Blog: The Innovator's Dilemma
- 01 May, 2009 16:11
- Comments 2
Innovative ideas are not popular; it takes hard times to open our minds to innovative ideas. When things are going well enough there is no need to be innovative because innovation means moving outside our comfort zone; so why would we? If you are an innovator now is the best of times. But you need to be tough because you will cause discomfort and you will not popular (at first). With all the talk about innovation we make it sound like anyone can be an innovator. Don’t believe it. Your most successful innovations in the long run will make you most unpopular in the short run. You’ll upset the established order and cause discomfort to those who depend on the established order. Don’t look for approval; be an innovator only because you have to be. And be tough enough to handle the disapproval of those you threaten. Here are a couple of quotes from an innovator in the arts (real innovation is an art, not a science). His name was Jean Cocteau. He innovated in poetry, writing, design, theater, and filmmaking. He made himself unpopular in the short run and kept on doing what he did anyway (because he was different and he had to). In the long run he became famous.
He said, "Anything of importance cannot help but be unrecognizable, since it bears no resemblance to anything already known." So don't confuse innovation with merely making incremental improvements to existing ways of doing things. He also suggested: "Listen carefully to first criticisms of your work. Note carefully just what it is about your work that the critics don't like - then cultivate it. That's the part of your work that's individual and worth keeping." Do you believe in what you are doing enough to persevere in the face of withering criticism? Beware of so called innovators who become very popular very quickly - their easy popularity is a red flag that whatever they are doing is anything but innovative
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Comments
Nick Trendov
Customers Innovate, Suppliers Research and Hope
Innovation is a label worn by winners and those winners are chosen by customers who inspire innovation explicitly, identify it implicitly or simply throw in the towel and buy it when it becomes obvious.
The single innovator is a hopeful myth. Give me the desperate customer anytime for sure results. Look for a market with a catestrophic event and you will be able to pick out innovation six months later, maybe three months if you look carefully.
Of course the media will identify it with a case study a little later and academics will hold it up as a shining exemplar much later.
Cheers,
Nick
www.neuropersona.com
BestHelen
i have found what i was looking for !!!
I have found what i was looking for !!! thx )
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