--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Thinking of stuff is not innovation…" description: "\"“Thinking of stuff is not innovation. Tinkering with stuff is not innovation. Even inventing stuff is not innovation. Innovation instead, when it’s don..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b92/grant-lichtman-39237_innovation_thinking-of-stuff-is-not-innovation-tink_1016502.jpg" --- # Thinking of stuff is not innovation. Tinkering with stuff… ![“Thinking of stuff is not innovation. Tinkering with stuff is not innovation. Even inventing stuff is not innovation. Innovation instead, when it’s done right, makes us go “wow, of course, why didn’t I think of that?” It creates complete experiences that we want to engage in. It eliminates…” quote by Grant Lichtman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b92/grant-lichtman-39237_innovation_thinking-of-stuff-is-not-innovation-tink_1016502.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b92/grant-lichtman-39237_innovation_thinking-of-stuff-is-not-innovation-tink_1016502.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b92/grant-lichtman-39237_innovation_thinking-of-stuff-is-not-innovation-tink_1016502.jpg) > ““Thinking of stuff is not innovation. Tinkering with stuff is not innovation. Even inventing stuff is not innovation. Innovation instead, when it’s done right, makes us go “wow, of course, why didn’t I think of that?” It creates complete experiences that we want to engage in. It eliminates inconveniences and hassles and improves our overall experiences. At its most dramatic, it creates entire categories of offerings, so new that we find it hard to name them at first.”” [Grant Lichtman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/grant-lichtman/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Innovation is more than ideas or tinkering; it delivers wow experiences that eliminate hassles and create new categories. **In simple terms:** Innovation delivers wow experiences and new categories. Key Takeaway Focus on creating seamless, delightful experiences. Themes innovation experience design category creation user delight problem solving Mood inspired optimistic Type philosophical inspirational When to use this quote - product development - service design - business strategy - marketing - customer experience Key Concepts human-centered design experience economy disruption value creation Questions to Reflect On - How can you ensure innovations truly delight users? - What new categories could you envision? A Different Perspective Innovation can be costly and risky if not aligned with real user needs. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Innovation](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/innovation/) [Innovation Innovation](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/innovation-innovation-520284/) [Innovation Instead](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/innovation-instead-2240408/) [Innovation Inventing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/innovation-inventing-1639325/) [Innovation Tinkering](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/innovation-tinkering-2240407/) [Stuff Innovation](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/stuff-innovation-2240406/) ## Related quotes > [So I think we should stop celebrating entrepreneurs and just celebrate innovation instead.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-sunde/so-i-think-we-should-stop-celebrating-entrepreneurs-and-just/) [Peter Sunde](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-sunde/) > [Google is a company whose very existence depends on innovation - on inventing things that are new and didn't exist before - and on…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-levitin/google-is-a-company-whose-very-existence-depends-on-innovation-on/) [Daniel Levitin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-levitin/) > [Unfortunately, in rich-world health, innovation is both your friend and your enemy. Innovation is inventing organ replacement, joint replacement. We're inventing ways of doing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-gates/unfortunately-in-rich-world-health-innovation-is-both-your-friend-and/) [Bill Gates](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-gates/) > [We focus on building innovation and inventing technology futures and we figure that it will take care of the rest. So far, it's done…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philippe-kahn/we-focus-on-building-innovation-and-inventing-technology-futures-and/) [Philippe Kahn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philippe-kahn/) > [Implementing best practice is copying yesterday; innovation is inventing tomorrow.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-sloane/implementing-best-practice-is-copying-yesterday-innovation-is/) [Paul Sloane](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-sloane/) > [There's a huge misconception that innovation is mostly about inventing or coming up with cool new things. More often than not, innovation is about…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ziad-k-abdelnour/there-s-a-huge-misconception-that-innovation-is-mostly-about/) [Ziad K. Abdelnour](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ziad-k-abdelnour/) > [Just as energy is the basis of life itself, and ideas the source of innovation, so is innovation the vital spark of all human…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ted-levit/just-as-energy-is-the-basis-of-life-itself-and-ideas-the-source-of/) [Ted Levit](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ted-levit/) > [Without choice, you have no innovation. Without innovation, you have nothing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scott-mcnealy/without-choice-you-have-no-innovation-without-innovation-you-have/) [Scott McNealy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scott-mcnealy/) > [Ambition without knowledge is like a boat on dry land -movie - Karate kid"What is the calculus of innovation?" "The calculus of innovation is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-r-brody/ambition-without-knowledge-is-like-a-boat-on-dry-land-movie-karate/) [William R. Brody](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-r-brody/) > [We should all seek to innovate, or be curious about innovation. Innovation truly is one of our greatest gifts.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-branson/we-should-all-seek-to-innovate-or-be-curious-about-innovation/) [Richard Branson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-branson/) > [Changes call for innovation, and innovation leads to progress.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/li-keqiang/changes-call-for-innovation-and-innovation-leads-to-progress/) [Li Keqiang](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/li-keqiang/) > [Exploration is the engine that drives innovation. Innovation drives economic growth. So let's all go exploring.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edith-widder/exploration-is-the-engine-that-drives-innovation-innovation-drives/) [Edith Widder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edith-widder/) > [Reverse innovation is an innovation that is first adopted in developing markets and flows uphill to mature markets. This concept directs forward-looking companies to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dinesh-paliwal/reverse-innovation-is-an-innovation-that-is-first-adopted-in/) [Dinesh Paliwal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dinesh-paliwal/) > [Innovation often starts with the ordinary. They simply took what was "normal", and added a twist. They added an innovation. The innovation solved a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dave-morin/innovation-often-starts-with-the-ordinary-they-simply-took-what-was/) [Dave Morin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dave-morin/) > [Innovation is only innovation when it's sustainable.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donald-clark/innovation-is-only-innovation-when-it-s-sustainable/) [Donald Clark](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donald-clark/) ## More by Grant Lichtman > [“Schools were built to create an efficient transfer of knowledge from one generation to the next, and that purpose is no longer valid. School…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/grant-lichtman/schools-were-built-to-create-an-efficient-transfer-of-knowledge-from/) [Grant Lichtman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/grant-lichtman/) > [“Every month they give an award to the teacher who took a risk and failed most dramatically, and that award is as highly regarded…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/grant-lichtman/every-month-they-give-an-award-to-the-teacher-who-took-a-risk-and/) [Grant Lichtman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/grant-lichtman/) > [“Developing new ideas requires questions and approaches that most people won’t understand initially, which leaves many true innovators at risk of becoming lonely or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/grant-lichtman/developing-new-ideas-requires-questions-and-approaches-that-most/) [Grant Lichtman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/grant-lichtman/) > [“People who go looking for interesting problems are people who create and invent and discover things.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/grant-lichtman/people-who-go-looking-for-interesting-problems-are-people-who-create/) [Grant Lichtman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/grant-lichtman/) > [“In a permeable classroom, schools use their community and beyond to learn by using the resources, inspiration, and environment beyond the walls of the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/grant-lichtman/in-a-permeable-classroom-schools-use-their-community-and-beyond-to/) [Grant Lichtman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/grant-lichtman/) > [“Knowledge of self is one of the most important ideas in The Art of War. It is imperative that you know your own self,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/grant-lichtman/knowledge-of-self-is-one-of-the-most-important-ideas-in-the-art-of/) [Grant Lichtman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/grant-lichtman/) > [“learning in the absence of risk is often a sterile experience.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/grant-lichtman/learning-in-the-absence-of-risk-is-often-a-sterile-experience/) [Grant Lichtman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/grant-lichtman/) > [“Each adult viewed himself or herself as a stand-alone learning project. Now we see how powerfully the entire organization can leverage an ever-widening knowledge…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/grant-lichtman/each-adult-viewed-himself-or-herself-as-a-stand-alone-learning/) [Grant Lichtman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/grant-lichtman/) > [“Reaction without analysis and understanding will almost always result in an inadequate solution.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/grant-lichtman/reaction-without-analysis-and-understanding-will-almost-always-result/) [Grant Lichtman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/grant-lichtman/) > [“Innovation here is pointed toward developing a mindset, not a specific outcome.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/grant-lichtman/innovation-here-is-pointed-toward-developing-a-mindset-not-a-specific/) [Grant Lichtman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/grant-lichtman/) [Explore all 11 Grant Lichtman quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/grant-lichtman/) ## More Innovation quotes > [Our inventions are wont to be pretty toys, which distract our attention from serious things. They are but improved means to an unimproved end.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-david-thoreau/our-inventions-are-wont-to-be-pretty-toys-which-distract-our/) [Henry David Thoreau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-david-thoreau/) > [ Next came the Patent laws. These began in England in 1624; and, in this country, with the adoption of our constitution. Before then \[these?\],… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abraham-lincoln/next-came-the-patent-laws-these-began-in-england-in-1624-and-in-this/) [Abraham Lincoln](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abraham-lincoln/) > [I believe that one defines oneself by reinvention.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-rollins/i-believe-that-one-defines-oneself-by-reinvention/) [Henry Rollins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-rollins/) > [“In the innovation age customer experience is key. Your impression defines their expression”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fela-durotoye/in-the-innovation-age-customer-experience-is-key-your-impression/) [Fela Durotoye](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fela-durotoye/) > [“Incrementalism never allows innovation to flourish.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abhishek-ratna/incrementalism-never-allows-innovation-to-flourish/) [Abhishek Ratna](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abhishek-ratna/) > [I have tremendous admiration for companies with the kind of pioneering spirit and innovation eBay has demonstrated from day one.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bonnie-hammer/i-have-tremendous-admiration-for-companies-with-the-kind-of/) [Bonnie Hammer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bonnie-hammer/) > [Real breakthroughs are not found because you want to develop some new technology, but because you are curious and want to find out how…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anton-zeilinger/real-breakthroughs-are-not-found-because-you-want-to-develop-some-new/) [Anton Zeilinger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anton-zeilinger/) > [Why is it that, when we want to think outside the proverbial box, we often put ourselves in one? We gather our team in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-best/why-is-it-that-when-we-want-to-think-outside-the-proverbial-box-we/) [Charles Best](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-best/) > [We have to be innovative, we have to be fresh, we have to be new. People are counting on that.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-barthel/we-have-to-be-innovative-we-have-to-be-fresh-we-have-to-be-new-people/) [Sarah Barthel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-barthel/) > [All of the barriers to innovation in the energy sector are arguments for a big commitment to public investment. Only the public sector can…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ted-nordhaus/all-of-the-barriers-to-innovation-in-the-energy-sector-are-arguments/) [Ted Nordhaus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ted-nordhaus/) > [I'd take garbage, and I'd glue them together and create inventions.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ann-makosinski/i-d-take-garbage-and-i-d-glue-them-together-and-create-inventions/) [Ann Makosinski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ann-makosinski/) > [“Some innovations just don’t attract enough economic or social demand: just as supersonic flight and manned space flight stagnated after the 1970s, today (in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-j-rees/some-innovations-just-don-t-attract-enough-economic-or-social-demand/) [Martin J. Rees](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-j-rees/) > [We're focused on providing innovations in software, driving the continuous improvement for a much better experience, and there's a lot going on here that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-gates/we-re-focused-on-providing-innovations-in-software-driving-the/) [Bill Gates](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-gates/) > [Other things being equal, it is the person who can lift his work up to the plane of the intuitional and inspiration who achieves…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stanwood-cobb/other-things-being-equal-it-is-the-person-who-can-lift-his-work-up-to/) [Stanwood Cobb](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stanwood-cobb/) > [Let art, then, imitate nature, find what she desires, and follow as she directs. For in invention nature is never last, education never first;…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcus-tullius-cicero/let-art-then-imitate-nature-find-what-she-desires-and-follow-as-she/) [Marcus Tullius Cicero](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcus-tullius-cicero/) [Browse all 4,437 Innovation quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/innovation/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“Thinking of stuff is not innovation. Tinkering with stuff is not innovation. Even inventing stuff is not innovation. Innovation instead, when it’s done right, makes us go “wow, of course, why didn’t I think of that?” It creates complete experiences that we want to engage in. It eliminates inconveniences and hassles and improves our overall experiences. 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