Keep the idea factory open

Innovation is sometimes seen as what happens when you have downtime.  Most mature organizations place their greatest energy and emphasis on control and competition, versus collaboration and innovation.  In that world, downtime is an accident, not an intentional act. 

Mature or not, big or small, organizations must keep their flow of new ideas coming.  Even in a downturn.  As you emerge from a recession, you want a clear, relevant and compelling reason customers should choose you (if you don't offer that already).

Tom Fishburne humorously illustrates this point in his latest cartoon, inspired by Seth Godin's new book, Tribes.

So, how about you - what is your latest remarkable idea?