The Spark Blog

So Shlomo, how can you keep talking about Innovation by anyone, anytime, and anywhere? Come on...

You might be thinking, "Innovation?  That’s for the big players, the game changers, right?"

Well, let’s take a step back and think about this a bit differently.

When we hear "innovation," we often picture something revolutionary. It’s that big bang moment where everything changes, and suddenly, we’re all doing things in a new way. But hey, that’s not the only way to look at it.

Innovation, my friends, is more about how you think and live, how you plan your next move, and how you operate on a daily basis. It’s like, do we need to stop everything and brainstorm every time we want to do something? That sounds exhausting, doesn’t it?

Now, let’s dive into the layers of innovation. 

Right at the heart, we’ve got what I like to call the "disruptive core." This is where the earth-shattering, groundbreaking stuff happens. 

We’re talking about those rare, disruptive innovations that turn everything on its head—making all the old rules obsolete. 

Think of those startups that come out of nowhere, shaking up well-established markets with something totally new and way better. This kind of change doesn’t happen every day, but when it does, it’s a big deal.

But don’t get me wrong, innovation isn’t just about these huge leaps. 

There’s more to it. The next layer is about significant improvements—kind of like the next generation of what we’ve already got. 

It’s about reaching out to new markets or solving problems in a way we hadn’t thought of before.

And then, there are the smaller steps—tweaks and refinements that make good things even better. It’s not about reinventing the wheel but making sure it rolls smoother and takes us further.

Now, is all this thinking and innovating tiring? 

Well, it could be if you’re starting from scratch every single time. 

But if you weave this way of thinking into your everyday life, it becomes second nature. You start seeing opportunities for innovation in everything you do without even trying.

How do you get there, though?

It’s all about the culture you build around you. Whether you’re a startup or not, anyone can create an environment that breathes innovation. It’s about looking at the challenges you face, the solutions you need, and the deadlines you’re up against, and asking, "How can we do this better, faster, or more efficiently?"

And when managers encourage their teams to think outside the box, it’s great. But what’s even better is fostering a culture where innovation is part of the DNA. It’s not about giving your team a fish but teaching them to fish—with the mindset to improve the fishing rod, bait, and technique every single time.

So, no, you don’t need to be at the cutting edge to innovate. You just need to start thinking differently about the layers of innovation and how you can apply them in your world. 

That’s how you make innovation accessible for anyone, anywhere, anytime.

And what about kick-starting a process to ignite a disruptive innovation, one that has the power to shake the market to its core?

Stay tuned for that discussion in my upcoming articles.