Innovation: time well spent

According to the American Time Use Survey, the average American in 2009 spent close to three of their 16.3 waking hours watching TV. That’s about 17% or almost an entire fifth of their functioning day in front of the tube.

Before I continue, let me preface this by saying that this is not an attack on television. I myself occasionally enjoy a nice HBO series or, as barbaric as it may be, watching grown men kick each other in the face in the UFC. I’m addicted to the Discovery Channel’s Planet Earth and shows about how everything from screws and bolts to the universe are made. We all have our guilty pleasures, and this is not at all about sacrificing those completely.

What this is about: Innovation.

Now, what does the way you use 17% of your day have to do with innovation? Just ask Google’s engineers or 3M’s Art Fry – the creator of the Post-it. 3M and Google not only allow, but encourage, their engineers to spend 15% and 20% of their time, respectively, working on projects outside of their daily scopes of work. These initiatives have seen great success and are ultimately responsible for a wide array of products including such staples as the aforementioned Post-it (3M) and even Gmail (Google).

You may be thinking, “Well, we’re not all engineers” or “That’s not exactly feasible for every company,” and that’s very true. However, I’m not referring specifically to time spent at work or even developing a work related project. This concept could easily be adapted into our own personal lives.

Everybody has had an idea or project in mind that they’d love to see to fruition, but the unfortunate truth is that the vast majority of those get filed away without even the slightest attempt. Even if you don’t have a groundbreaking idea top of mind, there must be something creative you’ve wanted to do but have consistently put off. If you struggle with innovation, consider these common ways to get the juices flowing:
• Write a blog
• Build the kids a tree house
• Fix the screen door
• Perfect that recipe that just isn’t quite right yet

When we look at projects not as chores, but as opportunities to foster creativity, innovation is spawned within us. Tackle lingering issues from a different approach. Find new ways to solve old problems. Force yourself outside of your comfort zone or daily routine. The ultimate goal is to start thinking in ways that you normally would not.

The most common excuse for not working on a project is lack of time. I say baloney. We’ve already identified one viable option for recouping time lost in TV, and with a little initiative and self-analysis, every one of us could find more.

By identifying available time, establishing a workable project and sticking to the plan, you can not only derive a great deal of personal pleasure, but also encourage yourself to be more creative in your personal and professional life.

PlattForm’s culture greatly encourages creativity and innovation. We’re lucky enough that we don’t have to schedule 15% or 20% of our time to think outside the box. As PlattFormers, we regularly get invited to creative brainstorming sessions or to participate in fun events like company-wide pool or ping-pong tournaments . While these things may not produce the Post-it note every time, they’re a step in the right direction.

"Our company has, indeed, stumbled onto some of its new products. But never forget that you can only stumble if you're moving." – Richard Carlton, former CEO, 3M Corporation, 1950