5 Factors That Would Be Critical for Being a Great Innovator
A "unexpected" answer from my Personalized ChatGPT
"“Failure isn’t the opposite of success—it's just the first chapter of every innovation story worth telling."
“When was the last time you broke away from the usual path and found something surprising but extraordinary?”
What sets great innovators apart? Is it a sudden flash of inspiration, a rare genius, or simply hard work to go through iterative process of digging the next unknown?
In my business design course, we focus on uncovering customer unmet needs and frame insights to create innovative solutions—not just recycling existing ideas.
One day, my professor asked a simple yet profound question that has stayed with me:
“What are five critical factors for being a great innovator?”
At first, the task seemed straightforward—five sentences, five answers. I set out to answer it in under five minutes, but it took me two days of reflection before I could craft a meaningful response to send back. That journey itself felt like an innovation process—a cycle of thinking, refining, and challenging my assumptions.
Innovation, I realized, isn’t about a fixed outcome; it’s about embracing a dynamic, personal, and often unpredictable process. It requires iterative thinking, constant validation, and a willingness to question everything. While there may be no “right” answer to my professor’s question, I believe these five factors consistently trigger those creative moments that push boundaries and spark new solutions.
Grounded in both reflection and experience, these are the factors that help me think unconventionally, challenge assumptions, and stay creative in tackling business problems and making personal decisions for professional growth. I hope they inspire new ideas for you too.
My personal definition, you can create your own too!
"For my definition of innovation, it requires someone who has the willingness to take extra steps, 99% optimism with persistence, curiosity to explore the next unknown, bravery to question conventional beliefs, and open-mindedness to let others' ideas be heard, not just listened to."
5 Factors That Would Be Critical for Being a Great Innovator
1. An individual who wants to be a great innovator needs to be willing to take extra steps and put in more work than people normally do, even for simple things.
Innovation is a discovery process, and those who are willing to go above and beyond are the ones who uncover new opportunities. While it may seem like “wasting time” to take unnecessary steps, it’s exactly those extra efforts that allow innovators to explore new possibilities. The more steps they take, the more they have a chance of discovering something that didn’t exist before.
For instance, many follow a typical path—applying to university, working toward a master’s degree, and asking for recommendation letters. But what if someone decided to also invest time in career exploration, building a side job, or networking with different people? The more extra work they do, the more they’ll uncover compared to those who follow the regular routine. Even if no immediate discovery occurs, the willingness to take extra steps will eventually lead to breakthroughs.
SO, the first factor is the WILLINGNESS TO TAKE EXTRA STEPS. Without such strong determination, the repetitive process can seem daunting, and people are likely to give up along the way. Keep trying and failing might not guarantee the next innovation, but innovation comes from the commitment to keep trying and failing.
2. An individual who wants to be a great innovator needs to be 99% optimistic, even in the face of bad outcomes.
When facing challenges or difficult tasks, the normal person might feel discouraged and focus on the negative—blaming bad luck or doubting their abilities. For example, after receiving a disappointing grade on an exam, many would question their effort or regret not working harder.
A great innovator, however, sees a bad outcome differently. They believe that even a low score is a sign that they’re on the right track—if they hadn’t worked hard, the result might have been worse. Innovators understand this is another learning opportunity that allow them to reflect and refine their learning and study strategies, or potential after deep reflection, they might discover a new study method that could increase people’s study efficiency. They also understand that not all efforts yield immediate results, but they keep moving forward because they know persistence pays off in the long run.
Whether it’s running every day without seeing instant weight loss or studying for an exam and not acing it, the optimist knows their efforts will eventually lead to success. This kind of perseverance fosters longevity in innovation, as it prevents giving up and
encourages continuous improvement.
SO, the second factor is the OPTIMISM and PERSISTENCY. The optimistic mindset allows us to frame bad results as positive signal for new opportunities and the persistency drives us to keep going.
3. An individual who wants to be a great innovator needs to care about what they don’t know and always remain curious.
Everything in the world—our planet, ecosystems, and the resources we consume—is limited, but there is one thing that is infinite: the questions we can ask.
When we ask questions about things we already know, we are merely repeating ourselves. But when we ask questions about things we don’t know, we open up new opportunities to discover what was previously beyond our understanding. Innovation thrives on exploring the unknown, not simply confirming what’s already known.
Imagine if someone were to challenge themselves every day by listing five questions they don’t yet have answers to, and then set out to explore them. What mysteries might they uncover? What new understanding could they bring to the world? By embracing curiosity and focusing on what we don’t know, we create space for innovation and open the door to discoveries that could change the world.
SO, the third factor is CURIOSITY and WILLINGNESS to ASK. Without curiosity, it’s easy to opt for the most viable and available solution, and it’s deviating from the innovation. Yes, it’s an effective problem-solving, but it’s not innovation.
4. An individual who wants to be a great innovator needs to be brave enough.
Bravery can come in many forms. It could be the courage to raise your hand in class and ask what seems like a silly question—a question that challenges conventional thinking and might lead to a new theory that disrupts the status quo. What if that question you dared to ask was the catalyst for an idea that reshapes everything we thought we knew?
Bravery also could mean when someone proposes a solution that challenges the status quo, pushes against the opinions of the team, and might not be widely accepted at first. It’s a risk—risking relationships, risking being misunderstood, and risking the possibility of being seen as “strange” or out of touch. But that very risk is often what leads to the most transformative innovations.
Think about how absurd it might have sounded decades ago to suggest buying things online, typing questions into a computer, or asking an AI chatbot for advice. Many would have laughed at these ideas. But those brave enough to challenge conventional wisdom—those who dared to ask, “Why not?”—were the ones who made these innovations possible. Sometimes, innovation begins with someone daring to challenge the ideas everyone else takes for granted.
SO, the fourth factor is about BRAVERY. Bravery is the inner confidence to navigate disagreements, handle unfavorable feedback, and continue asking bold questions—even when others dismiss your ideas. It’s about considering options that no one else agrees with and daring to explore them anyway.
5. An individual who wants to be a great innovator needs to have diverse perspectives when evaluating or commenting on anything.
Innovation doesn’t come from looking at things from only one angle. It’s about being able to step into different shoes, understanding varying viewpoints, and seeing beyond the obvious. When someone evaluates or comments on an idea, product, or problem, it’s too easy to get caught in a single, familiar perspective—the one that aligns with personal experiences or existing beliefs.
But true innovation requires the ability to widen your scope and consider multiple viewpoints. Imagine if we only looked at a problem the way it’s always been looked at. The solutions would never change, and new ideas would never surface. But when an individual actively seeks out different opinions, draws from different cultures, backgrounds, and experiences, they can find creative angles that others miss. An innovator doesn’t just accept the first answer or solution; they question it, challenge it, and test it against new perspectives to see what fits.
It could mean listening to people who come from different industries, asking for feedback from those who might not be experts in your field, or simply reflecting on how different people in different walks of life might interpret the same situation. Innovation is about connecting the dots that no one else sees, and that often happens when we embrace the unknown and unexpected ideas that emerge from diverse perspectives.
By stepping outside your own bubble and being open to what others bring to the table, you uncover opportunities for innovation that you would have never imagined on your own.
SO, the final factor is Open-Mindness —the mindset to not just listen, but truly hear and consider others’ ideas. By incorporating diverse viewpoints, we reduce the risk of personal biases and increase the likelihood of discovering something not only new to us but new to the world.
Closing:
Innovation comes from the continuous process of learning. Let’s stay curious, but also logical in validating our beliefs. I say to myself, and to all of you: Keep exploring!
Yes, everything on this planet is limited and will eventually face scarcity, but the number of questions we can ask and explore is infinite. No one knows what will happen tomorrow or in the next 5 or 10 years. While most people follow the path that is proven to be right, the world needs the remaining 20%—those who dare to take extra steps, remain optimistic about short-term failures, have the bravery to challenge the world’s views, and are open-minded enough to listen to others’ ideas—to drive innovation. Cheers! Feel free to connect with me over linkedin!
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