--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: If you truly want to innovate, there will…" description: "\"If you truly want to innovate, there will be some failures, and this can be difficult for some organizations - especially public companies managing qua..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/770/lynne-doughtie-14157_difficult_if-you-truly-want-to-innovate-there-will_103675.jpg" --- # If you truly want to innovate, there will be some… ![“If you truly want to innovate, there will be some failures, and this can be difficult for some organizations - especially public companies managing quarterly earnings.” quote by Lynne Doughtie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/770/lynne-doughtie-14157_difficult_if-you-truly-want-to-innovate-there-will_103675.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/770/lynne-doughtie-14157_difficult_if-you-truly-want-to-innovate-there-will_103675.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/770/lynne-doughtie-14157_difficult_if-you-truly-want-to-innovate-there-will_103675.jpg) > “If you truly want to innovate, there will be some failures, and this can be difficult for some organizations - especially public companies managing quarterly earnings.” [Lynne Doughtie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lynne-doughtie/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Innovation inevitably brings failures, which can be especially painful for publicly traded firms pressured by quarterly results. **In simple terms:** Innovation risks clash with short‑term profit pressure. Key Takeaway Failure is part of innovation, especially under earnings pressure. Themes innovation risk public companies quarterly earnings Mood thoughtful cautious Type advice observation When to use this quote - tech startup product launch - pharma R&D pipeline - retail chain digital transformation Key Concepts organizational inertia short‑termism Practical Applications - Allocate separate innovation budgets insulated from quarterly metrics - Communicate failure as learning to investors Questions to Reflect On - How can firms protect innovators from earnings pressure? - What metrics capture long‑term value without penalizing failure? A Different Perspective Isolation may reduce accountability and lead to wasteful spending. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Failure](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/failure/) [Failures](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/failures/) [Innovation](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/innovation/) ## Related quotes > [I really want to be creative. I want to innovate. I want to be innovative, and I want to do things that are different.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matt-hardy/i-really-want-to-be-creative-i-want-to-innovate-i-want-to-be/) [Matt Hardy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matt-hardy/) > [I just want to innovate.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chamillionaire/i-just-want-to-innovate/) [Chamillionaire](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chamillionaire/) > [It's core to Amazon's culture that we want to innovate and think big, and it's great to be at a place like that.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roy-price/it-s-core-to-amazon-s-culture-that-we-want-to-innovate-and-think-big/) [Roy Price](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roy-price/) > [Design is the underlying skill that activates innovation. If you want to innovate, you've got to design.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marty-neumeier/design-is-the-underlying-skill-that-activates-innovation-if-you-want/) [Marty Neumeier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marty-neumeier/) > [What you want to do is innovate on your product and your business model, management structure is not where I would try and innovate.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sam-altman/what-you-want-to-do-is-innovate-on-your-product-and-your-business/) [Sam Altman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sam-altman/) > [You want to be the first to do something. You want to create something. You want to innovate something...I often think of Edison inventing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-keirsey/you-want-to-be-the-first-to-do-something-you-want-to-create-something/) [David Keirsey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-keirsey/) > [Companies want to innovate. Companies that don't innovate wither on the vine. 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Never be a carbon…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nalini-singh/in-a-world-of-those-who-follow-the-rules-without-deviation-those-who/) [Nalini Singh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nalini-singh/) > [“It is as simple as that. Birds fly because they have wings and so when you can’t grow the wings, you can’t be called…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/israelmore-ayivor/it-is-as-simple-as-that-birds-fly-because-they-have-wings-and-so-when/) [Israelmore Ayivor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/israelmore-ayivor/) > [When you're little and you don't have much dough, you have to innovate. You have to be sharp.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-rollins/when-you-re-little-and-you-don-t-have-much-dough-you-have-to-innovate/) [Henry Rollins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-rollins/) > [Don't try to innovate for the future. Innovate for the present!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-drucker/don-t-try-to-innovate-for-the-future-innovate-for-the-present/) [Peter Drucker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-drucker/) > [Those that innovate the future understand history the best.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rick-warren/those-that-innovate-the-future-understand-history-the-best/) [Rick Warren](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rick-warren/) ## More by Lynne Doughtie > [As part of KPMG, Cynergy's people and processes can help clients leverage digital and mobile technologies to transform existing customer engagement and employee mobile…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lynne-doughtie/as-part-of-kpmg-cynergy-s-people-and-processes-can-help-clients/) [Lynne Doughtie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lynne-doughtie/) > [Collaborating with startups and other technology companies can be very beneficial because it broadens the scope of services we offer to clients while allowing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lynne-doughtie/collaborating-with-startups-and-other-technology-companies-can-be/) [Lynne Doughtie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lynne-doughtie/) > [I'm passionate about making a difference in increasing the quality of life and survivorship for all affected by lung cancer, having lost my mother…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lynne-doughtie/i-m-passionate-about-making-a-difference-in-increasing-the-quality-of/) [Lynne Doughtie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lynne-doughtie/) > ['Failing fast' is an important component of cultivating the agility needed for a development project along with continually rebalancing your innovation portfolio.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lynne-doughtie/failing-fast-is-an-important-component-of-cultivating-the-agility/) [Lynne Doughtie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lynne-doughtie/) > [The importance of inclusive behavior was modeled for me early in life. I have many childhood memories of my mother - an entrepreneur and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lynne-doughtie/the-importance-of-inclusive-behavior-was-modeled-for-me-early-in-life/) [Lynne Doughtie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lynne-doughtie/) > [The most resilient companies foster a pervasive culture of innovation at all levels of the organization - one that values risk-taking, embraces experimentation and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lynne-doughtie/the-most-resilient-companies-foster-a-pervasive-culture-of-innovation/) [Lynne Doughtie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lynne-doughtie/) > [KPMG is committed to the highest standards of professionalism, , and quality, and we are dedicated to the capital markets we serve.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lynne-doughtie/kpmg-is-committed-to-the-highest-standards-of-professionalism-and/) [Lynne Doughtie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lynne-doughtie/) > [At KPMG, we believe that companies with inclusive and diverse cultures are better positioned to adapt, grow, and thrive in a changing business environment.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lynne-doughtie/at-kpmg-we-believe-that-companies-with-inclusive-and-diverse-cultures/) [Lynne Doughtie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lynne-doughtie/) > [The biggest challenge for a leader is harnessing the rapid pace of change in technology, as that is going to impact every industry and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lynne-doughtie/the-biggest-challenge-for-a-leader-is-harnessing-the-rapid-pace-of/) [Lynne Doughtie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lynne-doughtie/) > [Cultivating innovative thinking starts at the top. Leaders can foster a culture of innovation by encouraging creativity and experimenting with new ideas.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lynne-doughtie/cultivating-innovative-thinking-starts-at-the-top-leaders-can-foster/) [Lynne Doughtie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lynne-doughtie/) > [KPMG's use of IBM Watson technology will help advance our team's ability to analyze and act on the core financial and operational data so…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lynne-doughtie/kpmg-s-use-of-ibm-watson-technology-will-help-advance-our-team-s/) [Lynne Doughtie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lynne-doughtie/) > [Providing career growth and development opportunities for our people is of paramount importance, and that's why we surround and support our diverse employee team…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lynne-doughtie/providing-career-growth-and-development-opportunities-for-our-people/) [Lynne Doughtie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lynne-doughtie/) > [Since there is always a risk that an innovation will fail, you must be able to pivot quickly when an idea doesn't perform as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lynne-doughtie/since-there-is-always-a-risk-that-an-innovation-will-fail-you-must-be/) [Lynne Doughtie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lynne-doughtie/) > [Strategy is the starting point for a transformation that needs to occur and how that company must change to win.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lynne-doughtie/strategy-is-the-starting-point-for-a-transformation-that-needs-to/) [Lynne Doughtie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lynne-doughtie/) > [Leaders have to consider whether they have the right diverse perspectives at the table.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lynne-doughtie/leaders-have-to-consider-whether-they-have-the-right-diverse/) [Lynne Doughtie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lynne-doughtie/) [Explore all 47 Lynne Doughtie quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lynne-doughtie/) ## More Difficult quotes > [Companies with cultures that celebrate diverse opinions and encourage the exchange of ideas have an advantage when solving difficult problems. 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You've got to believe that the work you're doing is ultimately more useful to the world.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/derek-sivers/it-s-only-a-little-difficult-to-say-no-you-ve-got-to-believe-that-the/) [Derek Sivers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/derek-sivers/) > [How wonderful it would be, I thought, if only we could practice the teachings of the Buddha as he really taught them from his…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dzogchen-ponlop-rinpoche/how-wonderful-it-would-be-i-thought-if-only-we-could-practice-the/) [Dzogchen Ponlop Rinpoche](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dzogchen-ponlop-rinpoche/) > [It's difficult for people to come to the understanding that only a small minority of the people ever really get the word about life,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/earl-nightingale/it-s-difficult-for-people-to-come-to-the-understanding-that-only-a/) [Earl Nightingale](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/earl-nightingale/) > [Lutherans, whose arguments and mistakes will not be difficult to contest or discover, do not want to attribute any value to works, and they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-servetus/lutherans-whose-arguments-and-mistakes-will-not-be-difficult-to/) [Michael Servetus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-servetus/) > [My friends, this body - perhaps more than any other gathering in human history - now faces that difficult task.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leonardo-dicaprio/my-friends-this-body-perhaps-more-than-any-other-gathering-in-human/) [Leonardo DiCaprio](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leonardo-dicaprio/) > [I want to make myself and the crowd happy by way of something different, and that makes things difficult. 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