All new ideas begin in a non-conforming mind that questions some tenet of the “conventional wisdom.” All improvements originate in a critical mind that mistrusts the “image” projected by some powerful organism. The innovator of ideas and social critic are essential to a free society; they are what makes the society free.” – Admiral H. G. Rickover
Amen! The Admiral was right on. Another example is the late F. Matthias Alexander who’s ideas went against pretty much everything out there at the time. Check out the website devoted to his methodology: http://alexandertechnique.com
I think the Admiral was overreaching a bit… It doesn’t take a non-conformist to come up with a new idea nor does it take a critical mind to think of an improvement. Humans are naturally inquisitive and curious and we all have had new ideas or have come up with ways for improvement. It’s personal, social, and organizational factors that hold “progress” back… not the human mind.