Continuing (finally!) with my crafting of the ABCs of Innovation, I now focus on the letter "B." I have carefully chosen the word BOLD for this entry. Among the definitions I found for the word are --
1. Not hesitating or fearful in the face of danger or rebuff; courageous and daring.
2. Not hesitating to break the rules of propriety; forward; impudent.
3. Necessitating courage and daring; challenging.
4. Beyond the usual limits of conventional thought or action; imaginative.
You'll note that nowhere among these definitions are the words outrageous, unrealistic, or foolhardy.
Being a bold innovator simply means being willing to laughed at, ridiculed, and frankly -- pissing people off. Bold ideas are those that challenge the status quo and those that enforce it. Bold innovations are those ideas that usually result in a committee of people reflexively saying NO to whatever changes it in entails -- usually for no other reason than "we've never done it that way before."
Can you stand up to a little laughing behind your back? Do you believe in the idea enough to fight for it? Can you come up with one more reason to put your plan into action than "they" can come up with for reasons to kill it?
Markting guru Hugh MacLeod (the guy who draws cartoons on the back of business cards) has a cartoon of which I am especially fond. The accompanying words are "It's not an original idea till it costs you the corner office." I've pasted it below to inspire you -- and to perhaps decorate that cube they're going to move you to if you suggest an idea that's too bold for your company (my advice is to go find a bolder company -- you're current one isn't going to be around very much longer.)
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