I

was thinking over the weekend that for years we've positioned innovation incorrectly. Too often we position innovation as creating a new and valuable offering or solution, ready when customers demand new products and services. In other words, we've positioned innovation as something to do to prepare for future business, future needs, and future demands. 

Innovation does answer for these issues—identifying needs and developing ideas for products and services for unmet and perhaps unanticipated needs. But in the hustle and bustle of day-to-day business, the main focus is on the now. What can you deliver today, this week, this month, this quarter? How can you help me achieve my quarterly revenue and income goals?  Sure, the future is nice, but I’ll worry about that when I get there. With this mentality, cost cutting, becoming more efficient, and gradual but general improvement is the key focus, not innovation per se.

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