A Different Perspective

If you want to get rave reviews for a new drink, hire…a programmer for an insurance company.  The new drink was the bacon-infused old fashioned, and the programmer was Don Lee, who had a deep knowledge of chemistry, a fascination with mixing cocktails and a lot of time on his hands.  With no formal training in bartending or mixology, he came at the task with a novice’s enthusiasm and a chemist’s curiosity, and began experimenting in earnest, leading to that successful cocktail and many more.  Do you always hire people with industry experience, or is there someone in your organization who brings an “outsider’s” perspective to the table.  It’s hard to innovate when everyone thinks alike.