After posting “Don't rock the boat innovation,” I was asked by a few folks a very interesting question. It was: What does it take to be a good innovator in a corporation?

It’s fairly easy to be an innovator in a small company or as an entrepreneur. In fact, you need to rock the boat in small companies or startups, or you’ll struggle to differentiate and grow. But what about large companies? What does it take to be a successful innovator in a large corporation? It takes either a culture that welcomes and encourages innovation or a true-believer mentality.

 …