My daughter and I have been training for a quarter marathon at a local walking trail. Yesterday we stopped to take a break and I suggested we turn around and backtrack the way we’d come since we always go the same way.

I said, “When you look at it from another perspective – you’ll get to see something different!”

After rolling her eyes and calling me Dr. Suess, we started back up the path and did indeed notice things we hadn’t before and experienced a different workout than we would have otherwise.

It was just a small thing, but we made a change and did something in a new way; we were innovative in our approach.

When I hear the word ‘innovation‘ I usually think of it in the context of business don’t you?

According to Merriam-Webster, the terms innovate and innovation mean the following:

Innovate : to make changes : do something in a new way

Innovation : the introduction of something new

We are always hearing about an innovating new product or a revolutionary innovation that will transform our customer’s experience. And hopefully we are in careers where innovation is encouraged and rewarded. Where we can be called innovators.

Now let’s think about innovating and innovation in a new way. {<—- Bonus points if you saw what I did there?}

We do the things we do today because it works. It’s so easy to get caught up in the way we’ve always done things, or the way we were taught to do things, or the way people expect us to do things. That’s not necessarily a bad thing as long as you are content with the outcome.

But in order to get a different outcome, there has to be something different on the input. Again, we all understand this from a business sense, but think about something personal in your life where you’d like to see a different outcome.

It could be something to do with your health, or a relationship or a career goal. It could be something super simple like wanting to drink more water everyday or get up from your desk more often.

Now take that thing and examine what you might be able to do differently to get that outcome. Look at it from every angle (not just the obvious ones). If you want to exercise, there are hundreds of things you can do. Find the one small thing that works for you, with your schedule and your challenges and make a small change. Then go with that change. Commit to it. You might not see immediate results or drastic results. But you have started down the path of change which, in turn, makes future changes so much easier! Then pat yourself on the back – you’ve become an innovator of your own life!

Surround yourself with other innovators. Other people who like to see things from a different perspective. People who aren’t afraid of doing something new or differently than before. Because these people will be your cheerleaders. They’ll help you by providing a different take on things and by trying new things with you. They’ll be there when the thing you tried didn’t work out the way you’d hoped and help you figure out a new way to get to the outcome you seek.

Before long, you will see that by looking at things differently, by introducing something new or doing things a different way, you can transform as a person.

And when you apply what you’ve learned about how innovation can transform to all areas of your life, everyone around you benefits. Think about the possibilities:

Innovation can transform products.
Innovation can transform companies.
Innovation can transform industries.
Innovation can transform ideas.
Innovation can transform communities.
Innovation can transform politics.
Innovation can transform countries.
Innovation can transform relationships.
innovation can transform careers.
Innovation can transform people.

Innovation can transform YOU!

So I challenge you, today, to commit to making changes. To look at things in a new way. To introduce something new in your life.

It doesn’t have to be big or earth shattering. Small changes can lead to big things.

Think with an innovator’s mindset and become your own self-innovating hero!