Innovation : Myths and Facts

How many times in a day , do you listen to the words "No,it won't or No,you cannot" Yes , be it anywhere but this is one of the most simplest things to tell anyone and the most surprising part is that "Most of them who say a No, themselves don't know why they are saying a NO"

For instance,when I shared my blog with a couple of known people, I was given a comment "Your blog is very much like an ....... blog" and this could/can be true since, there being around 70 million blogs all over, there is a high level of possibility that Blog 'A' could be somewhat similar to Blog 'B' (in terms of style , not content).This brings some level of dejection but is also a learning for all the guys who want to go an extra mile Similar is the case when you have an idea and try to seek the first level of feedback, there could be mostly one of the reactions, listed below(from the book 'Myths of Innovation') :

• This well never work.
• No one will want this.
• It can't work in practice.
• People won't understand it.
• This isn't a problem.
• This is a problem, but no one cares.
• This is a problem and people care, but it's already solved.
• This is a problem, and people care, but it will never make money.
• This is a solution in search of a problem.
• Get out of my office/cave now.

As stated in "The Myths of Innovation" , it is not only ordinary people who give vague comments ; Sometimes very smart people say these things. Ken Olsen, founder of the Digital Equipment Corporation, said in 1977, "There is no reason anyone would want a computer in their home." The leading art critics in France, in response to the opening of the Eiffel Tower, made comments like, "That tragic lamppost springing up from its bowels…is like a beacon of disaster and despair."

Innovator and Spectator Gap:
The gap—the difference between how an innovator sees his work from how it's seen by others—is the most frustrating challenge innovators face. Creators expect to be well received. They look at accepted innovations and the heroes who delivered them and assume their new innovations will be treated the same way.

Notice, there is a 180% difference of view between the innovator(ideator) and the viewer(listener of the idea).

Bottom Line:
Sometimes from the negative feedback, you may germinate another idea !!! but no matter how brilliant an idea is, the gap exists. Until the innovation is accepted, it will be questioned relentlessly