What My Camera Kit Taught Me About Innovation (and Why More Is Not the Answer)

When I first started traveling to places like Africa, Antarctica, and the Arctic, I packed for every possible scenario.

Every lens.
Every accessory.
Every backup to the backup.

I wanted to be ready for anything.

If there was a charging bear, shifting light on an iceberg, or a fleeting shot of wildlife at dusk—I was going to capture it.

At least, that was the plan.

Then something unexpected happened.

More wasn’t empowering.

It was paralyzing.

With too many choices, I hesitated.
I second-guessed.
I overthought the lens instead of focusing on the moment.

Sometimes I’d take 10,000 photos of something… and delete nearly all of them. Not because the subject wasn’t beautiful—but because I wasn’t clear on what I was trying to create.

I had confused preparation with focus.

And that’s when it hit me.

This isn’t just a photography problem.

It’s an innovation problem.

When Everything Is a Priority, Nothing Is

I’ve worked with organizations that have 20+ strategic priorities.

Twenty.

Every initiative is critical. Every goal is urgent. Every department has a “must win.”

And as a result?

Nothing gets the time, energy, or clarity required to truly move the needle.

Innovation doesn’t fail because people lack ideas.

It fails because they lack focus.

When teams are overloaded with initiatives, they don’t experiment boldly.
They don’t take meaningful risks.
They don’t commit deeply enough to create breakthrough results.

They spread their effort across too many lenses.

And the result is a collection of decent shots—rather than one unforgettable image.

We Do This Personally, Too

Endless to-do lists.
Competing priorities.
Constant context switching.

We’re busy all day.

But are we focused on what matters most?

Busyness feels productive. It feels responsible. It feels safe.

But scattered energy rarely produces exceptional outcomes.

The breakthrough in my photography didn’t come when I added more gear.

It came when I simplified my kit.

When I chose intentionally.

When I limited my options and trusted that constraints would sharpen my creativity.

And something fascinating happened.

With fewer lenses, I saw more clearly.
With fewer choices, I moved more decisively.
With fewer distractions, I captured better shots.

Not because I had more resources.

But because I had boundaries.

Innovation Thrives Inside Boundaries

There’s a myth that innovation requires expansion.

More ideas.
More initiatives.
More brainstorming.
More possibilities.

But real innovation often happens the opposite way.

It happens when you define the playground.

When you decide:

• What we will focus on.

• What we will ignore.

• What we will stop doing.

• Where we are willing to take risks.

• And where we are not.

Boundaries aren’t limitations.

They are creative accelerators.

In fact, the most innovative organizations I work with don’t try to do everything.

They decide what matters most—and then they go all in.

A Question for Leaders

If you had to shrink your “innovation kit” down to just three priorities this year…

What would make the cut?

And just as importantly—

What would you be willing to set down?

Because the power move isn’t adding another initiative.

It’s having the courage to focus.

When I travel now, my camera bag is lighter.

But my shots are stronger.

And the same is true for organizations.

Innovation isn’t about expanding the playground.

It’s about defining it.

If you're looking for a keynote speaker on innovation and leadership who challenges teams to rethink how they approach risk, focus, and growth, this is exactly the conversation I love having on stage.

Because sometimes the most powerful breakthrough isn’t doing more.

It’s choosing less—and committing fully.