Innovate as a way to lead the wave of change

Everyday, everywhere. Those enterprises are making a innovative product, offering a different service, but don't understand they're leaders, the Ones in a blue ocean. They are leading the wave. Don't understand that changes never were easy, aren't concious when you are leading the wave, there is no path drawn and you're also opening the way to your competitors to ride the wave too.

What should I understand for being a leader? In my opinion, you are a leader when you're doing stuff others don't, in your marketshare.

Being in a blue ocean is being the unique competitor in a virgin market. Your competitors are fighting for the last five coconuts when you're discovered a new island fully of them.

Some people, some business simply cannot look at their new, flashing, recently discovered island, and they only want to fight for the last coconut. They will move to the new island when the others do.

A case:

"This product/service is well, but I don't think the market will grow up. We're makeing some great money selling it, but the next year we'll not be thinking in raise more marketshare. Instead, we'll work as the others works. We will take care when others do".

Sounds family?

The big deal is they really want to do as others do. The big mistake. Maybe you have created the next Google and you're still looking at what Yahoo! is doing, and some IT guy is formatting the HD with Google in.

So, why most companies -accurately- most managers, are not ready to lead the big change that will guide to the next paradigm of their business?

Because they're so occupied trying to stay alive, in fact, trying to maintain alive the business, there is no time to look at the front. If the competitors are alive, why we wouldn't doing the same?

There are a link between the most innovative companies of the world: Apple in hardware, Google managing information, Toyota innovating processes or Starbucks conquering the universe.

Actually, you do not have to be a very recognized company to be innovative. Don't look as others do. Don't look at the sides, or the rear. Look only at you do, to do it better, faster, and cheaper. Maybe you have a little business area doing unique things. Go on and give resources to grow marketshare and conquer new markets.

Leaders would.