How Mistakes Trigger Innovation & Creativity
The Big Mistake
My wife, Diane, ordered some replacement dishes from an individual online. We were all excited when the box finally arrived. Yet, when we opened the box, we discovered one of the dishes was broken. This was a huge disappointment. Upon further inspection, it was easy to see why the plate broke. The packing was horrible—a total mistake on the seller's part.
Triggering Ideas
Yet, this very mistake could result in the seller coming up with more creative ideas to use in packing and shipping products. Mistakes in business can trigger innovation. I think of Thomas Edison, who was famous for never giving up in his search for the right light bulb. Many mistakes trigger innovation. You can read about other Famous Entrepreneurs That Failed In Business Before Becoming successful.
Personal Art Example
In my practice as a fine art painter, intentions do not always go as planned. At times, I don't like how something turns out. If I can stay positive, it can spark innovation and creativity. One such example is how I treat my edges on my paintings. I leave the edges unpainted to emphasize the paint's texture and make it even more sculptural and three-dimensional. This came about because I wasn't happy with how my paintings looked on the edges. My discontentment spurred a creative solution. I have included a photo of one of my paintings to show this.
Painting by Dave Reiter “Gentle Attraction”
Mistakes In Business
Similar situations happen in business. Mistakes are made. Products don't succeed. Customers aren't happy. Processes that once worked perfectly now seem like hindrances to progress. Yet, when mistakes happen, we have one of two options. Either we can take it as defeat, or we can embrace the error and look towards innovation and creativity to come up with another way. It all seems relatively intuitive, but in practice, it can be difficult. I say, take the bull by the horns and find a way. I like what Duncan Wardle says when he tells us to Fail, Fail and Fail Again.
Vision: the key to moving beyond the mistake and onto the idea
Yet, why does one person decide to brush the mistake off while the other elects to use it as fuel for innovation? Simply, it is because the latter one has a vision. Believe so much in your product or service that setbacks aren’t holdbacks, but rather comeback opportunities. (click to tweet this).
(Read more about how to do this in my blog: Stay in the Creative Zone.)
The gentleman who sold us our dishes could take it as defeat, or he can use it to create better packing and shipping. The key is not to take the loss as the end of the game. You have many more rounds to go. Use the loss as the fuel to drive another solution. Let that mistake trigger innovation and creativity.
What mistakes have you recently make that led to an idea? Share your comments below.
Until then, Keep The Creative Edge.
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