In order for us to regard something as a magic, it has to appear impossible. Something similar can be said about times past when each and every innovation appeared impossible. (We actually talked about good reasons to “Go for Impossible” in a previous article). Many things that seem impossible today will one day be hailed as an innovation. That day may not be as far away as we think.

Take for example the goal of landing on the moon by the end of the decade. In 1961 this was much closer to science fiction than reality. Yet, eight years later it was real.

After a few setbacks, a preeminent expert in aviation, Wilbur Wright, announced in 1901 that “man will not fly for 50 years”. It took just two more years until he and his brother took off over Kitty Hawk, NC.

In 1966, Time magazine predicted this about online shopping: “Remote shopping, while entirely feasible, will flop – because women like to get out of the house, like to handle merchandise, like to be able to change their minds.” This turned out to be a wrong observation on more than just one level.

Not everything that is impossible will be an innovation. But all innovation was impossible at some point. Or, as Nelson Mandela put it, “it always seems impossible until it’s done.”

The real limitations that exist are much narrower than the limitations we have in our minds. We usually give up, make excuses, find reasons not to do something well before we hit a real ‘impossible’.

This is true not just for technology. It applies to anything we want to accomplish in our leadership, with our teams and even our own efforts. “We’ll never get this done”, “I ‘m not the right person for this, ” or “We’ve tried it before and it didn’t work, ” are just some masks in which impossible shows up and stops us.

To lead toward a culture of creativity and innovation, it’s important to change how we view the notion that something it impossible. Instead of taking this as the ultimate killer argument, take it as a sign that says, “Potential breakthrough around the corner. ”

Take the next step.

 

Pay attention to your reaction when something seems impossible. Does it spurn you on, or does it create a limitation?

Want to learn a bit more about this? Take a look at Clarke’s three laws. Instead of applying them just to technology, think more broadly and include any new solution and any new way of doing things. Apply them to your leadership…