It's an all too common scenario: you're on a flight, and the person in front of you reclines their seat. Suddenly, your personal space has been invaded, and you're left feeling uncomfortable for the duration of the flight. But instead of getting angry or asking them to put their seat up, you do the same. So now, everyone on the plane is uncomfortable, and no one is happy.

The same thing happens in business all the time. Companies see their competitors doing something, and instead of thinking about how they can do it better, they just copy them. As a result, they end up with a product that's inferior to their competitor's, and everyone loses.

Innovation is important for businesses because it allows them to create better products and services, stand out from their competitors, and attract and retain customers. When you innovate, you're not just copying someone else's idea - you're coming up with something new that can solve a problem in a better way.

There are two types of innovation: incremental and radical. Incremental innovation is about making small changes to an existing product or service, while radical innovation is about coming up with something completely new.

Most businesses only focus on incremental innovation because it's easier and less risky. But if you want to be truly successful, you need to be willing to take risks and innovate in a radical way.

The benefits of innovation are clear: you can create a better product or service, attract new customers, and increase your profits. But innovation is not without its risks. The biggest risk is that your innovation will fail.

That's why it's so important to have a solid plan in place before you start innovating. You need to know what you're trying to achieve, who your target market is, and what needs to be done to succeed.

You also need to make sure you have the right team in place. Innovating is not something that one person can do - it takes a team of people with different skills and perspectives.

If you're looking for some inspiration, here are some examples of companies that have successfully innovated instead of imitated:

Tesla: Tesla is a company that's known for its innovative electric cars. Instead of following the traditional car manufacturing process, Tesla designed its own batteries, motors, and software. This allowed them to create a better product than their competitors.

Airbnb: Airbnb is a company that allows people to rent out their homes or rooms to travellers. Instead of following the traditional hotel model, Airbnb created a new way for people to travel.

Google: Google is a company that's known for its innovative search engine. Instead of following the traditional search engine model, Google developed its own algorithm that ranks websites based on quality.

As you can see, innovation is vital for businesses.