According to Forbes, the most disruptive innovations don’t actually start with new technology but with a fundamental change in mindset. The piece argues we’ve been getting innovation wrong by equating it with invention, when true innovation is about creating new value. Airbnb founders Brian Chesky and Joe Gebbia didn’t invent spare bedrooms—they shifted perspective from owning assets to building trust. Similarly, Uber didn’t invent cars but rethought transportation access. The article highlights Brian Goldstein’s journey from special education student to business coach as proof that overcoming mental blocks enables innovation, and cites research showing mindset changes require cultivating curiosity, collaboration, and persistence.
Sponsored content — provided for informational and promotional purposes.
The mindset shift that changes everything
Here’s the thing that most companies get wrong: they chase the shiny new technology without first changing how they think. Airbnb’s breakthrough wasn’t building a better booking system—it was realizing that trust could be the asset instead of real estate. Uber’s innovation wasn’t better cars but rethinking what “transportation” could mean in a connected world.
And that’s why so many established companies get disrupted. Blockbuster saw Netflix as a niche player because their mindset was stuck in physical stores and late fees. Netflix’s mindset was already about on-demand access and customer experience. When streaming technology arrived, Netflix was ready to cannibalize its own successful DVD business because the mindset was flexible. The technology just enabled what they already believed.
Your own mental roadblocks
But what about the personal side? The article points to Brian Goldstein’s story as proof that our own mental barriers often hold us back more than any external factor. From special education student to successful entrepreneur, his journey shows that changing your internal narrative comes first. Psychology Today research confirms that fear of the unknown and resistance to change are deeply human tendencies that innovation requires overcoming.
Basically, if you’re waiting for the perfect technology or market conditions to innovate, you’re probably missing the point. The real work happens in how you and your team think about problems. Are you asking the right questions? Or just trying to build better versions of what already exists?
Building an innovation culture
So how do you actually cultivate this mindset? It’s not about team-building exercises or empty “think outside the box” slogans. According to Harvard Business Review’s research, it requires creating a culture that rewards curiosity and tolerates intelligent failure. Julia Child’s disruptive cookbook success came from her customer obsession and willingness to experiment relentlessly.
The tools and frameworks help, but they’re useless without the cultural foundation. You need diverse voices challenging the status quo and leaders who empower that dissent. Academic research shows that organizations that systematically cultivate these attitudes see opportunities where others see threats.
Look, the next big disruption probably won’t come from a new AI algorithm or quantum computing breakthrough. It’ll come from someone looking at an old problem with fresh eyes and asking a different question. The technology will just be what makes it scalable. So maybe the real innovation work starts not in the lab, but in how we choose to see the world around us.
