Is There An Innovation Cheat Code?

There are thousands of books written, consulting services sold, it’s talked about all the time, and I’ve written about this many times, yet people continue to ask: what’s the fastest, less risky, path to innovation? Is there a cheat code?

Yes, there is. It’s called trying stuff; or more specifically experimentation. I’ll simplify innovation for you: get curious, talk to people and try stuff.

There are all kinds of cheat codes laying around, but they usually look boring. The cheat code is often the obvious thing. It’s “the fundamentals” applied consistently and without distraction. The problem is there are many things people and organizations know work, but don’t actually do.

As James Clear says, there are 3 primary drivers or results in life:

  1. Your luck (randomness);
  2. Your strategy (choices);
  3. Your actions (habits).

Only 2 of the 3 are under your control. But if you master 2, you can improve the odds that luck will work for you rather than against you.

So, focus on the fundamentals (get curious, talk to people, try stuff).


Bottom line: The shortest path to innovation is to try more. There is no innovation without experimentation.