When we try something completely new, people often want to see proof that it will work. Of course, there is no proof if the idea is genuinely new. Instead of proof, we have to rely on weak signals. Successful innovators find these and amplify them.
Most of us have an extra gear that rarely kicks in. The three obstacles to hitting your top gear are ignorance, apathy and fear – and we need to work through all three to innovate.
When markets change, we often try to keep using the same tools that we’ve always used, in the same way. This will lead to failure. We need to innovate the tools we use, or innovate the business model around the old tools.
If we’re evaluating markets, is it better to start with research or with talking to people? In part, it depends on whether we’re entering a completely new market or not.
Innovation drives economic growth, but the relationship between innovation and inequality is much less clear. It is possible to be an innovative country with low levels of inequality.
People always tell us “pay attention.” What do we get in return for this payment? If we do it right, we can get better ideas – it’s actually an awfully good deal.