How does innovation really happen?

Put simply, innovation is the process of developing or modifying a good or service, with respect to a business, to make a consumers life better. Innovation doesn't happen overnight. It is a continuous process. Just as you need patience for your innovation to come through, you need passion too. If you're not passionate about a particular subject or field of work, you'll never dare to go beyond the pre-established boundaries.

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Here are five principles of innovation that gives insight into the process.

Will to start from the ground up

If you want to create something unique, you need to be willing to start from scratch. Reach for the moon but cherish the milestones you achieve along the way. Be open to doing your own research and ground-work even if that means getting your hands dirty. When you're not afraid of any challenges that might come your way, you'll find yourself in a better position to create something that is unique to yourself. When you roll up your sleeves and start somewhere, you're already one step closer to your innovation.

Never lose focus, especially in the face of adversities

The ability to focus and tune out the naysayers goes a long way to maintain you on your path. Have faith in yourself and your mission. If your mission has the potential to touch several lives, , focus on that aspect to keep yourself going. When your mission is all that matters to you, innovation will come easy.

Don't restrict your mind

When you put constraints on your thought process, you don't allow yourself to explore beyond the realm of possibility. So mentally prepare yourself, for this you need to let go of any baggage that can hold you back and start afresh. Never restrain yourself to a concept, think outside the box. Better yet, taking a wrecking ball and destroy the goddamn box if you must and rebuild the foundation.

Perfection isn't achieved overnight

Your first draft might not be what you had in mind, don't worry you're not the only one who came out short. Many enterprises and products come up with beta versions, but they never stop R&D till perfecting the envisioned product. It's just a natural course of developing and creating something. Keep working on your first draft and reiterate it till you eventually achieve perfection. Your iterative process will provide fixes on what works and what doesn't.

Ask for help when in need

During your quest there will be moments when you will be stuck on a certain problem for days on end. When this happens, seek help from your peers and colleagues. This might just give you a fresh perspective and solution to problems you otherwise affixed to be insurmountable.

Today, innovation goes far beyond research labs and large corporate initiatives. Each and every one of us can add to the world's knowledge if we only pursue innovation as a set agenda.

Read also: This innovation has given the experience of sight to the visually impaired.