Innovation in the 21st Century... it's all about value!

Did you ever wonder why Google has so much value? How about Amazon or Facebook?

We might associate innovation with electric vehicles or trips into space. We may say that about Apple's next I-Phone or Tesla's new car. Did you ever consider a pencil as being innovative?

Innovation happens all around us, and we may never even be aware of it! Space travel is fantastic, but is it truly innovative? I agree it's a new and exciting venture, but does it have real value for you or me?

In the simplest form, innovation refers to a product, process, and/or system or even conversation that is perceived as valuable by another person so they can move forward. Ever seen great ideas go to waste because they couldn't market it well or ideas that just failed because they have no value?

Maybe you can tell me why Google might be considered to be so innovative? Is it because it has new apps or Chromebooks? Think again. Examine Google's mission statement, they give the secret away. It's not how fancy a tool is but rather, how useful something is for a person to move forward with in a most positive direction.

Google mission statement is “to organize the world's information and make it universally accessible and useful.”

So when you are thinking about a new idea, here are some questions you might consider asking - What problem am I solving for others? How might someone use this idea on a daily basis?