Negative thoughts, often overlooked, can significantly hinder the innovation process.
Innovation typically arises from a journey of experiences combined with hard work; it doesn't occur in a vacuum. Innovation results from the experiences we undergo in various contexts; it can arise in the workplace, through socializing with people, or under challenging circumstances, among other situations. In other words, difficult circumstances or challenges, such as poverty or disability, teach us a great deal in life and give us the impetus to overcome and move forward. Although I'm not generalizing, not all people can overcome the challenges and reach the summit successfully. However, the challenging circumstances played a crucial role in motivating people to achieve success. Success came about as a result of their efforts and attempts to resolve dilemmas in their lives.
However, experiences themselves don't get us to an innovative domain unless we direct them to the right venue or shape them correctly. In other words, for example, building a creative project to capitalize on renewable energy requires a deep understanding of the raw materials or elements that contribute to its enhancement. These elements are useless unless they are processed in a way that turns them into valid products. Therefore, processing them requires innovation, research, and hard work to know how to deal with them. That indicates sources for innovation can be found or might be available elsewhere. Still, these sources remain stagnant unless we devise innovative ideas to transform them into valuable products.
Similarly, in other contexts, e.g., medicines developed to cure diseases were not simply recommended to patients. They were the result of extensive research and testing by creative scientists in the labs, leading to successful results. Space shuttles haven't been flying to the moon since the last century, but magnificent scientific research has led to a revolution in space exploration.
By this token, with numerous innovative accomplishments in many fields, innovation continues to thrive. These stunning inventions, such as the internet, machinery, or the development of the smartphone, didn't suddenly appear without a fascinating story of creativity. For example, Steve Jobs's Apple story teaches us that every successful story has a journey of hard work and struggle. We used to learn and hear a myriad of these stories; many of them have changed the world and marked the course of history in ways intended, leading to revolutions in technology, science, industry, and more.
Listening to innovative and successful stories, such as those of Microsoft and many more, drives us to realize that the path toward success isn't always impeccable and is often bumpy due to hindrances. A start-up owner with an unwavering belief in their idea showcases remarkable resilience as they strive to convince people of this idea and bring it into being. Therefore, this text will shed some light on one of the bumps in innovation, inspiring you to face your challenges with determination and resilience.
Innovation requires a good and healthy state of mind; that is, our mind should be free from distracting factors that divert it from concentrating on the vital points of innovation. On the one hand, this distraction can be psychological or physical, such as the shortage of raw materials needed for building an innovative and lucrative project or the lack of financial resources. Psychologically, when we go through mentally distressing situations, it causes emotional drainage. On the other hand, the lack of specialist knowledge can be another factor; for instance, in the field of technology, specialist knowledge in coding or software development is crucial. This knowledge comes first, followed by planning, which demarcates the route towards a successful project establishment.
Overcoming these obstacles is not only possible, but it's also empowering. It's about leveraging the resources at your disposal to achieve your goals. When the financial means are in place, any idea can be transformed into a tangible project. On a psychological level, it's crucial to identify the factors causing distress and actively seek applicable solutions. More importantly, it's highly recommended to proactively avoid these factors or environments that lead to mental anguish, putting you in control of your mental well-being and empowering you to overcome obstacles.
A further obstacle that isn't often highlighted is the issue of negative thoughts. I describe it as the plague that affects the path of creativity. Negative thoughts can be a significant barrier to innovation. For instance, when someone comes up with an idea, they might grapple with obsessive thoughts like,
Imagine this idea won't work out.
Imagine if I won't be able to deal with the consequences of failure.
In addition to what is demonstrated above on the social side, negative thoughts like unpleasant experiences you have gone through with people around you affected your mental status to the degree that these experiences became unforgettable, causing sorrow on your life path. These experiences, such as a failed romantic story or a betrayal in a business partnership, can lead to emotional devastation, and the outcome for some people might aggravate to end up with bad habits like alcohol and drug addiction.
After a negative experience in a specific social context, it's natural to become pessimistic. However, it's essential to maintain trust in people and the social realm. This trust is the foundation of hope, the hope that the next experience might be better or more successful. Maintaining this hope is crucial, as it prevents the aggravating outcome of isolation, which is a hurdle to innovation. As mentioned earlier, innovation doesn't occur in a vacuum; rather, it is a realm that consists of people, animals, and various natural or human-made physical elements. Thus, without specific, well-designed strategies to address these elements, a far-sighted project might not be implemented or may be detrimental. Maintaining hope is the key to preventing isolation and fostering innovation.
These thoughts may have surfaced as a result of family separation. The space where this separation occurred may hold painful memories, but it also presents an opportunity for personal growth and healing. By making changes in this space or even redesigning it, you can pave the way for a brighter future. This transformation is necessary to allow the painful memories to fade away, making room for new, positive experiences.
Another challenge is the technological platforms, such as the websites of companies specializing in various fields, including those dedicated to human development and training for developing specific skills. There are many YouTubers, trainers, storytellers, and coaches on YouTube channels nowadays, each with their own methodology and instructional approach, trying to convince followers that their approach is the right one. Additionally, blogging websites, social media platforms, and other online venues are where change-makers, trainers, and experts share their knowledge and experiences, primarily in exchange for financial gain, as long as viewers engage by subscribing, leaving comments, and sharing content.
With this hustle and bustle on their platforms, it's undeniable that you will come across YouTubers or others active on social media or other websites who spread trivial or misleading information that may be outdated. This amount of widespread and easily accessible information isn't needed for actual development, nor is it based on scientific or rational results. Unequivocally, this leads to the accumulation of negative thoughts, especially for those who don't conduct thorough research on specific topics of interest but instead rely on what is presented or lack the time for research and knowledge investigation. However, authentic experiences, such as those that emerge from successful stories, can be truly inspiring and provide the practical knowledge needed to move in the right direction. The challenge lies in the myriad of presented visualized experiences that aren't based on rational evidence or specific lived research experiences. Their presenters primarily aim to collect as many likes and shares as possible rather than presenting practical arguments or science-based experiences and then profit from them.
In this digital age, as a knowledge seeker looking to develop your skills, it's essential to be cautious. To demonstrate this further, you should verify the credibility and reliability of the online resources you use, as well as check the content presented by various YouTubers or instructors. Compare their perspectives and seek opinions from friends or seasoned professionals in your field. Their insights can help you validate or challenge the content you encounter, ensuring you stay on the right path in your learning journey, guided by the wisdom of those who have gone before you. It's crucial to be alert and aware of potential misinformation, and critical evaluation is key in this process.
Furthermore, with the emergence of the era of artificial intelligence, it has become even more challenging in the virtual atmosphere. New, innovative methods applied by content creators, eMarketing specialists, and filmmakers sometimes put us in the vortex of uncertainty, as it has become very easy to present certain content and visualize elements that are not necessarily true. However, through AI, it's almost impossible to distinguish between what is true and what is not. Thus, AI presents us with new challenges not only in the professional and economic spheres but also in the ethical sphere. I'll elaborate more on this topic in a new article later.
2024 is fading away, leaving memories behind that should be archived as lessons for the next strides in life. Through these lessons, we learned from our mistakes and gained the practical knowledge needed to move in the right direction. Without the right path and a well-structured plan, the way to a successful project will be daunting, and it may be impossible. Therefore, for the next year, 2025, I'll move forward in the coaching field, capitalizing intensively on digitalization and, especially, artificial intelligence, which is a milestone issue in the labor market and business world.
