Innovation Waits For No Man

In the dynamic landscape of technology, the urge to innovate is a constant force propelling businesses toward new horizons. Recently, in a conversation with a business owner, I encountered a sentiment that, upon closer examination, appears to reflect the majority rather than serve as an exception— the fear of embracing innovation due to concerns about the stability of emerging technologies. It's a common refrain: "I will wait for the tech to become more stable.” This is not a winning strategy.?

According to compelling statistics, a significant percentage of business owners and executives share this cautious approach. In Geoffrey A. Moore's seminal work, "Crossing the Chasm," the author categorizes adopters into different groups—Innovators making up about 2.5% of the total population, the Early Adopters about 13.5%, the Early Majority and the Late Majority both 34% and the Laggards (skeptics) the remaining 16%. The majority (Early and Late), tend to exhibit a hesitancy born out of the desire for stable technologies (or fear) before taking the plunge.

However, for those immersed in the world of startups and product innovation, being labeled an Innovator is not merely a classification; it is a way of life. The willingness to tackle problems head-on, and invest time, money, and resources into uncharted territories, defines this group. It's a journey marked by relentless determination and fueled by the belief that there is a better way of doing things.

Innovation, by Nature, Is Fraught with Challenges

As the saying goes, "If it was that easy, everyone else would have done it already!" Startup founders recognize the difficulty but persevere, driven by the conviction that even marginal improvements are monumental victories. The relentless pursuit of efficiency, automation, and beauty in solutions pushes them to the edge of what is possible.

Moreover, there's a substantial gap between building products in legacy tech spaces and venturing into emerging tech or creating entirely new categories. Selling these groundbreaking ideas to skeptics becomes a formidable task. The question arises: Should we even try? The answer: No.

Waiting is a Flawed Strategy

The idiom “the early bird gets the worm” applies equally to technology. Waiting will leave you wanting. Whether you're a marketer, business owner, or executive waiting for the right time, pricing, or market conditions, the cold splash of truth is that there is never a perfect moment. Technology, by its very nature, evolves. Successful individuals and companies are those aligned with technology or agency partners capable of moving at the speed of tech. It's not about waiting for stability; it's about finding partners who can navigate the evolving landscape so that you can move forward, keeping pace with the relentless march of innovation.

The era of waiting for the perfect conditions is over. The imperative is to seize the opportunities that innovation presents, recognizing that the perfect time is now, and the perfect partner is one who can match the tempo of technological evolution.