Look behind the wall.

Since early 90s I’ve been pondering the interconnectedness of systems, business and life. I was once a lone voice, but I'm now hearing whispers in the corporate space. A new trend is emerging, that’s going to explode over the next 10 years. A new people centric way of doing business. Focused on creativity, interconnectedness and innovation.

I realized pretty late in life, that the route to success is assuming total responsibility. Sure, I kind of always knew that, I think we all do deep down. The problem is, everybody’s telling you different things. Most people go through life like that, it’s as though they’re at sea being bashed to and from against the rocks, with no direction. Often, things don’t work, not because the system is broken. Instead, it’s because of the people that surround us. As the saying goes “you are the average of the five people you spend the most time with.” When you add media intake into the mix, it’s easy to see how your opinion can be swayed. You can only take in so much information in a day. Your brain processes approximately 34 gigabytes of information per day. All of this information impacts your worldview. While most parents play a significant role in the upbringing of their child, we tend to underestimate the indirect impact of other parents through their own children who spend time with ours. We underestimate coaches, teachers, relatives, neighbors. We get shaped as humans in so many ways. As a famous author and entrepreneur Harvey MacKay says: “your life is being shaped by the people you meet and books you read”. In other words, you are being shaped by the ideas you’re exposed to.

As we journey through life. Passing through different life stages, we’re exposed to a wide range of ideas. These might come from people we’re hanging out with, or from information and stories that we’re exposed to (book, social media, pop culture, etc). If you’re not careful, these experiences can alter your perception. The feeling of belonging is a powerful human need, so it’s easier to convince yourself that something is your passion if you’re fitting in with those around you. It’s easier to go through life that way. People who are more aspirational are more likely to think outside the box, be innovative, and be their authentic selves. To be an entrepreneur or intrapreneur, you must challenge everything constantly. Look behind the wall, question why things are done the way they are.

If you look at the way we live, everything is interconnected. You can clearly see the cause and effect of your actions in everyday life. If you don't know the cause and effect, and you're never taught to think about the interconnectedness between different subjects, which are seemingly unrelated from the educational perspective, but completely related on another level, then innovation is not possible. Just look at your lifestyle and how you spend your day, everything is interconnected. This is the thinking that individuals and companies need to adopt to drive innovation.

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