Summary
In this episode, Danny Nathan interviews Jason Voiovich, an innovation historian, who shares insights on how historical innovators can inform modern practices. They discuss the importance of learning from the past, particularly during challenging times like the Great Depression, and how necessity drives innovation. Jason emphasizes the complexity of the innovation process, the significance of customer obsession, and the often overlooked aspects of timing and execution in successful innovation. The conversation also touches on the nature of disruption and how it relates to innovation, concluding with encouragement for current innovators to persevere and embrace the journey.

Takeaways

• Jason Voiovich is an innovation historian, not an academic.
• Studying history provides insights that case studies often miss.
• Real innovation stories are complex and not just hero's journeys.
• The Great Depression spurred significant innovation and creativity.
• Historical innovators often faced multiple failures before success.
• Customer obsession is key to successful innovation.
• Disruption is often a byproduct of solving customer problems.
• Timing and market dynamics are crucial for innovation success.
• Execution of ideas is more important than the ideas themselves.
• Innovators should embrace the complexity of their processes.

Chapters
00:00 Introduction to Innovation History
02:46 The Role of Primary Sources in Innovation
05:32 Learning from Historical Innovators
07:29 The Impact of the Great Depression on Innovation
10:09 Exploring the 3M Archives
11:01 Books and Insights from Jason Voiovich
13:33 Inspiring Innovations from the Great Depression
19:12 The Journey of Innovation: From Idea to Execution
22:22 The Role of Grit and Persistence in Innovation
26:40 Disruption vs. Innovation: Understanding the Difference
30:46 Customer Obsession: The Heart of True Innovation
36:08 Market Creation: The Impact of Societal Changes on Innovation
38:31 Final Thoughts: Encouragement for Aspiring Innovators