There is considerable talk about innovation in businesses of all sizes, from startups to multinational public companies. “Innovation” and “innovate” are the most overused words in business. Is innovation a specialty or can it be cultivated by an entire organization? How do you innovate? And is there a blueprint for innovation? We explore these questions, and how the key to innovation is ideation, in our first Slideshare presentation!

1. INNOVATIONBEGINSWITH
Presented by INSPIRER
IDEATION

2. There is a lot of talk about
innovation in businesses of all sizes,
from startups to multinational
public companies.

3. “Innovation” and “innovate” are the
most overused words in all
departments within companies.

5. Technology teams use it as a goal, as in
“to be innovative.”
THIS IS THE MOST
INNOVATIVE APP!

6. Marketing teams use it as a slogan, as in
“we are innovative.”
!We create the most
innovative campaigns
in existence!

7. Sales teams use it as a competitive
differentiator, as in “this is the most
innovative product.”
you really can’t get
more innovative
than this! Buy it!

8. Operation teams use it to promote
their goals, as in “innovative
efficiencies in the supply chain.”
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4.5
9
13.5
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The Latest Data Shows That We Are, In Fact, Innovative!
Competition
Us

9. Human resources uses it to recruit, as
in “come work for us… we are an
innovative company.”
Employees across the country agree,
we are innovative!

10. Companies pitch they have an
“innovative culture” and that
“innovation is our primary focus.”
“Our middle name is innovation!”

11. We can’t help but wonder… how do
these companies define innovation?

12. And why do companies hire “Chief Innovation
Officers” and have “innovation teams?”
Who are these people and what do they do?
What are their special “innovation” skills?

13. Companies don’t
hire “Chief Spelling
Officers.” Why do
some businesses
treat innovation as
though it is a
speciality only
reserved for a
select few?
Secret Innovation Club Meeting

14. We argue that every employee should be
“Chief Innovation Officer” and use the tools of
innovation to advance the company’s goals.

15. And don’t get us started on the
“innovation consultants” that preach
they have the “secret” solution…

16. We believe there is no “secret” solution.

17. Innovation is a natural state of being for every
person, young or old. We were all born with the
innate ability to innovate, we just either forgot
how to or had it educated out of us. The
“secret” of innovation is a blueprint built into
each of us from birth and is easy to remember:
IDEATION x INSPIRATION = INNOVATION

18. You may be wondering, “If
innovation arises from ideation,
then how do we ideate?”

19. The answer is simple, look at the end of the question in
the sentence before this one. Have you ever noticed that
a question mark “?” looks like an incomplete lightbulb?
The question mark is the universal iconography for ideas;
the building blocks of innovation.
?

20. Questions are the key to ideation.
The word “question” which is derived from the
Latin quaestio(n-), from quaerere ‘ask, seek.’
Imagine an idea as a map and questions are
the ticket to make the journey of innovation,
to “seek” the location of an answer.

21. Ideation is an
internal compass
each of us is
born with that
points us toward
solutions.

22. By being curious and asking good questions we
begin on a journey of discovery, seeking
solutions to life's many problems.

23. At Inspirer, we have learned
A LOT
about ideation:

24. 1. Everyone is born an ideator.

25. 3. Ideation is a skill that
can be relearned.

26. 4. Good ideas are not worthless,
just scarce.

27. 5. Executing on bad ideas is VERY
expensive.

28. 6. An investment in ideation up
front leads to cost savings in
innovation overall.

29. Everyone can ideate, therefore,
everyone can innovate.
If you want to change the world, you can.
And you should never be afraid or held back from trying.
In conclusion…

30. Are you ready to create a truly
innovative culture?
?Need help or more inspiration?
inspirer.com

31. Download a copy of this presentation at:
https://inspirer.com/inspirer-resources
Title: Innovation Begins With Ideation