Whether it’s a Fortune 500 company, a nonprofit serving its community, or even a high school yearbook committee, every team and every individual is wrestling with the same challenge: how do we move forward, elevate our game, and distinguish ourselves?
I’ve long believed that every person, team, and organization carries its own unique DNA — a blend of personal history, cultural context, environments, and circumstances. We are all navigating this complex soup of humanity, trying to progress in ways both small and profound. And when I look closely at people and groups in flow — those operating at their highest levels — one truth stands out: we can’t do everything at once.
Progress requires focus.
Out of the hundreds (or even thousands) of things we could change, only one or two truly matter in the moment. Discovering that “One Thing” — or at most two or three — is its own quest. And once it’s identified, the real work begins: experimentation.
Through years of working with individuals, teams, and organizations, I’ve identified five elements that make innovation not just possible, but practical:
1. Clarity of Focus
What is the One Thing? The singular point of leverage that deserves your attention, energy, and resources.
2. Inputs
What resources fuel the work? Time, money, tools, and most importantly — attention. Without attention, nothing moves.
3. Process
What strategies and tactics will transform those inputs into progress? This is where design meets execution.
4. Outcomes
Are the strategies and tactics producing results? Are they making you, your team, or your organization better?
5. Feedback Loops
How do you know? Both internal and external, quantitative and qualitative feedback loops are essential. They tell you what’s working, what isn’t, and where to adjust.
These five elements function like gears in a system. Each informs and influences the others. When the loop is engaged — clarity, inputs, process, outcomes, and feedback — and when leaders are willing to refine, tweak, and adjust at every stage, innovation emerges.
This is what I call The Second Secret: innovation as the natural product of disciplined strategy meeting thoughtful tactics, refined in real time.
Innovation is not a luxury. It is the lifeblood of survival and the catalyst for thriving. It is as true for a multinational company as it is for a start-up, a local nonprofit, or an individual striving to grow.
If you have a process or model you’ve used to drive innovation, I’d love to hear it. And if you’d like to explore how we guide organizations, teams, and individuals through this innovation cycle, let’s connect. The future belongs to those who are willing to keep learning, refining, and innovating.