Funding Innovation Is Easy. Funding Uncertainty Is the Real Problem.
"How do we fund innovation?" is the question every executive asks. It's also the wrong question. The right one: how do we fund something when we don't yet know if it will work? That's a fundamentally different problem—and it requires abandoning almost everything you think you know about budgets.
Building Sustainable Innovation Systems
Innovation isn’t about lightning striking; it’s about building a power plant. Yet, most executives stall because they try to run innovation using the same rules designed for operational efficiency—a fundamental "infrastructure mismatch." This article diagnoses why your freight train can't navigate a hiking trail and outlines how to build the "Dual System" required to turn innovation from a fleeting project into a sustainable capability.
The Portfolio Strategy Every Leader Needs
Innovation often gets treated like a game of chance. Companies launch projects, chase ideas, and hope that something will eventually stick. But hope isn’t a strategy, and you can’t afford to leave innovation to chance. If you want to make a real impact, you must manage your innovation efforts with the same rigor you would apply to a financial portfolio.
The leaders who make innovation happen
Innovation doesn’t happen in a vacuum. We often hear stories about the big, bold ideas that revolutionize industries, but rarely do we hear about the people behind the scenes—the ones who make those ideas actually work. Because here’s the reality: having a great idea is easy. The real challenge is execution.
From Failing Fast to Learning Fast
We’ve all heard the mantra “Fail fast.” It sounds bold, even a little glamorous, right? But nobody actually wants to fail. It feels like getting punched in the gut. The problem isn’t failure itself, it’s the mindset. If we’re so focused on failing fast, we’re missing the real opportunity: to learn fast.
Financial Capital is only half the equation
Financial Capital is just one part of the story. The assets that don’t show up on your balance sheet—social and reputation capital—are often what make or break long-term success. Ignore them, and you could be heading for trouble.
The Power of Small Bets: How Low-Risk Moves Lead to Big Wins
You’ve probably heard the advice: “Go big or go home.” But what if going big isn’t always the smartest move? The truth is, innovation doesn’t have to be an all-in, high-risk gamble. There’s a better way—small bets.
The Seven Questions Every Game-Changing Idea Must Answer
Most businesses waste time and money on ideas that sound amazing in the boardroom but flop in the real world. Why? Because we fall for big ideas without asking the right questions.