Innovativeness is a noun meaning the characteristic of being innovative.
“Innovation… is progress, plain and simple.”
Jacob Beckley
And what is the value of Self-Regulation (and EQ in general), if not to progress and grow?
Being an innovative entrepreneur involves:
- Looking for fresh ideas from a wide variety of sources,
- Exploring original solutions to problems,
- Coming up with new ideas, and
- Using fresh perspectives in your thinking.
From Buzzword to Bottom Line 💰
It’s a phrase that has been bandied about by almost every advertising copywriter! So much so that innovativeness has somewhat lost its merit. Yet being innovative is the cornerstone of every start-up.
Innovation vs. Creativity vs. Brainstorming: What’s the Difference?
- Creativity is the raw fuel, the starting point where your team dreams up wild ideas. You can’t measure it like sales targets, but you can nurture it.
- Brainstorming is the messy, chaotic process of dumping all those ideas onto the table. Most won’t go anywhere, and that’s okay.
- Innovation is where the real magic happens when you take those ideas and make them better, faster, or more valuable than what’s already out there. It’s the hard work of turning ideas into something that actually works (and sells).
“Innovation isn’t about reinventing the wheel. It’s about making the wheel smoother, lighter, or maybe even turning it into something else entirely.”
Jacob Beckley
Types of Innovation in Business
Simple Ways to Increase Your Innovativeness
Real-world tactics that actually work for busy entrepreneurs:
🌳 Step Away to See Clearly
Your best ideas won’t come while staring at spreadsheets. Take actual breaks—no phone, just thinking. That pricing problem? Solved during your coffee walk.
Use “Dead Time” Strategically 🪦
Shower thoughts and commute time are secret weapons. Let your mind wander—you’ll spot opportunities your busy self misses.
💡 Design an Idea-Friendly Workspace
Ditch the sterile office. Rotate inspiring items: customer love notes, competitor products, even weird trinkets that spark connections.
Find Your Business Sounding Board 🔄
Partner with another owner for monthly “what if” sessions. Different industries = fresher solutions.
🧲 Steal Smart From Other Fields
Notice how that bakery handles lines? Maybe your consulting biz needs that queue system. Cross-pollinate ideas.
Stay Obsessively Curious 🕵️♀️
Read outside your lane. Ask customers about unrelated problems. Innovation hides in unexpected places.
🥱 Kill Boring Meetings
Try walking talks or stand-ups. Changed surroundings = changed thinking. Your team will thank you.
Eat Like Your Business Depends On It 🍽️
Because it does. Swap the third coffee for nuts and fruit. Clearer thinking = better decisions.
🔬 Start Tiny
Improve one process this week. Small wins build confidence for bigger leaps later.
Protect Your Mornings 🌅
No emails for the first hour. Journal, meditate, or just think. You’ll approach problems differently.
🤏 Limit Yourself on Purpose
Try launching with half your usual budget. Constraints breed creativity (and save money).
Make Ideas Real Fast ⏱️
Sketch it. Build a wonky prototype. The faster you make it tangible, the sooner you’ll act.
➡️ Next
Take the quiz below.
Then advance your Self-Regulation a step further with the next Emotional Intelligence competence: Self-Motivation