Steal the Pieces, Build the Puzzle

Have you ever wondered where innovation comes from? If you’re picturing a lone genius having a eureka moment, think again.

Innovation isn't about reinventing the wheel. It's about novel combinations.

In 1996, a college student named Paul Buchheit failed to build his own email software. This "failure" haunted him for years to come. Little did he know, it was setting the stage for something big.

Buchheit joined Google as employee number 23. When tasked with a side project, he saw another chance to bring his email idea to life. But there was a problem: Google was a search company, not an email provider.

So what did Buchheit do? He got clever.

Building on foundations, creating breakthroughs

On day one, he turned Google Groups code into a working prototype. At first, Gmail could only search Buchheit's email. But people still used it. Why? Because it solved a novel problem.

Users started saying, "It would be even better if I could search my own email." Buchheit listened to the feedback and built those features. This process of iteration continued for three years.

Every technique used to build and scale Gmail in the beginning was reused from other parts of Google's code. Buchheit wasn't reinventing the wheel. He was taking existing pieces and arranging them in a new, compelling way.

Twenty-five years earlier, another tech visionary had a similar epiphany during a visit to a research facility.

Steve Jobs talked about his visit to Xerox PARC with pride. Jobs often quoted Picasso, saying, "Good artists copy, great artists steal." But what did he mean by that?

Xerox scientists had created the modern graphical user interface (GUI) for computers. It was groundbreaking. But it was also clunky. The mouse was subpar, and windows couldn't be moved around.

Jobs saw potential where others saw limitations. He thought, "We can do this better." And they did, creating the Macintosh's iconic "hello" moment that made history.

Was Jobs unoriginal for "stealing" the GUI concept? Not at all. And neither was Buchheit when he built upon Google's existing technology for Gmail.

Solving puzzles with existing pieces

Innovation isn't defined by original ideas. It's fueled by pre-existing concepts, rearranged and improved to solve new problems.

Think of innovators as DJs. They don't invent new musical notes. They sample different tracks to create a unique song. It's all about the arrangement.

Invention and innovation are two different things.

Thomas Edison didn't invent the light bulb. He innovated by creating an entire ecosystem around it: power sources, distribution grids, and usage meters. Edison's brilliance wasn't in inventing a product. It was in designing a system that made his lightbulb truly useful and accessible to the masses.

When you're faced with a challenge, don't pressure yourself to come up with something entirely new. Instead, look around. There’s tons of existing pieces that you can you borrow and rearrange to solve a new puzzle.

Innovation is about pushing forward on novel problems when putting the pieces together, rather than reinventing each piece individually.

Becoming an Innovation Thief

With innovation there’s an art of creative problem-solving, where "stealing" ideas is not just allowed—it's encouraged.

1. Identify your puzzle

Everything begins with identifying the problem you want to solve. But don't just scratch the surface. Dive deep. Ask yourself: What's really the job to be done here?

Think about it philosophically and develop context. When Steve Jobs envisioned the first Macintosh, he wasn't just thinking about building a computer. He was reimagining how humans interact with technology.

2. Form the pieces with metaphors

Once you've identified your problem, get creative. Look for metaphors that connect existing fields. These aren't just clever analogies; they're powerful tools for understanding and explaining complex ideas.

Jobs compared early computers to bicycles, highlighting the potential impact of computers on human efficiency. John McCarthy used the metaphor of AI as a toolbox for problem-solving, describing it’s ability to augment our capabilities. Software is often described as Lego bricks in the open-source community, influencing how companies approach APIs, composable code, and cloud computing. These metaphors provide models for combining existing solutions in other fields.

So, what metaphors can you draw from different industries to form pieces of your problem?

3. Know when to innovate

As you explore metaphors and discover interesting pieces, ask yourself: "Does that apply to us?"

Every time Google released something new, Buchheit would stop and consider if it could be applied to his email project. Make this your mantra. When you stumble upon an intriguing idea in any field, pause. Reflect on its potential application to the bigger puzzle.

4. Copy and learn from the greats in your field

Don't be afraid to stand on the shoulders of giants by copying. It's not just acceptable; it's a rite of passage.

Thomas Edison improved upon existing lightbulb designs. As you begin assembling pieces of your puzzle, focus on learning from those who've come before you. Build that foundation. Absorb their knowledge. Then, you'll be ready to innovate.

5. Combine existing pieces in unique ways to address unmet needs

Once you've built a strong foundation by learning from others, you'll start to see gaps and opportunities. Use your unique perspective and genius you've gathered to combine ideas in ways no one has before.

Gmail wasn't just email; it was email combined with Google's search expertise and massive storage capabilities. What unique combination can you create?

6. Execute with excellence

This is where you build the puzzle and develop a new ecosystem based on existing solutions. But here's the key: don't just copy—improve.

Apple didn't just replicate Xerox's GUI; they made it significantly better. Your innovation might start with "stolen" ideas, but your creative execution is what will set it apart.

How can you take these borrowed concepts and create something that's ten times better than what currently exists?