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Hey there, innovation champions!
Let me tell you a story that keeps me up at night. It’s about a company that used to be the poster child for innovation – a place where metal scooters zipped through warehouse-turned-office spaces, where ‘failures’ were celebrated with high-fives, and where every setback was viewed as a stepping stone to the next breakthrough.
This isn’t some mythical startup utopia I’m describing. This is a real company – one where a close friend of mine works. They spun off from a tech behemoth specifically to do things differently, to create an environment where innovation could flourish.
For years, they were the living embodiment of what I call an innovation ecosystem, perfectly aligned with my Create the Impossible™ framework:
But here’s where the story takes a heartbreaking turn…
Today, that same company has transformed – and not in a good way. Instead of celebrating failure as a step toward success, people are sanctioned for it. The playful, experimental culture has been replaced by cutthroat competition. Psychological safety? Gone.
And guess what happened to innovation? It plummeted.
People now stick to what worked in the past rather than risk trying something new. A company that was once an innovation leader has become… well, let’s just say they’re not inspiring anyone anymore.
This story illustrates something crucial about innovation: it’s not just about having smart people or the latest tools. It’s about creating the right environment – an ecosystem where creativity can flourish.
As someone who spent 15 years making my living as a professional artist before moving into the tech world, I’ve learned something profound about creativity and innovation: they’re like delicate plants. Give them the right conditions, and they’ll flourish. But create a hostile environment, and they’ll wither faster than you can say ‘quarterly earnings report.’
Let’s break down what makes an innovation ecosystem thrive using my Create the Impossible™ framework:
1. Play Hard
Think about when you were a kid, building with LEGO® or finger painting. You weren’t worried about ROI or quarterly targets. You were immersed in pure exploration and possibility.
That’s the energy we need to recapture in our innovation ecosystems.
In our AI-driven world, where machines can crunch numbers faster than we can blink, this uniquely human capacity for play becomes even more crucial. It’s not a nice-to-have – it’s a strategic advantage.
2. Make Crap
Now, I know ‘make crap’ isn’t exactly corporate-speak, but hear me out. In too many tech companies, there’s this paralyzing pressure to get everything right the first time.
But that’s not how innovation works.
Remember that company I mentioned? In their heyday, they understood that to find gems, you have to be willing to dig through dirt. They created an environment where people felt safe to experiment, to try things that might not work.
And here’s the thing – in our AI-powered world, this becomes even more important. AI can optimize existing processes, but those breakthrough innovations? They come from human willingness to make ‘crappy’ first drafts, to experiment, to play with possibilities.
3. Learn Fast
This is where the magic happens. When you combine playful exploration with permission to make ‘crap,’ you create perfect conditions for rapid learning and iteration.
Think of it like an artistic process. When I’m creating an improvisational artwork, each mark I make informs the next. Sometimes I make a mark I don’t like – but that ‘mistake’ often leads me to my next discovery.
The same principle applies in tech innovation. Each ‘failure’ is actually a data point, moving you closer to breakthrough solutions – but only if you have an ecosystem that supports this kind of learning.
Now, you might be thinking, ‘This all sounds great, Melissa, but how do we actually create this kind of ecosystem?’
Let me share three essential elements for nurturing your innovation ecosystem:
1. Create Safe Spaces for Play
This doesn’t mean you need to fill your office with scooters (though hey, if that works for you, go for it!).
It means carving out dedicated time and space where your team can explore without pressure. Maybe it’s a weekly ‘wild ideas’ session, or a monthly innovation hackathon where the only rule is there are no rules.
2. Celebrate the Process, Not Just the Product
Remember how our example company used to celebrate failures? That wasn’t just feel-good corporate culture – it was strategic genius.
When you celebrate the process of innovation, not just successful outcomes, you create psychological safety that enables true creativity.
3. Build Learning Feedback Loops
This is where most companies drop the ball. It’s not enough to say “fail fast” – you need to create structured ways to learn from those failures. Think of each setback as a gift of data, showing you what to try next.
Now, here’s the really crucial part – and something I see derailing innovation ecosystems all the time: You can’t just implement these elements once and expect magic to happen. An innovation ecosystem needs constant nurturing, just like any living thing.
This is why my Create the Impossible™ framework isn’t a one-time implementation – it’s an ongoing practice.
Play Hard, Make Crap, Learn Fast – these aren’t just steps, they’re a cycle that keeps your innovation ecosystem healthy and thriving.
So here’s your challenge for this week: Take the temperature of your innovation ecosystem.
Look around your organization and ask:
– When was the last time someone celebrated a ‘fascinating failure’?
– Do people feel safe enough to share wild ideas?
– Is learning from setbacks structured into your process, or just a nice-after-thought?
And here’s a tool to help you: I’ve created a free Innovation Culture Assessment that will help you evaluate exactly where your team stands and identify areas for improvement. Think of it as a health check for your innovation ecosystem.
Because here’s the thing, innovation champions: in today’s AI-driven world, your innovation ecosystem isn’t just nice to have – it’s your competitive advantage.
It’s what separates the companies that will thrive from those that will barely survive.
Remember that company I told you about at the beginning? Their story is a warning. But it doesn’t have to be your story.
Ready to nurture your innovation ecosystem? Here are three ways I can help:
1) Download my FREE Innovation Culture Assessment to evaluate where your team stands.
2) Download the first 50 pages of my book, The Creative Sandbox Way™, to reconnect with your creativity.
3) Book your complimentary Impact Assessment Call to discover how to empower your team to Create the Impossible™. We’ll explore custom strategies to unleash creativity, foster breakthrough innovation, and transform your organizational culture.
Stay curious, stay playful, and keep creating the impossible!
