What Sparks Innovation

1. "Einstein started from scratch!"
2. "Edison = scratch!"
3. "Picasso = scratch!"

You know why most of us suck at innovating?

• Think about a typical "inventions" show.
• Think about the f-u-g product ideas you heard last week.
• Think about that product your company launched years ago.

What happened?

1. We think innovations come from some spark.
2. So, we isolate ourselves from the world -- waiting until that little "breakthrough" hits.
3. When we think it hits, and throw it to the markets, what happens? FAIL. (you = out-of-touch)

True innovations don't happen in isolation; the more we isolate ourselves, the more the world whizzes pass us -- eroding our opportunity to change the !@^^^@ world.

The greatest inventions?

Get this: They're byproducts.

Capitalize on Knowledge

What inspired the greatest innovators?

• Model T: Ransom Olds (Oldsmobile)
• Orville Brothers: Flight chasers who ignored safety.
• Rosa Parks: Jackie Robinson who stood pat a decade prior (among many others).
• Google's 20% time: Xerox's 15% time

Oh, and:

• Gates: Jobs
• Jobs: Xerox
• Xerox: SRI
• Yadda.

Innovations happen systematically (or an evolutionary process):

1. Suck.
2. Suck less.
3. Suck lesser.
4. Suck lesserer.
5. Suck lessererer.

The recipe to innovation:

1. Capitalize on what the world has already given you.
2. Make it better.

Google @!^@$. Capitalize.

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