Comments on: Why innovators innovate http://cultureby.com/2004/10/why_innovators_.html This Blog Sits At the Intersection of Anthropology and Economics Thu, 17 May 2012 21:10:32 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: Kevin http://cultureby.com/2004/10/why_innovators_.html/comment-page-1#comment-7256 Kevin Wed, 27 Oct 2004 14:49:32 +0000 http://localhost/wp_culture/?p=1108#comment-7256 It is as germane to Nobel laueates as well industrial designers who toil in somewhat obsurity assembling the components of innovation in innovative ways. Some are compensated well, but none make the staggering profits enjoyed by the companies which ultimately reap the benifit of commericalization of the "idea". A remittance to feed and cloth is nice, but yes the end result consumer acceptance although shallow as it seems is a mighty motivator to challenge to see if your endevor can be made better. Alas more empty choices It is as germane to Nobel laueates as well industrial designers who toil in somewhat obsurity assembling the components of innovation in innovative ways. Some are compensated well, but none make the staggering profits enjoyed by the companies which ultimately reap the benifit of commericalization of the “idea”. A remittance to feed and cloth is nice, but yes the end result consumer acceptance although shallow as it seems is a mighty motivator to challenge to see if your endevor can be made better. Alas more empty choices

]]> By: Grant http://cultureby.com/2004/10/why_innovators_.html/comment-page-1#comment-7255 Grant Tue, 05 Oct 2004 15:26:13 +0000 http://localhost/wp_culture/?p=1108#comment-7255 Brian, nice one! Yeah, I was kind of eliding the "innovation/discovery" distinction. Good luck on the exam. I don't remembering doing anything but prep and worry a few weeks before mine. Best, Grant Brian, nice one! Yeah, I was kind of eliding the “innovation/discovery” distinction. Good luck on the exam. I don’t remembering doing anything but prep and worry a few weeks before mine. Best, Grant

]]> By: Brian Hawkins http://cultureby.com/2004/10/why_innovators_.html/comment-page-1#comment-7254 Brian Hawkins Tue, 05 Oct 2004 15:04:15 +0000 http://localhost/wp_culture/?p=1108#comment-7254 Grant, you have eloquently described why I have chosen the career path that I have (I am a neurobiologist, defending my PhD in a few weeks.) The singularly most thrilling moment of my life (so far) came when I was seated alone in a dark room, looking at something under a microscope that I was 99.9% certain no one on earth had ever seen before. Before that moment, I was a breath away from dropping out of grad school. I haven't looked back since. I suppose discovery is not exactly the same as innovation, but think the same kind of impulse drives them both. Grant, you have eloquently described why I have chosen the career path that I have (I am a neurobiologist, defending my PhD in a few weeks.)

The singularly most thrilling moment of my life (so far) came when I was seated alone in a dark room, looking at something under a microscope that I was 99.9% certain no one on earth had ever seen before. Before that moment, I was a breath away from dropping out of grad school. I haven’t looked back since.

I suppose discovery is not exactly the same as innovation, but think the same kind of impulse drives them both.

]]> By: Grant http://cultureby.com/2004/10/why_innovators_.html/comment-page-1#comment-7253 Grant Tue, 05 Oct 2004 14:43:02 +0000 http://localhost/wp_culture/?p=1108#comment-7253 Tom, Interesting. Thanks for the ref. Best, Grant Tom, Interesting. Thanks for the ref. Best, Grant

]]> By: Tom http://cultureby.com/2004/10/why_innovators_.html/comment-page-1#comment-7252 Tom Tue, 05 Oct 2004 14:39:47 +0000 http://localhost/wp_culture/?p=1108#comment-7252 Teresa Amabile's landmark work on creativity is certainly aligned with this thinking, Grant. She cites "intrinsic motivation" as the key force for creative people. In fact, she even found that too much "extrinsic motivation" (bonuses, etc.) is actually counterproductive for creative groups. Teresa Amabile’s landmark work on creativity is certainly aligned with this thinking, Grant. She cites “intrinsic motivation” as the key force for creative people. In fact, she even found that too much “extrinsic motivation” (bonuses, etc.) is actually counterproductive for creative groups.

]]> By: Grant http://cultureby.com/2004/10/why_innovators_.html/comment-page-1#comment-7251 Grant Tue, 05 Oct 2004 12:38:04 +0000 http://localhost/wp_culture/?p=1108#comment-7251 Jim, Yes, this is a devil's choice, isn't it? One moment of weakness... Thanks, Grant Jim, Yes, this is a devil’s choice, isn’t it? One moment of weakness… Thanks, Grant

]]> By: Jim http://cultureby.com/2004/10/why_innovators_.html/comment-page-1#comment-7250 Jim Tue, 05 Oct 2004 12:29:47 +0000 http://localhost/wp_culture/?p=1108#comment-7250 Grant, I agree, it is the intellectual equivalent of human propagation. However we should not underestimate the ego. While I suspect most Nobel prize winners would take the continued use of their brain, seeing their idea in public also provides huge ego "payment". Grant, I agree, it is the intellectual equivalent of human propagation. However we should not underestimate the ego. While I suspect most Nobel prize winners would take the continued use of their brain, seeing their idea in public also provides huge ego “payment”.

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