I’ve come to realize that there’s a common misconception about innovation. People, including me, often romanticize the idea of innovation and creative work, expecting it to be a continuous, thrilling experience. However, the reality is quite different.
Innovation is, in fact, quite rare. The majority of work that goes into any project or product is not about groundbreaking ideas or revolutionary discoveries. It’s about the mundane, maintenance-related tasks and local improvements that form the foundation of true innovation.
Recently, I shared my thoughts on Twitter, pointing out how we often over-romanticize innovation, forgetting that it’s mostly about the grind and grunt work at the bottom, with only a small percentage of “cool stuff” on top. This applies to almost everything, from building a some fun product to training an AI model.
Let’s take the example of training an AI model. While the idea of creating an intelligent machine might seem fascinating, the process behind it is far from glamorous. It involves endless hours of data collection, cleaning, and preprocessing, followed by more hours spent on feature engineering, model tuning, and validation. It’s not the kind of work that makes headlines, but it’s the foundation on which those shiny AI innovations are built.
The important lesson here is to recognize that while innovation can be exciting and revolutionary, the majority of the work is about finding fulfillment, growth, and stimulation in the everyday tasks that make up the foundation of any project or product. It’s essential to set realistic expectations for our work and find satisfaction in the process. I have always drawn energy from the long-term vision of the product and seeing it help people in being more productive and efficient.
So, the next time you find yourself thinking about innovation, remember that there’s a lot more going on behind the scenes. The hard work, dedication, and countless hours spent on mundane tasks are what truly drive progress and lay the groundwork for those rare moments of brilliance. Embrace the grind, and you’ll find that even the most ordinary tasks can contribute to something extraordinary.