A few years ago, I started a business with a friend.
We worked hard to build an idea we thought people would like, and that we thought might make the world a little bit better.
People certainly liked what we made... but our startup didn't succeed.
We closed the business.
Looking back, I know there were better things we could have done, but we couldn't see them then. We had invested our time, money, and - perhaps most importantly - a lot of our emotions into the idea... and that made it more difficult for us to be flexible in our thinking.
If we'd have been able to step away from where we were, to give us enough perspective to consider some more radical ideas, we'd have been in a much stronger position. We might even be running a successful version of that startup today.
Kick Cards are my solution for boxed-in thinking.
They're an innovation tool for startups - a playing-card sized deck of cards which help lead discussions, seed new ideas, and address any business blindspots. Ultimately, they're a smart, fun tool designed to make your startup better.
Using Kick Cards
I will be including 40+ different cards in each pack. You pick one randomly, or select one that tackles a particular category (at the bottom of the design in the image above). Each card has a question, discussion prompt or exercise that will take a part of your business and shift it somewhere very different, or suggest some essential spark.
There are some ground rules to help get the most out of the cards. These will be explained on an instruction card.
Some of the cards seem easy to answer, but I recommend 15 minutes minimum to explore each - sometimes the discussion point becomes more obvious as you progress... e.g. the 'Magic Hire' card above leads to discussions about greatest immediate need - it's not necessarily about staffing!
As a team - they're great for surfacing the things you all hold different opinions on, but never actually talk about, and they encourage you to work more tightly together, to form new ideas.
For sole founders - they help explore areas of running a business that aren't within your comfort zone, to help you get some outside perspective, and to help keep your thinking flexible.
For mentors and educators - They're a sharp tool for pushing your teams to question, grow confidence and have stronger self-directed innovation. They also give you good insight into personality dynamics.
I've worked in, been around, and supported innovative businesses for ten years. I know how amazing it is to see a startup make a radical change and begin to fly. I've also seen teams burn out, blinkered by a path they've been treading for so long that it's just become 'the thing they do'.
The theory is backed by my training in psychology, and experience of team development, but I've also sought help from specialists to ensure they have wide coverage, on topics which include: product, team, marketing, vision, tech, competitors and more.
Crowdfunding will allow me to manufacture these 'pocket mentors' and give you access to a beautifully designed, valuable, portable tool.
Please help me bring them to life! :)
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Update: Stretch Goals
I've planned for 48 cards in the base deck:
- 1x Preface and acknowledgements card
- 40x Kick Cards
- 5x Instruction cards
+ team-play
+ team-leader
+ self-guided
+ mentor
+ ideation tips - 2x Sponsor cards
More funds will allow me to expand the print, so, here are the first stretch goals... If I reach these targets, this is what I can add to EVERYONE'S deck!
* [GOAL HIT!] £1,500 - Blocker Card (49 card deck, of which 40 are Question Cards)
The aim of Kick Cards is to encourage ideas to fly. Human nature makes us cling to the 'safe' space we're in. I often see one team member suggest the seed of an idea, and another immediately justify why it doesn't fit... without giving it enough time to properly grow and flower.
The blocker card is a visual reminder that sits on the table. If any team members think an idea is being blocked, they can point at this card without repercussion. It's a soft way to keep discussion moving in a positive direction!
* [GOAL HIT!] £1,800 - An Extra Kick Card (50 card deck, of which 41 are Question Cards)
I'll select another card from the prototype deck to be included in the final print deck.
* [GOAL HIT!] £2,100 - Aspects Card (51 card deck, of which 41 are Question Cards)
I'm intrigued by different directions we can approach a question from. For example, the Six Thinking Hats method is designed to engage different drives - rational, emotional and creative.
I have ideas for aspects that will extend all of the cards. These include approaches like "Imagine you are your own evil twin" and "Imagine that money is absolutely unlimited". While the ideas they generate might not be perfect for implementation (I don't want you to actually become your own evil twin!), they should tap into somewhere you wouldn't ordinarily go.
The Aspects card will present four additional ways to approach a Question Card. You can choose an aspect, or flip a coin twice for a random choice. This means all your Question Cards get a value multiplier!
* [GOAL HIT!] £2,500 - An Extra Kick Card (52 card deck, of which 42 are Question Cards)
I'll select another card from the prototype deck to be included in the final print deck.
* [Goal HIT!] £3,000 - Ideas Sheet (PDF download)
I will put together a note-taking sheet, especially designed to get the most out of a Kick Card discussion. It'll be short, neat and oriented towards action.
This will be available to all backers as a PDF download, so you can print off as many as you like!
* £3,500 - Stickers (& Backer Party Buy-Back!)
Everyone loves... stickers, right!? Pop one on your laptop for extra cred! For all printed deck backers...
Also help fund the Backer Party we held on 21st June ;)
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