Age is an Innovator’s Secret Weapon

As young innovator you get frustrated. I get it. Here’s a secret no one tells you: you actually get better at innovation as you get older. Time is your ally. And I’ll explain why ...

Yes, innovation is about fresh ideas, but it’s also about persistence, knowing the ropes, and being strategic. When you’re young, you’ve got energy and vision. But as you age, you gain the wisdom that makes those visions real. Here are five reasons why you’ll become a more effective innovator as you get older.

1. You Learn How to Work the System

Big corporations have layers upon layers of processes. And, at first, they seem like roadblocks. But over time, you learn how to navigate these systems. You understand which approvals matter, and which ones can be skipped. You know the politics, the unwritten rules, and how to make the bureaucracy work in your favour. You stop fighting the system and start using it.

Reason: Innovating in a big company often means knowing how to push change through, and that comes with experience.

2. You Build a Network of Allies

When you’re young, you have big ideas but few allies. Over time, you build relationships across the organisation. You know who to call when you need support. You understand who’s an ally and who isn’t. And having the right people backing you is everything. As you grow older, your network becomes one of your most powerful innovation tools.

Reason: Innovation requires collaboration. As you age, you have more allies to help push your ideas through.

3. You Know Which Battles to Fight

At the start of your career, you’ll want to fight every battle. Every idea feels like the one that’s going to change everything. But as you gain experience, you learn to pick your battles. You know which ideas are worth your energy and which ones aren’t. You become more strategic, focusing on the innovations that will have the biggest impact.

Reason: Experience gives you the clarity to know where to invest your efforts and where to let go.

4. You Gain Credibility

In the beginning, your title and experience work against you. People don’t take you seriously because you haven’t “paid your dues.” But as you age, you earn credibility. People trust you more. They’re more likely to take a risk on your ideas because you’ve proven you can deliver results.

Reason: With age comes credibility. And credibility is key to getting big innovations approved.

5. You Understand Failure Better

Let’s be real: most innovations fail. When you’re young, failure stings. You take it personally, and it can shake your confidence. But as you age, you realise that failure is part of the game. You start seeing failure as data. Every time something flops, you learn and adapt. You build resilience. And that makes you more likely to succeed in the long run.

Reason: With age, failure becomes a tool for improvement, not a roadblock.

Here’s my recommendation to all young innovators:

Be patient. Focus on learning before doing. Build relationships, study the systems, and watch how things work. You’ve got the energy now, but the real power comes from combining that energy with the knowledge and credibility you’ll build over time. Your ideas will get better, sharper, and more likely to succeed as you gain experience.

Innovation is a marathon, not a sprint. If you’re feeling frustrated now, remember: time is your greatest asset. Stay hungry, keep learning, and your best innovations are yet to come.

Ps. When you want to boost your personal skills to lead innovation as facilitator and create a culture for innovation with a proven method, I would love to welcome you personally in Cascina Caremma near Milan, learning the proven FORTH innovation methodology, from 8-13 of June 2025. Send me a direct message via LinkedIn, or email me at gijs@forth-innovation.com to get a full brochure, and schedule a personal call to register for the course.

Innovative regards,

Gijs van Wulfen

LinkedIn Influencer, Speaker on Design Thinking Innovation, Founder FORTH Innovation method, author of six Innovation Books, Global Number One Thought Leader on Design Thinking 2024

Ps. Click on this link to boost your skills to lead innovation with the FORTH innovation method.

#innovation # #innovators #age