Business Quote by Jonathan Ive
“Its difficult to do something radically new, unless you are at the heart of a company.”
About This Quote
Source Speech: Design Leadership Talk, 2014
Innovation requires being central within an organization; without influence, radical ideas struggle to gain traction.
In simple terms: Radical innovation needs internal influence and support.
Key Takeaway
Seek positions where you can shape core decisions.
Themes
innovation
leadership
organizational dynamics
radical design
Mood
inspirational
pragmatic
Type
strategic
motivational
When to use this quote
- product development
- startup leadership
- corporate restructuring
- career planning
Key Concepts
strategic positioning
influence
risk tolerance
Questions to Reflect On
- What steps can you take to increase your influence?
- How do you protect radical ideas from being diluted?
A Different Perspective
Even central roles may face corporate inertia or risk aversion.
![“[S]ometimes, when you are a food person, the possible irrelevance of what you are doing doesn’t cross your mind until it’s too late. (Once, for example, when I was just starting out in the food business, I was hired by the caper people to develop a lot of recipes using capers, and it was weeks of…” quote by Nora Ephron](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/d79/nora-ephron-1217_business_s-ometimes-when-you-are-a-food-person-th_980.jpg)
![“If the State does not acquire supremacy over [vast private] enterprises, it becomes their puppet, and they become the real State.” quote by Bertrand Russell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/bad/bertrand-russell-69_acquire_if-the-state-does-not-acquire-supremacy_1379.jpg)