Innovation is coming up with a novel idea. That idea can be a product, service, or improvement on an old way of doing things. Sometimes it can be difficult. Even the best innovators like David Walsh Bronxville, who spearheaded the first web hosting company, get discouraged at times.

Tips for Innovators

Fortunately, there are a few things that you can do to get the ball rolling.

Focus on the Problem

A problem can have a million different bad solutions but only a few good ones. A solution is no good if it does not solve every aspect of the problem. So, you need to study the problem from all angles and consider all solutions. This will get you started on finding a solution even if the solution doesn’t come right away. Begin by noting all parts of the problem, even the inconsequential ones.

Adapt When Necessary

You can see a good example of adaptation in Bronxville’s David Walsh. He adapted his technology to suit a variety of markets. Even after you come up with a solution, you might need to adapt it to fit all aspects of the problem. If you don’t adapt, you will fail.

There is another important aspect of adaptation. Once you solve a problem, you can adapt the solution to solve other problems. Just because you use the knowledge you gained, it doesn’t mean you can’t use that same knowledge on another problem.

Innovation is Not About a Single Person

When presenting new ideas, it is rarely just one person involved. More often than not, there is a whole team working on it. Someone who is a true innovator is not worried about the credit. They are just worried about solving the issue. They give credit to their team and others who contributed. The more creative thinkers involved, the easier the solution will be.

Don’t Worry if an Attempt Fails

There is a good chance that you and your team will go through various solutions before you find the perfect one. Failure is inevitable. The point is to keep trying. Don’t punish yourself or your team if you fail. Get up and try again. Nothing good ever came on the first attempt at anything. Experimentation is part of the process.

Start With an Old Idea

You don’t have to start from scratch. Look at what you know. Look at other industries. These solutions might not fit exactly, but they can give you a jumping-off point. Use these ideas to get you started and move on from there. Not all innovation involves a novel idea.

Collect Data

With each attempt at a solution, collect and organize that data you gain. Even if that solution is a failure, the knowledge you gain from it is invaluable and can help you solve it faster. By collecting the data, even if you give up on an idea, you still have access to what you learned to help you solve other problems that might come up.

Not everyone is an innovator, and even the best sometimes have trouble getting started. Sometimes they stall out midway. Remember, new ideas take time to develop.