The Sputtering Innovation Machine: Why We’re Stuck, and How to Break Free
Innovation: Accelerating or Stalling Out?
On one side, tech optimists argue that innovation is exploding exponentially (hello, Moore’s Law 📈). On the other side, skeptics argue that real, meaningful breakthroughs are slowing down — pointing to patent declines and the “Great Stagnation” 🛑.
But maybe the problem isn’t the pace of innovation. Maybe it’s how we define it.
If a new chip processes information faster but no one’s ready to harness it, is that innovation or wasted potential? If a patent is just a minor tweak, is it innovation or tinkering?
The truth: innovation fatigue is real. The word “innovation” itself might feel overused — yet the sense persists that something vital is missing.
As Johann Wong of JouleWatt puts it:
“There are good things happening, but they’re not happening or growing fast enough.”
So… what’s blocking us?
🔄 The Paradigm Problem
Flashback to my college summers: I was a temp, typing up memos in WordPerfect (yes, I’m that old 📝). In between, I stumbled across Thomas Kuhn’s Structure of Scientific Revolutions — the book that coined the term paradigm shift.
Kuhn’s insight? Breakthroughs often come from outsiders who aren’t blinded by prevailing assumptions. The data was usually there all along — hidden in plain sight, overlooked because experts were trapped by their own worldview.
That’s the real challenge: innovation gets stuck not because we lack ideas, but because we’re locked inside paradigms that filter what we see, what we consider possible, and even what we allow ourselves to say out loud.
🌍 Why This Matters Today
In my career, I’ve hopped across industries — business, nonprofits, government, startups. That constant paradigm-shifting has taught me a simple truth:
💡 What looks impossible in one system is often routine in another.
Sometimes you’re a genius. Sometimes you’re a heretic. Most of the time, you’re just an outsider bringing a fresh paradigm.
The biggest barrier to accelerating innovation isn’t money, technology, or even talent. It’s our own paradigms. And the most dangerous part? Our paradigms make it hard to even recognize that’s what’s happening.
That’s where the real work begins.
If this resonates with you, here’s how to go deeper:
📖 Read the book → Grab your copy of Everybody Innovates Here (use code FUTURENOW).
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🎤 Engage → Contact us to book a keynote, workshop, or innovation deep-dive for your team or organization.
Innovation doesn’t have to sputter. Together, we can break the paradigm trap and unlock what’s next. 🚀
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