I’ve been in Japan this past week, meeting with companies here. We talk a lot about innovation and disruption. Japanese companies are very urgently focused on this, and sometimes struggle with it. As I was speaking with these companies, more and more I realize that there is a particular mindset about innovation that I just take for granted: the happy mutant. This sounds like it might be an insult but I consider myself one, so I hope not. This refers to a person who is just happily curious and engaged with some corner of the world - “mutant” refers to the idea that their obsession makes sense to them but not to anyone else. They don’t care, whatever it is - collecting, creating, science, whatever - they “know” it’s interesting and just want to dig into it.
Love this. It reminds me of the value of asking open ended questions, forgetting about them and finding a thread in some other area of focus and exploration.
Love this. It reminds me of the value of asking open ended questions, forgetting about them and finding a thread in some other area of focus and exploration.