How to Innovate

An innovation manual:

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1. Limits are good

The first thought:

Limits are good.

The problem is that we often think:

Oh, if I just had xxx amount of money, or xxx amount of resources, then I could FINALLY thrive.

The truth is actually, the limits is what helps us innovating new ways. For example, Sergey Brin and Larry Page who founded Google, their HTML skills were so rudimentary, they ended up making the Google home screen super simple. This wasn’t because they liked zen aesthetics or minimalism or anything, it was simply an innovation based on their personal limits.

And this ended up working very very well; why? If you’re number one goal is to get the quickest search results possible forgiven search, images slow you down. Text is much faster.

Even today, images are still quite limited in Google search. Google has done this intelligently, to ensure that they stay on top in terms of speed.

2. 80% tea and 20% coffee

A random and fun idea I have is this; perhaps green tea, especially if you’re from east Asian descent, is superior. Why? I have a theory that Koreans, East Asians, Vietnamese people, etc. are not well adapted to drink coffee. Who is? Perhaps more people from Ethiopia, The Middle East, etc.

Currently being here in the country side of Hadong in Korea, I’ve been drinking a lot more green tea, and I really like it. It gives me a better buzz and focus, it also disrupts my sleep less. In fact, I think I’m starting to cultivate a strong taste for extremely bitter green tea, than coffee.

3. Insanely fast wifi

Another funny thing: I really do think that the unfair advantage for innovators is having access to insanely fast Wi-Fi. That and maybe 5G.

For example, I was able to be insanely innovative in Vietnam because the Wi-Fi at any random coffee shop was insanely fast. The upside of Vietnam was that because they industrialized a lot later than Japan, their Wi-Fi infrastructure is far superior. For example, one thing that was very shocking to me the first time I traveled in Japan was how there is pretty much no free Wi-Fi anywhere, even at coffee shops. Even trying to figure out how to get a International SIM card was a headache.

Being here in Korea, even in the mountain side of my mom‘s house, the Wi-Fi is insanely fast. I can upload a 2 GB file to YouTube in about a minute. Even back in the states, this might take me over 30 minutes or an hour.

And also, the reason why I think that 4K, 5K is the future is that YouTube prioritizes videos that were shot on 4K. If you look at YouTube on any smart TV, if there is a video that was shot in 4K, there is a special 4K badge. I think that YouTube will then prioritize 4K videos in the long run, even the funny thing is that today, so many people watch YouTube on their TVs. And the trend is that televisions keep getting bigger and bigger, cheaper and cheaper, and higher in resolution; 4K seems to be the new 1080p or “HD” (high definition). I’m already even starting to see 8K TVs!

4. iPad Pro

Another huge benefit of innovation is using an iPad Pro, instead of just using your iPhone Pro, or even your MacBook Pro. Why? I think that the iPad Pro is the ultimate Apple device, even when compared to any brand new iPhone pro. Why is that? First of all, the form factor is perfect. Steve Jobs and Jony Ive spent so much time optimizing the perfect size. Anyone who buys an iPad mini or a big iPad is a sucker.

Also, using an iPad allows you to be more mobile. Even as I voice dictate this on my iPad Pro M-series iPad, I don’t have Wi-Fi connection, yet the Apple keyboard voice dictate function is very accurate in transcribing my text.

5. Undulate between having Wi-Fi and no Wi-Fi

Also, to maximize your innovation, I like the idea of undulating between times of having Wi-Fi and not having Wi-Fi. Because ultimately, certainly a life with Wi-Fi is superior to a life without. However the problem is if you have too much access to Wi-Fi, it stunts your creativity.

I think it is human nature to innovate when we are restricted. For example, a huge benefit I had was going on a cruise, and not having Wi-Fi for about a week. This forced me to think more off-line, and thinking more long-term. Also, not having Wi-Fi allowed me to think better. Your thoughts have a more deep Texture than if you always have access to Wi-Fi or 4G/5G on your phone.

6. Mountain living?

I have a theory; being at a higher altitude, with less oxygen actually forces your heart to pump harder, pussy more blood, which ultimately helps your creative blood flow.

Even being in the mountains of Hadong at my mom‘s house, I feel healthier and stronger. Even drinking the tap water is 1000 times better than any Fiji water.

Even in Southern California, going to Lake arrowhead for the weekend was a good creative stimulus.

Why is the mountains so beneficial for creativity? I think when you’re on the mountains, you get a better view, unobstructed. the ideals actually being on top of a mountain side, and looking into a steep and raggedy Valley.

My theory is that we humans need to exercise our depth perception. That is, we need to have objects and landscapes to exercise our depth perception, to look really really far away.

The reason I hate the suburbs and much of city living is that everything is so flat. You never have the opportunity to exercise your long depth perception.

Why do humans have two eyes? In order to sense depth. Even using virtual reality and having some sort of double eye depth perception also seems to be a good creative stimulus. I am a huge fan of virtual reality and the new Facebook/meta-quest virtual reality headset.

7. Not seeking to please nobody but yourself

This is a big thing. You gotta make it entertaining for yourself. For example, I know if a video that I’ve made is good based on whether I am excited to rewatch it or not. What makes me have so much fun shooting everything on the GoPro is that everything is so unpredictable, more recently shooting point of view videos with the GoPro strap to my head with the head strap has been very very fun. I like being able to do random everyday things, and see a replay of it.

8. Killing two birds with one stone

One of the big benefits of writing things out is that it gives me a chance to digest my thoughts. Also, the joy of publishing it and sharing it with other people.

The reason why I’m such a huge fan of the newsletter via email is this: email deliverability rates are quite high; above 29%. Compare this to the abysmal organic social media reach, for example if I post something to my Facebook fan page, only 100 people might see it.

I like the notion of a BOGO lifestyle; buy one get one free. That when you’re trying something new, or attempting something new, you both please yourself and your audience. If it is not fun and enjoyable for you, it is not worth doing.

9. Repeat yourself

I think one of the greatest falsities with innovation of this; not repeating yourself. Why is this such a bad notion? Because it limits you from doing stuff that you like doing.

For example, I really enjoy drinking coffee. How silly would it be for me to forgo drinking a cup of coffee tomorrow because I’ve already done in the past?

Also another bad thing is that what prevent us from starting our own website, blog, podcast, YouTube channel is this: the thought that no matter how hard I try, I can never do it as well as that other guy.

But this should not deter you. For example, even though I am not able to dead lift 500 kg like Eddie Hall, that does not discourage me from lifting weights or attempting deadlift on my own. In fact, even though he’s super jacked on steroids and all this other weird stuff, watching his feat was a huge motivator for me; it at least showed what human potential was, and even if I met the mark a little short, at my 551 pound deadlift I am still happy.

10. Voice dictation

One of the great benefits for both me and Cindy for being late adopter to the iPhone is this; we do not have any negative biases towards Siri or voice dictation. In fact, voice dictation has been a game changer for both of us.

How does one voice dictate? If you have an iPhone or iPad, you just click the little microphone button in the bottom left corner. If you do not see it, go to your settings and enable voice dictation.

Why is voice dictation such a game changer? It is more natural for us to speak than to write. Also, technically we speak quicker than we could type. Even though I could type 140 words per minute, or 150 words per minute, it seems that the rate of my speech is at least 10 times faster.

11. Audio and video messages

Something new I have been experimenting with texting friends and family, I don’t type text, I just send a video recording and selfie mode video, or an audio recording. Why is this so much better? It is much more warm. With your voice or video, you could show voice inflection, mood, tone, or facial expressions. Maybe even sending an Animoji of yourself speaking is a good idea.

12. Sunlight

It seems that nowadays everyone is so afraid of the sun. There is all of this nonsensory about UV protection, sunblock, UV protective clothing, etc. Everyone is so afraid of the sun.

Certainly there are nuances. If you are of northern European descent, and your skin complexion is very very light, maybe it is not a good idea to be exposed in sub-Saharan Africa sunlight for 12 hours a day. The imagery is the foundation Apple TV series of big brother going into the desert.

I do not use sunblock, do not wear sunglasses, and have not for about 10 years. I love being in the sun, the direct sun, and I like getting a tan. With me, the more sunlight exposure I get on my direct bare skin, being topless or in my legs, the better.

It might be a genetic thing. In Korea there are four distinct seasons, and Koreans seem to tan pretty well, we have an olive colored complexion, very similar to Mediterranean people.

So in some sense, it is wise to lead to your genetic heritage. For example, Vietnamese people tend to have a slightly darker complexion then Koreans, because in Vietnam, whether North Vietnam or south Vietnam, the sun is stronger. Also, more humidity.

A simple thought I have is this: try to get as much sunlight as possible, on your bare skin as possible, without getting insanely sunburnt.

Push the limits.

13. Think and write in markdown

Ultimately, the most robust way you could share your thoughts is via writing. Text has better longevity then video.

The biggest game changer for me is using iA Writer, information architect writer. Writing in markdown which is essentially a simplified form of HTML has helped me write more, format less.

Even in blogging; wordpress.org, and also WordPress,com has become frustratingly slow. Too much feature bloat. A more streamlined path is instead of writing everything in iA Writer, and then just sharing it later. This is also the way I write my email newsletters.

14. Widen your horizon

Who is your enemy of innovation? Your past self. For example, something which beleaguered me for a long time is being stuck in the street photography ghetto. I myself wanted so desperately to succeed in Street Photography that I did not permit myself to indulge anything else. But now that I am having my new reawakening, killing all barriers in boundaries has been good.

Even creating a new audience, and getting rid of an old audience is good. A lot of people randomly talk about my workout videos, even though I am a photographer, not a fitness star. And for myself, the more multifaceted and real you can make yourself, the better.

Even something else I am very fascinated on is diet and nutrition, and this is a huge news source of innovative ideas.

But what if you piss off your audience, and they stop following you, unsubscribe from you, or say bad things about you? C’est la vie.

15. Motivational heroes

It is a good idea to have people look up to, and having certain heroes. For example, I am very inspired by Jeff Bezos, Elon Musk, Kanye West, Jay Z, etc. Why? Their overcoming, and their leverage of using modern day tools in society to create something new. Even Steve Jobs; his personality is probably diametrically opposed to mine, but I think a lot about him.

And you get to choose who your heroes are. And do not let anybody assert that your heroes are less legitimate than theirs. And the truth is that it seems that the most controversial and “bad“ people tend to be the most innovative and interesting.

“I’m not mean, I’m just focused”— Kanye West

A lot of people seemed very shocked to hear that I was inspired so much by Kanye West. Why are people so anti-Kanye West? Several factors:

I think it is because people are racist. They look at an African-American who is so successful and outspoken as being bad.
Secondly, people don’t like people who act strangely and unpredictably.
Third, people are envious and jealous of his success and riches.

Learn from the titans

16. Think carte blanche

One of the very useful notions that I got from Latin and French is this notion of “Carte Blanche”, which literally means blank slate, a white sheet of paper. Thus in order to innovate, you must go back to first principles and challenge what is commonly done and accepted. In fact, the greatest blessings of studying sociology was that forced me to challenge all societal norms. I almost wonder if the big route to innovation isn’t technological, but self societal.

For example, as my friend Stan Hudecki told me; the biggest detriment to safety standards is when people tell us, but that’s the way we’ve always done it.

The same thing in photography art, food, diet and nutrition is the same. For example, why is it that everyone in America and Korea typically eats three square meals a day? A breakfast lunch and dinner?

17. Full stack stimulation

Another way to innovate is this; try to attack all the sensory fields. Text, visual, audio, etc.

For example, do video. Do audio podcast. Do video podcast, do YouTube, have self hosted things and also externally hosted things. Write in text, also share photos.

The big problem is that a lot of people only do one thing. For example, Joe Rogan seems to only do podcasts, both audio and visual. I would actually really like to see him just write things out, in plain text.

This is also the genius of Kanye West , he has been able to innovate fashion culture; he is probably the greatest force in evolving the new streetwear and street style, and modern day hip-hop, rapper look. Essentially billionaire beggar. Let us also consider that before Kanye West, it wasn’t really a concept to wear all black everything.

And this is actually how Kanye West got so rich; not through his music, but his influence in fashion. Cindy asked me a funny question the other day, does anyone even listen to Kanye anymore? Maybe not, but everyone loves his clothes and sneakers.

18. Thinking in another language

Another big benefit of being in Korea is that it has given me more time to think in Korean. For example, the “Yangban” notion of the Korean aristocracy. Thinking more about neo Confucianism, and the killing of Buddhism.

It is very important to think about Korea, being Korean American, etc. Why is that? Essentially at this point, I think we could consider Korea, South Korea as a neo-colony of America. Just look at the military. If the American military pulled out of South Korea, South Korea would be screwed.

Also, K-pop, and Korean culture. Korean dramas, movies, style, food, and music. Rich mainland Chinese guys and girls would probably prefer to look like BTS or BLACKPINK, instead of their own local stars.

Anyways, I’m starting to go on wiktionary.org more often, studying the etymology of a lot of Korean words, which has the roots in Chinese. Helps me get a more precise definition of a concept, and thinking in different languages helps spark creativity.

19. Be strange and different

A big insecurity I had about being Korean and Korean American was that no matter how hard I tried, I would not pass as being “Korean“, or having a bad accident. One of the biggest insecurities and shame was when I was a kid growing up was that when my friends told me that I spoke Korean like a white person.

But, let us consider that I could speak English a quadrillion times better than any local Korean, even if they were a Seoul university English professor.

Therefore, a big way to innovate is to get rid of shame. Shame binds all of us, whether in the west or the east. Shame is one of the strongest forms of social religious control, for example, the thought that even Jesus knows when you’re fapping.

Don’t try to pass as anything, whether American, Korean, etc. Allow yourself to become a strange exotic plant, and speak differently than anyone else.

20. Never pleased

A lot of people are seeking happiness and satisfaction in life. But what if this was the great detriment to our innovation? Leave the satisfaction and happiness for the cows, not the wild predators.

Would you prefer to be a dissatisfied wolf or eagle? Or a happy and subservient cow?

I do think that great health is essential to innovate. Striving to sleep at least 8 to 12 hours a night, and also eating lots of nutritious food, meat. It seems that at least in Silicon Valley, the greatest detriment to our health is people not eating enough fatty red meat, not sleeping enough, and having too much caffeine and coffee late in the day.

Therefore I like the idea that in terms of innovation, you are not ever satisfied. But in terms of your sleep and meat consumption (once a day in the evening), you are.

INNOVATE WITH KIM

ERIC KIM WORKSHOPS >

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21. Think next

What are you going to do next? Let this be your great drive.

ERIC

New cool stuff

Reposted my book, 100 lessons from the masters of street photography. For some reason, Google seems to have unindexed it from Google search results, my hidden suspicion is that the Pearson photo education department is filing pseudo copyright claims on my book, in order to peddle more of their subpar books. Anyways, you can directly download it here via dropbox or Google drive.
New POV, point of view videos. Some new fun workout videos that I have with a GoPro strapped to my forehead, whether doing farmer work, or whether rock tossing.

Share the fun

Did this spark any fun new thoughts within yourself? Share the fun, and feel free to forward to a friend, also it is open source, so you could just re-publish it to your own website or blog, or translate it into a different language, Google translate is your friend.