Dan Manning - Creativity and Designed Strategy in Small Business

Veteran Influencer Podcast

Dan Manning is the Founder of Firepower Concepts, a strategy practice that works with executives from business, non-profits, and government to use applied creativity to unlock ideas and solve tough problems. Dan creates what he calls a Designed Strategy, a roadmap for a strategic decision maker based on the principles of Design Thinking.

He is also the author of Stuck on Stuck Street : Unstick Your Creativity for a Better Business and a Better Life.

Dan retired from the U.S. Air Force where he flew the A-10 Warthog and served in diplomatic affairs and international security coordination. The second half of his career afforded him the opportunity to earn his PhD in Development Economics and International Development which drove the direction of his roles for the final 6 years of his active duty service, where he focused on foreign policy and leadership decision making.

In this episode, Dan shares his belief that austerity is the father of creativity, and how he carefully launched his business during his transition from the active duty to be able to hit the ground running as his career in the Air Force came to a close.

He now helps companies adapt their businesses and avoid being functionally fixed on a process but rather on pursuing opportunities in the market to produce customer value. We talk about the impact he makes with non-profits and small businesses, helping teams gain clarity on their strategic goals. Dan’s approach is to be Specific, Concise, and Prioritized.

Check out more from Dan on his Applied Creativity Blog