Life is a BIG question mark. We often need to explore smaller question marks and experience many exclamation marks before we can turn life’s BIG question mark into a hallmark!
Life is a BIG question ma…
The Discipline of Innovation (Peter F. Drucker)
Above article was from THE INNOVATIVE ENTERPRISE AUGUST 2002
Peter Drucker write in this article, innovation is real work and that most innovative business ideas come from methodically analyzing seven areas of opportunity, some of which lie within particular companies (intrapreneurship) or industries and some of which lie in broader social or demographic trends.
Entrepreneurship is not about a certain kind of personality but a systematic practice of innovation.
Reflection:
However, in my opinion, personality does play a part in innovation. A person who has high inter- and intra-personal intelligence often observes his surroundings, follows current affairs, asks unconventional questions to conventional systems, discusses new initiatives and ideas, and talks to people and being curious about their lives. These people often have the natural or an “easier” time purposefully searching for innovation opportunities.
There are 7 sources of innovation mentioned in the article.
Four areas of innovation opportunities exist within a company or industry.
1. Unexpected occurrences.
2. Incongruities.
3. Process needs.
4. Industry and market changes.
Three areas of innovation opportunities lie outside a company but in its social and intellectual environment.
5. Demographic changes.
6. Changes in perception.
7. New Knowledge.
Unexpected occurrences
The easiest and simplest source of innovation lies in the unexpected. It could be an unexpected success: IBM developed the first modern accounting machines designed for banks but banks did not buy them in the 1930s. However, the New York Public Library wanted a machine and so IBM’s founder and CEO Thomas Watson Senior sold more than a hundred of his unsalable machines to libraries.
Reflection:
Entrepreneurship is not about an eureka moment (AHA! effect), but rather an eureka insight. It’s a lot of researching, talking to people and sensing the market. No innovative idea will be an innovation until it’s executed and proven by the ruthless market before being accepted as a product. Interestingly, many entrepreneurs started out thinking if it’s a great idea for them, it will be a great idea for others. In this case, IBM might thought the same because it did not consider the trend of the banking industry at that time: they did not have enough money or interest in buying machines. The unexpected success of IBM came about when libraries at that time, have that kind of money and interest! For your business to float above the sea, you need funding!
The next unexpected success came about 15 years later and when people finally believed that computers were designed for advanced scientific work and businesses showed an interest in automated payroll. IBM redesigned its machines to rival UNIVAC’s machine specialized for mundane applications such as payroll. After since, in 5 years, IBM became a leader in the computer industry and it has maintained this position till now.
Unexpected failures may be an equally important source of innovation. Ford Edsel (Car model) was the biggest new-car failure in the automotive industry. However, Edsel’s failure was actually the foundation for the company’s (Ford’s competitor was General Motors) later success. Similar to what the article will mention about psycho-graphic and demographic changes in the market, Ford realized that the automobile’s market can no longer be just segmented by income groups, but “lifestyles” group. Ford’s response was a car with a distinct personality called Mustang. From then on, Ford reestablished itself to be an industry leader.
Reflection:
Do not be rigid with your product, business or past. Mistakes are a huge source of future innovation and success. Take for example, the Post-It. The company 3M initially wanted a super adhesive gluey compound for their new product. However, a mistake happened. A type of gluey compound sticks well but not well enough and it can be removed easily. The mistake wasn’t the end, it became a by-product for a new product called the Post-It!
Marketers and entrepreneurs should understand that not all creations of products/services can serve the current market. Consumers can be educated or be made aware of a new need identified by entrepreneurs. Don’t always think of a product or service that serves an existing need, go beyond that. Have eureka insights and build on them, you will never know if a future need can be met by your current innovation.
Incongruity
Reflection:
I like this source of innovation because I often like to question conventional systems and wisdom. We came a long way before modern technology is pervasive in many societies. Many old ways, processes and legacies were passed down either for “heritage” purposes or best practices purposes. Take for example the ministerial salary review, pension was proposed to be scrapped.
In this section, Peter Drucker showed us that by filling in a gap comes the success and sources of innovation. Incongruity or gaps can happen in processes, the way people work, the way people perceive, and any markets or segments of people un-served or under-served (Similar to Blue Ocean strategy)
Take for example my a year ago initiative with NUS’ Office of Student Affairs. I saw an un-served or under-served segment of special needs students who might struggle to travel from point to point in the campus. The maps and directions of the campus aren’t suited for them at all! Considering this fact, my team and I took the innovative step in identifying wheelchair friendly routes and present them on a 2D map (I used Microsoft Visio to create these schematic maps).
Right now, we are currently in talks to push for an official support and hopefully our initiative can be official. Our goal is to help special needs students (Targeting on the physically challenged for now) to travel in the campus in order to enjoy the school’s facilities as much as possible.
Process needs
In the article, Peter Drucker talked about the process of driving on highways where reflectors on highways and on vehicles allowed cars to “detect” each other and thus enabled smoother traffic and with minimum accidents.
Reflection:
Relating this to businesses and organizations, a new product or an adoption of a new technology may require business restructuring and process innovation. There will always be a process where needs are not met perfectly and thus a source of innovation.
Industry and market changes
Reflection:
Change is the only constant in life. (Heraclitus)
I would relate this source of innovation to rapid advancement of technologies and the famous “The Innovator’s Dilemma”. From mainframes to minicomputers to today’s affordable consumer electronics: Desktops, Laptops, Netbooks, Ultrabooks, Tablets and smart-phones.
When a company has an entrenched and fortified position of serving a particular profitable segment of customers, they usually have a dilemma when something seemingly insignificant (disruptive innovations) “stuns” the market place. This company would have asked itself, “Should I serve this small segment of customers too? Or should I continue on my Business As Usual (BAU) activities?” These companies in history would ended up winding down their business because a disruptive innovation would have destroyed them. Some examples include industries such as Hard-disks and from mainframes to minicomputers to Personal Computers.
Another example I always like to learn from is Nokia. With no doubt, Nokia is still one of the best mobile phone manufacturer and designer. However, it had lost hugely to Apple iPhones and to phones adopting Android OS. Nokia insisted in coming out with their own latest smart phone OS called the Symbian 3 released in Q4 2010 and launched inside flagship Nokia N8 phone. Well, I tried N8 for a day and decided it wasn’t for me, in as much as I was a Nokia fan myself. It grossly lost to the network effects of iOS and the open-sourced Android OS.
Currently, Nokia phones like Lumia 800 and Lumia 710 adopted Windows Phone 7 OS. I respect Nokia’s decision in winning back their smart-phone markets but I believe this mistake is related to its legacy. A huge and entrenched company often takes a long time changing its direction and often gets out-maneuvered by smaller and dynamic companies.
But one thing we all can learn from the article: Markets and industries always change. So, have foresight and have risk management.
Demographic Changes
Population statistics change, education levels change, occupations change, age distribution change, geographic locations can also change. Many due to globalization. According to Peter Drucker, following these types of innovation sources is the most common, most rewarding and least risky among other sources.
People have needs and needs change when the society changes. This is not difficult to understand because we are in the society itself sensing the beats of the population.
Changes in perception
Reflection:
A change of perception DOES NOT change a fact but it changes their meaning.
Take smart-phones as an example, it is essentially a phone combined with music playing, visual entertainment and personal organization tools. However, the mobile phone industry recognized the buying power of the younger population that phones have nowadays become a fashion accessory. For example, the LG Prada Phone.
Apple had been very successful in helping their fans and customers perceive iPhones as a fashionable asset and the feeling of “uniqueness”. Older models of iPhones are no longer produced when the newer ones are launched. This creates a steeper supply curve in order to raises the “value” of demand. In some sense, iPhones are no longer perceived just as a phone, iPhones were perceived as a fashion statement and an “entry-proof” to belong in a community of Apple fans/cults.
New Knowledge
This is one of hardest innovation source to manage. It takes a long lead time for new knowledge to converge and to be converted into an usable and highly demanded technology or social instrument.
Reflection:
It’s so difficult I can’t think of any examples myself. Anyone?
Conclusion
Because innovation is both conceptual and perceptual, would-be innovators must also go out and look, ask, and listen. Successful innovators use both the right and left sides of their brains. They work out analytically what the innovation has to be to satisfy an opportunity. Then they go out and look at potential users to study their expectations, their values, and their needs.
Above all, innovation is work rather than genius. It requires knowledge. It often requires ingenuity. And it requires focus.
Reflection:
This conclusion perfectly coincides to my opinion that the motivation and personality of entrepreneurs does matter for successful innovations. To be effective, an innovation has to be simple, and it has to be focused. It should do only one thing; otherwise it confuses people. (Using the Strategy Canvas to help innovators see if their new product/service is indeed a Blue Ocean Strategy)
You would have realized there are 3 innovation opportunities related to the word, “Changes”. No wonder we often hear, “Get out of that comfort zone!”
==End notes==
The intrapreneur focuses on innovation and creativity, and transforms an idea into a profitable venture, while operating within the organizational environment. Thus, intrapreneurs are Inside entrepreneurs who follow the goal of the organization.
First day of school in 2012
Amazing start of the school term with the first lecture of CS4880: Digital Entrepreneurship.
I feel I am in a room full of highly motivated, driven and talented people with a passionate and seasoned Entrepreneur cum lecturer passing on his knowledge, and inciting our creative juices and critical thinking.
The lesson starts from 1830 to 2130 every Monday and I only had an earlier lunch. I didn’t feel hungry during the lecture but only when I had bathed, brushed my teeth and sat in front of my computer!
Alright, need to sleep soon and start my day with a morning run tomorrow. (Aiya, forgot to buy food for daily breakfast)
Before I sleep, I have to set my personal goals for 2012. The past is always colorful and/or filled with mistakes. But the future is always a clean slate! Therefore, in this clean slate of 2012, I would aim to:
Set a theme for 2012: The Reading year. I want to read more books.
1. Be humble. No matter how much I had personally achieved, I mustn’t flaunt it unless it’s a job-related matter like interviews. To be honest, it’s a conscious effort to stay humble and it takes practice!
2. As usual for all NS MEN, clear my IPPT and get Silver in standard (My standing broad jump is the ONLY obstacle for my $200 incentive!)
3. Reach my targeted CAP for the year. (And of course, maintain my scholarship)
To do all these?
a. I must learn to say NO. I am an easily excitable person, I need to focus and not digress in my 2012′s goals.
b. In order to do well in my 8MC project (which relates to my CAP), I must brush up my programming skills in Java and take up Groovy Grails. I heard students are forced to use Groovy Grails for their project module! (Funny eh)
c. Work hard on weekdays even if it’s a free day. Read more than usual and do not digress with other activities. Only module-related activities on weekdays. BUT, get to rest on weekends.
d. Have a 3x running regime per week as before, if possible, a daily running habit. I have got myself a 2 day week for this semester!
Last but not least, in order to gain something, you have to lose something: Less game playing or purchasing (although it can be a form of retail therapy).
Goals for 2012 is set. But before I know it, I am back at my old ways, so I got to devise a system to remind myself.
Positive momentum is more…
Positive momentum is more powerful than speed, even if you’re moving at a snail’s pace – you’ll eventually get to the finish line because you are still inching forward.
2011 in review
The WordPress.com stats helper monkeys prepared a 2011 annual report for this blog.
Here’s an excerpt:
A San Francisco cable car holds 60 people. This blog was viewed about 1,900 times in 2011. If it were a cable car, it would take about 32 trips to carry that many people.
Stretch yourself, you will never be ready anyways.
I had recently read an interesting article from Marc and Angel Hack Life that I felt so much to put this in my blog just to remind myself. My personal favorite is #10 You will never feel 100% ready when an opportunity arises.
For more inspiration and motivation articles, please visit Marc and Angel Hack Life.
#1 – Education and intelligence accomplish nothing without action.
It doesn’t matter if you have a genius IQ and a PhD in Quantum Physics, you can’t change anything or make any sort of real-world progress without taking action. There’s a huge difference between knowing how to do something and actually doing it. Knowledge and intelligence are both useless without action. It’s as simple as that. For some practical guidance on taking action, I highly recommend The Now Habit
#2 – Happiness and success are two different things.
I know an extremely savvy businesswoman who made almost a million dollars online last year. Every entrepreneur I know considers her to be wildly successful. But guess what? A few days ago, out of the blue, she told me that she’s depressed. Why? “I’m burnt out and lonely. I just haven’t taken enough time for myself lately,” she said. “Wow!” I thought. “One of the most successful people I know isn’t happy.”
I also know a surfer who surfs almost all day, every day on the beach in front of our condo complex in San Diego. He’s one of the most lighthearted, optimistic guys I’ve ever met – always smiling from ear to ear. But he sleeps in a van he co-owns with another surfer and they both frequently panhandle tourists for money. So while I can’t deny that this man seems happy, I wouldn’t classify his life as a success story.
“What will make me happy?” and “What will make me successful?” are two of the most important questions you can ask yourself. But they are two different questions.
#3 – Everyone runs their own business.
No matter how you make a living or who you think you work for, you only work for one person, yourself. The big question is: What are you selling, and to whom? Even when you have a full-time, salaried, ‘Corporate America’ position, you are still running your own business. You are selling one unit of your existence (an hour of your life) at a set price (the associated fraction of your salary) to a customer (your employer).
So how can you simultaneously save your time and increase your profit? The answer is slightly different for everyone. But it’s an answer you should be seeking. The 4-Hour Workweek
#4 – Having too many choices interferes with decision making.
Here in the 21st century where information moves at the speed of light and opportunities for innovation seem endless, we have an abundant array of choices when it comes to designing our lives and careers. But sadly, an abundance of choice often leads to indecision, confusion and inaction.
Several business and marketing studies have shown that the more product choices a consumer is faced with, the less products they typically buy. After all, narrowing down the best product from a pool of three choices is certainly a lot easier than narrowing down the best product from a pool of three hundred choices. If the purchasing decision is tough to make, most people will just give up.
So if you’re selling a product line, keep it simple. And if you’re trying to make a decision about something in your life, don’t waste all your time evaluating every last detail of every possible option. Choose something that you think will work and give it a shot. If it doesn’t work out, choose something else and keep pressing forward.
#5 – All people possess dimensions of success and dimensions of failure.
This point is somewhat related to point #2 on happiness and success, but it stands strong on its own as well…
Trying to be perfect is a waste of time and energy. Perfection is an illusion.
All people, even our idols, are multidimensional. Powerful business men, polished musicians, bestselling authors, and even our own parents all have dimensions of success and dimensions of failure present in their lives.
Our successful dimensions usually encompass the things we spend the most time doing. We are successful in these dimensions because of our prolonged commitment to them. This is the part of our lives we want others to see – the successful part that holds our life’s work. It’s the notion of putting our best foot forward. It’s the public persona we envision as our personal legacy: “The Successful ABC” or “The Award Winning XYZ.”
But behind whichever polished storyline we publically promote, there lies a multi-dimensional human being with a long list of unprofessed failures. Sometimes this person is a bad husband or wife. Sometimes this person laughs at the expense of others. And sometimes this person merely takes their eyes off the road and rear-ends the car in front of them.
#6 – Every mistake you make is progress.
Mistakes teach you important lessons. Every time you make one, you’re one step closer to your goal. The only mistake that can truly hurt you is choosing to do nothing simply because you’re too scared to make a mistake.
So don’t hesitate – don’t doubt yourself. In life, it’s rarely about getting a chance; it’s about taking a chance. You’ll never be 100% sure it will work, but you can always be 100% sure doing nothing won’t work. Most of the time you just have to go for it!
And no matter how it turns out, it always ends up just the way it should be. Either you succeed or you learn something. Win-Win. Remember, if you never act, you will never know for sure, and you will be left standing in the same spot forever.
#7 – People can be great at doing things they don’t like to do.
Although I’m not suggesting that you choose a career or trade you dislike, I’ve heard way too many smart people say something like, “In order to be great at what you do, you have to like what you do.” This just isn’t true.
A good friend of mine is a public accountant. He has told me on numerous occasions that he dislikes his job – “that it bores him to death.” But he frequently gets raises and promotions. At the age of 28, out of nearly a thousand Jr. Accountants in his division, he’s one of only two who were promoted to be Sr. Accountants this past year. Why? Because even though he doesn’t like doing it, he’s good at what he does.
I could come up with dozens of other examples just like this, but I’ll spare you the details. Just realize that if someone dedicates enough time and attention to perfecting a skill or trade, they can be insanely good at doing something they don’t like to do. For an insightful read in this department, I highly recommend The Talent Code
#8 – The problems we have with others are typically more about us.
Quite often, the problems we have with others – our spouse, parents, siblings, etc. – don’t really have much to do with them at all. Because many of the problems we think we have with them we subconsciously created in our own mind. Maybe they did something in the past that touched on one of our fears or insecurities. Or maybe they didn’t do something that we expected them to do. In either case, problems like these are not about the other person, they’re about us.
And that’s okay. It simply means these little predicaments will be easier to solve. We are, after all, in charge of our own decisions. We get to decide whether we want to keep our head cluttered with events from the past, or instead open our minds to the positive realities unfolding in front of us.
All we need is the willingness to look at things a little differently – letting go of ‘what was’ and ‘what should have been,’ and instead focusing our energy on ‘what is’ and ‘what could be possible.’
#9 – Emotional decisions are rarely good decisions.
Decisions driven by heavy emotion are typically misguided reactions rather than educated judgments. These reactions are the byproduct of minimal amounts of conscious thought and primarily based on momentary ‘feelings’ instead of mindful awareness.
The best advice here is simple: Don’t let your emotions trump your intelligence. Slow down and think things through before you make any life-changing decisions.
#10 – You will never feel 100% ready when an opportunity arises.
The number one thing I persistently see holding smart people back is their own reluctance to accept an opportunity simply because they don’t think they’re ready. In other words, they believe they require additional knowledge, skill, experience, etc. before they can aptly partake in the opportunity. Sadly, this is the kind of thinking that stifles personal growth.
The truth is nobody ever feels 100% ready when an opportunity arises. Because most great opportunities in life force us to grow emotionally and intellectually. They force us to stretch ourselves and our comfort zones, which means we won’t feel totally comfortable at first. And when we don’t feel comfortable, we don’t feel ready.
Just remember that significant moments of opportunity for personal growth and development will come and go throughout your lifetime. If you are looking to make positive changes in your life you will need to embrace these moments of opportunity even though you will never feel 100% ready for them.
Memories of OZ
What would I remember the most during my 5.5 months stay in Sydney? We all know memories will fail us at some point of time, so I would like to write them down NOW.
(In random, whatever that comes my mind)
1. Surfing (on the waves!). I will not forget the experience, it’s huge in Australia but too bad I am not in Queensland. I tried to buy a surfing board keyboard but couldn’t find it! I went to Paddy’s market and I was told they will be sold in Queensland because the surfing culture there is stronger? Is that true? But whatever it is, I will never forget that surfing is like one of the big sports in Australia.
Oh, and I am one of the very rare learners to wear spectacles while surfing! HAHA!
2. Very affordable mangoes, strawberries and blue berries. The ever-on-sale potato chips and unique flavors not sold in Singapore such as Vegemite. Bad thing is, Bananas are VERY expensive. Good thing is, it’s on discounts now.
3. The liberty that business and OZ’s people have while expressing themselves. But the not so good point is that this encourages more nuisances on streets and even crimes. I seen lots of drunken people on the streets, and also people asking for money(which I did donate out of a good heart), I was also briefly “harassed” by 2 young boys while within 50 meters to my home. And that’s why I always bring something I can defend myself with. I had also learned that the world is dangerous no matter what we believe in, you just have to survive.
4. The Internet technologies in OZ doesn’t seem to very advanced. Many connectivity and speed issues while I am surfing the Net in my home. You can imagine I have difficulties uploading photos into this blog post!
5. I truly appreciate the presence of Chinatown(s) everywhere in the world. It’s somewhere you can go and belong to. Admit it, no matter how religion or world organizations try to advocate for equality, there isn’t true equality (sometimes we can see biasness ANYwhere in the world) until everyone believes in ONE thing. The issue is, everyone has different beliefs and convince-ability threshold. But it is not about equality that we should strive for, it is the embrace-ability of every culture and expressions of society! Yes?
6. The jogs and runs along the coast. Especially from Coogee beach to Bondi beach. The beaches in OZ are really beautiful too! I have not been to Queensland’s yet, leaving them for future. (To combat the principle of diminishing of returns)
I will not forget a lot of Australians are into physical health. I think it’s their desire to look good. As in Asia, it’s their desire to live good in terms of education and status.
7. The dogs in Australia! I see lots of dogs in Sydney at least. Many dog owners! You just have to step out of the house for 5-10 minutes, you will bound to see a dog. (Okay, maybe because I live near Coogee Beach)
8. Irresponsible people(Staff and students alike) who smoke in campus OPENLY. It’s an academic institution, research and inventions, leaders and future come from schools. By polluting the campus, it’s an insult to the intelligence and health of the community. I am not against anyone smoking, but at least not in the campus. This, I must be very grateful I stay in Singapore where the Executive arm of law and order is very strong. Although there are incidents where students smoke in NUS, but that’s very rare. I even caught a security guard smoking in NUS. But at least not all the time, 98% of the time in NUS, I can be sure I will NOT inhale any cigarette pollutants. Car and industrial pollutants are more useful than cigarettes, at least they serve the society as a whole. Unless, you are telling me smoking is helping our present “Einsteins or Thomas Edisons” to invent something for the society, maybe I can accept that.
9. The reading culture is pretty strong here as well. I like books a lot.
10. It’s a relax community, family oriented (perhaps that’s why we see so many family pets like dogs) and everyone’s friendly. (Not all the time of course.)
11. I like the weather here, not humid.
12. The natural parks for bush walking, there are many nature reserves and parks in Sydney. I am sure there are many of these in any part of Australia. I like the nature a lot and I am sure Australians do.
13. Speaking of nature, Australians are also big on water sports (Okay, Surfing is one of them). But I am referring to Sea Kayaking and Diving. I went sea kayaking at Byron Bay and I see wild dolphins close up. That was a really good experience.
14. Not forgetting Australia’s Wild life parks and aquariums! Blue mountains (The world’s steepest train track) and also Snowy mountains (Skiing)
In conclusion, I like how I can be free to enjoy any activity on Nature (Surfing, Sea Kayaking, Jogging and having a smile on pet dogs), with not much humidity to worry about and fueled by affordable mangoes, strawberries, blue berries and potato chips!
If not because of friends, I wouldn’t have made it this far.
