Innovation stands as the new buzz word of the world’s top business leaders.
New, original creations make magic wands that open a bright future, this new mantra says.
However, as a high tech term that gained momentum out of the Internet revolution of the 1990’s, this concept of innovating lies shrouded in mystery.
Although leaders in governments, corporations and universities around the world advocate innovation as the way to the future, the act of innovating appears mysterious to most of us.
But if innovation is a key to the future, then we should all get in on this secret. It would be beneficial to crack the code on how innovation works. If innovation is the door to a bright tomorrow, then it is fruitful and desirable to know the way through that door.
We all expect Government to solve all the problems that afflict us in society. And too many of us sit back with folded hands with the excuse that Government needs to solve the problems.
We have two things in our favour in this country: we live in a democratic society where the Government is answerable to the international order, and we have access to the global knowledge base through the Internet. Democracy implies personal responsibility.
We complain about the society not being perfectly what we want it to be. And of course it is not. This society suffers from severe social deformities, and we could pass the blame around for this sad state of affairs, or we could say we want to make a difference.
Do we look at this country and think how we could make a difference?
Making a difference does not need to be a grand affair.
Across this country, little communities cry out for simple care.
As a sunny, tropical place with lots of trees, plants and greenery, there is the potential to create communities of beautiful landscapes.
One person in a little village could make such a difference by using his or her yard and parapet space to cultivate a garden of flowers, for example. And then this person could spread the message. And this labour of love could catch the eye of neighbours, who may copy the work.
Such a project, that one person starts, could spread and become a national pastime. We could see the cultivation of gardens and landscapes and flower beds and orchards along roadways become such a national passion that the country would be transformed.
Such a simple act could make such a big difference in the country, and in turn affect the public mood with optimism, wonder and a sense of beauty. This land is blessed for such a pastoral picture.
Who would make the difference?
Planting every square inch of one’s yard space with flowers, fruits and vegetables could be the innovation that transforms the look and feel of this society.
Government could campaign for people to plant and grow more food. But nothing is more motivating and inspiring than ordinary people using their initiative to make a difference for their community.
We could think of a thousand little ways that ordinary folks in rural villages across this country could make a difference.
We could transform this country if we wake up to the fact that we could be innovators in our communities. We could start small things that make a difference.
These initiatives need not be with the intention of building, but just to have fun and indulge our talents, passion and visionary potential.
We could make a difference with simple things, with just loving to live day by day, doing the little things that are possible.
We live outdoors a lot, and so cultivating landscapes and gardens and creating aesthetic space should come naturally to us.
Were we to start looking after our space, we could see a wonderful ripple effect across the land.
In Georgetown, Main Street and Camp Street stand out because of the work of citizens who chose to beautify these spaces.
Such simple acts of innovating transform a people and a nation. In a book they called “Lightning In A Bottle”, David Minter and Michael Reid wrote about this process.
“It is exciting to be part of the process that comes up with new ideas for products and services, and to execute them successfully. It is thrilling to make an impact with an idea you created”, the authors note in their book’s introduction.
Indeed, if we see people across this country come up with and execute new ideas, if we see individuals bring innovation to their communities everywhere, we would see rapid transformation of our social ills.
As much as we would like to think that only people with power could make a difference or get things done, we must realize that each person is born with an inherent ability to make a difference in society.
Every human being is powerful to the extent that he or she takes responsibility to make a difference, Sadly, most people choose not to do anything new or innovative. Most people just go through the motions of existing.
But, as top leaders all over the world know, life is not static. Everything is dynamic. And to grow and develop, one needs to become innovative, especially in daily living.
For innovation is not only for business or for community transformation. Ultimately, the individual must work to make his or her life a journey of innovation.
As Anne Frank said “how wonderful it is that nobody need wait a single moment before starting to improve the world”. And improving the world starts with simple innovations that improve the local community.
This writer can be contacted by email at beingshaun@gmail.com
