Skip to content
quotesby

About this quote

What does it mean?
Not innovating is riskier than innovating because staying the same makes you vulnerable to change.
In plain terms
Staying old is more dangerous than trying something new.
What can you take from it?
Innovate to survive; stagnation is the real risk.

Where it applies

  • business strategy
  • product planning
  • organizational change

Putting it to work

  • prioritize innovation projects
  • accept calculated risks

Questions to consider

  • What risks are you avoiding?
  • How can you embrace change?

Another view

Innovation also carries execution risk and can fail.

More from Peter F. Drucker

  1. Ideas are somewhat like babies--they are born small, immature, and shapeless. They are promise rather than fulfillment. In the innovative company executives do…

    Permalink to quote #25
  2. If 'socialism' is defined as 'ownership of the means of production'--and this is both the orthodox and the only rigorous definition--then the United States is …

    Permalink to quote #27
  3. One of the great movements in my lifetime among educated people is the need to commit themselves to action. Most people are not satisfied with giving money; we…

    Permalink to quote #24

Related quotes

  1. In this volatile business of ours, we can ill afford to rest on our laurels, even to pause in retrospect. Times and conditions change so rapidly that we must k…

    Walt DisneyWalt Disney quote #114
  2. A ship in port is safe; but that is not what ships are built for. Sail out to sea and do new things.

    Grace HopperGrace Hopper quote #3
  3. We are not influenced by the techniques or fashions of any other company.

    Walt DisneyWalt Disney quote #5