Innovation means finding new ways of doing things that work better. Often times, most of the time, innovation does not require inventing something totally new and ingenious. Pulling off brand new ideas that actually work is rare and hard. More often, innovation is simply transferring knowledge from another industry, culture, or endeavor toward a goal you are striving for.
One example of this is the Japanese adopting William Deming’s Total Quality Management or TQM approach to manufacturing. In this case innovation on the part of the Japanese was simply adoption of a methodology that worked.
Another great example is illustrated in the incredible race to the South Pole, during the early 1900s, between the Englishman explorer “Scott” and the Norwegian “Amundsen”. Spoiler alert, Scott and his companions froze to death on the Antarctic ice sheet after struggling mightily toward their goal to be the first men to stand at the South Pole of planet earth. Grim and epic fail.
Amundsen, however, succeeded handily without struggle or tragedy. The difference? Innovation and focus! Scott used wool and cotton clothing, leading to sodden and frozen materials – and frostbite; while Amundsen outfitted his team with the clothing the Inuit people used, developed over thousands to withstand arctic conditions.
Scot tried to innovate. He initially tried to used combustion engine tractor like machines to travel over the ice. This was new and untested technology under these harsh conditions and failed miserably, so he then resorted to “man hauling” equipment on foot. Scott also bit off more than he could chew by including a whole host of scientific experiments along the way to the South Pole, compounding complexity and difficulty.
Again, Amundsen took his cues from the Inuit and used sleds and dogs exclusively for travel, their speed and efficiency was remarkable – maybe a little too efficient by today’s standards since they ate the dogs as their load lightened. Notice Amundsen’s “innovation” was technology that was thousands of years old, but new to European explorers. Also of note, he did not try to do any fancy scientific experiments; no, he focused on getting in and getting out – fast! Something does not have to be new to be innovative, just new to you or your situation/project.
The lesson here is to take your ques from others who have succeeded and apply their ways and “technology” to your situation. The Principles and practice of the 365 Commitment are not new, I’m sure they are relatively ancient, but they work.
For someone like myself, consciously incorporating daily good habits into my life by following the 365 Commitment process is “innovative” because its new to me and that all that is required. So, you too can label yourself an “innovator” by applying something new that works into your life! And you too can succeed in reaching audacious goals with relative ease, just like Amundsen did in 1911 when he was the first man to reach the South Pole. Apply technology that works and focus!
Ben Wagner (162)
Member The 365 Commitment
