Where are the Limits?

August 7, 2008

It seems that the internet has opened up a world of possibilities so limitless that we have yet to even grasp the complexity of what we’re entering into.  In a business sense, the web is changing everything.  From the moment that Amazon.com opened an online bookstore with what seemed like an unlimited number of titles, things started to change.  It is easy to see where this could take us, but difficult to understand it at the same time.

Traditional brick and mortar stores that have built a reputation on what they know are dying.  They fight and scratch and claw at the internet moguls to try and steal back what they used to own.  And yet they know that they can’t do anything about it.  They can’t change, much less influence, anything about the “new economy”.

In a social sense, the web has connected people, and will continue to connect people, in ways that were never before possible.  If you have the time, I would invite you to check out this video of a presentation by Michael Wesch about YouTube/Web 2.0 communities.  It is a powerful commentary on where we are, and where we are going as an online society.

It is strange to think that the rules are changing every day.  But with the internet, nothing is constant.  There is nothing that is out of reach, and nothing that cannot be created.  In a world without limits, who can tell you when to stop.  Innovation is at it’s height right now.  But it will be higher tomorrow.  Each new day will be the peak of innovation in the history of the world.  So what are you doing about it?

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Posted by Zach Heller

Routine Busters

August 4, 2008

Apple builds it right into their tagline, Think Different. The quickest, surefire way to keep the innovator within from coming out is to get stuck in your routines. We all have them. Routines keep us going, they create our comfort zones, they make us get things done. But routines are dangerous, especially if you ever really want to change anything.

When we develop a routine, either as individuals or as an organization, we are limiting our experiences. We are creating an environment where things that are new and different have no place. We feel comfortable the more we practice this routine, and are therefore less likely to step back and challenge ourselves.

Here is an idea, break the routine. I am not saying get rid of it altogether, just change it up from time to time. Do things in the wrong order. Wake up 20 minutes earlier. Go for a walk. Forget about your email for a day. Though all of these things may be quite trivial, they will at least get you out of your comfort zone and thinking about things differently. That is the first step to creating real positive change.

Whenever you find that you are sleep walking through whatever it is that you are doing, wake yourself up. Step outside your comfort zone and see how things change. Don’t make it easy on yourself, because all you are doing is creating limitations. Challenge yourself to do as Apple says and Think Different.

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Posted by Zach Heller

The Big Bad “R” Word

August 1, 2008

Risk is a huge factor when it comes to innovation. How you view risk will define how likely you are to be innovative.

There is a certain mindset that the most innovative people in the business world take on. That mindset involves taking risks, making mistakes, and not being afraid to be different and stand out. It is not a popular mindset, but then again, the life of an innovator is an uncommon one.

The mass media and other “noise” has distorted our view of the world by overplaying the idea that mistakes are bad. Most people in business will tell you that the company that they work for demands risk minimization to avoid making mistakes at all costs. This is because a company that makes a mistake is “trashed” in the news, and further scrutinized for other decisions they have made or will make. And most times, the scrutiny will be directed to the top of the organization, no matter what level the mistakes are made at.

Therefore, CEO’s and department heads are less likely to allow any mistakes to be made, even ones that move the company forward. To be innovative, you must be willing to risk your neck a little. You must be willing to do things that no one else is doing, which can sometimes lead to mistakes and slip ups. But without the desire and ability to try these things, how will you ever be able to move forward. I found an interesting blog on “Mistake Policies” that is a good read.

Instead of viewing risk as a bad thing, view it as a necessary part of success. Approach it with the thought that taking risks will lead to further development of the company at all levels. Much more on this to come…

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Posted by Zach Heller

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