BookMarks #36: Innovate or Evaporate

Title: Innovate or Evaporate 

Author: Sunil Gupta 

Genre: Non-fiction, Self-Help, Management 

Published: 2008 

BookMarks 

“Innovate or Evaporate” is an example of the “self-help” books which generally end up being “shelf-help” type! However, it is a light read and I managed to finish the volume in a couple of sessions. The way little nuggets of knowledge have been interspersed throughout the book make it a fun read. 

Following are my takeaways from reading this book are: 

• “Sin is geographical”. A simple statement, yet carrying a lot of weight. The world is not homogeneous, acceptability varies with situation and location. Something to always keep in mind. That’s why the old adage, “When in Rome...”. 
• Expanding onto the same point, we do not see the world as it is but we see it as we are, as a reflection of our own selves. That is why perspective matters. 
• Having a scientific temper is the key to acquiring knowledge. As the author says, Knowledge is created by the learner, not given by the teacher. It goes onto quote Kipling, “I keep six honest serving men. They taught me all I knew. Their names are What and Why and When and How and Where and Who.” Having a temperament to question everything – an essential necessity in this age of of WhatsApp forwards. 

On the subject of Creative Thinking and Ideation 

• Ideas can come from anywhere. We do need to keep an open mind to all types of possibilities. As the wise Rafiki said “look beyond what you see”. Great examples of keeping a mind open to ideas – the shape of the benzene molecule coming from Friedrich Kekule having a dream of a serpent eating its own tail. 
• Any thought which has been “thunk” needs to be noted down and then modified and expanded into a proper shape. Breaking down thoughts without losing focus of the bigger picture is the key to getting a proper idea. Asking the right questions and correctly framing the problem statement is the first step. After all, as saying goes, Well begun is half done! 
• But always keep your mind open to options. As the author says nothing is more dangerous than an idea when it is the only one we have. 
• And most importantly to mature an idea follow the Nike principle – Just DO IT - Define Open Identify Transform! (Me had to end with the acronym, given how they are in vogue in the nation’s political speeches). 

Previously on BookMarks – Predictions 2018