Exponential Innovation
I’ve been thinking as we’ve been unpacking boxes, arranging/rearranging/re-rearranging (gotta love it) the furniture. I’ve been thinking specifically about what it takes to see catalytic innovation.
Katrina and I are in the business of innovation. She’s an artist and I’m some edgy church planter. Whatever, that’s cool I guess. But its deeper than just what we’re doing. It’s our spirit – our strength – the ‘there’s always another way’ spirit – the way we approach life itself.
The entrepreneurial seed that has been planted in our hearts is beginning to take root. It comes out in how we research the city, go about setting up bills, arranging (and rearranging) our house, getting an income…my friends make fun of me for the “get rich quick” schemes I tell them about. One of these days I’ll make good on one of my ideas, then they’ll be sorry! 
The point is, it seems that this spirit of innovation comes standard in the Willis family as of late. It’s so cool to see it emerging in Katrina. I never know what she’s going to discover next, and I’m learning to respect her ideas and intuitions, even when it conflicts with my own. She’s a genius and a wonder with concepts, networking, and communication. The world is never going to be the same because of her.
But what drives innovation? How do we aid and enable that spirit already inside of us to grow? Besides good, caring mentors, it seems it takes the following:
Lack of Resources + Increase of Passion = Exponential Innovation
Most great ideas are born out of a resource dearth. Many ideas die because the genius who came up with them was either too busy too scared or to cynical to pull it off. That’s why the innovative seed must sprout in a soil that is desperate for change, but there must be a mind that is willing to cultivate that dream with the same passion and fury that propels the survival of a species, or the determination of a predator. He/she/they must be relentless in their pursuit of their goals, doing whatever it takes (innovation) in order to see them accomplished.
Julie are discussing.
Julie 8:33 pm on June 14, 2008 Permalink
I admire you two so much for taking this leap and fulfilling your dreams. Bret and I are thinking of and praying for you as you take Chicago (and the world) by storm!
Mark 10:43 pm on June 14, 2008 Permalink
Thanks Julie! Hope we can see you two sometime for a fly by night trip through Chicago! Or stay a few days! Even better!
Jason 11:01 am on June 16, 2008 Permalink
I really enjoyed this post. I don’t know if I’m the same innovative spirit that you are, but the thought of innovation really resonates with me lately. BTW, you would like the book Watership Down, by Richard Adams. Rabbits are forced to a new and better warren out of desperation. They learn innovation out of a dearth of resources, etc., just like you were saying. I don’t know that it’s written from an intentional Christian perspective, but it’s just about the best book on church-planting that I’ve read next to The Forgotten Ways, by Alan Hirsch. You’ve probably already read that, though.
Mark 11:29 am on June 16, 2008 Permalink
Jason,
Thanks for your thoughts! I’ve read Forgotten Ways, but not Watership Down. I need to get my hands on that one. Now that I’ve graduated maybe…just maybe…i’ll have the time for it!