Create to survive!

“Innovate or die.” I have heard this phrase so many times that it no longer has any impact. Yes, I believe it, but I see so many instances when innovation activities are crushed because it is not one of our “current priorities.” The first nail in the coffin…

“If we watch the pennies, then the pounds will take care of themselves.” Another often used phrase. Yes the pounds will take care of themselves, until someone changes the currency. To blindly stick to a determined path without looking at what else is happening maybe heroic, but is unlikely to be successful.

Today, technology is becoming more integrated into our everyday lifestyles and jobs. We are benefitting from these advances, as the quality of living increases. However, is this a good thing? Rather than knowing about something, we now just “Google it”. And if we don’t get the answer within five seconds we become incredibly impatient!

Computers or machines are performing more and more of the tasks that were once performed by employees. The complexity of tasks that machines complete is increasing at a faster rate, and as outlined by Clay Christensen in his key book, the “Innovator’s Dilemma”, this will start to squeeze  the current workforce.

With this in mind, a recent NESTA report, “Creativity vs Robots”, explores future automation and creativity in the UK and US workforce.  It finds that creative jobs, such as artists, architects, web designers, IT specialists and public relations professionals, will be much more resistant to automation than most other jobs.

The report also identifies that both economies have the potential to be far more creative. As parents, we often focus our children on traditionally jobs, but this is not the right advice. We have to create the environment for creativity to be encouraged and develop. Education is not about giving the right answer; education must be develop the confidence and capability to create. The jobs of the future will look nothing like the jobs of today; having the ability to adapt and create will be vital.

Humans are creative beings; it’s what makes us alive. Machines are fast copiers, but they are not creative. Create to survive, and innovation will result.

Credit: Photo by Vladislav M on Unsplash