Innovation is constantly coming up with new ideas, implementing them, protect them once growing, and than comes the hardest part. Leaving them.

“Partir, c’est mourir un peu” (help me, who said that?) If that is true and literary expressions tend to be true often, what does that mean for innovations?

In Holland there was a comic duo –- for those who know them will say, yes “van Kooten & de Bie” who were real innovators. They invented new characters one after another. And although not every character was as successful as another, they “killed” even the most popular character were they could easily have them stayed alive for a few more episodes. Innovation must have been their policy.

In contrast, think of how many years have you watched Friends (me too). Was it ten, or more? Their policy –- conserve success.

Most people hate innovations and they are right, it is tedious and tiring to focus on new topics and leaving the old – which you had enjoyed so much as it was.

This is a dilemma every company, any business is struggling with. If you leave your success too soon you are throwing money away. If you wait too long others come up with the new and spicy and your business is over before you could even tell.

Do you recognize this situation? You have just subscribed yourself to a new feature, the next moment you watch television and you find out that the same -- plus an extra innovation is offered for less. It is the same dilemma but from a buyers view.

I have no solution for this dilemma. At least, not in this article.

© 2005 Hans Bool

Hans Bool is the founder of Astor White a traditional management consulting company that offers online management advice. Astor Online solves issues in hours what normally would take days. You can apply for a free demo account

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