I’ve been doing a lot of thinking about innovation, and it seems like half the known universe is doing the same thing. This isn’t bad. In fact, seeing innovation all over the media, net, blog world, Twitter, etc., encourages me. Maybe – just maybe – we (as in a huge swath of people in organizations & business) are finally coming around to the realization that we can’t sit back and wait for “the way things used to be” to come back. Traditional thinking and business models either are, or will soon be, obsolete. We must move forward with new ways of looking at things and new ideas to not only suceed in this “new world order.” I suggest that innovation for all of us is necessary to simple survival.

I saw the Disney/Pixar animated film, “Up” over the weekend. I won’t rehash the well-deserved rave reviews here. But I will explain some valuable innovation lessons contained in this terrific story.

1. Persistence. One of the most important lessons great innovators teach us is the stick with the effort. You simply can’t give in to frustration, or apparent dead ends, or being tired. You have to keep at it and keep at some more until that great idea gets refined to the point that it represents real innovation. In the film, the hero (voiced by Ed Asner) had several chances to give up his dream of taking his beloved Ellie to a mystical world. First, he could have simply gone to a retirement home. Instead, he tied balloons to his house and flew away. Then, after he landed, Carl could have just settled for the spot the wind chose. Again, he acted and took matters into his own hands and found a way to reach his dream.
2. Optimism. Balloons tied to a house? Yes. Carl believed, and it worked. But other characters showed optimism in the face of circumstances that looked desperate. Russell, a young “little mailman” (see the film!) was optimistic every step of the way. This trait helped keep Carl and Russell moving when it would have been easy to simply sit down and call it a day.
3. Curiosity. The whole adventure would not have happened but for Carl and his wife’s curiosity about a world they’d never seen. It was this willingness to try new things that provided the spark for Carl’s rather daring adventure. And when things looked their darkest (a near disaster of a fire), Carl’s willingness to seek out even newer experiences and explore new adventures moved the story past what could have been an easy out for the old man and young boy.
4. Open Minded. Kevin, the bird Carl and Russell befriend, turns out not be a boy at all but a mother. Russell and Carl never batted an eye. So what? Kevin she was, and Kevin she stayed. But more than that, both Carl and Russell remained open throughout the entire story to whatever came their way. Dug the loyal (and very funny) dog was originally shunned by the “pack.” But Dug’s open and kind heart led him to discover a whole new pack to join. If only we could be open to new opportunities with the same optimistic, open minded view of the world!

“Up” may not be the best movie ever made, but it’s certainly an entertaining one. It also helps illustrate just how some simple traits can foster an environment where new and different ideas can flourish.