For weeks, I’ve been sharing stories of serendipity- from the discovery of DNA, to the Apple I computer, Warby Parker, to chocolate chip cookies - all examples and instances in which individuals, open to the unexpected, actively and passively seeking, encountered the unintended. In these unplanned moments, they found opportunities, saw possibilities, or connected the dots to create new products, services, and ideas.
Serendipity isn’t mere luck or coincidence- it’s a practice. It’s a systemic approach of seeking, encountering, connecting, and activating unexpected discoveries to unlock their potential value. It’s the unseen enabler that powers novel invention and groundbreaking innovation.
We like to think of serendipity as a catalyst moment—the ‘a-ha.’ In reality, those moments are just part of a larger intentional practice. They emerge as a result of specific mindsets and behaviors that:
Create the possibility for unexpected or ‘chance’ encounters
Develop awareness to recognize potential when it appears
Actively pursue and explore these discoveries to see what their value might be. (No value, no serendipity.)
In today’s environment, traditional innovation approaches are no longer enough. Innovation builds upon existing ideas, inventions, or processes by improving them, finding new applications, or making them more efficient to create value. But how? How does one keep innovating? How does one move beyond iteration and evolution to create new and novel products, services, and ideas?
The answer isn’t found in linear processes, even with expansive frameworks such as design thinking or design sprints. You need the unexpected. You need the unplanned and unintended. You need a way to wrangle chance and put it to work for you.
You need serendipity. Serendipity accounts for the unexpected in a way that innovation processes cannot, transforming chance encounters into tangible value.
Join us as we explore how individuals and organizations can cultivate serendipity to create what’s new and what’s next.
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If you’d like to learn more about how you can bring serendipity into your workplace or practice, reach out to us at practicingserendipitist@gmail.com or learn more at practicingserendipitist.com