What Is Innovation?
Inspired by an article I have read.
In my opinion, I see that life is made up of dots. A vast number of folks believe that the dots they see everyday are all the dots there are. Therefore life goes in accordance with these known dots. The decisions and solutions commonly, along with the conclusions that we draw, are based on these widely known dots. Some companies develop their entire businesses on these known dots, this we know as the status quo — business as usual.
Then one day, someone comes along and sees one or more dots beyond the commonly agreed-upon dots — Dots that others have missed, dots that are ignored, dots that others have long since forgotten. Some like these new dots and celebrate this discovery. They prefer how things currently are uncomfortable with the everyday dots. Some protest these new dots; some even claim they are invalid or, worse, imaginary dots that don’t even exist. Yet, it is these new dots that potentially change everything. What is the source of these new dots? Notions — Unexpected connections, ideas, possibilities and imagination.
Fire was one of these dots, so is the wheel. And the bicycle and the automobile. And the computer, as well as the internet, smartphone and tablet. Many of today’s standard dots were at one time uncommon newly introduced dots.
So what is innovation? Those other dots — The ones others miss and have the certainty of knowing that the one you see is valid yet necessary since the world is always moving forward.
