The Art of Innovation Part 2...

Continued from previous post...Peter Druker inspired tips to keep your creativity flowing in the right direction:


6. Don't be afraid to polarize people: The Holy Grail of ideas, that means great things to all people, simply doesn't exist. And in seeking it you're almost guaranteeing mediocrity. Instead, create great things that make segments of people very happy. And don't worry if those things make others unhappy. Passionate reaction is the barometer of innovative success. Good or bad, the greater the better.


7. Break down barriers: Life isn't fair. Learn it and deal with it. The better your idea is, the more barriers the status quo will erect in your way. So don't get flustered if acceptance and traction comes slow. Embrace it. In fact the best way to break barriers is to get people to use, try and download whatever is you're creating. Listen. Learn. Tweak. Ship. 


8. "Let a hundred flowers blossom": (Stolen from Chairman Mao). Be flexible about how people use your ideas and products. The market may surprise you and find uses you never intended, or even thought about. (Did you know micro-blogging site Tumblr has become one of the largest free porn sites on the internet?) The lesson is to sow fields, not water boxes, and let those hundred flowers blossom.


9. Never ask people to do what you wouldn't do: Massive test for your company. And links back to points and 1 and 2 of Saturday's Part 1. Make it meaningful and practical. You wouldn't jump through hoops so don't expect customers to, either.


10. Don't let Doubters get you down: It's amazing how many people will tell you it's not worth doing, can't be done, shouldn't be done and isn't necessary. Sometimes its losers who are easy to ignore. Worse than that though are family and friends who hold some emotional equity over you. But the most dangerous of all are the rich, famous, and powerful: Because they are so successful, you may think they are right. They're not right. They are just successful on a previous curve so cannot comprehend, much bless embrace, the next curve that you are looking create, or at least redefine.