Readings in Innovation

Growing Up Creative in America

Elizabeth B. Larsen

The Broadway musical How To Succeed In Business Without Really Trying contains a song—“The Company Way”—in which a young executive questions a company veteran about how to remain in the company. The young executive asks what happens if one has a “genius idea” and the veteran quickly informs him that the “genius” is quickly let go from the company.

It seems that from the time we are children to the time we are adults we ask advice about how to succeed and are often advised “don’t rock the boat,” “let sleeping dogs lie,” or “be a team player.” We are very rarely given the sage wisdom to “always question the status quo,” “activate the apathetic,” or “pursue individuality.”

While teaching children ...