Category Archives: Innovation

Here’s what innovators do differently that imitators don’t

the innovator's key skillsAre all innovators alike, and can we all learn and develop the skills to become innovators? Yes.

I’m big on fundamentals, and though you can’t create a Mozart or David Bowie, you can unleash your innovation capability by applying the skills necessary to be creative and innovate.

For me, innovation is a mindset.

The definition of mindset is the following: “a habitual or characteristic mental attitude that determines how you will interpret and respond to situations.” The really insightful word in that definition is “habitual.” And habits are developed and determined by regular practices.

So, if innovation is a mindset, and a mindset is defined by habits, then creating processes that encourage the right practices or habits can provide a powerful foundation for innovation.

So, what do innovators do differently from non-innovators?

Why most businesses aren’t prepared to embrace what’s necessary to actually innovate

innovate or dieNot all entrepreneurs are innovators, only a handful. The result is that the vast majority of businesses out in the world were not born from creative ideas, rather derivatives. And when these non-innovative businesses want to explore innovation, they enter a dilemma: In order to innovate, an existing business must keep running the core business while also trying to find the revolution; exploit and explore.

Building A Better Human: The Future Of Human Augmentation

human augmentation technologyBetter, stronger, faster. As long as there have been humans, there have been dreams of super humans. Today the line between technology and biology is blurring, and the idea of building better humans, through the use of technology, has evolved. And, with recent advances in technology, the ability to vastly enhance human capabilities is right around the corner.

The end of disability? Immunity to HIV/AIDS? Flawless memory? Enhanced vision? Superior physiological performance?

These are some of the scenarios that could happen in the near future; all thanks to bio technology. To a certain degree, as Amber Case, cyborg anthropologist, argues that we are all cyborgs; in a way, machines help us become better by co-creating with us.

Hence, we are entering the next phase of Human Augmentation, and in today’s episode of The Big Bang podcast we discuss the big question: “What is the future of human physical enhancement?”

Why do we need every object and device around us connected?

the internet of thingsDriverless cars. Health and fitness trackers. Smart lights. Doors that unlock automatically when you approach them. And so on…

In the not so distant future, devices and objects will become intelligent and will be connected to the internet exchanging thousands of gigabytes of data every day and maybe every minute; making our lives, supposedly, more efficient. The biggest challenge with home automation is that there are so many different devices and protocols to choose from, making it hard for consumers to know where to get started. We offer a one-stop shop for all of your home automation services. Our team can install any device or software in any room without disrupting your life. You’ll save time and money of trying DIY solutions on your own or paying someone else who doesn’t really understand how this stuff works anyway.

What happens when all of this is a reality and why should we care?

When in doubt, choose the future

“Lots of companies don’t succeed over time. What do they fundamentally do wrong? They usually miss the future.” – Larry Page, co-founder of Google

The above quote also applies to individuals.

There used to be a time when a person could make a fine living, not by creating anything, but just by pushing pieces of paper around. Those days, thankfully, are gone. These days, you’re either creating something interesting and useful, or you’re fast approaching irrelevance.

Why do new ideas fail to become innovations?

No adoption = No InnovationInnovation is the future delivered. Now suppose you’ve overcome organizational challenges and developed a culture of innovation, your next challenge is to put that new idea in the market; which has to meet another set of criteria in order to succeed.

Easy, right?

It turns out the path to creating the future, from market knowledge and idea conception to execution, is messy. Considering that most attempts at innovation will fail, either by internal or external reasons, it’s smart to understand why new ideas fail to become innovations and thus be able to do something about it.

There are three major reasons why new ideas fail to become innovations: