Curious about the secret ingredients behind Co:cubed’s weekly team wrap-ups? As part of the Innovation Bank, we love sharing the quirky, thought-provoking insights that fuel our innovation journey

In part one, we delved into some of our favourite moments from last year – you can check that out here. Now, in part two, we’re serving up a fresh batch of top takeaways. From learning how to stand out and shout about it to setting bold goals and even selling without selling, we’re sharing some top-notch resources!

1. Stand Out and Shout About It

Watch here.

Inspired by Seth Godin’s Purple Cow, we explored how to stand out in a crowded market. Gone are the days when advertising alone built brands; it’s about innovating products or services that are so unique, they can’t help but spark conversations.

Key Lessons:

• The ‘Purple Cow’: Build products and services that are extraordinary and worth talking about—something so innovative it’s the “purple cow” in a field of brown ones.
• Find the ‘Sneezers’: Focus your energy on your most vocal fans and influencers — those who will passionately spread the word about what you do.
  
  
• Flip the Script: Look at what the market leader is doing, then do the opposite. Challenge the norm to create something unforgettable.
  
  
• Make it Infectious: Make your product easy to try, buy, and recommend.

Challenge:
Write down three things that make your work or business stand out. Then identify one group or individual who could help amplify your message and start a conversation with them.

2. Big Ambitions, Bold Goals

Listen here.

Saudi Arabia’s shift from an oil-dependent economy to a diversified future showed us the power of bold thinking. Inspired by Saudi Arabia’s bold Vision 2030 strategy, big changes require big goals, a clear strategy, and the courage to invest in long-term outcomes. Once the groundwork is laid, the results can be exponential.

Key Lessons:

• Front-Load the Work: Like Saudi Arabia’s investments, bold goals often require significant upfront effort without immediate returns. 
  
  
• Big Bets, Bigger Payoffs:To lead, you need to take risks—but they should be calculated risks rooted in a clear understanding of your long-term vision.
  
  
• Context is Everything: The clarity of Vision 2030 makes sense when viewed in the context of Saudi’s ambitions. Understanding the “why” behind bold moves can inspire similarly bold thinking in our own strategy.
  
  
• The Power of Generational Thinking: With 70% of the population under 30, Saudi’s goals reflect the mindset of innovators: thinking ahead and shaping a future for the next generation.

Challenge:
Reflect on your current goals. Are you playing it safe, or are there opportunities to think bigger? Identify one bold ambition for 2025 and map out the first three steps you need to take to get there.

3. Selling Without Selling

Listen here.

This podcast from The Art of Communication explored that sales isn’t about pushing products but solving problems. This shift in perspective reframes selling as a way to genuinely meet a client’s needs.

Key Lessons:

• It’s not about selling a “TV” but understanding the problem the customer is trying to solve.
• Effective sales start with listening. Use curiosity to uncover what clients need, even if they don’t know it themselves.

Challenge:
During your next client conversation, ask three open-ended questions to uncover their underlying challenges. Focus on understanding their needs rather than pitching solutions right away.

That’s a wrap on our second slice of innovation goodness! We hope these insights have given you a few ideas to ponder and a spark to light up your own projects. Thanks for taking this journey with us – here’s to standing out, thinking big, and, most importantly, having a bit of fun along the way. Cheers, and see you next time in the Innovation Bank!