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I really hate the use of light bulbs around ideation because they suggest that innovation and breakthrough ideas come in the form of an instant flash of genius.

It also makes it feel like the process is easy … like turning on a lightbulb.

It’s an insult to anyone who is involved in the process of developing ideas, one of whom was Edison who invented the light bulb and spent a fortune trying to get it to work.

How about putting aside the myth of the lightbulb moment and accepting the challenges that face us with the resilience and tenacity that Edison championed?

He fought naysayers every step of the way, but he got it to work and that took a lot of work. Innovation does!

At the core of big breakthrough ideas are three things – curiosity, bravery and playfulness.

Spreadsheets and caution never amount to anything but more spreadsheets and caution.