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Videos

18 Sept 2010

Where good ideas come from

By Steven Johnson for Riverhead Books

Steven Johnson is an author who studies how new ideas are created. In this video, he explains the main ideas from his book 'Where Do Good Ideas Come From?' He shares common patterns seen in history during times when creativity and innovation were strong, and what we can learn from them.

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Summary

Steven investigates where good ideas come from, and what has led to unusual rates of creativity and innovation in the past. Through this investigation, he has noticed recurring patterns that are important in creating environments that are unusually innovative, including: 

  • Slow evolution of ideas: good ideas often start as "slow hunches". They need time to develop, sometimes over many years.
  • Collaboration is key: breakthroughs happen when incomplete ideas connect with others, turning them into something greater.
  • Importance of connectivity: historically, spaces like coffee houses provided the opportunity for people and ideas to mingle. Today, increased digital connectivity can facilitate this collaboration. 
  • Chance favours the connected mind: innovation thrives on interlinked ideas and minds. This fosters serendipitous discoveries and collaborations.
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