When we talk about innovation, we often picture brilliant new ideas—flashes of genius that seem to appear out of nowhere. And while ideas are vital, they’re not actually the starting point. The real foundation of innovation is openness — the willingness to see things differently, question what we think we know, and stay receptive to new insights.
Innovators are masters at creating value. They do it not by chance, but through a combination of habits, mindsets, and ways of seeing the world that allow them to spot opportunities others overlook. Whether it’s a world-famous entrepreneur who redefines an industry or a quiet problem-solver working behind the scenes, the common thread is awareness — a deep, ongoing connection to what’s happening around them and within them.
Have you ever looked at your team and thought, “We could use a little spark… maybe even a jolt?”
Sometimes the best way to wake up people’s creativity is to pull them out of their everyday routines and drop them into an activity that feels playful—but secretly teaches powerful skills. What is one of the simplest (and most unexpectedly effective) ways to do that?
