Innovation Isn’t Always a Moonshot: Why the Little Stuff Matters

When you hear the word innovation, what comes to mind?  

Disruption. Big ideas. Industry-defining breakthroughs. Maybe even a few billion-dollar valuations.  

But here’s the thing: innovation isn’t just about creating the next big, disruptive idea. What I’ve come to realize, is that it’s not reserved for founders or tech titans. It’s not always about launching something “net new.” Sometimes, innovation is hiding right inside your four walls. 

In our next episode of Momentum (coming soon – stay tuned!), we dig into what innovation really means - and spoiler alert: it’s more accessible, actionable, and inclusive than most people think. For organizations and leaders, it’s not always about chasing shiny objects. It’s about solving problems, making life easier, or doing something smarter - for your customers, your teams, or your mission. 

Because real innovation asks (spoiler alert from our episode): What am I changing, and for whom? 

And sometimes, that change starts with an internal system, a process revamp, or even a better way to measure success. 

So, with that in mind, here's what I’ve come to realize about what innovation can mean to organizations:  

1. Innovation can mean small but mighty moves.  

We see it in our work every day: a reimagined onboarding experience that boosts retention. A new metric that reframes how impact is tracked. A process improvement step that creates real clarity. A five-minute internal form that used to take an hour. These aren’t “headline-grabbing” moves - but they help spark momentum. They free up brainpower. They reduce friction. They create lift-off. That’s innovation. 

True innovation requires scale, yes. Systems, definitely. But it doesn’t always start as a moonshot. Often, it begins with a small shift - something that builds morale, injects clarity, or mobilizes your team in a new way. 

2. Innovation is a mindset, not a title. 

Not all entrepreneurs are innovators. And not all innovators are entrepreneurs. Some are intrapreneurs (aka the people inside organization) see possibility where others see roadblocks. They don’t always have “VP of Innovation” in their title. But they’re the ones quietly putting things in motion, driving ideas that solve real problems. 

It’s time to stop treating innovation like a pedestal only a few can reach. The truth is, innovation belongs to everyone no matter your title, your tenure, or your seniority. 

3. Innovation happens when culture gets curious. 

If you want to build a truly innovative culture, start by recognizing and rewarding the internal wins. Celebrate the small shifts. Track the impact of internal experiments. Create space for people to challenge the “way things have always been done.” 

You don’t need a lab to innovate. Sometimes, you just need someone brave enough to raise their hand and say: What if we did it differently? 

   Sometimes, it’s the little things that can spark bold ideas.   

So instead of asking “how do we innovate more?” – perhaps the question for the operators in the room is: what’s a small change we can make today that makes something simpler, smarter, or more effective? 

The ripple effects of that change? That’s innovation. 

Want to hear more? Check out our team’s full conversation on innovation in this episode of Momentum.