Did you know from a language development standpoint it’s actually easier for a child to say the word “no” than “yes?” Suddenly that explains why my two year old’s favorite word is “no!” Unfortunately, as adults that scientific fact doesn’t change much. We live in a world full of rules, red-tape, processes and procedures. If we are truly honest with ourselves we should also admit that we live in a world in which the buck rarely stops with us. This ultimately means we all answer to someone else. Translation: to truly create something radical and revolutionary, you are going to have to overcome a heaping stack of “no’s!”
Before you get discouraged, let’s look at the facts. These days innovation is not only a fundamental source of competitive advantage for organizations but as recent times suggest, a necessity for survival. As a sign of the times, a quick Google search populates over 44 million hits. Research indicates that thousands of organizations are investing in innovation programs every year and yet, only a handful of companies out there are truly innovative. What gives?
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