I don’t have just one, but a few. My favorite quotes about innovation come from people who are not in the business of innovation. They are not Captains of Industry. What they are, is cultural icons. Both these people are my heroes, and share the same two initials: MJ

• “Study the greats, and become greater.” – Michael Jackson
• “I’ve missed more than 9000 shots in my career. I’ve lost almost 300 games. 26 times, I’ve been trusted to take the game winning shot and missed. I’ve failed over and over and over again in my life. And that is why I succeed.” – Michael Jordan

I’ve never looked up to people who do things for money. I look up to people who genuinely love what they do, and who want and need to be the best at what they do. That is the mindset. And sometimes, these people become the best for the world because of it.

Here’s another quote I found recently:

• “The question is not ‘how do we become the best in the world?’ but ‘how do we become the best for the world?'” – Uffe Albaek, Founder, The Kaos Pilots

Your turn, what are your favorite quotes about innovation and why?