10 Lessons on Fostering Innovation

This interview with Brad Bird from Pixar raises some great points on fostering innovation.

Walt Disney’s mantra was, “I don’t make movies to make money—I make money to make movies.”

1. Herd Your Black Sheep: Be malcontent and frustrated. Do things differently
2. Perfect is the Enemy of Innovation: You don't always have to be perfect. Sometimes you just need to get the job done.
3. Look for Intensity: Be involved.
4. Innovation Doesn’t happen in a Vacuum: Keep everything open, work as a team.
5. High Morale Makes Creativity Cheap: Happy workers and productive workers.
6. Dont Try To “Protect your success”: Continually do things that scare you.
7. Steve Jobs Says ‘Interaction = Innovation’: Jobs realized that when people run into each other, when they make eye contact, things happen
8. Encourage Inter-disciplinary Learning: Learn outside your area, gain holistic knowledge.
9. Get Rid of Weak Links
10. Making $$ Can’t Be Your Focus