QFF: Unlocking Innovation with Dr. Linda Sands of Adaptology: How Curiosity, Science & Customer Feedback Help Small Biz Owners Outsmart Big Corporates & Rapidly Create Game-Changing Value. (Episode 664 - Dr. Linda Sands)

QFF: Quick Fire Friday – Your 20-Minute Growth Powerhouse!

Welcome to Quick Fire Friday, the Grow A Small Business podcast series that is designed to deliver simple, focused and actionable insights and key takeaways in less than 20 minutes a week.

Every Friday, we bring you business owners and experts who share their top strategies for growing yourself, your team and your small business. Get ready for a dose of inspiration, one action you can implement and quotable quotes that will stick with you long after the episode ends!

In this episode of Quick Fire Friday, host Amanda Jones interviews Dr. Linda Sands, innovation coach and founder of Adaptology. Linda shares how small business owners can harness the power of curiosity, experimentation, and structured thinking to stay agile and customer-focused. She busts common innovation myths and explains why small businesses are better positioned than large corporates to test, adapt, and create value.

She also recommends “The Little Black Book of Innovation by Scott D. Anthony” as a must-read for anyone looking to better understand and apply innovation.

📚 Want to keep growing your mindset and innovation skills?

Don’t miss Dr. Linda Sands’ Free Book Club — a handpicked selection of powerful reads to fuel your business growth and creative thinking. Join now at adaptology.com.au/book-club.

Key Takeaways for Small Business Owners:

Innovation Isn’t Just About Tech – True innovation means creating something different that adds value, not necessarily using the latest technology like AI.

Small Businesses Have a Superpower – Their close proximity to customers gives them a huge advantage in testing ideas, gathering real feedback, and iterating quickly.

Scientific Thinking Drives Better Decisions – Applying structured, research-based methods from science can improve clarity and reduce risk when making business decisions.

Our hero crafts outstanding reviews following the experience of listening to our special guests. Are you the one we've been waiting for?

Write It Down, Step Back, Reassess – Linda recommends journaling and using “incubation time” to gain clarity on business challenges and unlock fresh solutions.

Confirmation Bias is a Hidden Trap – Don’t just look for feedback that validates your ideas—actively seek out what’s not working, especially from customers who’ve left.

A Coach Can Unlock Growth – Even experienced coaches need coaches. Having someone objective to challenge your thinking can drive real business breakthroughs.

One action small business owners can take:

According to Dr. Linda Sands one action a small business owner who is struggling can take is to be aware and look at other organizations and other industries. Keeping your eyes open to how other people do things is important because that is where really fresh ideas can come from.

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Quotable quotes from our special Grow A Small Business podcast guest:

Innovation is something different that creates value – Dr. Linda Sands

Your first idea is just a draft—expect to refine, not to be right – Dr. Linda Sands

Don’t fear feedback; it’s the fastest route to growth – Dr. Linda Sands