Innovate Today! - Transforming Your STEM Career Through Leadership and Innovation - page 127

smart phone or smart pad. Make a folder or envelope that you put your ideas
in. Keep them going, and don't lose or forget about them! A thought is a fleet-
ing and mysterious little thing - you need to capture it! And your thoughts and
ideas are valuable to the world. If you don't believe me, go look up how much
Bill Gates spent on Leonardo Da Vinci's notebook (answer: US$30.8 million
in 1994!).
Find Patterns and Create Combinations
Ideas come from other ideas. You can increase your exposure to new ideas by
looking for patterns and finding ways to combine ideas or improve upon exist-
ing solutions. Did you know that Edison wasn't the first one who came up with
the invention of the light bulb? He was the first to build a workable carbon fila-
ment inside a glass tube, which made the light bulbs last longer. His competi-
tors, and those who came up with the first one, were no less brilliant or capable;
they may have even had comparable resources. However, they were not the ones
who ultimately saw the innovation realized.
Curiosity
Many innovators are just curious, inquisitive people who like to solve problems.
Practice seeing things differently. For example, when seeing the solution to a
problem, ask yourself “What are some alternative ways to do this?” By asking
questions you can challenge the norms or existing methods, and asking the right
questions is the best way to gain a better understanding of the problem.
Recognizing Opportunities for Innovation
Wherever you see a need, problem, or challenge, there is the potential for inno-
vation. Opportunities for innovation are all around us! Know your area of exper-
tise and the global challenges in your area. Just because an innovation doesn't
have potential to affect your community, it doesn't mean it won't be useful
elsewhere. If you find yourself with what you believe is a truly valuable idea
but you're not getting the traction to move it forward in your environment, this
may be a sign that it's time to expand your team or collaborators. Remember
this simple equation:
(Technology + Design) × Creativity n → Innovation [5]
In this case, Creativity can be interpreted as “collaborative ideation” (where
n represents the number of minds involved in the process). This collaborative
ideation should involve individuals with varying perspectives from different
backgrounds, communities, or countries. Approaching creativity in this manner
increases the likelihood that you will create an innovation that has broad, and
hopefully global, appeal.