Innovation

"Creativity is thinking up new things. Innovation is doing new things."  Theodore Levitt

I would argue it is more than that. Creating something completely new and of value; something that involves societal change, is innovative.

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There was one original innovation in the wheel, but each of these wheels had important innovations built on, changing society. Hans Otto designed our internal combustion engine. How many previous innovations can you identify that went into that? In turn, the combustion engine, the propeller, and the aileron went into the Kitty Hawk. 

Like the young William Kampkwamba's turbine (above), it does not have to be hi-tech. It can be adapted from what has gone before. But it does change lives.  

Many are creative without being innovative and that is good, absolutely good. These things are interesting and life-affirming - of value. However, innovation is a rare thing. Otherwise, it would be an everyday occurrence.

Creatives should aim for innovation and be satisfied with creation.

Steve Jobs was proud of the innovation that was the iphone (one vision from a range of technical

innovations that were used in its production, not least the world wide web of Tim Berners-Lee).

He appeared satisfied with each creative upgrade that followed. However, most are not innovations

as Apple claims. They are the result of a collaboration of patents belonging to others and one of the

ninety-five thousand patents it owns. Impressive, but updates and patents are not necessarily innovations in themselves.

Do not be unhappy with your updates, modifications, and creations. They make the world a better place and a product more useful. Not least, they can change someone's life - perhaps, wider society. They are of equal importance to innovation. Indeed, we all need to work harder than ever at being creative. Each is a step change in itself. In that there is hope, and through innovation, we might just save the world.