How Innovation Works
“Innovation is the parent of prosperity”
It’s easy to overlook the fact that clothing, kitchen utensils and even books, are forms of innovation. They went from inventions, which we can consider as something new, to becoming innovations, once they were adopted by people and improved their lives.
I found this two part podcast with Naval Ravikant & Matt Ridley to be a great reminder of the the factors that lead to innovation, with the best insights being how and why innovations ‘hubs’ such as Silicon Valley form.
Both have transcripts, but would recommend you listen to these in audio form
The Walkman
Putting on headphones, pressing play and escaping into my own world with the sounds of my choice. This was a ritual that started from the age of ten, and has grown with each evolution of portable devices. Starting from large cassette players, to janky MP3 players, to the sleek iPod, our listening experiences have been transformed over the last two decades and with it, our very habits and behaviours.
Can you remember a time when walking around with headphones seemed strange? This is a look back at how the first Walkman came to be, and its impact on our lives.
It’s incredible to think that Apple, Spotify and other companies of their ilk, wouldn’t be what they are without the humble Walkman.
May you live a good life, and may your art live long.