Innovation requires an experimental mindset. — Denise Morrison

Innovation requires an experimental mindset.

Author: Denise Morrison

Insight: Most of us think innovation means having a brilliant idea—that lightning bolt moment where everything clicks. But the real work starts after that. An experimental mindset means you're willing to try things without knowing they'll work, to fail small and often, and to learn from what doesn't land. It's the difference between daydreaming about a better way and actually building one. The tricky part is that our daily lives often push us away from this. We're rewarded for being right, for having our act together, for not looking foolish. So we play it safe. We stick with what we know works. But innovation—whether it's finding a better way to do your job, starting something new, or just solving a persistent problem in your life—almost always requires some stumbling around in the dark first. The surprising thing is that this approach actually reduces risk over time. When you experiment regularly and stay curious, you're not betting everything on one grand idea. You're building a muscle of adaptation, learning what works and what doesn't, making adjustments as you go. That's how real change happens—not through perfect planning, but through trying, observing, and trying again.