Innovation is Messy

Innovation is always weird. I've seen it first hand multiple times during my time in Tech. Let me explain.

ChatGPT tells me the following about Innovation:

"Innovation is the process of introducing new ideas, methods, products, or improvements that create value and solve problems."

The problem with this description is that it's almost the antithesis of innovation itself. It's too mechanical.

Innovation is, in my opinion, messy.

Take my video below, a Meituan drone delivery in Shenzhen, that I saw last year.

What is the point in this? (aside from it looking cool)

Meituan clearly thinks this will enhance customer satisfaction and experience.

Whether thats true or not, time will tell.

But this is how innovation happens.

If you want to encourage innovation, from my experience, you need to accept that there will be:

- A high risk of failure due to uncertainty

- Resistance to change

- Resource constraints (time, money, talent)

- A need to tolerate failure as part of learning

But if you accept these, you'll have a shot.

If you can be part of something truly innovative, the end result?

A rocket ship.