We, as business leaders, are not able to visualize innovation sometimes not only due to focusing on “instant returns”; but also, due to filling our minds & attention with preconceptions or cultural barriers from experiences in our past. As we lift up our eyes and look into the horizon; we will be able to see in front of us a landscape full of rivalry, uneasiness and technology which are key ingredients to ignite invention & revolution. So, let’s plant the seed and harvest its riches by breaking through innovation!
Few weeks ago was the announcement of the new iPhone (6S) which doesn’t bring too many new features; but it is a phone that has done a tremendous job evangelizing a niche of the market and becoming an “idol of worship”. Don’t get me wrong; Apple’s creativity group has done a tremendous job engineering a brand & product that attracts waves of people to the stores who literally wait in line for endless days or hours in order to get the latest product. Given iPhone’s product power; carriers have now realized a long standing profitable tendency and have decided to capture those people that have limited cash flow by breaking through the innovation of offering a leasing program (a financial game); or just check Sprint great strategy.
On the other hand, the profit of US newspaper companies continue its accelerated decline driven by the latest technology & instantaneous access of data. However, it’s has even been challenging to monetize such market as now readers have access to tons of free sources of information. Therefore, newspaper companies are required to target under-developed territories such as India on which breaking through innovation is: selling ads on a normal newspaper marketed in the corner of the street! According to the Wall Street Journal, the newspaper growth has been increasing by 64% since 2011; and Ad Sales are up by 61%. It’s remarkable to see how under-developed countries show off on the radar by its habitants making an effort to become more educated and break through progress.
A break through of innovation starts within us and must be an activity that is practiced & persevered every day (check out the great video included here by Steven Johnson). As Tony Buzan, the author and creator of Mind Mapping says, “Learning how to learn is life’s most important skill”; therefore, I would suggest applying each of the following steps in order to conquer innovation within your personal projects, career, spiritual life, etc:
- Question everything you see around you.
- Separate time daily or every week to think on how you can improve your current challenge, environment or product.
- Once an idea comes to mind, write it immediately, meditate on it, and map the process of how your idea or product can improve your challenge or environment.
- Surround yourself with people that will listen, encourage, and positively question your idea in order to BREAK THROUGHT INNOVATION!
- Lastly, Persevere…..don’t stop!
(By the way, I have decided to experiment buying used cellphones from Amazon instead of new, and I can tell you that the Return on Investment – ROI has been excellent!!).
Take care.