the book book The The Shibumi Shibumi Strategy Strategy has has noted noted that that those those ideals ideals tend tend to to yield yield elegant elegant simplicity simplicity and and effortless effortless effectiveness effectiveness in in stark stark contrast contrast to to the the cluttered cluttered over over design design often often found found in in the the West West It It can can help help people people collaborate collaborate better better by by teaching teaching them them how how to to listen listen and and ask ask better better questions questions To To see see these these Zen Zen design design ideals ideals embodied embodied just just look look at at any any Apple Apple product product Whether Whether or or not not Jobs Jobs s s iPod iPod scroll scroll was was inspired inspired by by a a Zen Zen stroll stroll clearly clearly his his overall overall design design sensibility sensibility was was influenced influenced by by Zen Zen ideals ideals of of austerity austerity and and refinement refinement But But it it went went beyond beyond the the individual individual products products Jobs Jobs told told Isaacson Isaacson and and others others that that Zen Zen helped helped him him stay stay highly highly focused focused and and free free of of distraction distraction According According to to Kaye Kaye Jobs Jobs also also believed believed that that the the people people working working for for him him could could benefit benefit by by learning learning Zen Zen practices practices So So does does this this mean mean we we should should all all assume assume the the lotus lotus position position in in hopes hopes of of being being able able to to envision envision the the next next breakthrough breakthrough gadget gadget Not Not surprisingly surprisingly Zen Zen practitioners practitioners tend tend to to be be bemused bemused if if not not appalled appalled by by this this suggestion suggestion advertisement advertisement I I think think it it would would be be a a mistake mistake for for people people to to think think If If I I do do Zen Zen practice practice I I ll ll become become more more creative creative ʼ ʼ Kaye Kaye says says It It s s not not a a magic magic pill pill Zen Zen does does not not create create intellectual intellectual muscle muscle Strivers Strivers Not Not Wanted Wanted Moreover Moreover Kaye Kaye s s center center cites cites no no striving striving as as a a guiding guiding Zen Zen principle principle if if someone someone aims aims to to be be more more innovative innovative or or productive productive through through Zen Zen practice practice it it would would be be seen seen as as inappropriate inappropriate and and out out of of step step with with the the overriding overriding philosophy philosophy As As the the spiritually spiritually aware aware venture venture capitalist capitalist Komisar Komisar explains explains Zen Zen practice practice does does not not concern concern itself itself with with outputs outputs like like creativity creativity or or inventiveness inventiveness To To the the question question of of Is Is a a mind mind informed informed by by Zen Zen practice practice better better at at listening listening questioning questioning seeing seeing Komisar Komisar s s answer answer is is In In Zen Zen there there is is no no better better ʼ ʼ As As to to whether whether a a Zen Zen mindset mindset can can provide provide an an edge edge in in business business Komisar Komisar points points out out that that Zen Zen is is about about no no self self No No ego ego This This is is a a very very big big disadvantage disadvantage in in business business advertisement advertisement Steve Steve had had an an unusual unusual relationship relationship with with Zen Zen He He got got the the the the art art but but not not the the heart heart Of Of course course it it has has been been observed observed that that Steve Steve Jobs Jobs managed managed to to take take from from Zen Zen what what he he needed needed all all the the while while maintaining maintaining a a healthy healthy sense sense of of self self and and ego ego not not to to mention mention ruthless ruthless competitive competitive instincts instincts The The Zen Zen teacher teacher Kaye Kaye who who once once studied studied with with Jobs Jobs at at the the same same Zen Zen center center in in the the Valley Valley says says Steve Steve had had an an unusual unusual relationship relationship with with Zen Zen He He got got the the artistic artistic side side of of it it but but not not the the Buddhist Buddhist side side the the art art but but not not the the heart heart So So is is Kaye Kaye worried worried that that Zen Zen s s rising rising popularity popularity in in innovation innovation circles circles might might produce produce more more art art without without heart heart practitioners practitioners like like Jobs Jobs I I guess guess that that is is a a concern concern of of mine mine he he says says Of Of course course if if they they were were to to end end up up creating creating stuff stuff that that s s useful useful as as Steve Steve did did what what the the heck heck Not Not everyone everyone can can be be a a saint saint Images Images Olga Olga Lyubkina Lyubkina Olga Olga Lyubkina Lyubkina and and sculpies sculpies via via Shutterstock Shutterstock advertisement advertisement advertisement advertisement advertisement advertisement advertisement advertisement About About the the author author Warren Warren Berger Berger is is the the author author of of three three books books on on questioning questioning including including the the bestselling bestselling A A More More Beautiful Beautiful Question Question and and the the follow follow up up The The Book Book of of Beautiful Beautiful Questions Questions He He has has conducted conducted questioning questioning workshops workshops for for The The U U S S More More Video Video Impact Impact Impact Impact This This is is the the company company that that guaranteed guaranteed income income pilot pilot programs programs use use to to get get people people cash cash Impact Impact How How will will ESG ESG change change in in Here Here are are predictions predictions Impact Impact These These smart smart windows windows could could one one day day help help heat heat and and cool cool your your house house automatically automatically News News News News IRS IRS stimulus stimulus check check update update Watch Watch out out for for this this letter letter if if you you never never received received a a third third payment payment News News As As omicron omicron spreads spreads Outschool Outschool offers offers unlimited unlimited free free classes classes to to schools schools closing closing due due to to COVID COVID News News was was Earth Earth s s fifth fifth hottest hottest year year on on record record and and that that s s even even worse worse than than it it sounds sounds Co Co Design Design Co Co Design Design On On Route Route a a family family is is restoring restoring the the only only gas gas station station built built for for Black Black travelers travelers Co Co Design Design NordicTrack NordicTrack s s new new Alexa Alexa controlled controlled weights weights go go from from to to pounds pounds in in seconds seconds Co Co Design Design Supply Supply chain chain issues issues will will continue continue well well into into with with a a twist twist Work Work Life Life Work Work Life Life Already Already losing losing sight sight of of a a New New Year Year s s resolution resolution Try Try this this technique technique Work Work Life Life Your Your people people want want purpose purpose Take Take these these steps steps to to define define your your why why Work Work Life Life Some Some people people think think innovation innovation is is creating creating something something from from thin thin air air We We proved proved them them wrong wrong Advertise Advertise Privacy Privacy Policy Policy Terms Terms Notice Notice of of Collection Collection Do Do Not Not Sell Sell My My Data Data Permissions Permissions Contact Contact About About Us Us Site Site Map Map Fast Fast Company Company Inc Inc 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