If you have ideas, Don’t give up!
COMMENT, Melbourne — I have to tell myself this one sometimes. “Don’t give up!”
Some days it seems that myopia and conservatism stop real progress. Corporations are by nature conservative. Government doesn’t often like even simple practical ideas.
I know from your comments, you ideas people feel the same often!
As difficult as real change is, nor am I a supporter of revolutionary changes.
I believe in compromise, debate, multi-lateralism, dialogue and the primacy of ideas. I have seen them work well to refine an idea into a positive change.
(Innovation? It’s merely positive change.)
But the reality is that all ideas leading to innovation start with people.
Individuals. Ideas people like you and me.
Inspired individuals with ideas start it all.
And ideas don’t need restraint, they need release.
But it’s at the following implementation stage, that committees and practical means come into play.
There then needs to be markets and stakeholders to support the system.
This model is detailed in the Global Innovation Review, available for purchase from www.2thinknow.com/gir/ now in its revised edition, including a major map of change to 2013, and 2009 top 10 change trends.
It’s original research. But it came from all the individual conversations I have had in those 350 plus organizations, and recently in innovation cities worldwide.
Conversation with people like you.
Conversations then extended online. This is a truly global innovation conversation.
So don’t give up.
We don’t have a shortage of ideas, we have a shortage of opportunities for people like us to implement.
Ideas people I talk to are frustrated
People I know with ideas are frustrated. You all tell me so!
People from all disciplines, people with PhDs, students, activists, people working in firms, writers, journalists, thinkers with practical experience and consultants.
People from cities all over the world.
Ideas people like you and me, everywhere are frustrated with their ability to implement.
Although some cities are better for certain types and stages of innovation than others, as shown in the Global Innovation Review.
People like us need the opportunity to implement ideas to create innovation. And we see less opportunities to realize ideas.
Many us jump from problem-definition to solution mode, saying that if only this or that were different. The reality is that change in the current world climate is increasingly under the grip of various conservative forces, preventing change. It’s broader than a single issue.
If you are an ideas person…
Don’t give up. It’s a global world.
Ideas are valuable, but realize your strengths and weaknesses.
Realize that official channels only sometimes work, and are more and more based around connections. If you’re born with those connections, or go to the right school/university, you can further them. But if you’re not, you may need to go to emerging industries to find non-nepotist industries.
Let’s try and change things. Let’s band together.
What to change?
These are just a few ideas:
Environmental protection
Love your neighbor
Waste reduction
Spreading art instead of TV
Meaningful dialogue on issues
Creating new media
These are just some ideas. If you’re an ideas person you have your own.
But we need to band together, and help create innovation.
How? Well let’s talk about it. I have some ideas, you surely do too. How about we continue our real dialogue…!
Take care,
Christopher
Speaker. Author. Editor-In-Chief. Executive Director of Innovation, 2thinknow.
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