As you begin … a note from Tom Fogarty

Over the years I have spent developing new technologies, and watching innovators succeed or fail, I have identified some basic principles that are critical to success, and those that cause failure. The most important principle is that we innovate to improve the lives of patients. Commitments to ourselves, the institution we serve, and others are secondary. Distractions along the way are multiple. The love of money, the lure of technology, personal advancement, and recognition by our peers are only a few. Even with these distractions and institutional encumbrances, innovators are here to serve our patients first and foremost. If this is done well, benefits to the innovator will follow.

I have always thought that innovation is something you learn by doing. However, I do believe that certain individuals are born with a capacity to innovate that is significantly greater than that of others. It is much like the field of sports; some are innately more capable. Regardless of where one lies in this spectrum, listening to your mentors is probably the most critical component of your success. Persistence is the second most important factor (knowing when to hold'em and when to fold'em). Before you give up, reference anybody knowledgeable in the field, including your mentors, friends, and enemies. Yes, enemies – they often have insights and offer perspectives that friends will ignore or not articulate.