We can't go under it..... We can't go over it.... Why great innovation is just like a bear hunt

You are going on a bear hunt...

You are going to catch a big one,

You are not scared (I believe you).

Sound familiar?

Maybe you heard these words for your bedtime story, or perhaps, as a parent you read this over and over again to your children until the words were forever engraved on your brain.

The children's story "We're Going on a Bear Hunt" is a classic tale of adventure and discovery.

It follows a group of children as they set out on a journey to find a bear. Along the way, they face many obstacles, but they never give up.

"We're Going on a Bear Hunt." actually reminds me of lots of innovation projects...

• Innovation requires a sense of adventure. Just like the children in the story, we need to be willing to step outside of their comfort zones and explore new possibilities. They need to be curious and open-minded.

• Innovation is not without its challenges. Along the way, we will face obstacles and setbacks. We need to be persistent and resilient. We will need to be willing to learn from their mistakes and find new ways around the problem.

• Innovation is ultimately about discovery. The goal of innovation is to create something new and valuable. It is about finding new ways to solve problems. So in order to do so, we need to access our inner naïve child, grab our binoculars and look at things in a new way.

In the children's story, after the bear-hunters use all of their resilience and discovery skills, they do find the bear, only to realise that it is ultimately, a terrifying thing that they want to run away from.

This too can happen in the innovation process, sometimes we find the big ideas that we've been looking for, but we feel that they are too big and scary to execute,

This is a good reminder to be clear on your objectives from the start, to know what you are looking for, and why.

If you are headed out on an innovation project (or bear-hunt) any time soon and would value another perspective, an extra pair of hands and eyes and and a fresh perspective, then get in touch...

rachel@thefreelancefoodie.co.uk

Be willing to take risks, face challenges, and explore new possibilities.

You never know where your journey might lead you.