Innovation has historically happened in increments, contrary to popular belief. For instance, when you come up with a neat way to arrange photos online, you’re standing on the shoulders of thousands of innovations, right down to the screws in the camera used to take the photos and the mining techniques used to gather the metal for them. Even in Google’s case, there were plenty of folks building search engines before Larry and Sergey came along (check out “The Search”).

The important thing is to question the things we assume to be etched in stone. We must explore other industries, examine what’s going on outside the States, try to look at what we do with fresh eyes and keep doggedly working this situation until we can make something happen.

A recommendation: Take a gander at Scott Berkun’s “Myths of Innovation” (recently removed from the list at right). Really good stuff.