Innovation -- the execution of new ideas that provide growth and differentiation for our businesses -- cannot simply be reduced to one set of ironclad, all-encompassing rules. Human ingenuity and creativity cannot be reduced to a mathematical formula. But we can gain substantial guidance from the successes of other small business innovators and innovation specialists. The Institute for Innovation Development will be compiling and reviewing these cross-industry successes to distill principles and create courses of action. This week’s additions to the institute’s “Innovation Library” offer three different ideas on innovation success.

Harvey Mackay’s article, “Innovate or Die,” highlights individuals and firms that “found a better way to do something,” and includes two essential quotations:

“Business has only two functions, marketing and innovation.” --Peter Drucker

“Innovators anticipate or create a need and fill it.” --Dennis Waitley

Mackay also shares the original vision on innovation from the founders of Hewlett-Packard. Legend has it that these rules were posted in the original garage start-up:

1. Believe you can change the world.

2. Work quickly, keep the tools unlocked, work whenever.

3. Know when to work alone and when to work together.

4. Share -- tools, ideas. Trust your colleagues.

5. No politics. No bureaucracy. (These are ridiculous in a garage.)

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