with Jim Bramlett
May 12, 2026
Episode 1252
Podcast 1252: The Art of Change: Transforming Paradoxes into Breakthroughs | Jeff DeGraff
By Greg Voisen·
Inside Personal Growth
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Show Notes
In this episode
Change is never easy. For many of us, it feels uncomfortable, messy, and full of contradictions. Yet, as Jeff DeGraff—the renowned “Dean of Innovation”—argues, those very contradictions are the fuel that drives true transformation. In his latest book, The Art of Change: Transforming Paradoxes into Breakthroughs, Jeff provides a roadmap for leaders, innovators, and everyday people to not only navigate change but to thrive in it.
About Jeff DeGraff
Jeff DeGraff is a clinical professor at the University of Michigan’s Ross School of Business and the founder of Innovatrium, an innovation consulting firm. Over the past three decades, he has worked with Fortune 500 executives, the military, and NASA leaders, helping them solve complex problems and foster growth.
But Jeff’s career isn’t just academic—he cut his teeth as an executive during the early days of Domino’s Pizza, helping it become one of the fastest-growing companies in the United States. This blend of hands-on business leadership and academic expertise has shaped his unique approach to innovation and change.
Inside The Art of Change
In this book, Jeff explores seven paradoxes that often seem contradictory but, when embraced, can lead to major breakthroughs. These include ideas such as:
- ✦Doing more by doing less – how scaling back can actually amplify results.
- ✦Why certainty often leads to failure – and why embracing ambiguity sparks innovation.
- ✦Resistance as a catalyst for transformation – reframing opposition as creative energy.
Jeff challenges the notion of “change theater”—the illusion of transformation where little actually shifts—and instead equips readers with tools for authentic, lasting change.
What You’ll Learn
Reading The Art of Change will help you:
- ✦Recognize when your organization (or life) is stuck in “change theater.”
- ✦Understand how to use paradoxical thinking to unlock creative solutions.
- ✦Learn why facts alone rarely change minds, and what truly influences behavior.
- ✦Apply practical experiments to test ideas quickly without massive risk.
- ✦Develop the resilience and mindset to navigate uncertainty with confidence.
These lessons are reinforced with real-world stories—from the rapid development of COVID-19 vaccines to Jeff’s own struggles and successes navigating conflict and transformation.
Why This Book Matters Today
We live in an age defined by paradox: rapid technological advancement meets resistance to change, global interconnectedness meets polarization, and efficiency collides with burnout. For leaders, entrepreneurs, and individuals, learning to embrace paradox rather than avoid it is the key to sustainable growth and innovation.
Jeff’s book arrives at the perfect time—offering not only a framework for change but also encouragement that breakthrough success often emerges from the very contradictions we fear.
Connect with Jeff DeGraff
Stay inspired and follow Jeff’s work across his platforms:
Final Thoughts
Change doesn’t have to be something to fear—it can be a source of creativity, growth, and renewal. In The Art of Change: Transforming Paradoxes into Breakthroughs, Jeff DeGraff shows us how to embrace contradictions and turn them into powerful opportunities for progress.
If you’re ready to move beyond “change theater” and into real transformation, this book will guide you on the path to your next breakthrough.
You may also refer to the transcripts below for the full transcription (not edited) of the interview.
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