It's time to get real ... innovation is UGLY.

So many executives don't understand innovation. They think it's "fun" and "soft" and "optional." The truth is, it's not that fun at all, and it's incredibly easy to fail at. This is a book about the hard realities - both the misconceptions and the mistakes that trip us innovators up.

After 25 years of screwing up and learning the hard way, Lambert knows how to overcome the most painful parts of innovation. This peek behind the curtain will give you an insider's view of what works and what doesn't. Learn how to run truly productive brainstorms, nail a three-year innovation calendar, convince retailers to take your new product, and write an innovation strategy that keeps you on track in the face of a lot of different pressures.

If that all sounds hard, you're right. Innovation is ugly.

But if it sounds boring, you're wrong. Because this is not a traditional business book.