Innovation questions / discussion

I wanted start some discourse on innovation. And I couldn't figure out where this thread might go. So meaningless drivel it is!

I was listening to the Permaculture Voice podcast # 32 with Javan Bernakevitch discussing origination not emulation and it got me wondering can individuals be taught to innovate? What would that skill set look like to practice? Is it just a higher level of observation and questioning? Or do we think that the true innovators are born?

Hopefully others would chime in here.

As I look around in my life and my garden I struggle to see what could I innovate. I read books on Sepp Holzer and I am in awe at his vision. How does he do what he does? If I want to follow in his footsteps what could I do?

Pondering in Ohio,
A.J.

I think that the spark for innovation can only come when you are very busy doing things and your unique situation presents you with an unmet need.

The method or tool just isn't working for you and your work is stymied or slowed to an intolerable pace.

Your mind begins to ponder a myriad of ways to approach filling this need and you try 100 of them. The first 99 fail, and you keep going.

One of the best chefs I worked under would bristle if someone called him an artist . He would say " Cooking is a craft not an art " . Salvador Dali said that before he started painting his crazy visions he learned how to paint in the styles of all the old masters . I am sure most great musical artists have practiced scales ad nauseum . So , having the pragmatic skills honed must be part of the equation . How could one become an innovative gardener without good horticultural skills and knowledge ?

I think one can learn to innovate in deliberate Edison style, but Tesla style alien brain flowers seem a gift from beyond.

For me innovation comes from observation. I think Sepp does a lot of observation . Them you try and copy what you have seen .
Repeat for years. Remembre everything is local , what works for Sepp might not work you

David

William Bronson wrote: I think one can learn to innovate in deliberate Edison style, but Tesla style alien brain flowers seem a gift from beyond.

William -- soooo well said!

A.J. Gentry wrote:
As I look around in my life and my garden I struggle to see what could I innovate. I read books on Sepp Holzer and I am in awe at his vision. How does he do what he does? If I want to follow in his footsteps what could I do?

A.J.

I find it kind of humorous (possibly ironic? I am always misusing the word ironic) that I said I wanted to be original and follow in Sepp's footsteps.

I made a video about this very thing in the Costa Rican Rainforest ...



Get the full article about innovation here: http://www.unconventionalparents.com/where-do-profitable-business-ideas-come-from/

I think the short version of the idea here is that if you want to innovate your garden, look outside your garden for ideas.

Folks, this is going to sound stupid, but one great way to innovate is to give your innovation a NAME. Once you have a name, then think of a STORY incorporating it. Then you can move on to the VISION of what the innovation actually is. And once you've done that, you can figure out how to DELIVER it.

All that from starting without even the foggiest idea of what you're actually going to innovate!

And with that, I'm off to sell my Pegglewarbler(TM) to Mark Zuckerberg for $30bn.

Thanks AJ !

Observation and reverse engineering. This is what I want now how did I get here or do I get here with what I have.