Written by: Jenn Drakes, Executive Contributor
Executive Contributors at Brainz Magazine are handpicked and invited to contribute because of their knowledge and valuable insight within their area of expertise.
As a writer, I love words, specifically the word “innovation.” It has been trending as a buzz word for some time now, much like “collaboration” once was. Yet somehow, innovation seems more relevant and lasting. I traced the media buzz as far back as 2015 at both the news, corporate, and government levels. So, it has been in the limelight for some time, and with the promise of advancing artificial intelligence, travel to Mars pending, new industries such as cannabis and electric cars finding their footings, and invite-only platforms like Clubhouse further changing social interactions, it can be expected that the innovation buzz still has longevity.
Innovation is deemed to be the introduction of something new and is typically associated with business, science, and technology related to new ideas, methods, processes, devices, products, and services. The rationale for innovation is to improve. In the above fields, innovation aims to achieve improved efficiencies, effectiveness, or competitive advantage.
While all of that is great, I have a different perspective on innovation, and it’s that perspective that hugely peaks my fascination with the word. Consider all the effort, both in time and money. We put into innovating things. What if a portion of that was repurposed to innovate ourselves? I submit the perspective of people innovation.
Innovation is rarely applied in that way. People innovation is about the renewal of individuals, something necessary in both the personal and professional areas of our lives. It is also necessary across the triad dimensions of ourselves – mind, body, and spirit. The varied definitions of innovation can easily be applied to people. Continuing along the rationale for innovation to improve, what or who better to improve ourselves than us? 2020 certainly showed us there was room for that. Should we not be living out our life journey in a manner that supports improvements occurring along the way? Our lives should also encourage ideation, the formation of connections, and a sense of worth, all core elements of innovation. A renewed individual may move from a state of stagnation, being worn out, or broken to a state that is restored, rejuvenated, vigorous, meaningful, and forward-moving. Innovated people should demonstrate efficiency, effectiveness and should have a competitive advantage over non-innovated people. Why? Because those who look to continuously improve themselves seek education, new ways to do old things but keep the things that work best, adapt better to changes, reflect more deeply, and often read on diverse topics and views to stay informed.
To some degree, 2020 gave fuel to innovate ourselves. The pandemic interrupted our fuel-injection systems, breaking our speed, halting our auto-pilot actions, and forced us to look at ourselves and our lives. It forced our greater use of innovative technologies and services like Zoom and Amazon. 2020 moved our focus, and in so doing, it proved that innovation could occur at an individual level. We adapted, we made changes, reflected on our circumstances, and endured discomfort, all for the noble reason of health and safety. After all, lives were at risk.
But what if I told you that lives were already at risk pre-COVID. To agree with me depends upon how you look at life. The way I see it, 2020 saved me. 2020 truly was a people innovation year. Innovating ourselves is about looking at our current status quo and courageously finding what needs to change, and just as courageously taking steps to change it. At times, it may be a fundamental shake-up in how we live, how we think, and what we do. The rewards are in the transformation, the energetic facelift, and the new you that emerges. This is bigger than change. It is the resurgence, and it is innovation.
Jenn Drakes, Executive Contributor Brainz Magazine
JENN is a Mom, serial entrepreneur, and life advocate who hosts the podcast ARRAYS OF LIVING. She is also creator and co-host of the GET AWESOME show, author of the book ALADDIN CARPETS - change your perspective, change your life. In addition to Brainz Magazine, she is a Featured Author on Plumose.co for her poetry and stories, as well as Contributing Author on Boss Ladies Mindset. JENN is a hidden gem in a desert of gems, and everyone who discovers her is forever changed by her personality and presence. Over the years in working with youths and young adults, she was crowned The Original Goddess to acknowledge the shared feeling that "Jenn is wise beyond her years. I find her to be almost an "old soul" type of spirit." Her voice and writings are powerful, impactful, and life-changing because they trigger thought and promote tantalizing, intelligent conversations. Today, she is using that wisdom to shatter glass ceilings and power up the purpose she believes everyone holds within. A belief that is foundationally based on all of us being born with a gift, and a responsibility to use and share that gift to achieve sustainable happiness. Her mission: "Improve how people feel about themselves, and empower their sense of self-worth to achieve more personally and professionally than they imagined.”
