Innovation?

Peanut Butter and Chocolate Pop Tarts. A predictably delicious food that many people imagined before it became reality, but declaring this product and others innovative is a big stretch for me. It’s more remediation and experimentation than innovation. People interpret this word in so many ways. Innovate means to “introduce something new; make changes in anything established” according to dictionary.com. The second definition is “introduce (something new) for or as if for the first time”, which is very difficult these days.

We do multiple things, which yield multiple uses, but a new event/concept that is simple to understand and easy to market is rare. The main reason innovation has declined is the reasoning behind it – make people whatever they like; let the self-centered customer decide what fits best in their universe. Companies/marketers are thinking of other people, but these people are mainly thinking about themselves with no consideration of resulting/reciprocal actions – a very fickle field of subject to draw from. The resulting may be positive and profitable, but far from a noticeable advancement in society. Is this state due to the markets/companies or the source people they draw their direction from?

With more emphasis on smart products, multiple incentives, and personal feelings/relationships/associations with food, companies/marketers are creating an overhyped trend. The upcoming new Butterfinger cups are scheduled for a Super Bowl commercial. To me, this “innovation” only consists of keeping the filling inside a Butterfinger soft to put inside a chocolate shell different enough from Reese’s yet complimentary to the filling flavors. That’s it.  Companies try things out in a food tasting lab.

Today I feel most people can use the word “innovative” if the products yields big, noticeable results or awakens another lucrative consumer market, not because it’s necessarily new or groundbreaking. The established market changes so much that most “new” products won’t find much resistance getting at least a reasonable shot at self world focused consumers.

Innovation for new and real change comes from trying times, special challenges and consideration for others. We don’t hear/see these stories as much because it’s hard to recognize and measure. One person’s reaction can be wrong and has been wrong. People have to put faith into the action for results. The range includes individuals to the largest companies.

It’s not the original inventor we usually here about it’s the person who made the most money/prominent activities with that invention. The benefit must be considerable to “justify” putting the innovative action into reality. People don’t usually take time for experimentation, usability, and plain ole pondering thought. Effiency, time and cost provide limits to the process.

Persistence, inspiration,  well being, process recording, analysis, collaboration, curiosity, challenging mindsets, perspective, risk, caring for others and thinking “out-of-our box” create success and the only resource to achieve this success is our omnipotent and all-encompassing God who guides our work into His purpose.