Ever hear the old saying, “There’s nothing new under the sun”? I agree with that. Although we often label things we’re not familiar with as ‘new’, if you look more closely, generally you’ll find that they’re really just a combination of other, already known things. Like your smartphone: computer, phone and camera technology all made ‘small’ and synthesized in an unexpected, previously undiscovered way. It’s important to remember this because we often feel stuck if we think we need to ‘invent something totally new’ to satisfy changing customer needs…and we’re just not that creative. So, next time you’re in that situation, my suggestion is to stop worrying about what you don’t know, and think about what you already do, from different experiences you’ve already had, and ask yourself, “How could these be combined differently?”
