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Myths of Innovation - Scott Berkun

By Josh Kaufman

Innovation is a very hot topic in the business world. With the success of your business riding on having the “next big idea,” how do you go about ensuring your thoughts are “innovative”?

In Myths of Innovation, Scott Berkun dispels 10 commonly held beliefs about innovation, revealing that there’s nothing magical about discovering new ideas.

Using historical examples of innovations like the assembly line, QWERTY keyboard, and the airplane, Berkun shows that innovative ideas aren’t created by divinely-inspired rogue geniuses… they’re the result of the mundane preparation, research, experimentation, persistence, time, and luck of ordinary people who are open to new thoughts.

It’s particularly difficult to innovate on demand, and Berkun is clear to point out that the best ideas don’t always win. Even after having an idea, it’s typically not apparent that’s it’s particularly innovative or good, and it’s likely that your idea will face a great deal of resistance. By knowing what to expect in advance, you’ll be less likely to give up or invest precious time and effort on adopting complex and unrealistic “innovation methodologies”.

After reading Myths of Innovation, you’ll be prepared to capture and experiment with promising ideas whenever, wherever, and however they show up.

(The Personal MBA also recommends another book by Scott Berkun: Making Things Happen.)

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