--- title: "Innovating with Purpose: Part Two" description: Galen MacLusky releases part two of Innovating with Purpose. He shares some common reasons people engage in the process of innovation and how focusing on purpose can help guide your efforts. image: https://www.tamarackcommunity.ca/hubfs/Photos/Image%20Library/person%20looking%20at%20wall%20of%20plans.jpg --- [![20yrLogo-2_WhiteOrange](https://www.tamarackcommunity.ca/hs-fs/hubfs/Administration/Tamarack%20Logos/20yrLogo-2_WhiteOrange.png?width=200&height=47&name=20yrLogo-2_WhiteOrange.png "20yrLogo-2_WhiteOrange")](https://www.tamarackcommunity.ca/?hsLang=en-us) # Innovating with Purpose: Part Two Posted on June 13, 2018 [By Galen MacLusky](https://www.tamarackcommunity.ca/latest/author/galen-maclusky) - [Tweet](https://twitter.com/share) ![person looking at wall of plans](https://www.tamarackcommunity.ca/hs-fs/hubfs/Photos/Image%20Library/person%20looking%20at%20wall%20of%20plans.jpg?width=300&name=person%20looking%20at%20wall%20of%20plans.jpg)We all seek to innovate for different reasons. Sometimes it’s that we feel the world is changing and we risk being left behind. Sometimes it’s because the issue we’re working to address hasn’t gone away, has gotten worse, or has changed. Sometimes it’s because we simply feel that we must. In April’s edition of Engage! I challenged us all to reflect on the reasons why we seek to innovate. Our motivations have a powerful effect on the work that actually gets done, and with innovation being as popular and undefined as it is, it is easy to lose sight of why exactly we want new ways of thinking and acting. I’ve come across three consistent reasons that people, organizations, and communities engage in the process of innovation – in the process of introducing new ways of working, new ways of viewing our problems, and new tools to address our social challenges. What is most striking is that each of these driving reasons has their own unique blind spots that can undermine our efforts if left unchecked. One of the primary reasons people seek to innovate is a persistent social issue**. **Being frustrated that homelessness, poverty, climate change, income inequality, and so on, still proliferate today is a compelling reason to want to work differently. But, before you dive in, do you actually understand what matters to those affected by the issue, or do you only think that you understand? Do you know what the right points to change are, and do you have the right people in place to change them? Not thinking critically and acting upon these questions can lead to failed initiatives and perpetuating the marginalization of our communities’ most vulnerable members. Perhaps instead, you’re innovating to stay ahead, or to stay afloat. The times are ever-changing and we all feel the need to stay current to keep up. But, will this take us away from the impact that we hope to make? How much are we willing to compromise? and, counter to the drive to innovate, what shouldn’t we change about ourselves and our communities? What is strong that we should stand by? Exploring our purpose for seeking innovation not only helps guide our efforts, it also clarifies the basic assumptions that we make about our communities – assumptions that may or may not be true. With that in mind, what drives you? **Learn More:** - Learn more about the reasons communities seek innovation and how you can challenge blind spots in my new article - [Lifting the Blinders on Innovation](https://www.tamarackcommunity.ca/library/article-lifting-the-blinders-on-innovation?hsLang=en)  - Start at the beginning by exploring the need for [innovating with purpose](https://www.tamarackcommunity.ca/engage-april?hsLang=en-us#Innovating)  - Get in touch with Galen at [galen@tamarackcommunity.ca](mailto:galen@tamarackcommunity.ca)  Topics: [Community Innovation](https://www.tamarackcommunity.ca/latest/topic/community-innovation), [Blog](https://www.tamarackcommunity.ca/latest/topic/blog), [Galen MacLusky](https://www.tamarackcommunity.ca/latest/topic/galen-maclusky) ![Galen MacLusky](https://www.tamarackcommunity.ca/hubfs/Administration/Team%20Headshots/Galen%20MacLusky%20Headshot%20Square.jpg) ### By [Galen MacLusky](https://www.tamarackcommunity.ca/latest/author/galen-maclusky) While Galen was at Tamarack he led the Community Innovation Idea Area. He is passionate about working with community organizations to help build and scale new ideas that deepen their impact. An experienced design, innovation, and co-creation consultant, at the core of his work are approaches that help organizations engage with those who are impacted by their services and test new programs and services with minimal investment. Over the past five years, Galen has used these approaches to help Fortune 500 companies and non-profit organizations across North America reinvent the services and programs they provide. ## Related Posts [![](https://www.tamarackcommunity.ca/hubfs/ABCD-2.png)](https://www.tamarackcommunity.ca/latest/three-benefits-of-asset-based-community-development-abcd-for-communities-and-governments?hsLang=en-us) #### [Three Benefits of Asset Based Community Development (ABCD) for Communities (and Governments)](https://www.tamarackcommunity.ca/latest/three-benefits-of-asset-based-community-development-abcd-for-communities-and-governments?hsLang=en-us) [![](https://www.tamarackcommunity.ca/hubfs/Living%20Labs%20Infographic%20.png)](https://www.tamarackcommunity.ca/latest/place-based-innovation-a-new-community-centred-approach-to-community-change?hsLang=en-us) #### [Place-Based Innovation: A new community-centred approach to community change](https://www.tamarackcommunity.ca/latest/place-based-innovation-a-new-community-centred-approach-to-community-change?hsLang=en-us) [![](https://www.tamarackcommunity.ca/hubfs/2022_ttcblog_featuredimage2.png)](https://www.tamarackcommunity.ca/latest/building-trust-in-a-virtual-world?hsLang=en-us) #### [Building Trust in a Virtual World](https://www.tamarackcommunity.ca/latest/building-trust-in-a-virtual-world?hsLang=en-us) [![BACK TO THE LATEST](https://no-cache.hubspot.com/cta/default/316071/e6ffa9bb-4467-4833-8ecc-eb340b11d829.png)](https://cta-redirect.hubspot.com/cta/redirect/316071/e6ffa9bb-4467-4833-8ecc-eb340b11d829) [![20yrLogo-2_WhiteOrange](https://www.tamarackcommunity.ca/hs-fs/hubfs/Administration/Tamarack%20Logos/20yrLogo-2_WhiteOrange.png?width=3401&name=20yrLogo-2_WhiteOrange.png "20yrLogo-2_WhiteOrange")](https://www.tamarackcommunity.ca/?hsLang=en-us) ### Tamarack [Home](https://www.tamarackcommunity.ca/?hsLang=en-us) [Latest](https://www.tamarackcommunity.ca/latest) [Events](https://www.tamarackcommunity.ca/eventlisting?hsLang=en-us) [Donate](https://www.tamarackcommunity.ca/donate?hsLang=en-us) [About](https://www.tamarackcommunity.ca/whoweare?hsLang=en-us) ### Follow Us [** ** ](https://www.facebook.com/TamarackInstitute) [** ** ](https://twitter.com/Tamarack_Inst) [** ** ](https://www.linkedin.com/company/tamarack-institute-for-community-engagement)   In the spirit of respect, reciprocity, and truth we honour and acknowledge that our work occurs across Turtle Island (North America), which has been home since time immemorial to the ancestors of First Nations, Métis, and Inuit Peoples. ### Subscribe Be in the know. 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