How I Got My First Job in Innovation

When people ask how to land their first job in innovation, my story always surprises them. It wasn’t about finding the perfect job posting or waiting for an opportunity to knock. Instead, I created my opportunity. In 1992, I worked for a small company in Urbana-Champaign, Illinois, when Computer Sciences Corporation (CSC) acquired it. The transition opened a unique door for me to carve out a role that set the foundation for my career in innovation.

I was the Director of Data Center Operations at the time. While I found the role fulfilling, I discovered my true passion for exploring creative and strategic ways to drive organizational success—an area CSC had not formally defined. I decided to take matters into my own hands. Instead of waiting for a new role to materialize, I wrote my job description.

1. Identify the Role You Want
   Before jumping into action, I envisioned a role that aligned with my passion and would bring value to the company. For me, that position focused on driving innovation within the organization.
2. Write Your Job Description
   I crafted a detailed proposal outlining what the job would entail and why it was critical for the organization. Importantly, I avoided negativity or scare tactics, like claiming the company would fail without it. Instead, I focused on strategic storytelling—painting a picture of the brighter future this role could help create.
3. Pitch the Idea
   Armed with my proposal, I approached the VP of the division. To my surprise, they were intrigued and open to the idea. After refining the proposal through several conversations, they officially created the position. Within 60 days, I transitioned into my first job in innovation.

Convincing leadership to create a new role wasn’t just about presenting facts. It was about selling a vision. I focused on:

• Showing how this role could benefit the organization in the long term.
• Demonstrating my unique qualifications and passion for the position.
• Framing the proposal in a way that aligned with the company’s strategic goals.

This approach helped me gain buy-in and set the tone for a career built on creative problem-solving and innovation.

Here’s what my experience taught me:

• Don’t Wait for the Perfect Opportunity
  Sometimes, the best opportunities are the ones you create. Take the initiative if you see a gap or a chance to add value.
• Be Bold but Positive
  Pitching a new idea can feel risky, but remaining confident and constructive is crucial. Leaders want solutions, not complaints.
• Prove Your Value
  Once you secure the role, it’s on you to deliver. Hard work and results will validate the trust your leaders placed in you.

Your first job in innovation is more than a career milestone; it’s a chance to set the stage for future opportunities. For me, stepping into this role unlocked doors I never knew existed and paved the way for decades of exciting challenges and successes. If you’re passionate about innovation, don’t be afraid to take risks, tell your story, and create the path that aligns with your vision.

Innovation doesn’t wait—why should you?

When I walked into Elon Musk's office at Tesla in 2011, I knew I was about to see something remarkable, but I couldn't have predicted how mind-opening the experience would be. Elon Musk, known for revolutionizing industries through SpaceX and Tesla, has a way of questioning the world that feels almost childlike—but not in the way you might think. He roots his approach to problem-solving not an extensive knowledge of past achievements but by tackling challenges like a 5-year-old, unafraid to ask 'why' until he reaches the core of an issue. Here's what I learned about innovation from my meeting with Elon Musk.

What sets Elon Musk apart is his commitment to First Principles Thinking—a method that deconstructs problems to their fundamental truths. Instead of relying on established ideas, Musk strips away assumptions and starts from scratch. His belief is simple: assumptions can limit innovation, while first principles allow endless possibilities. He often explains it like this: "The normal way we conduct our lives is reasoning by analogy… But with first principles, you boil down to the most fundamental truths and then reason up from there."

We can boil down Musk's approach into three actionable steps anyone can use.

1. Identify Your Assumptions: Challenge every "truth" and tradition associated with a problem. If you notice something is "always done this way," ask yourself, "Why?"
2. Break Down to Fundamental Truths: Identify core, provable facts that can't be further simplified.
3. Build Up from Basics: Reimagine a solution based solely on these fundamental truths, ignoring all previous conventions.

During our conversation about HP's military-grade rugged displays, I watched Musk break down assumptions about car interfaces. What began as a discussion about technology quickly turned into a reimagining of how drivers interact with their vehicles. For example, Musk questioned why dashboards needed physical buttons and considered the actual purpose of car displays—this ability to strip down assumptions allowed Musk to redefine what was possible for Tesla's interface design.

Musk's thought process is more than just a strategy—it's a mindset. Think about how a 5-year-old constantly asks "why" to understand the world. Musk approaches challenges with a similar curiosity, seeing barriers as merely starting points for innovation. This is a reminder that breakthrough thinking doesn't require years of experience or knowledge; it requires curiosity and the courage to question what others accept as true.

One takeaway from my time with Elon Musk was his ability to anticipate pushback. "Government officials will push back," he told me, predicting resistance to his vision of touch-screen interfaces in cars. Thirteen years later, regulatory bodies are challenging touch interfaces, advocating for more physical buttons for safety. Musk's foresight shows that innovators often face institutional resistance when pushing boundaries.

Applying first principles thinking is more straightforward than it sounds; you don't need to be a tech billionaire. Here are a few steps:

• Start Small: Apply first principles to daily routines or small business processes.
• Challenge Assumptions: Identify one routine task, repeatedly ask " why, " and strip it down to its core need.
• Build from Basics: Create a new, more effective approach based on your answers.

What I learned that day in Musk's office wasn't just a new strategy—it was a reminder that the most significant innovations often come from childlike curiosity. By questioning everything, we open ourselves to a world of possibilities beyond what we currently accept as possible. So, the next time you face a seemingly insurmountable problem, channel your inner 5-year-old and ask, "What if we're thinking about this all wrong?"

Albert Einstein once famously said, "Imagination is more important than knowledge." This quote isn't just a glimpse into his genius and a revelation of the secret behind his groundbreaking discoveries. While his contemporaries were focused on scientific data and equations, Einstein's innovation secret lay in his ability to visualize complex concepts like riding alongside a beam of light or imagining the fabric of space-time warping. He proved that imagination could lead to some of the most revolutionary scientific achievements of the 20th century.

The concept of imagination as the driving force behind innovation isn't just for artists or creative thinkers. It's at the core of every scientific, technological, and social advancement. From the smartphone you're using to the design of the chair you're sitting on, everything begins as a mental image. This innovation secret is critical in today's rapidly changing world, where the ability to foresee opportunities and solve complex problems is invaluable.

But many don't understand that imagination isn't just an innate talent; it can be trained and developed. Einstein's approach to innovation wasn't some mystical gift but a skill he sharpened deliberately. He used specific mental exercises to enhance his imagination, and these techniques can be applied by anyone who wants to cultivate breakthrough thinking.

To truly harness the power of imagination, it's essential to understand its three distinct types. These aren't merely artistic daydreams but purposeful approaches that, when combined, create what Einstein called "combinatory play." This synergy allows innovators to connect seemingly unrelated ideas to discover new solutions.

1. Strategic imagination is the ability to foresee the future and anticipate what might be coming. It's about seeing possibilities before they become apparent to others. Visionaries like Jeff Bezos imagined online shopping dominating the retail industry long before it became mainstream.
2. Creative Imagination: This is where you experiment mentally with new ideas, combining and recombining concepts in novel ways. Elon Musk used this to blend electric vehicles with luxury performance, a combination revolutionizing the automotive industry.
3. Practical Imagination: The third form is about turning ideas into reality. This is where innovation secret number three lies—how to translate abstract concepts into tangible results. Engineers, project managers, and athletes excel at this, visualizing steps and rehearsing solutions before execution.

Einstein believed that imagination was like a muscle that could be strengthened. His innovation secret was his methodical approach to mental training, using exercises that sharpened his imaginative abilities. Here are a few techniques that can help you unlock your creative potential:

• Reverse Engineering Dreams: Analyze your dreams and attempt to manipulate the outcome consciously. This strengthens your ability to create complex mental scenarios.
• The Empty Room Exercise: Sit in an empty room and mentally design different configurations every few minutes. This forces you to continuously generate new ideas.
• System Inversion: Take a familiar process and reverse it. By breaking the mold, you challenge the assumptions that limit your creativity.

At its core, Einstein's innovation secret isn't about possessing superhuman intelligence but mastering the art of imagination. By training his mind systematically, he could consistently see beyond the obvious, creating the foundation for discoveries that changed the world. You, too, can tap into this innovation secret by exercising your imagination deliberately and systematically. The future of innovation doesn't depend solely on knowledge—it thrives on the ability to imagine what could be.

So, what's your next breakthrough? The answer is already in your mind.

In the world of technology and innovation, building a model career often means evolving with industry changes, embracing risks, and showing resilience. Recently, I had the opportunity to sit down with Nimrod Ben-Natan, CEO of Harmonic, whose career path is a true model for success in innovation. Starting as a software developer in the mid-90s, Nimrod has led Harmonic through groundbreaking advancements in network virtualization and broadband. Here, he shares his journey and advice for aspiring innovators looking to build their own model careers in tech.

Ben-Natan’s career at Harmonic began in 1996 as a software developer, working on solutions for fiber optics and digital video. He transitioned from technical roles into customer-facing and leadership positions, illustrating how a model career involves versatility and a willingness to pivot. Through multiple cycles of industry change, he worked on projects from digital ad insertion to video-on-demand, each requiring a deep understanding of technology and customer needs. This adaptability helped him to rise to his current position, leading the company as it navigates a continually evolving industry.

A key turning point for Ben-Natan was Harmonic’s decision to enter the broadband access market with a new hardware approach. However, the project faced significant setbacks, even failing to meet industry standards initially. Instead of abandoning the effort, Ben-Natan and his team pivoted toward a network function virtualization approach, eventually achieving market leadership in this area. This experience highlights a vital component of a model career in innovation: seeing failure as an opportunity to pivot and improve.

"Failure isn't a negative—it's education," I emphasized, aligning with Ben-Natan’s view that resilience and learning from setbacks are essential for long-term success.

Looking ahead, Ben-Natan shared insights on how emerging tech professionals can build a model career in today’s rapidly shifting environment. His advice includes:

• Commit to continuous learning: Keep up with evolving skills and industry developments. Staying stagnant can render skills obsolete quickly.
• Foster curiosity: Let your curiosity drive your career path, whether in hardware, software, or another technology area.
• Value in-person connections: Ben-Natan strongly advocates for in-office experiences to gain essential social skills and professional insight, especially for younger professionals.

Ben-Natan also stressed the importance of balancing technical knowledge with an understanding of customer needs, which he believes has been crucial in his model career. By combining technical and customer-facing roles, he gained a 360-degree view of the industry, ultimately guiding him through various high-stakes decisions.

Not every company can maintain a long-term vision, especially regarding risky ventures. Harmonic’s success with network function virtualization took nearly a decade to realize. Yet, the management team’s commitment to a long-term strategy allowed them to weather the uncertainties and ultimately bring innovative products to market. I pointed out that few companies have the patience for a 10-year development process. According to Ben-Natan, Harmonic’s resilience was rooted in a firm conviction that this investment would provide lasting value, positioning the company for industry leadership.

If you’re looking to build a model career in innovation, take these lessons from Ben-Natan’s journey:

• Embrace adaptability: Being willing to take on new challenges and pivot when necessary can keep your career aligned with industry shifts.
• Learn from setbacks: Viewing failure as a stepping stone to success is key to resilience.
• Commit to a long-term vision: Companies and individuals can benefit from strategic patience, investing in ideas that may take years to bear fruit.

In today’s tech-driven world, a model career isn’t just about reaching the top—it’s about staying relevant, being open to change, and finding new ways to contribute.

Thinking About Your Thinking Process - Metacognition

Have you ever stopped to think about how you think? It may sound odd at first, but this process, known as metacognition, is one of the most powerful tools we have for improving our mental abilities. Metacognition is the act of being aware of your thoughts and thinking patterns, helping you understand how you process information and fine-tune those processes to become more effective.

This article will explore advanced techniques for improving your metacognitive abilities and discuss why these skills are so important in your personal and professional life.

Metacognition allows you to reflect on your thoughts, decisions, and actions. By being aware of how you think, you become better equipped to recognize mistakes and identify areas where your thinking may be limited. This self-awareness allows you to adjust and improve your approach, resulting in better decision-making and problem-solving.

The significance of metacognition goes beyond just self-improvement. It also enhances your ability to process new information and adapt to changing circumstances. Mastering your thinking process can provide a competitive edge in a world filled with constant challenges. Regularly assessing your cognitive processes improves you at evaluating information, thinking critically, and making informed choices.

It’s important to go beyond basic self-reflection and apply more advanced strategies to harness the power of metacognition. Here are five techniques that can help you elevate your thinking skills:

Cognitive reappraisal involves consciously changing how you respond to challenging situations. By reframing your thoughts and emotions, you reduce stress and adopt a more reflective approach to problem-solving. This technique encourages you to recognize your mental habits and biases, making you more aware of your thinking patterns.

• Steps to apply Cognitive Reappraisal:
• • Identify a challenging situation.
  • Reflect on your initial emotional response.
  • Reframe your perspective to improve your outcome.

Inspired by great thinkers like Einstein, thought experimentation allows you to simulate different scenarios mentally. This practice strengthens your ability to anticipate consequences and make strategic decisions.

• Steps to engage in Thought Experimentation:
• • Choose a decision or problem.
  • Visualize multiple outcomes.
  • Analyze potential solutions.

Journaling with a metacognitive focus means regularly reviewing and analyzing your thoughts for patterns over time. This reflection sharpens your ability to regulate cognitive processes and make more informed choices.

• Steps to practice Metacognitive Journaling:
• • Record your thoughts in a journal.
  • Regularly review entries to detect patterns.

Mind mapping helps organize information visually, promoting better comprehension and discovering new connections between ideas. This technique improves your ability to analyze and synthesize information.

By deep questioning, you examine the foundations of your beliefs and assumptions. This approach fosters critical thinking and improves your capacity to analyze the validity of your thoughts.

Metacognition, or thinking about your thinking, can revolutionize how you approach challenges and opportunities. Adopting the abovementioned techniques allows you to master your cognitive processes and improve your ability to think critically and solve problems effectively. Start applying metacognition in your daily life, and watch as your mental agility sharpens, leading to better outcomes in everything you do.

Innovation isn't a solo act. It's about finding the right people to journey with, blending skills, and creating a foundation built on trust and shared goals. At the recent Tech Expo, I sat down with my best friend and long-time partner, Harry Beane. We've shared years of collaboration, including launching Omnipoint—the first GSM mobile carrier in the U.S., now known as T-Mobile—and Teligent, the first point-to-multipoint carrier in the U.S., which expanded to 12 countries. Working with Harry taught me that strong partnerships are just as important as fresh ideas in the new frontier of innovation.

From the early days, Harry and I recognized how perfectly our strengths complemented each other. While I focused on one aspect, he tackled another, allowing us to overcome even the toughest challenges. As we navigate this new frontier of innovation, having people who bring diverse skills to the table has never been more critical. I've learned that the best innovations come from teams where everyone understands their role and respects what others bring to the process.

Innovation is a long game, and it doesn't stop with us. As a grandparent, I actively help my grandchildren see the potential in creating rather than just consuming technology. My granddaughter, for instance, runs her own YouTube channel, and my grandson has turned his passion for laser cutting into a small business. Watching them explore their creativity reminds me of the joy of discovery and the importance of giving young people the tools they need to shape their futures.

Harry and I talked about balancing screen time with physical, hands-on projects. It's all about blending modern technology with practical skills that build motor skills and problem-solving abilities. The new frontier of innovation isn't just about what we can create; it's about equipping the next generation to take it even further.

Failure often has a bad rap, but Harry and I know it's a powerful teacher. I've had my share of failures, and so has he, but we agree that each was a necessary step in the learning process. My time with the Boy Scouts taught me the value of structured, safe risk-taking—something that modern businesses sometimes shy away from. Harry's military background reinforced this outlook; he understands that failure isn't the end but an opportunity to re-strategize and move forward with more insight.

This new frontier of innovation demands a mindset that embraces failure as part of the journey. Teaching young people to see failure this way will set them up to take risks, explore new ideas, and ultimately become more resilient.

One of the biggest lessons Harry and I have learned is the importance of a supportive team culture. Innovation isn't about being a lone genius; it's about building a place where every member feels safe to share ideas, take risks, and fail without fear. Team members explore uncharted territory far more readily when they know I won't punish them for their mistakes. That's how real breakthroughs happen.

In our conversation, we discussed how transparency and trust are crucial in this environment. A team needs leaders to encourage them to push boundaries and celebrate wins and learning moments. When you create this kind of culture, innovation and a shared expectation are possible.

Wrapping up our conversation, I recognized the true value of a good partnership. We've supported each other so much, and sharing this journey with him has been a pleasure. Looking forward, I see that the new frontier of innovation will need not only cutting-edge ideas but also resilience, open-mindedness, and a team culture that supports each member's growth.

This new frontier of innovation isn't just about finding the next big thing. It's about passing down the tools, mindset, and courage to the next generation so they can take innovation even further. And that's a journey I'm proud to be part of.

What do Apple's first mouse, the stand-up toothpaste tube, and the Palm V PDA have in common? They were all products of design thinking, a methodology that drives innovation and creativity to solve complex problems. Companies like IDEO, a leading expert in design thinking, have revolutionized product development and set the standard for innovation.

But how do you cultivate the skills that led to such breakthroughs? Anyone can learn and practice design thinking skills, and they offer a powerful approach to developing products, services, and experiences that make an impact.

At its core, design thinking is not just about creating creative ideas. It's a structured approach focusing on understanding and empathizing with the end user. By getting to the root of users' needs, design thinkers create more intuitive, functional, and user-friendly solutions. To improve your design thinking skills, you must understand its key components: empathy, creativity, and rationality.

Whether you're a seasoned professional or just beginning your journey, honing your design thinking skills requires practice and dedication. Here are essential steps you can take to strengthen these skills:

The first and most critical step in design thinking is empathy. It would help if you put yourself in the shoes of your users to understand their needs, challenges, and motivations.

• Conduct User Research: Interviews, surveys, and focus groups help gather data on user experiences.
• Observe in Real Life: Spend time with users in their natural environment to see how they interact with products.
• Create Empathy Maps: Visualize what your users think, feel, and do. This can be a simple map or a more detailed storyboard of their journey.

After empathizing, it's crucial to define the problem clearly. This helps ensure you are solving the right issue.

• Analyze Insights: Review user research to find key themes and pain points.
• Craft a Problem Statement: A well-defined, user-centric problem statement keeps your focus sharp during ideation.

Once the problem is apparent, it's time to generate a wide range of potential solutions. Design thinking encourages brainstorming, focusing on quantity over quality at the early stages. The more ideas, the better!

• Diverse Perspectives: Encourage input from people with varied backgrounds. This leads to unique solutions that people might have otherwise overlooked.

Turn your ideas into tangible prototypes. These can be as simple as sketches or as complex as interactive models. Testing these prototypes with users helps refine the solution.

• Iterate and Improve: Collect feedback and iterate based on what works and doesn't. This process is essential to building solutions that truly resonate with users.

Design thinking is a tool that can propel your creativity and problem-solving capabilities to new heights. It's a versatile approach that can be applied across industries, whether you're in tech, marketing, or healthcare. By improving your design thinking skills, you set yourself apart as a creative problem solver who understands how to create user-focused solutions.

With practice, anyone can enhance their design thinking skills. It's about embracing a mindset that prioritizes empathy, creativity, and collaboration. Whether designing a product, solving a business challenge, or improving service, the power of design thinking can lead to breakthroughs that transform industries.