Original Doesn’t Have to Be New

Creativity is in. Innovation and originality are what employers look for. Diversity in ideas drives the move forward to a better future. With that in mind, many embark on a quest to produce the next best thing or idea. But, an original idea does not necessarily imply a completely new concept; rather, often it is the mixing of what already exists, enhancing or improving it. In “Embrace the Remix,” Kirby Ferguson presents past examples of innovations to convince his audience that nothing new is truly new. A new idea or product is a result of taking an existing item, or several items, adding to it, modifying it, and molding it into a completely new one. It’s like making a collage: you take what already exists and turn it into a new piece of art. So, instead of waiting for the light bulb to go on in your head, you might be better off visiting a library, researching a topic of interest, and coming up with strategies to take it to the next level.