As a writer, I love words, specifically the word “innovation.” It has been trending as a buzz word for some time now, much like “collaboration” once was. Yet somehow, innovation seems more relevant and lasting. I traced the media buzz as far back as 2015 at both the news, corporate, and government levels. So, it has been in the limelight for some time, and with the promise of advancing artificial intelligence, travel to Mars pending, new industries such as cannabis and electric cars finding their footings, and invite-only platforms like Clubhouse further changing social interactions, it can be expected that the innovation buzz still has longevity.
Innovation is deemed to be the introduction of something new and is typically associated with business, science, and technology related to new ideas, methods, processes, devices, products, and services. The rationale for innovation is to improve. In the above fields, innovation aims to achieve improved efficiencies, effectiveness, or competitive advantage.
While all of that is great, I have a different perspective on innovation, and it’s that perspective that hugely peaks my fascination with the word. Consider all the effort, both in time and money. We put into innovating things. What if a portion of that was repurposed to innovate ourselves? I submit the perspective of people innovation.
Innovation is rarely applied in that way. People innovation is about the renewal of individuals, something necessary in both the personal and professional areas of our lives. It is also necessary across the triad dimensions of ourselves – mind, body, and spirit. The varied definitions of innovation can easily be applied to people. Continuing along the rationale for innovation to improve, what or who better to improve ourselves than us? 2020 certainly showed us there was room for that. Should we not be living out our life journey in a manner that supports improvements occurring along the way? Our lives should also encourage ideation, the formation of connections, and a sense of worth, all core elements of innovation. A renewed individual may move from a state of stagnation, being worn out, or broken to a state that is restored, rejuvenated, vigorous, meaningful, and forward-moving. Innovated people should demonstrate efficiency, effectiveness and should have a competitive advantage over non-innovated people. Why? Because those who look to continuously improve themselves seek education, new ways to do old things but keep the things that work best, adapt better to changes, reflect more deeply, and often read on diverse topics and views to stay informed.
To some degree, 2020 gave fuel to innovate ourselves. The pandemic interrupted our fuel-injection systems, breaking our speed, halting our auto-pilot actions, and forced us to look at ourselves and our lives. It forced our greater use of innovative technologies and services like Zoom and Amazon. 2020 moved our focus, and in so doing, it proved that innovation could occur at an individual level. We adapted, we made changes, reflected on our circumstances, and endured discomfort, all for the noble reason of health and safety. After all, lives were at risk.
But what if I told you that lives were already at risk pre-COVID. To agree with me depends upon how you look at life. The way I see it, 2020 saved me. 2020 truly was a people innovation year. Innovating ourselves is about looking at our current status quo and courageously finding what needs to change, and just as courageously taking steps to change it. At times, it may be a fundamental shake-up in how we live, how we think, and what we do. The rewards are in the transformation, the energetic facelift, and the new you that emerges. This is bigger than change. It is the resurgence, and it is innovation.
