How does the myth that innovation only comes from new ideas harm businesses?
There’s a pervasive myth that true innovation only results from revolutionary, original ideas—but in fact, most innovation comes from improving existing solutions. Believing that only “big, disruptive” ideas matter can paralyze decision-making, delay launches, or demotivate teams.
Why this belief is limiting:
Discourages iteration: Most innovations are improvements on current models (e.g., smartphones evolved from basic mobile phones—not from scratch).
Overlooks process innovation: Changing how something is done can be more impactful than inventing something new. Consider Amazon's logistics system or McDonald’s assembly-line approach to food service.
Blocks incremental improvement: Business growth often comes from compounding small improvements in service, delivery, design, or user experience.
Misses customer-driven changes: Many innovations come from listening to customers—not creating something entirely new.
Examples:
Netflix didn’t invent video entertainment—it improved accessibility and delivery.
Apple didn’t invent the MP3 player or the smartphone—it refined them and focused on user experience.
Canva simplified design software that already existed but made it user-friendly.
Innovation is not about originality—it’s about relevance, improvement, and utility.
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