The 4th Face of Innovation: The Hurdler Innovator

Innovation thrives not in abundance but in adversity.

This persona represents individuals who tackle obstacles creatively, turning challenges into opportunities. Their resilience and problem-solving skills are crucial in driving projects forward despite setbacks.

Hurdler does more with less. Hurdler maintains a quite positive determination in the face of adversity.

Hurdler loves to turn lemons into lemonade. Give them a constraint, a tight deadline, and a small budget, and they will likely excel.

Why It Matters:

Hurdles are inevitable in any innovative process. The Hurdler’s approach ensures that teams don’t get discouraged and instead find innovative ways to overcome barriers.

Hurdles stimulate creativity under constraint, often leading to more innovative, resourceful solutions. They compel teams to rethink assumptions and explore new paths.

Examples:

Richard Branson (Virgin Atlantic): During a severe economic downturn, Richard Branson had an ambitious idea—he wanted to equip Virgin Atlantic’s aircraft with personalized in-flight entertainment screens, which wasn't common then. But there was a problem: banks refused to fund the $10 million needed for the entertainment system. Instead of shelving the idea, Branson looked for an unconventional path. He struck a creative deal with Boeing, negotiating $4 billion in credit for a new fleet of aircraft—with the entertainment system bundled in as part of the aircraft cost. Branson didn’t just hurdle over the financing problem; he turned it into a competitive advantage, positioning Virgin Atlantic as a premium, experience-focused airline.
Narayana Murthy (Infosys): In 1981, Narayana Murthy and six co-founders started Infosys with just ₹10,000—borrowed from Murthy’s wife. They operated out of a small apartment, with no external funding, no infrastructure, and a highly regulated Indian economy. They faced countless hurdles: bureaucratic licensing delays, limited access to foreign capital, and virtually no technology ecosystem. But instead of giving up, they built their own internal processes and focused on writing high-quality software for global clients. When satellite communications were too expensive, Infosys built its own link to connect with global clients—long before “remote work” became a norm. They turned adversity into architecture, creating a scalable global delivery model.

How to Become a Hurdler Innovator:

Cultivate resilience and view challenges as opportunities.
Remain agile, ready to pivot strategies as challenges arise.
Embrace every setback as a learning moment.
Actively seek diverse viewpoints to enhance problem-solving.
Utilize scenario planning to prepare for and overcome future hurdles.

Hurdler in Action:

Superpower: Creative problem-solving under pressure
Favorite environment: Chaos, constraints, and compressed timelines
Typical thought: Okay, so we can’t go through… what if we go around?

Adopting the Hurdler persona can transform the way we perceive and tackle challenges, leading to a more innovative and resilient approach in both personal and professional spheres.

Innovation isn’t about having unlimited time and resources.

It’s about what you do when you have neither.