“There is nothing permanent, except change” — Heraclitus

You may not realize it, but you are familiar with Heraclitus, a pre-Socratic Greek philosopher.

It was the one to which is attributed the saying: “everything flows” ( πάντα ῥεῖ in ancient Greek).

He expresses his thoughts through practical examples, such as: “Nobody can enter the same river twice”. However, modern folks often misunderstand such quotes.

The phrase “everything flows”, as expressed in the philosophical discourse of Heraclitus, does not simply mean that everything changes over time and we must accept it. Instead, it serves as the foundation for a more complex idea: the “unity of opposites”. This concept suggests that all things exist as they are while simultaneously embodying something beyond themselves, engaging in a continuous process of becoming.

So, when someone uses such a quote around innovation topics, be sure it is used properly.

Innovation is frequently incremental rather than disruptive. Minor adjustments to what you believed was immutable can unlock immense value and potential.

As Einstein famously said: “We cannot solve our problems with the same thinking we used to create them”. But despite this being obvious, companies keep doing things the same way.