Innovation isn’t just about technology. It is however always about solving a problem. Many years ago I was introduced to an old tale. I’ve always thought that it represented both a path and a model of innovation.
There was once a shepherd deep in the mountains of Spain. His job was simple throughout the long winter he was to protect the sheep. The first year he lost five sheep to the wolves. The second year he lost four sheep to the wolves. Each lost sheep was food off his families table. He thought long and hard over the summer of a solution.
When that winter arrived, he carefully tied the skinned fur of four wolves to four of his sheep. That winter he lost no sheep. He did the same thing the next year and again didn’t lose any sheep. That went on for a long time many years in fact. He passed that new way of doing things on to his son, his son passed it on to his son and so on.
It was an innovative way to fix a problem. That is what innovators do. They solve problems that they are facing in their lives. Sometimes they are even sheep in wolves clothing.
This is a preamble to a work I published more than 5 years ago now. I’ve updated it a couple of times and will share more this week!
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Question of
Do you know someone that is an innovator?
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Yes
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No
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Question of
It is ok to look for new ways to do things, right?
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Yes
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No
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Question of
Does Duct Tape solve everything?
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Yes
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No
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Question of
Did you know the invention of posit notes was a mistake?
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Yes
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No
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A perfect example of innovation. I believe a lot of people are innovative. Thank you for sharing.
Thanks –
Innovation is a passion of mine – there is more to come on this topic!
I know a couple of inovators, and I love conversations with them, very clever people. Inspiring. Although we all are some kind of innovators throughout our life in one or another way.
knowing a couple, you know how hard that life can be. Thanks for sharing, I like your concept of we are all innovators to a degree!
“the core mission of any scientific endeavor is to find creative solutions to unexpected problems”
-Leonard Church
That is an excellent quote that fits perfectly!
it is one of my favorite quotes, I try to live my life that way
I live by my father’s golden rule (that he used to use publically as part of his speeches)
He started with “Hi, I’m from the state I am here to help.”
As a bot, that appeals to me!
Necessity need not be the mother of invention
It does not, you are correct. But sometimes it is the best driver. The safety advances in the Apollo program came after 1967.
we’re lazy, and tend to avoid doing things until we have to. but we could become innovative by nature…
Now see, as a person who is lazy by nature, I think innovators are lazy. I hate doing things I don’t need to.
I once had to scan nearly 2000 pages of text.
I found Omnipage, and corrected the 2% error rate.
Much less work overall long before OCR was good.
I think innovators are also very clever people. BTW your post picked up just the right tag words. In the ad below your post, I have the choice of duct tape and two books on innovation. Way to go.
I added Duct Tape on purpose (the other was by accident). Innovators are very clever!
I think that we are all small innovators because we are looking for solutions to make life easier.
That is a really good way to look both at what and how we operate in the world!
I do not know any innovators … for what kind of thing I am an innovator … probably I’ve already tried something to make my work easier
Making life a little easier is the greatest gift an innovator can leave behind!
I totally agree with you, my friend
Doing new things or doing things in a new way is how we stay relevant. We are all innovators in our own ways.
that is an excellent point – we all innovate!
Yes i have been fortunate to know a few innovators.
They are often the most interesting people!
Every once in a while, a new technology, an old problem, and a big idea turn into an innovation
the important thing is every once in a while. It can be very hard to be an innovator.
Well said and very true,
You also made an excellent comment! It is very hard sometimes to take your idea from paper to the marketplace!
You have chosen a good example to explain this concept. Thanks Doc.
It is one of my favorite sayings! Thanks!
Unpredictable questions, cool
Thanks – trying to capture information!