I’ve always struggled to understand innovation. Does it happen through a structured process, or is it intuitive? Can you train yourself to be innovative, or is it an inherent trait? Is it a habit, an art, or a combination of all these? My journey over the last 40 years has been an exploration of these questions. I’m still trying to figure it out.
My first brush with innovation was far from a success. I launched a nail polish remover box where you put in your finger, rub it, and voila! the polish is gone. But it wasn’t just the polish that disappeared; mechanical engineers like me should not meddle with chemistry. That failure taught me that copycat innovation fails faster than you think.
It is fascinating to believe that innovation doesn’t grow on trees or hide under bushes waiting to be discovered. The best ideas often come from the most unexpected places.
My own journey has witnessed three big attempts at disruptive innovation, each a decade apart. The first in 1995 was a product innovation through the creation of Remote Infrastructure Management (RIM), which later grew into a multi-billion-dollar industry. The second in 2005 was cultural innovation with the birth of the “Employees First, Customer Second” approach, a philosophy influenced by observing the cultural transformation of Japanese car manufacturers, who revolutionized their industry by empowering their workers and focusing on continuous improvement.
The third in 2015 was the biggest, a mega-scale social transformation through Sampark Smart Shala where we created rechargeable audio devices with Sampark Didi’s enchanting voice teaching through songs, stories, and music, bringing pure joy back into the classroom!
Innovation thrives on inspiration from the most unexpected places. Other than diverse sources of inspiration, embracing serendipity is crucial; being open to unexpected connections can spark brilliant insights.