Innovation. The word itself often conjures up images of brilliant scientists, paradigm-shifting inventions, and the next big tech marvel. But what if the true heart of innovation lies not in a lab, but in a relentless, curious, and often humble approach to solving problems?
In a recent chat with Dave Peterson, a seasoned innovator with highly tuned product vision, we dug into this very idea. Dave, who describes himself simply as “a farmer from Iowa,” shared insights that challenge what most of us think about innovation. For him, it’s a blend of sheer necessity, a healthy dose of empathy, and a willingness to embrace the messy bits along the way.
When asked what comes to mind when he hears “innovator,” Dave immediately points to those who “buck the system.” These are the folks who look ahead, try to guess which way the road’s gonna turn, and aren’t afraid to shake things up.
He mentioned names like Elon Musk and Marie Curie, sure, but just as quickly brought up the farmers he grew up with in Iowa. Their go-to tools? “Baling wire, bubble gum, and balsa wood.”
Their motivation? Necessity. That down-to-earth perspective really sets the tone for his refreshing take on what it means to innovate.
The Farmer’s Guide to Getting Things Done
Dave’s journey from an Iowa farm to a career dotted with patents and industry-changing products is a real testament to the power of hands-on problem-solving. His time in the Air Force, seeing some seriously cool technical stuff from the ’70s and ’80s, and later at Control Data Corporation, where he helped iron out issues with magnetic tapes, all shaped his unique outlook. He learned early that innovation isn’t about hiding a problem; it’s about asking, “Tell me about the problem and how you would fix it.”
That philosophy really hit home after Control Data basically disappeared overnight, a stark reminder of how fast things can change when true innovators, like Bill Gates figuring out PCs, come along. Dave’s career after that, including starting his own company and patenting thin clients, just solidified his belief that listening to people is king.
When we talked about his biggest innovation, Dave brought up a multi-head thin client that turned one PC into four, selling “tens of millions” around the globe. What’s truly wild isn’t just the invention itself, but how parts of it have now become just a normal part of computing everywhere. This wasn’t about some grand, isolated vision; it was about spotting a clear need and then building a practical, scalable solution.
Empathy: The Innovator’s Secret Weapon
For Dave, the real turning point in his career came when he stopped being just a sales rep and started building genuine relationships with customers.
This deep understanding of the user’s world is what drives Kensington’s approach to products. Instead of just crunching numbers or doing typical focus groups, Dave and his team run about a hundred “focus groups” a year.
They sit down with users, give them products, and tell them straight up, “Use it, break it, tell us how to make it better.” This direct, no-strings-attached feedback builds trust and uncovers the real “pain points” that surveys might miss.
It’s about recognizing that a product isn’t truly innovative until it fully meets a need, aiming for that “100% profit product” instead of settling for “90%.”
The Baling Wire Mindset
One thing that stuck with us? Dave’s love for low-fidelity prototyping. His team builds rough, even scrappy versions of ideas to show product developers what’s possible.
“They’ll say, ‘That can’t be done.’ But once we show it? They go, ‘Oh… I didn’t know that’s what you meant.’”
This is what makes Dave’s take on innovation so valuable: it’s not about being the smartest person in the room. It’s about getting your hands dirty, bridging the gap between concept and execution, and keeping your ego in check along the way.
Even something as small as putting a zipper on the left side instead of the right can be the difference between a product that works and one that ends up collecting dust.
What Makes an Innovator Tick?
So, what’s the common thread among innovators? Dave thinks it’s a lot like being a scientist: “You’re trying to disprove what you think is right.”
Unlike a sales rep who might try to gloss over problems, a true innovator wants to be proven wrong if their initial idea isn’t the best. It’s about recognizing that “if I’ve thought of an idea, there’s another hundred people out there, a thousand people that have thought of it.
“The goal isn’t to be “right,” but to keep refining until you land on the “best or the right” solution. As Thomas Edison famously put it, “I haven’t failed at making a light bulb. I’ve learned a thousand ways that a light bulb won’t work.”
What’s Cooking Next?
Dave’s vision for the future of innovation stretches beyond just tech gadgets. While Kensington keeps focusing on making desk work more comfortable and efficient (think things like better ergonomics and wireless solutions), he’s personally fascinated by urban infill. This idea, redeveloping existing urban areas to create more livable, walkable communities with good public transport, is another great example of applying creative problem-solving to big societal challenges.
It just goes to show that innovation isn’t just for the lab; it’s everywhere, from the farm to the city, all about making everyday life a little easier and a lot better.
🎙️ The full episode is live now, have a listen in Dave’s unique insights!
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