> ## Content Index
> Fetch the complete content index at: https://www.philmckinney.com/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover other available public pages before exploring further.

# When is the best time to innovate?
- URL: https://www.philmckinney.com/when-is-the-best-time-to-innovate/
- Published: 2008-10-26T15:36:49.000Z
- Updated: 2026-04-01T14:10:30.000Z
- Author: Phil McKinney
- Tags: Past Shows, Studio Sessions, #wp, #wp-post, #Import 2026-03-26 05:08

Download [KI\_20081026.mp3](http://media.libsyn.com/media/philmckinney/KI%5F20081026.mp3?ref=philmckinney.com)

![best_innovate-300x199](https://storage.ghost.io/c/5b/b8/5bb8ac0c-fd54-4eb9-a76b-b472ce9fa849/content/images/killerinnovations-com/wp-content/uploads/2008/10/best_innovate-300x199.jpg)

When is the best time to innovate?

- Innovation is 24×7 .. not something that you wait “until your in the mood”
- Some of the drivers that cause people/organizations to all of sudden change their view of innovation  
  - Competitors … they are constantly beating you to market
  - Economic Trends … our old products aren’t selling – hurry up and come up with something new
  - Quarterly Results … we are having a tough quarter so lets pause on any new ideas/innovations
- Just as great writers set down and crank a defined number of pages per day, the great innovators define a daily idea quota  
  - 2 to 5 ideas per day
  - Set aside a time of day (for me, its morning)
  - Don’t filer when you are capturing ideas
  - Combine new ideas with ones already in your idea notebook
  - If you are having struggles to come up with your daily quota, use the killer questions from previous podcasts
  - Try to capture the inspiration for each idea (great use of photo’s)
  - Every week or two, prioritize the ideas in your notebook using the 5 key questions
- If you do this EVERY day … you will …  
  - Improve your own creativity (exercise that creativity muscle)
  - Build confidence that you can create great ideas
  - Get viewed by others as having and endless supply of great ideas
  - Become a key individual to your organization (key in these chaotic times)
- If, as an organization, make innovation a 24×7 priority …  
  - Your competitors are most likely NOT doing it
  - So .. you WIN if you do it right

**Listener Question:** Do you have a process to create ideas every day? If so, why not share your thoughts on the how and benefits you’ve seen.