Business Thoughts, Favorite Quotes, Rants and Observations

rediscovering innovation

Well.

I typically open my thoughts with a quote.

Today I will pose the issue first … and then share the quote I immediately thought about.
It all begins with one of the smartest friends I have.

He sent me a laundry list of possible topics for me to share thoughts on and one popped out … tell us what you think about ‘the most overused word in business – innovation.’

I couldn’t agree more.

And others agree <although it surely isn’t stopping them from using it apparently>.

An article from Wall Street Journal last year stated that the term innovation has begun to lose its meaning and reveals some incredible statistics on the usage of ‘innovation’ in the business world:

– ‘Innovation ‘ was mentioned in 33,528 quarterly and annual reports in 2011.

– More than 250 books were published with innovation in the title over a three month period.

– 28% of business schools use ‘innovation’ or ‘innovative’ or ‘innovate’ in their mission statements.

If you google ‘innovation over used term’ you get about 1,180,000 results (0.34 seconds).

But why is it so overused?

Because I think first and foremost … it is mis-defined … or maybe it is simply misdirected.

——-

“Vulnerability is the birthplace of innovation, creativity, and change.”
Brené Brown

——

Huh … mis-defined?
<you are saying>

Well.

Because innovation has been painted as the ‘essential ingredient for the future’ or ‘businesses die without innovation’ it has become the ‘go-to-must-have’ to even sound like you are a viable business.

Therefore in doing so it has not only become overused … but it has simply become a conceptual amorphous blob that everyone and every company can do and certainly has incorporated into their culture <or they wouldn’t be worth a shit>.

But vulnerability <which is a swear word in business today because it isn’t positive or ‘opportunistic sounding> actually makes the amorphous blob into a sharp edged reality.
Really.

Vulnerability can do that.

Why? <or how>

Hmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm … let’s call it survival instinct.

Futuristic innovation drives pie in the sky what if ‘boy, wouldn’t it be cool’ type thinking.

Vulnerability innovation drives ‘crikey … I am gonna get the shit kicked out of me if I don’t do something’ type thinking.

<note: I was quite pleased to use ‘crikey’ in a sentence>

One is intangible.

One is so tangibly sharp thinking instincts are honed to a razor edge.

Innovation in and of itself is nothing more than thinking.

Sure.

It is a certain type of thinking … but thinking nonetheless.
But in today’s business world it has taken on so many shapes and definitions and even so many attitudes that it no longer has any meaningful shape.

People use it for everything … and therefore it means nothing.
Vulnerability.
Think about it.

How often would a business use innovation if it were associated with vulnerability? <answer: not many>

Accepting this aspect will winnow out the weak. Or maybe it will simply winnow out the ones who simply use innovation as a platitude rather than … well … meaningless business jargon tripe.

Vulnerability is the impetus for change.

Vulnerability is the impetus for survival instincts.

Vulnerability is the impetus for thinking … and ideas … and solutions.

Geez.

Wouldn’t that mean vulnerability is the impetus for innovation?

Regardless.

Typical silly me.

While I certainly enjoy a good rant <that innovation may be the most overused meaningless word in business today> I enjoy offering up a solution.

My solution to getting innovation to not only stop being used so often … but maybe being used properly?
Tie innovation to vulnerability.

Tie it to vulnerability and not only will you scare the shit out of a lot of businesses and people from using it but you actually put some soul back into the concept.

Putting some fear into the concept <which will make it significantly less attractive to businesses> will be good for business in general.

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June 29, 2014 by Bruce

Written by Bruce

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rediscovering innovation

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