Sebell, Mark Henry

PERSONAL:

Male. Education: Colgate University, B.A., University of Michigan, M.B.A.

ADDRESSES:

Office—Creative Realities, Inc., 29 Commonwealth Ave., Boston, MA 02116. E-mail—[email protected].

CAREER:

Brand manager at Colgate-Palmolive New Ventures Group, Richardson-Vicks, and Carter- Wallace; Synetics, Inc. (problem-solving training firm), became managing partner, 1986; Creative Realities, Inc. (consulting firm), Boston, MA, founder and president, 1988—. Guest speaker on innovation success strategies.

WRITINGS:

(With Jeanne Yocum) Ban the Humorous Bazooka, Dearborn Trade (Chicago, IL), 2001.

SIDELIGHTS:

Mark Henry Sebell's consulting firm, Creative Realities, Inc., helps companies to find innovative strategies for coping with their challenges. Some of his ideas are incorporated in Ban the Humorous Bazooka, the book he authored with Jeanne Yocum. The term "humorous bazooka" is used by the authors to denote a witty comment used to shoot down a new idea. It is Sebell's belief that this happens frequently, and that much innovation is stifled by this casually destructive behavior. He notes that at least twenty-five percent of the companies he has worked for do not have a problem coming up with creative ideas; however, they are frequently unable to implement these ideas successfully. He describes why problems with innovation are common, and offers suggestions for avoiding the pitfalls. A reviewer for Publishers Weekly commented that Sebell's style "can be choppy," but added that "most of his points are lucid and accessible."

BIOGRAPHICAL AND CRITICAL SOURCES:

PERIODICALS

Booklist, April 1, 2001, David Rouse, review of Ban the Humorous Bazooka, p. 1436.

Indianapolis Business Journal, August 6, 2001, Tom Probasco, review of Ban the Humorous Bazooka, p. 51.

Publishers Weekly, February 26, 2001, review of Ban the Humorous Bazooka, p. 71.