CHANGE to Innovation

Why does it happen that there is a lot of talk on change, but we don’t see any change? Mahatma Gandhi said “Be the change you want to see in the world” He is right, until and unless we start changing ourselves, nothing around us will change. I have heard many such adages. A change brings in a change. Change is the only thing permanent. And many more. But the first time I heard them, they titillated my mind, they sounded encouraging and appealing to me. But this encouragement fades away with time. Is it that we forget the adage or we fail to understand the meaning? The reason is that people will be unable to stay inspired with a quote until they start practicing it. When we hear the quote we interpret it correctly in our thoughts. But we fail at the implementation (action) end. There lies the principal problem. You think something but you fail to convert it exactly in implementation, leaving you disappointed. Disappointment is the outcome of the difference between your thoughts and your corresponding actions. For example, you thought you will hit the gym from tomorrow but you actually don’t show up at the gym next day. Same drama continues for days, months and…. Then one day you feel disappointed that you have put on weight or are unfit and you should join the gym. But the story remains the same. And the outcome too. :) Here if you notice there is a difference or gap between the thought and the action. So what prevented you from converting your thought into an action? No time? No resources? OK. Let’s take another scenario. Suppose you are unexpectedly asked for shopping today (strictly for girls) or asked for a booze party (strictly for guys). You will MOST probably, and will go for it. Why? Now from where are you going to bring that extra time or resources? I think the reason is "unwillingness to change”. So why you showed willingness in the second scenario? It is because there is an established comfort zone. As soon as something goes out of this comfort zone, the change seems more painful, hence unappealing, unattractive and unwilling. You don’t want to think or go outside the established comfort zone, because it requires efforts (a change). You try to search for what is easily available to you, with fewer efforts (like trying Sauna belt?). So, here the gym lies outside the comfort zone. Similarly, people like to keep their day-to-day life unchanged as long as no unwilling efforts are required.

The above thought-action was one example; many such thoughts-actions together, continuously, shape your mind and influence your thinking. These thoughts-actions develop your mindset. It creates a kind of virtual zone for your mind. Your mind wanders/roams only inside this zone while thinking. Many a times we are unable to find a solution for some problem. The reason being that the solution lies outside this zone, but you can think only in a certain range (i.e. as far as the established virtual zone allows you to wander). But as you are applying a solution that is easily available in this zone itself, the problem refuses to fix. Yes, easily available, by this I mean a conventional solution. A conventional solution is built upon by repeated use, “no change” in thinking and lacks freshness. So here you need to think out of the box (or out of the zone!) to fix the problem.

The continuous thoughts-actions therapy shapes your mind (i.e. creates a zone and your mind wanders only inside this space) The therapy leaves the mind in a NO CHANGE state, as you look for easily available solutions only in the zone. To improve the situation we need to change the way of thinking (i.e. construct a window in the zone where the mind can jump out of the zone for other possibilities/alternatives). Innovation acts as the window from where you can jump out of the established zone. Innovation is nothing but the result of an unconventional “change” in the way of thinking. A person innovates only when he jumps out of the current thinking space.

We need innovative solutions for many problems surrounding us. But we deal with the issues with the same conventional methods. Why? Of course, because they are easily available!  We go for a strike, we do a couple of bandhs, we do stone pelting, etc. Most of you who fail to show up on a bandh day have to run the show on a weekly holiday or take a cut in their pay cheques. Worst, daily wage earners, hand-to-mouth livelihoods have to sleep hungry because they cannot earn their living for that day. But, nothing seems to change post the bandh/strikes called for, thus defeating the purpose. Solution lies outside the zone? Innovate.

Let me mention a small story here. A city college organizes a games event, every year. One year the college principal barred, particularly all the last year students (read victims) from assuming any berth on the organizing committee of the event. So, some “conventional” students decided to boycott the games event (as expected, easily available solution!). They thought this would deter the principal. As it happens in bandhs/strikes the opponent (i.e. principal) didn’t budge. The principal decided to go ahead with the event. With a different thought a guy emerged, he started thinking out of the zone, if they want to protest, what should they do? I know you will say do not participate in the event. But, the victims were not plenty in numbers. The victims tried to cajole the other (FY & SY) students. They didn’t budge too. The “emerged” guy thought either they should get negligible participation or a huge participation, such that the event is mismanaged and earn an unpleasant repute. None was possible here. So the guy jumped out of the window of the mind’s zone. Innovation struck! They all decided to participate. The reason will follow soon. They ensured that they conquer most prizes. Out of 60 they won 45 prizes. Now, comes the ace from their pocket. They decided not to receive any prize. Just imagine the prize distribution ceremony. The chief guest, a big celebrity, sharing the table with the college principal. For 3/4^th part of the ceremony no one goes on stage to take the prize. I know you would have liked to see the principal’s face then. The principal was left fuming. It was a huge embarrassment for him. From next year onwards, no one was barred from occupying a seat on OC. I know some of you may find this solution effective some may find some loopholes, I can understand. But the only intention here is to think out of the box. Citing an example, the recent bandh for fuel hike which was supported at many places or was rather forced to be supported, yielded no results. After a few days, everyone forgot (I know you too) :)

History is replete with examples of innovation (I call it, a CHANGE in thinking) being rewarded handsomely. The Apple Inc. launched the i-series, iPod, iPhone and now the iPad. No one ever visualized a sleek device like iPod which can be used primarily to listen to music or read notes, watch videos, photos and many other things. All this controlled by the movement of your thumb! Till date they have sold 260,000,000 ipods and still counting, this figure was achieved in just a few years. The iPad redefined a new product segment; tablet PC, which sits between a PC and a phone. Reports say that Apple Inc sold 3 million ipads in 80 days! That’s the power of innovation.

An innovation near home was that of a newly entered telecom operator introducing “pay per second” plan. It took the Indian telecom market by storm. From being a newcomer it raced rapidly to a double digit million subscriber base in just 3 months! Power of innovation, again. So, I believe you have recognized the power of innovation (CHANGE in thinking) by now. The only thing you need to do is make the “change to innovation”. One more inspirational quote comes your way. “Innovation distinguishes between a leader and a follower” - Steve Jobs. Got encouraged? Don't let it evaporate with time. You have the thought, now your action holds the key. So, make the change. And get ready to unleash that power of innovation within you!