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All too often, people try to be too clever. They believe that smart thinking is the only way to come up with new ideas. But great innovators don’t just think smart, they do smart. If you want to know if your idea has one iota of value, try it out. Make it real.

Trevor Bayliss made hundreds of clockwork radios before he invented the one that worked, and Dyson created thousands of vacuum cleaners.

Each failed attempt helped them learn and adapt until eventually they were ready to take on the world. Not only does making your ideas real help you to invent, it’s the only way people can truly get it. You can’t ever do an idea justice in words or a business plan. Bring it to life however and watch how engaged people become. Animal Kingdom would never have seen the light of day if Joe Rohde hadn't brought a tiger to the Disney boardroom. They then ‘got’ that animals are exciting!

By bringing ideas to life and experiencing them, we engage more of our senses and more of our brains in our pursuit of magic. More brain means more genius and we all need some of that. Go on, get your hands dirty, and make those ideas real!

Chris Baréz-Brown is Global Head of Innovation Capability at ?What If! The Innovation Company

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