To achieve big progress, we need really weird people who can challenge the status quo and change the way we think about things. However, as companies get comfortable, they lose their innovative edge and become less adaptable to change.
The podcast hosts discuss the need to continue creating and innovating, and question whether other organizations have looked at Tony Hsieh's success with Zappos as a model.
The episode features stories of technical malfunctions at an event where Farnam Street's The Great Mental Models project is discussed along with one innovator's approach of having different projects to work on.
Genrikh Atshula, a Soviet inventor, helped the Russian Navy in the Stalinist period to innovate by identifying patents that were not innovations. He created water wings on a train which increased its speed and created a loud noise, and he also believed in nested doll strategy to increase the volume of things without increasing their size.
The speaker talks about books that had the most influence on him and how they inspired him to innovate even when facing fear, highlighting the natural born heroes book.
In times of crisis such as the pandemic, occasional disruptions can lead to businesses becoming less risk-averse and more innovative. On the other hand, too much planning and detail can take away the spontaneity that is often required for one to have a good time.
The history of innovation is marked by highly disagreeable people who invented solutions for a problem, just as James Watt invented the horsepower to sell steam engines to mines. Moreover, there are people for whom the idea of electric cars is attractive, but who refuse to join the Tesla cult, creating a whole market for electric cars.
The transcript discusses the story of an innovator and inventor who experienced a big setback in his superconductor work and how he dealt with it, as well as his struggle to get his film scripts produced.
The podcast discusses the importance of looking towards a direction where innovation and prosperity can coexist, while rejecting Marxist socialist ideals. It also touches upon the advancements in medical technology, like the pain-relieving capabilities of dental operations.
Elon Musk proposes high-speed transport and encourages companies to tap into the wisdom of the crowds instead of getting stuck in bureaucracy.
