The reality is that innovation and light bulbs is an overused cliché. (surfboards are much better in my opinion).

But Edison, the guy that invented the light bulb took a very long time to do it. He had literally hundreds of people helping him and it took him 600 attempts to get it right.

Scott Berkun wrote in ‘Myths of Innovation’, that this image of the ‘light bulb moment’
really ‘dumbs down innovation’ because it ignores the fact that to truly innovate and produce innovative products and solutions takes a strategic commitment – it requires a time investment and energy.

But I believe that ‘Light bulb’ moments do exist. I have had a few! I just think it is unlikely you will have one sitting in your office, factory, at home or in the car to work because the surroundings are too familiar. You need to take yourself out of the normal routine and environment you are in and engage with new products and people. And the best way to do that if you are in digital, screen and textile printing, is to visit FESPA next week.

I get my best ideas and thoughts when I am away from the office, from home and when I am focused entirely on business. I visit events and exhibitions and quite often get some of my best ideas from a visit to a market leading exhibition such as FESPA.

So why is that? You are bound to say that aren’t you? Yes I guess I am. I am an event evangelist.

The reason that exhibitions are so uber-cool is that I think we are literally bombarded with choices to make on an average day. It is estimated that 2,000 advertising messages are pointing at us on an average every day and I think we all get this ‘white out’ where our minds (which can only process 10 mega bytes of information per second, slower than my computer and probably my phone) cannot absorb any more.  And this doesn’t include the multiple interruptions we get from team members, customers, colleagues etc.

At the end of the day, our mind is exhausted. We become tired, overloaded and unable to tap into the creative recesses of the most powerful technology our business has. Our brain!

But exhibitions take you out of the ordinary, away from the interruptions, chaos and confusion of everyday life.

By taking some time out to come to FESPA you get to connect with real people, discover
new products and generate new ideas for your business. You will get the space, focus and scale to provoke your light bulb moment! Or moments!

So have a holiday! Come to FESPA! Re-fuel on inspiration, ideas and innovation.

FESPA is literally an oasis of energy for any business or business person. FESPA is a place that
Printers come to learn, connect, re-fuel and invest in their business and themselves.

Ideas are the very essence of FESPA events. The collective energy, mind power, experience and array of products at FESPA provides any visitor with the energy to gain inspiration for new ideas, to solve problems and to enhance their business performance.

It’s not just a load of marketing tosh I assure you. There simply isn’t anything quite as powerful as visiting a FESPA exhibition for your business and your future.

Those who make the decision to stay in the office or factory do so because the pressure has got to them. They may not be ambitious, open minded or see the true value of innovation. That is up to them. I won’t offend them because they are too busy to read blogs anyway.

But if you are one of the 30,000 + visitors who have registered to attend FESPA 2010 you have made a wise investment in your businesses destiny.

You will meet a lot of great people, see a lot of great products and will leave Munich with the necessary energy to propel your business forward in the recovery.

So travel well and I hope you enjoy catching the new wave of innovation!

See you in Munich!