February 8, 2010 2:32 PM

I would also venture to say that not just curious people, but people who live on the fringes of different industries/verticals or have a wide interest are the ones who innovate. I've written some bullet points here http://blog.pekpongpaet.com/2010/01/09/on-innovation/ People who are exposed to many things have the ability to put 2 and 2 together.

February 8, 2010 7:29 PM

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February 9, 2010 1:13 AM

J Jeyaseelan said: I wish real innovators, rather than professional trainers wrote these blogs. In my view, innovations could emerge out of many types of mental states. Taking a look at my own involvement, I mean actually taking the risk and doing it, positive discontent is a potent state of mind. Of course one has to be open to unfettered questioning, have the curiosity to learn and possess the creativity to make things happen. But the driving ought to be there. One must have the necessary level of discontent to feel the need for change and the positive belief that things can surely be made better

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February 9, 2010 11:26 AM

Totally agree that curiosity is at the heart of creative thinking and innovation. Once you stop being curious because you "know" the answer, then the process of exploration, thinking, and the search for newness also stops. It's not the only mindset necessary for innovation, as noted by J.J., but it's certainly one of the fundamental ones!

February 10, 2010 3:16 AM

At the outset, I would like to apologize for anything that is offensive in my comments. It was entirely unintended but was targeted in some way to evoke a response. I have been a regular reader of quite a few innovation blogs and group discussions and have been naturally trying to find a connect between what people say and my own personal experiences as an innovator. I can now, after 10 years of struggle, even call myself a successful innovator.

Curiosity is a good starting point. But gossip mongers are also most curious about everything that goes around. Would the prospect of earning good money be an adequate incentive for becoming innovators? I am not sure, there are better and far quicker ways of raking in millions?

My focus on the idea of 'positive discontent' actually comes from the study of change and change management. Innovation is essentially a change that one wishes to usher in. And the motivation for ringing in changes actually comes from the level of dissatisfaction one has with the present. People would not have adopted democracies unless they were dissatisfied with monarchies. We are not seeing any more political innovations (which I believe are very necessary) because we are still complacent about the way our democracies work somehow.

I have referred to 'positive discontent', since discontent could find negative outlets too as was the case in some 'revolutions'. A positive discontent motivates one to seek the alternative solutions. In fact, I find most organizations unwilling to see the realities particularly when the going is good. But there can always be people who anticipate impending problems and are dissatisfied with the inertia. These are the people who think of innovations according to me.

Innovation is a change and every change follows a motivation and I find 'positive discontent' to be the most powerful off all. I have been trying to find the thin line between innovation and invention. May be the difference is in the scale or time frame or the newness. Essentially both bring about change, a change motivated by a desire to change things and that is how I would explain my motivation

February 10, 2010 10:45 AM

Right on Marci! Curiosity and Courage are critical. Other qualities we've found to be essential for leading innovation include Tenacity (which goes hand in hand with courage, but as JJ can certainly attest, is critical for success), Humility (as in, "I don't have all the good ideas,") and Integrity for working with others (if you ask for new ideas, you have to be willing to receive and consider them). We detail them at: http://ww.newandimproved.com/newsletter/2025.php

February 10, 2010 10:56 AM

Jim Campbell said: Marci: Boy, that sure is right. Courage is what keeps the team going through the long, challenging innovation process. . . . Or is it more than that? Now that that you've brought that up, I wonder if courage is actually the impetus for innovation (at least within the construct of for-profit business). Certainly before anyone mores ahead on any innovation project, someone must stick their neck out and allocate budget and personnel to explore the POSSIBILITY of uncovering a need that leads to invention. Excellent point, Marci!

Thinking in another way - innovation is driven not by moving into the future with new ideas, it's more about anticipating the future and getting there to influence it before it happens.