Ideas are everywhere

There was a great story of innovation a few days ago in the New York Times. It's the story of the creation of Post-it® Notes.

I'd heard that the creation of the product was an accident. That the original product was a failure, but I hadn't heard the whole story. And now that I have, it makes one thing clear. The invention of Post-it notes and the billions of dollars of revenue it created for 3M was no accident.

It's the result of a culture of curiosity, collaboration and innovation.

When Art Fry, a 3M scientist, used Spencer Silver's adhesive to create bookmarks for his hymnal, it wasn't by chance. He had a need (bookmarks that wouldn't stay put), he married that with a technology he knew existed thanks to 3M's open culture, and the idea for Post-it notes was created.

3M benefited from a system that allows scientists to share ideas, experiment and create without a lot of bureaucracy. Thus, when the need presented itself the opportunity was not lost.

What are you doing to ensure your opportunities aren't missed? Do your salespeople know everything you do and are working on? Do your R&D people share ideas at an early stage so others can help improve them or find new applications? If not, you might be leaving money on the table. Money that your competitors are more than happy to take.