Courage to Innovate
Mar 8, 2012

Why do we settle so easily for the crumbs, the easy wins, the "why bother" accomplishments? Can we not get past the repetitive ‘white papers', expert panels, the endless rounds of talk sessions and small pilot projects? At the personal level, how far have the passive suggestions, the To Do lists and check box performance appraisals gotten you or your organization? We read all the time how instructive it is to fail, as long as you use that knowledge to improve the next try. What are we afraid of?
The Globe & Mail today printed a quote attributed to the Marquis de Vauvenargues (18th C): "The strength or weakness of our conviction depends more on our courage than on our intelligence". Both courage and intelligence are needed: intelligence to shape the conviction and courage to act on it. Don't short-change the intelligence required. This is not Google-search stuff or lowest bidder. The quality of the intelligence will bring validity to the conviction and that will make the essential courage both accessible and shared.