Innovation and the Power of Passion

One of the personality characteristics of innovators and innovation leaders has been a challenge for us to nail down. The challenge is one of language.

Words that describe personality characteristics all have pitfalls: meanings taken by the listener that are not intended by the speaker. We've gotten pretty comfortable with all but one characteristic from a language / teaching / communication perspective. We're currently breaking it down into six "improvable" personality characteristics, or six values one might attempt to live. They are:

• Humility, or not being arrogant

• Curiosity, or wanting to learn and know more

• Courage, or being willing to take reasonable risk

• Tenacity, or not giving up easily even if you're alone in your idea

• Integrity, or living up to these characteristics and accepting feedback as a guide to behavior change when you're not

• ????? or ... well what is the mysterious 6th characteristic?

We're debating the word, because each word is a bit cumbersome depending on the ear of the listener. Some listeners hear some of these words and have baggage, that is a lack of curiosity, and attach particular meaning to these words that prevents them from getting our meaning / understanding.

We're currently playing around with at least four words: Passion, Connection, Commitment, Heart, Desire.  Yup. that's 5. Thanks for really paying attention.

This morning, it's feeling like passion after I read a great post about helping children pursue their dreams. The link in a moment.

My final thoughts about this before I run out and play through my Saturday: When we really want something, when it occupies our mind as a goal to achieve, when we dream about it, when we fantasize about attaining it, when we imagine a future where we've achieved it and feel joy at that imagined future, then we'll more likely innovate to get there. We'll overcome the obstacles --- by simple hard work-- when there is a standard best practice to get there-- and by finding creative alternate pathways when we are blocked. Here is one mom's take on raising kids with this characteristic: http://www.dailygood.org/more.php?n=3782

Enjoy!

Comments

[Jonathan]

Your description in the final paragraph sounds like a nice combination of tenacity plus courage plus desire. Here's a sixth suggestion: purpose?