A new thought process creating innovation
Where were you when the world changed? Like many other significant events in human evolution, the collapse of Lehman Brothers on Sunday 14th of September 2008 runs in slow motion and in distinct detail. It hit me like a sucker punch to the stomach, the air went thinner and I instinctively knew that there had been a permanent and significant shift in world economics.
At first I was comatose with disbelief, confusion, and in complete shock. The people and institutions that had once guaranteed security, wealth, and progression had collapsed and that filled me with fear. All those linear thinkers, surely they couldn’t make mistakes? As a creative my first thought was terrifying: if I struggle in the best of times, what will happen to me, and others like me, in the worst of times?
I immediately took to my computer, jotting a few notes on how the American Dream as we had known it was gone. Gone with it would be the linear route to success and economic bliss. So if corporate institutions were no longer able to sustain the millions of linear idealistic dreams, how would the American Dream evolve and be sustained?
At the instant of that question fleeing my mind the thin air of insecurity turned into an inhalation of inspired thought. What if this was now the time to succeed? What if the pendulum which had always swung low for creativity would now begin to swing higher and further than ever before?
I began to research similar points in history and came to an exciting conclusion. Recessions were a time of opportunity, making people more observant, curious, and non-complacent. Think of recession as a forest fire; once the worst is over, the soil is rich and ready for new seeds, new ideas to be planted and nourished into future trees of opportunity and prosperity.
The question now was how I would react. I imagined a business that would act as fertiliser to this new rich soil, a space that would instigate a new way of thinking, a community that would inspire innovation. Six months in, THECUBE is evolving into a space that houses a specific way to observe environments, develop ideas, and create innovation. In this new land there aren’t many linear routes to success so we must scrap our useless maps and become pioneers, exploring other routes to success and monetary victory.
THECUBE began its life as office space, a post-collapse life-raft for people to clamber in and take refuge from the wild ocean. But now after months on the storm-tossed sea, we have reached land and we are establishing a colony. It is changing to a space which incubates, inspires, and grows new ideas. This new way of thinking and ideology of THECUBE, which will now be a platform for developing ideas into innovative enterprise, is called Idea Engineering.
This new economic world is for those who are fearless, innovative and creative. This is not just about starting a business but creating an enterprise that is driven by innovation and sustained by a strong financial base. The clocks have been reset at 0:00 and it is anyone’s race.
Thought Engineer: Araceli Camargo-Kilpatrick
Literary Engineer: Russell Thomas
Bravo! Araceli – I totally agree with your article. Although this may be a scary time for creative and cultural organisations still chasing the illusive funding bird, those who are focussing on selling their skills and talents, are still suceeding. Recessions can create opportunities for those savvy enough to grab them and love quickly. As a digital and social entrepreneur, I tell my clients to get out there and try things – don’t spend lots of money, just develop in beta. Fail fast, fail better, fail cheaply.