Originally published August 28, 2015 , updated on May 31, 2023

Published Date: The date when the blog went live on GL website. Updated Date: The latest date when the GL Content team updated this blog.

Some might say that entrepreneurs have it easy in terms of innovative thinking. Their ideas are fresh and new; they are hitting the market from a completely new angle. For companies that have been active in their industry for a long time, however, innovation can seem challenging. The key, it seems, to be successfully innovative is to take consumers by surprise.
Taking your company in a slightly new direction may be the best way to make an impact. Of course, this does not mean that you should stray from your core concepts, services, or products. Think of it as an opportunity to expand or a chance to fill a gap in the market.

To come up with an innovation, you cast your eyes to the future. Consider which products or services could render you obsolete. There may be small adjustments you could make to current products that will make them seem revolutionary. Perhaps the best way to do this is to take a look at the up-and-coming competition. Budding entrepreneurs in your industry are guaranteed to have ideas for innovation that you may be able to adopt.

Remember that start-ups are only successful if and when they have created something that consumers have been unable to purchase from your company and others like it. To stay ahead of the game existing businesses need to continually push boundaries. They need to keep funds aside for innovation and continuous research and development.