The world’s most innovative companies don’t have better ideas – they just test more of them.
In today’s relentlessly changing marketplace, those who experiment survive while those who hesitate become irrelevant.
Opening a test kitchen isn’t about fancy labs or massive investments – it’s about creating a mindset where experimentation becomes as natural as breathing.
Consider Mass Mutual, a 180-year-old insurance company that transformed their culture with nothing more than helium balloons, or H&T Presspart slashing development costs by 50% through rapid prototyping.
These aren’t isolated success stories – they’re examples of what happens when organizations embrace experimentation as their competitive advantage.
The most innovative companies have discovered that controlled failure in a test kitchen environment leads to spectacular success in the marketplace.
As we explore this powerful concept together, you’ll discover practical approaches to embedding experimentation into your organization’s DNA without having to rely on expensive moonshots.
Remember: In a world of uncertainty, running small experiments isn’t risky – refusing to experiment is the greatest risk of all.
Test, Don’t Guess
Small experiments lead to big insights.
Most people overestimate what they know and underestimate what they assume.
Innovation is not about having brilliant ideas out of nowhere, it’s about testing your assumptions quickly and cheaply until you reach brilliance.
When you open a test kitchen in your organization, you create a system that transforms uncertainty into evidence.
Instead of debating which direction to take, you simply run the experiment and let reality decide.
This approach shifts the question from “what’s your idea?” to “how have you tested it?”
The best innovators I’ve studied don’t have more creative ideas – they just test more rigorously and frequently.
Each experiment is like compound interest for your knowledge base. Small tests accumulate into massive competitive advantages over time.
Remember: untested ideas aren’t assets – they’re liabilities waiting to drain your resources.
The habit of experimentation is the ultimate advantage in uncertain environments.
How an Experimentation Mindset Led To Radical Results
When was the last time a failure made your company stronger?
H&T Presspart’s transformation from traditional manufacturer to innovation leader came through embracing the power of rapid experimentation.
What makes their story compelling isn’t just the impressive numbers – 50% reduction in tooling expenses and 80% adapter cost savings – but the fundamental shift in how they approach innovation.
By opening a test kitchen centered around 3D printing technology, they’ve created a space where failure is cheap, fast, and incredibly valuable.
This approach speaks to a profound truth about innovation: most breakthroughs don’t emerge fully formed – they evolve through multiple iterations and experiments.
The beauty of their system is its simplicity – by delivering prototypes within 24 hours instead of weeks, teams can test functionality immediately rather than debating theories.
When you create systems that make experimentation easy, innovation becomes inevitable.
Consider the innovation barriers in your organization – are they technological, or are they cultural fears of imperfection?
Remember: The most innovative companies don’t punish failure – they accelerate it.
Open Your Own Test Kitchen
Disruptive innovation isn’t about better ideas, it’s about better experimentation.
My research shows that organizations with systematic experimentation outperform those with occasional brainstorming.
- First, designate a test kitchen – a physical or virtual space where experimentation is the expectation, not the exception. This creates psychological safety for team members to propose and test ideas without fear of judgment.
- Next, implement small-batch testing where ideas face reality quickly instead of lengthy theoretical debates. The data is clear: companies testing twenty small ideas learn more than those pursuing two large ones.
- Finally, reframe how you measure success – from outcomes to insights gained. Consider where in your organization you could replace “Will this work?” with “What will we learn?”
Innovation thrives not when failure is eliminated, but when it’s made cheap, fast, and educational.
To your creative success…
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About Josh
Josh Linkner is a New York Times bestselling author, serial entrepreneur, venture capital investor, professional jazz guitarist, and a globally recognized innovation expert. To learn more or to explore a collaboration, visit JoshLinkner.com
