THE FLIGHT OF THE EAGLE # 1
Innovation
Motivated by my father, since early in my personality development, the concept of innovation was presented as the winning factor to make ourselves different and unique. Humans are gifted with specific talents and with the opportunity to develop specific strengths no matter what your gender, nationality, level of education or any background characteristic is. The ability to make ourselves different through the development of unique talents or strengths is a must have factor in our very competitive world, this is the survival approach. It is also the opportunity to enjoy what we do in life. Having said this, Innovation is a strong talent, a unique tool and a powerful skill. But what is innovation? How can we innovate? How do we know we will succeed?
Innovation – by definition- is a clear concept that illustrates the capacity to create something new or the build a change, or to challenge the status quo. however, innovation by practice is not a straight forward process that everyone without training, education or mentorship can simply apply, it is actually a complex practice that very few dare to accomplish. In modern business approaches such as entrepreneurship, innovation is a must behind the strategy and what it really represents is the motivation to carry out the implementation plan regardless of the external factors, positive or negative, it is the strength to continue believing in what you believe in, no matters what.
Ok but how do we go from the idea conception to the battle against the naysayers? Yes naysayers, innovation means we should go against the grain and that is the first step to start with. Innovation means your idea is unique and only you know the value behind it and only you can understand the impact, initially of course. So, the first question you should ask yourself is who else is doing this? Who else has tried this before? If the answer is nobody, then you have a strong first step. The second question is are you afraid of it? If the answer is yes, then you have a strong second step. Greatest innovators in our modern world always feared the outcome of the idea (Tesla, Jobs, Ford…), it is not about the risk, it is about how big you want to go! If you aren’t afraid when developing and implementing the idea, then your aspiration isn’t big enough, think bigger. The last question is why are you doing this? If the answer is to make a better work place, a better world, a better environment then it is all the reason you need. The success probability increases as you benefit large segments of the population and for the right reasons. Ideas that have a large impact are more likely to be better supported by the segment population you plan to benefit to.
Innovation is the ability to create something significant, big, new and that can benefit many, and many can be afraid of. This is the lesson from my father when I was 10 years old, and 25 years later I think I finally understand what the first lesson was about… Eagles fly in circles for the same reason that glider/sailplane pilots do: they are trying to stay inside a thermal high to gain height without effort but never twice over the same space.
The innovation model is unique to our experience, knowledge, abilities and skills. Steve Jobs defined innovation as the ability to connect dots in a lifetime experience “You can’t connect the dots looking forward; you can only connect them looking backwards”. I believe the dots can be arranged, organized as well as connected for a bigger picture as the come across in life.
To be continued if you like it……….