Continuing the ABCs of Innovation, we now turn our attention to the letter "C." Sure, it might be considered an obvious choice, but my original thought was to go with "creative" which (while still applicable) didn't have the same power as the more direct CREATE.
Some examples of how Dictionary.com defines CREATE:
...to cause to come into being, as something unique that would not naturally evolve or that is not made by ordinary processes.
...to evolve from one's own thought or imagination, as a work of art or an invention.
...to cause to happen; bring about; arrange, as by intention or design: to create a revolution.
These three definitions really made CREATE the obvious choice. They address important elements of innovation -- the most powerful innovations come from extraordinary circumstances, are usually inspired by a single bold thinker, and come into reality through an overt decision to 'make it real.'
Try these five CREATE tips to make your innovation efforts more successful:
1. Jump ahead in the evolutionary process
Don't merely come up with an idea that takes the next 'logical' step -- think three, four, five moves ahead. Creating with 'leap frog logic' will have competitors chasing after to you. As the Great Gretzky said: "Skate to where the puck is going to be, not to where it's been."
2. Don't move in a straight line
Depending on the reason you believe -- comets, an ice age, or smoking brought about an end to the dinosaurs. An outside force that completely altered the status quo forever. Technology has this effect on industries all the time (VCRs, Personal Computers, Music Downloads, etc.) What can you create that comes totally out of left field that will have an unalterable effect on the world as we currently know it?
3. Be a force for change
Someone once told me there are two constants --
Number One: Change is inevitable.
Number Two: People resist change.
After that, I never quite understood why people spent so much time and stress trying to avoid something that was going to happen anyway: Rob a bank, go to jail. Touch fire, get burned. Be a Cleveland Browns fan, live a life of disappointment. Why not embrace change and the opportunity it brings? Seems like a waste of energy to try and avoid it. Use it as a chance (and excuse?) to create.
4. Be an artist
How wonderful to think about whatever you are working on as "art." Treat every project in which you are involved as if it might one day be spoken of in reverent whispers while being viewed on display in a place of honor... and perhaps someday it will be. Ben Franklin offered the best advice (as usual) -- "Either write something worth reading or do something worth writing."
5. Act with intent
When you create -- do it on purpose. Make sure your success no accident -- and then prove it by going out and doing it again and again. A single success can be explained by a lightning strike. Repeated innovations (each one surpassing the other) is a hallmark of genius. Franklin, Edison, Disney -- you could find worse role models.
Bring earth-changing, awe-inspiring ideas into reality and do it on purpose.
CREATE!
Don... er... Mr. Idea Guy...
Thank you for linking to the Franklin quote I had on Idea Sandbox. Obviously I found it inspiring as well.
Nice post! Speaking of quotes... I like the Gretzky quote.
Paul
Posted by: Paul (from Idea Sandbox) | October 22, 2008 at 08:54 AM