TAKE ACTION!

            1.    Know your company.

                       Review your capacity for innovation versus where you should be. Get input from a wide range of stakeholders. Be honest: Are you sitting on your hands because your market seems stable and your customers happy? You should not feel so comfortable! Industry disruption is happening more quickly and more deeply than ever, and if you fail to create a culture of innovation, you’ll find your market position eroding.

            2.    Design your own Innovation Mandate.

                       While this book provides guidelines and key insights, no two companies are alike. An Innovation Mandate that works for CSAA IG isn’t going to work for Apple—or for your company. You need to identify and nurture your organization’s innovation strengths to match your mission and financial goals.

            3.    Launch your minimally viable organizational transformation to become an innovation leader.

                       Don’t wait until it’s perfect! Remember, innovation is a process that will become an integral part of your company, not a short-term project. Get it up and running. Evaluate it and make adjustments. Get feedback from stakeholders. If an idea looks promising, fund it and demand results. Spread the news when you have a success. Don’t worry about crazy ideas—let them go and focus on the good ones. Make your employees a vital part of the innovation pipeline. Don’t stop!