--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I was blown away when I figured out that…" description: "\"I was blown away when I figured out that none of the great integrative moves that I studied came as a result of starting with a blank sheet of paper - ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fe5/roger-martin-35362_coaches_i-was-blown-away-when-i-figured-out-that_1469227.png" --- # I was blown away when I figured out that none of the great… ![“I was blown away when I figured out that none of the great integrative moves that I studied came as a result of starting with a blank sheet of paper - as many innovation coaches suggest. Integrative solutions came directly from mining the existing models for the best of their nuggets. So I never…” quote by Roger Martin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fe5/roger-martin-35362_coaches_i-was-blown-away-when-i-figured-out-that_1469227.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fe5/roger-martin-35362_coaches_i-was-blown-away-when-i-figured-out-that_1469227.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fe5/roger-martin-35362_coaches_i-was-blown-away-when-i-figured-out-that_1469227.png) > “I was blown away when I figured out that none of the great integrative moves that I studied came as a result of starting with a blank sheet of paper - as many innovation coaches suggest. Integrative solutions came directly from mining the existing models for the best of their nuggets. So I never start with a blank sheet of paper anymore.” [Roger Martin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roger-martin/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Effective innovation builds on existing ideas rather than starting from nothing, leveraging prior knowledge to create integrative solutions. **In simple terms:** Innovation works best by reusing and combining existing concepts. Key Takeaway Seek and combine existing ideas. Themes innovation integration learning strategy Mood thoughtful analytical Type practical strategic When to use this quote - product development - business strategy - research projects - team brainstorming Key Concepts Systems thinking knowledge reuse creative synthesis Questions to Reflect On - How can you balance existing knowledge with fresh perspectives? - When might a blank slate be advantageous? A Different Perspective Overreliance on existing models may limit radical breakthroughs. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Innovation](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/innovation/) [Mining](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mining/) ## Related quotes > [We need to shift the paradigm from reactive technologies to more integrative solutions that deal with the variety and complexity of the threats that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-w-thompson/we-need-to-shift-the-paradigm-from-reactive-technologies-to-more/) [John W. Thompson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-w-thompson/) > [We try to place the human body in relation to the image all the time, so it's never a kind of a backdrop, but…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/simon-mcburney/we-try-to-place-the-human-body-in-relation-to-the-image-all-the-time/) [Simon McBurney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/simon-mcburney/) > [Whenever I write about mental health and integrative therapies, I am accused of being prejudiced against pharmaceuticals. So let me be clear - integrative…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-weil/whenever-i-write-about-mental-health-and-integrative-therapies-i-am/) [Andrew Weil](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-weil/) > [The most fundamental form of integrative power is the power of love.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kenneth-e-boulding/the-most-fundamental-form-of-integrative-power-is-the-power-of-love/) [Kenneth E. Boulding](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kenneth-e-boulding/) > [I'm not a separatist. The imagination is integrative. That's how you make the new -- by putting something else with what you've got. And…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-ellison/i-m-not-a-separatist-the-imagination-is-integrative-that-s-how-you/) [Ralph Ellison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-ellison/) > [“The integrative powers of the brain for the sensations that come from handling objects spills out into all other domains of intelligence.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-o-wilson/the-integrative-powers-of-the-brain-for-the-sensations-that-come-from/) [Edward O. Wilson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-o-wilson/) > [ Integrative power \[is\] the ultimate power ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kenneth-e-boulding/integrative-power-is-the-ultimate-power/) [Kenneth E. Boulding](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kenneth-e-boulding/) > [Critiquing relieves you of the responsibility of doing integrative thinking.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/deborah-tannen/critiquing-relieves-you-of-the-responsibility-of-doing-integrative/) [Deborah Tannen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/deborah-tannen/) > [ \[The integrative system\] deals with such matters as respect, legitimacy, community, friendship, affection, love, and of course their opposites, across a broad scale of… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kenneth-e-boulding/the-integrative-system-deals-with-such-matters-as-respect-legitimacy/) [Kenneth E. 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And so it is with integrative thinking - in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roger-martin/the-fundamental-purpose-of-design-thinking-is-to-produce-something/) [Roger Martin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roger-martin/) > [The status quo is more tenacious than anyone would ever imagine. The human mind prefers continuity rather than change. So it really has to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roger-martin/the-status-quo-is-more-tenacious-than-anyone-would-ever-imagine-the/) [Roger Martin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roger-martin/) > [Business people don't need to understand designers better. They need to be designers.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roger-martin/business-people-don-t-need-to-understand-designers-better-they-need/) [Roger Martin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roger-martin/) > [In order to have a hope of creating better answers, we need to deeply understand the logic of the opposing answers. 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