I was in London for a meeting last week and due to my “on time” compulsion, arrived quite early. I was killing time window shopping, and I spotted a cool looking linen walking hat on display at a men’s store.  On impulse, I went in and bought it. I had a nice conversation with the clerk at T. Fox & Company. They had some high quality hand-made knit ties — got one of those as well.  I resisted the lovely leather baggage, but was delighted to hear all their goods are made in the UK. Made in the UK means jobs in the UK.  The UK and the USA certainly need more brands like this.  Started me thinking, again, about our need to return to a culture of  Making Things in the west.

Just coming out of the shop and hustling to get to my meeting, I was immediately confronted by a homeless man, meekly, asking for change. I fumbled about and found a pound — a pretty nice donation I thought.  As I was giving him the money he asked if I wanted a flower or a name.  I was totally confused until I noticed that on his belt he had a spool of thin wire.  I was surprised — he was going to make something. As he clipped off a piece, everything changed.

The social contract with a homeless person is usually simply to give and ignore.  Or, not give and ignore.  Personally, I tend to give but always find the moment clumsy, an awkward transaction, filled with guilt, resentment, and status ambiguity flowing in two directions. As my man started to twist me up a flower, making something for the money I gave, the dynamic changed.  For one, I really looked at him and realized, yes, this is a human being, just like me.  As he created the flower, he had a bit of a rap that went along with it, he talked about the four petals representing awareness, transcendence — I don’t remember it all — but in the moment it was mesmerizing. I asked him how things were going and he smiled and said he was getting divorced, and these were hard times for him. We commiserated a bit. He gave me the flower with a smile and it made me smile.  I wished him luck and went my way.

Thinking about both of these experiences it occurs to me that actually making things is where innovation starts. The making of the flower changed the encounter. Basic creativity, making something, has the power to transform human relationships.  It’s also where innovation begins, working the wire, the clay, the concepts, the business, in front of you.

So, if you are an aspiring entrepreneur, think about making something.  Start small.  If you are a hot shot corporate innovator, it’s really much the same — make something tangible of value.  Return to that basic and it’s hard to go wrong.