What Is Innovation? | Tina Zita | TEDxSacredHeartCHS

Summary

The speaker reflects on the concept of innovation, initially associating it with grand technological achievements like robots and VR. However, they later realize that innovation is more about the journey, curiosity, and persistence, drawing inspiration from Einstein’s ten-year process between discoveries. They discuss how innovation can be found in small moments, everyday creativity, and remixing existing ideas. Through personal experiences in education, photography, and family, the speaker emphasizes that anyone can be an innovator by embracing curiosity, learning from failures, and celebrating small successes along the way.

Takeaways

• 🤖 Innovation can be seen in various forms, from advanced technology like robots and VR headsets to older inventions like the light bulb.
• 🧠 The speaker realized they didn’t have a clear understanding of what innovation meant to them and started to reflect on the concept.
• 📚 Innovation is more about the journey and process, as shown by Einstein’s 10 years of pondering between his major discoveries.
• 🎓 Innovation is not just about creating new technology but can happen in everyday actions, such as improving education methods.
• 🎨 Passion and curiosity are key drivers of innovation, and this can be seen in different fields like photography, music, and sports.
• 🚀 Small moments matter on the journey of innovation, and even minor successes, like perfecting a hand-lettering project, can be celebrated.
• 💡 Sparks of innovation come from everyday connections, such as conversations with friends, brainstorming sessions, or exposure to new ideas through technology.
• 📱 Many innovations are built on previous ideas, as seen in the evolution of smartphones or how Mark Ronson describes remixing existing concepts.
• 🌳 Innovation is also about adapting old knowledge to new situations, like the speaker’s grandfather transforming farming techniques to work in a small backyard.
• ⏸️ Pausing to reflect is crucial for innovation, as taking time to step away from routine allows creativity and new ideas to surface.

Q & A

What common images of innovation are presented at the start of the script?

The speaker mentions a fancy white robot from tech shows, a VR headset, and even something as old-school as a light bulb.

How did the speaker initially perceive innovation?

The speaker initially saw innovation as grand moments, such as advanced technology like robots and VR, without considering its broader, personal relevance.

What was the speaker’s realization about their understanding of innovation?

The speaker realized they didn't have a clear understanding of what innovation meant to them and had only used the term because it sounded cool and was commonly mentioned.

How did Einstein’s journey inspire the speaker’s view of innovation?

The speaker was inspired by the fact that Einstein spent 10 years between two major discoveries, showing that innovation is more about the journey and persistence rather than a singular, immediate breakthrough.

What personal examples does the speaker provide to relate to innovation?

The speaker relates innovation to their passions for education and photography, as well as the interests of their brothers in music, sports, and design.

Why does the speaker emphasize the importance of small moments in the innovation process?

The speaker argues that innovation often consists of small successes, such as completing a hand-lettering project, which signal progress and learning rather than just celebrating big breakthroughs.

What example does the speaker give from architecture to explain creative sparks in innovation?

The speaker references Gaudí’s work in Barcelona, where he used smashed tea cups and plates to create iconic architectural designs, showing how small creative sparks can lead to innovation.

How does the speaker view the role of technology and social media in innovation?

The speaker sees technology and social media as powerful tools that enable global connections, allowing people to share and apply innovative ideas across different contexts, such as education.

What is the significance of the '100-day project' to the speaker’s view of innovation?

The speaker participated in a photography challenge called the '100-day project' on Instagram, which helped them realize the importance of daily creative practice and learning from others through social media interaction.

What does the speaker believe is the hardest part of the innovation process?

The hardest part of the innovation process for the speaker is learning to pause, reflect, and allow for creativity to spark, as they tend to get caught up in a busy, fast-paced lifestyle.

Outlines

00:00

🤖 Innovation: More Than Just Tech Gadgets

In this paragraph, the speaker reflects on their initial concept of innovation, often associated with high-tech gadgets like robots and VR headsets. They describe how, after questioning their understanding of innovation, they turned to Google for a definition, which described innovation as the action or process of creating new ideas, methods, or products. However, the speaker felt distanced from this grand idea of innovation, thinking it was reserved for scientific discoveries or new technology, and began to question where they could find themselves in this journey.

05:00

👨‍🔬 Einstein's Long Journey of Innovation

The speaker shares a story about Einstein, focusing on the ten years between his major discoveries. This story resonated with the speaker, making them realize that innovation is not just about big breakthroughs, but a long journey of curiosity, persistence, and small steps. The speaker begins to see themselves as an innovator, not by making groundbreaking discoveries, but through their passion for education and photography. They relate this insight to their personal experiences and those of their brothers, who are also following their passions in various fields like music, sports, and design.

🎨 The Small Moments of Success

Here, the speaker emphasizes the importance of small successes on the path to innovation, much like Einstein's ten-year journey. They discuss how celebrating small wins, like getting the perfect shape in a hand-lettering project, can be motivating and show progress. These small moments are just as valuable as big achievements, and recognizing them can guide someone along their innovation journey.

🏛️ Gaudí’s Innovative Vision: Sparking Ideas Everywhere

In this paragraph, the speaker reflects on the idea of sparks of inspiration being all around us, using the example of Gaudí’s architectural work in Barcelona. They express admiration for how Gaudí’s innovation with smashed-up tea cups and plates led to famous buildings. The speaker connects this to their own experiences, noting that conversations and technology can spark innovative ideas, allowing them to apply new insights in the classroom. They also talk about how global connections through technology can lead to new possibilities in education.

📸 The Hundred-Day Creative Journey

The speaker describes their participation in a photography challenge called the 'hundred-day project,' where they committed to creating something daily and sharing it on Instagram. This practice helped them develop their creativity and connect with other artists, musicians, and designers. They realized that innovation can build upon existing concepts, similar to how smartphones evolved from dial-up phones. The speaker compares this process to their grandfather’s adaptation of farming techniques from Italy to a small yard in Toronto, demonstrating how innovation is about remixing and adapting old ideas to new situations.

🧘 The Power of Pausing and Reflecting

The speaker concludes by discussing the importance of taking pauses in the busy cycle of life. They reflect on how taking time to pause and think, like walking by a lake, allows them to notice sparks of inspiration from conversations, books, and experiences. This pause is essential for sparking innovation, and the speaker encourages others to seek out these small moments of reflection, emphasizing that everyone has the potential to be an innovator by recognizing and acting on these sparks.

Keywords

💡Innovation

Innovation is defined as the action or process of creating something new, whether an idea, method, or product. In the video, the speaker reflects on innovation as both a grand concept and a personal journey, seeing it not only as groundbreaking discoveries but as small, iterative changes. The speaker connects innovation to everyday creativity, like photography or education, emphasizing that it’s more about the process than just the final product.

💡Journey

The concept of 'journey' in the video relates to the speaker’s realization that innovation is not just about end results but about the long, reflective process leading to change. By referencing Einstein's 10-year gap between discoveries, the speaker emphasizes the importance of time, persistence, and growth in achieving innovation. This journey includes small successes and learning from experiences.

💡Small moments

'Small moments' refers to the speaker's insight that innovation is often found in seemingly insignificant successes or personal milestones. For example, celebrating small victories, like mastering a hand-lettered 'D,' is crucial in moving toward larger achievements. The speaker encourages recognizing these moments as part of the bigger picture of innovation.

💡Curiosity

Curiosity is a driving force behind innovation, as highlighted by the speaker’s references to personal passions, such as education and photography. The speaker views curiosity as essential to exploring new ideas and pushing the boundaries of one’s understanding, connecting it to the innovative practices of their brothers and their own professional endeavors.

💡Iteration

Iteration refers to the process of making continuous, incremental improvements to existing ideas or products. In the video, the speaker mentions how smartphones have evolved over time through many iterations. This concept underscores that innovation is not always about creating something entirely new, but rather improving upon existing foundations, much like the speaker's grandfather who adapted farming techniques to a small garden.

💡Connections

The idea of 'connections' highlights the role of collaboration and networking in innovation. The speaker refers to conversations with friends, brainstorming sessions, and the use of technology like social media to share ideas globally. These connections spark new thoughts and challenge existing ones, making them a critical part of the innovation process.

💡Remixing

Remixing, as discussed in the video, involves taking an existing concept and building upon it to create something new. The speaker provides examples, such as Mark Ronson's TED talk on remixing music and their grandfather’s adaptation of farming strategies. This illustrates how innovation often builds on previous ideas rather than starting from scratch.

💡Sparks

Sparks represent the moments of inspiration or ideas that lead to innovation. In the video, the speaker refers to sparks as small yet powerful motivators that come from various sources, such as conversations, art, or even moments of reflection. The speaker uses the analogy of Gaudi’s work in Barcelona to illustrate how simple ideas can ignite major innovations.

💡Reflection

Reflection is a key part of the innovation process, according to the speaker. Taking time to pause, reflect, and consider different perspectives allows for deeper understanding and sparks new ideas. The speaker shares their own practice of walking by the lake to let their mind wander and find clarity, emphasizing the value of taking a break from constant busyness.

💡Technology

Technology is depicted as a tool that amplifies innovation, providing opportunities for global collaboration and creativity. The speaker shares examples such as Instagram and apps used in classrooms to demonstrate how technology connects people and spreads ideas, allowing innovation to occur across different contexts and industries.

Highlights

Innovation often evokes images like robots or virtual reality headsets.

Initially, the speaker realized they didn’t have a clear understanding of innovation.

Innovation is often seen as grand moments or technological marvels.

The speaker finds inspiration in Einstein's ten-year journey of pondering and questioning before making a major discovery.

Innovation can be more about the journey than just the final product.

The speaker sees innovation in their work with education, constantly trying new ideas and approaches.

The importance of seeing oneself as an innovator, even without creating a groundbreaking invention.

Small moments of success, like getting the shape of a letter right, are essential in the innovation journey.

There are sparks of inspiration all around, from casual conversations to moments of creativity.

Technology and social media offer vast opportunities for inspiration and collaboration.

The speaker participates in a creative project on Instagram, learning and growing through daily practice.

Innovation often involves remixing or iterating on existing ideas, as seen in the evolution of the smartphone.

The speaker's grandfather used innovative techniques to grow a variety of plants in a small Toronto yard.

Hitting roadblocks can lead to finding new paths and ideas, which is a key part of innovation.

Pausing and reflecting is essential to notice the sparks of inspiration and to continue innovating.

Transcripts

so when you hear the question of what is

innovation what comes to mind I think a

lot of times when I think of it I think

of that fancy white robot that are and

all the tech shows that talk to you

maybe it's a VR headset that lets you go

on adventures in your PJs on your couch

or maybe it's something as old-school as

a light bulb I realized though when I

asked myself what is innovation I didn't

really have a clear sense of what it

meant to me I knew I used it in phrases

and terms because it kind of sounded

cool and people said I needed to be

innovative or I heard people mentioning

it over time but really I didn't have a

understanding to myself what innovation

was so I did what we all do when we have

a question you go to Google type in

define innovation and that definition we

heard this morning came up that action

or process of innovating the idea of

coming up with a new idea method or

product see to me innovation was these

grand moments it was that little cool

blue robot I got to play with with

little kids that I could control from an

iPad it was going to the Digi play space

at Bell Lightbox and moving my arms and

seeing paint being Illustrated on a

screen it was at the X when you have all

those amazing concoctions like deep

fried cheesecake or poutine balls the

problem was really seeing innovation

that way was I couldn't see myself in

that innovation I was not going to have

a scientific discovery like you just

heard from dr. pedina I was not going to

invent that new next technology so if I

wanted to be an innovator where could I

find myself really in that and that

really it's kind of funny how things

always happen at just that right time a

friend had shared a YouTube clip with me

of the late night show with Stephen

Colbert and he had a professor of

mathematics and physics on Brian Greene

and Brian Greene was sharing a little

bit about Einstein's theory of

relativity I'm not the best science

person so he was doing it in plain

language that we all understand with

cool little props but there was this

moment that really caught my attention

he started talking about Einsteins

journey and he talks about a moment

where Einstein had ten years between two

of his main discoveries that we know

about ten years when you read them in

the textbooks you hear innovation

Einstein you don't hear about that ten

ten years of questioning pondering

reflecting ten years that he was so

passionate about a topic that he was

willing to stick with it and suddenly I

could see myself in that I could see

myself on this journey of innovation I

could see myself wanting to change

wanting to have an impact wanting to

make that difference I could see myself

in that definition maybe innovation was

more about the journey than it was about

that in a product maybe it was a

combination of both and I definitely had

passions and curiosities I could see

wanting to innovate within my education

so whether I work with four-year-olds or

84 year olds the cool part of my job I

get to try new ideas all the time I get

to challenge what learning looks like

for professionals we get to have Twitter

chats and we get to have explorations I

get to challenge what learning looks

like in the classroom and I definitely

had those curiosities I didn't just see

it in my education though I also saw it

with photography now please don't check

out my Instagram feed and challenge me

on this I know that my photography may

not be as innovative as some of the

professional photographers out there but

I could see my passion for photography

really leading me to try new things and

to explore new avenues and I just didn't

see that for myself I saw it for my

brothers whether it was my youngest

brother with his music and his

songwriting and trying new ideas whether

it was my middle brother yes I have

three that was exploring with sports and

trying new processes or if it was my

older brother that was looking at design

whether it was from building houses to

designing tattoos they all had these

passions and curiosities that were

really driving them forward suddenly I

could see myself in that definition of

innovation I could really see myself

exploring what the possibilities are

along the journey though I realized

there was some big lessons to be had you

come to that realization that you're an

innovator and then you go now what so

what kind of moment in the first moment

that I had to tackle with was

understanding that the small moments

count right we talked about that

Einstein journey was the 10 years it's

hard to really just depend on those big

moments and celebrate those big moments

we were talking about today even an

event like Ted

there were probably hundreds of

different small successes that they've

had along the way that have led to today

those are small successes that many

different people have had and sometimes

it seems silly I was doing a

hand-lettering project and I finally got

this D right and I was super stoked that

I finally got that right shape to that

letter D and people probably would laugh

at me to say that I celebrated that

small moment but that small moment told

me I was on the past that small moment

told me that I was learning and that I

had a new adventure in front of me I

think for me one of the big ideas is

that idea that there's sparks all around

I don't know if anybody's been to

Barcelona and seeing gaudi's really cool

homes and creations it was an aha moment

when I saw his work and its really all

just mashed up tea cups and plates how

did he have that spark that made him

sink Hey I'm gonna go take some plates

and cups and smash them up and plaster

them on buildings and one day people are

gonna come and spend thousands of

dollars to see these what sparked that

journey what sparked that innovation

more than anything what sparked gaudi's

passion and curiosity about conserving

energy and thinking of that before any

of us really tackled that I think one of

those pieces is really the connections

that idea of conversations starting that

exploration sometimes for me those

conversations I've been face-to-face

it's a coffee with a friend at Starbucks

where they challenge and they provoke my

thinking maybe sometimes it's a

brainstorming session when you come up

with so many cool ideas there's at least

one that you can follow with I think for

me though what's really cool is seeing

the possibilities with technology and

social media the opportunity I can see

an app that somebody's used in Singapore

and use it in a classroom the next day

the idea that somebody can tell me about

a project from Italy and the next day we

can have a classroom participating I

think to me it really saw the power in

it when I participated in a hundred

state project last year so like I said I

do like photography I'm not always great

at taking the time to get into it so I

had finished my Master's on the Monday

and the next day I opened up my

Instagram feed to see Elena's tree house

and she had this post about the hundreds

day project it seems simple la Luna I

started up

innovator artists had created this

challenge with some colleagues about

doing something every day and sharing it

on Instagram with a hashtag and as I

started getting into photography I

realized how much I learned from just

taking that daily practice of engaging

in that creative process but I also

realized how much I was receiving from

connecting with folks on that hashtag I

could click on that hashtag and see a

graphic designer

a watercolor artist a pianist and see

all of their work inspired what I was

doing at the moment

better yet was I had a group that I kind

of roped along for the journey

so had four or five friends that decided

to do it with me all hundred days it was

a long trek and on those days where I

was feeling like I didn't know what I

was going to take a picture of the next

day they challenged me to think outside

the box they gave me criticism they gave

me feedback that really helped guide me

along that path the other idea is that

innovation really doesn't always start

as a brand new concept we all see our

fancy smartphones and it's hard to

believe that at one point they had those

dial-up phones that your grandma may

still have in our house it seems like a

completely new product but really it's

been iterations and innovations over

time Mark Ronson has a great TED talk

about remix thing and he said really

remix is taking something you love and

building on it I could see that with my

grandpa so my grandfather came from

Italy and moved from this big village

and farming to a little parcel of land

in Toronto and you may not think that's

really innovation or remixes and

strategies that he had for a big field

and now apply them to a postage stamp

back yard where you could barely fit a

kiddie pool somehow he had every

vegetable you can imagine with trees

growing three fruits and in that moment

he remixed what his understanding was

what he knew from before and made it

work for the situation he had a lot of

times that is innovation it's hitting

those roadblocks or hitting those

concepts that you can't push forward and

finding a new path or a new idea I think

the hardest lesson for me is taking a

pause like I like to be busy and I have

my phone on me at every second it's kind

of crazy that it's not with me right

this minute

and I get stuck in that cycle you get up

you go to work you go to school you go

home you could work you go to bed and it

just keeps on going

and I really was challenged last year of

the importance of taking that pause

because I realized all those wonderful

sparks happen around those people those

readings those conversations I didn't

really notice them unless I did stop and

reflect so for me that means I put on my

earbuds I walk down to the lake and I

just walked till my brain starts

thinking and sparking and flowing we all

each have our own pause but that pause

is essential as we move forward I think

most importantly it's just to remember

that there's sparks all around you you

have friends you have educators teachers

you have books you have videos all these

possibilities that can really force us

to take that spark and go on this

amazing journey but more so than not

it's realizing that we all have the

potential to be an innovator we all have

that opportunity to seek out sparks we

all have the chance to celebrate those

small moments and embark on a journey

that won't just affect change for us but

for the people around us thanks