In a time where
global economies continue to consolidate, innovation becomes more essential
than ever. More than fifty years
ago, the US was by far the dominant force in global trade. The world depended on our innovation. Now, other countries compete with
us. While improvements are
necessary, going forward, the wealthiest countries will be the creators of
breakthroughs, some technology or advancement that hasn’t existed before. Those
countries will attract and retain the most brilliant minds and stay one step
ahead.
Most experts in
science or business give great explanations for how breakthroughs are
created. However, like Monday
morning quarterbacks, they give explanations after the fact. The biggest problem with an explanation
is that it gives people no access to producing breakthroughs. It’s a description of the dish, but not
a recipe.
science or business give great explanations for how breakthroughs are
created. However, like Monday
morning quarterbacks, they give explanations after the fact. The biggest problem with an explanation
is that it gives people no access to producing breakthroughs. It’s a description of the dish, but not
a recipe.
Breakthroughs come
from nothing and they change the future and our behavior forever. Before the typewriter there was nothing. Before the computer there was
nothing. In hindsight, it is easy
to explain the transition from nothing to typewriter to computer. However, no one saw it ahead of time.
We had to go through the progression.
And not everyone thought of it.
Why not?
from nothing and they change the future and our behavior forever. Before the typewriter there was nothing. Before the computer there was
nothing. In hindsight, it is easy
to explain the transition from nothing to typewriter to computer. However, no one saw it ahead of time.
We had to go through the progression.
And not everyone thought of it.
Why not?
The business of
possibility is messy. Inventing
from nothing requires you think through a tremendous amount of
uncertainty. At the same time, if
you can get your mind to think nothing, everything is possible. While that may sound Pollyanna, I don’t
mean it that way.
possibility is messy. Inventing
from nothing requires you think through a tremendous amount of
uncertainty. At the same time, if
you can get your mind to think nothing, everything is possible. While that may sound Pollyanna, I don’t
mean it that way.
Every manager needs
to do this exercise periodically.
Take a step back and consider that coming from nothingness is a more
efficient path to a breakthrough than attempting to build on top of what
already exists. The goal of the
exercise is to be with nothing.
For most people, this is nearly impossible. Why? Because
you will be stuck with a borage of thoughts like, why do I have to do this?
This is boring. What am I getting
out of this? What now? What do I want to eat? Etc. You may even have visual pictures in
your head.
to do this exercise periodically.
Take a step back and consider that coming from nothingness is a more
efficient path to a breakthrough than attempting to build on top of what
already exists. The goal of the
exercise is to be with nothing.
For most people, this is nearly impossible. Why? Because
you will be stuck with a borage of thoughts like, why do I have to do this?
This is boring. What am I getting
out of this? What now? What do I want to eat? Etc. You may even have visual pictures in
your head.
And maybe the
toughest question: Why is this exercise
important? Because, when you
can be with nothing, you let go of presuppositions. What presuppositions did Sony have about MP3 players? Most people miss the opportunity to
invent breakthroughs because they have already predetermined what is possible
or impossible. Most importantly,
people already know their own limitations without ever experiencing the
situation. How many times have you
heard someone say: I was not meant to be a manager. Once you make this declaration, you spend the rest of your
time looking for evidence to support what you already know. Why? No one wants to be wrong. Everyone believes they are smart, especially when it comes
to understanding themselves.
toughest question: Why is this exercise
important? Because, when you
can be with nothing, you let go of presuppositions. What presuppositions did Sony have about MP3 players? Most people miss the opportunity to
invent breakthroughs because they have already predetermined what is possible
or impossible. Most importantly,
people already know their own limitations without ever experiencing the
situation. How many times have you
heard someone say: I was not meant to be a manager. Once you make this declaration, you spend the rest of your
time looking for evidence to support what you already know. Why? No one wants to be wrong. Everyone believes they are smart, especially when it comes
to understanding themselves.
When you can get to
nothing, you let go of predetermined beliefs. You let go of the beliefs that you were given to be
true. From there, you can start to
ask yourself important questions like, what do I stand for? Or, if I were identified as my
commitment, who would I be seen as?
nothing, you let go of predetermined beliefs. You let go of the beliefs that you were given to be
true. From there, you can start to
ask yourself important questions like, what do I stand for? Or, if I were identified as my
commitment, who would I be seen as?
In this exercise,
you would have to develop a new philosophy: nothing is more valuable than
something. Changing that mindset
alone can lead you to a new paradigm and the possibility of a breakthrough.
you would have to develop a new philosophy: nothing is more valuable than
something. Changing that mindset
alone can lead you to a new paradigm and the possibility of a breakthrough.