To Cut the Diamond

Only those who dare to fail greatly can ever achieve greatly.

— Robert F. Kennedy.

A man inherits a diamond, so massive it feels more like a burden than a gift. He dreams of its potential, polished and sparkling, but the task of cutting it seems impossible. Determined, he seeks out the finest jewelers in Italy and Switzerland.

One by one, they turn him away. “It’s too risky,” they say. “The slightest mistake could ruin everything.”

Defeated, the man returns to his small hometown, the diamond still uncut, and his hopes dimmed. Passing through the streets, he notices a small, weathered sign: Rabinovitch’s Jeweler’s Workshop. With nothing left to lose, he steps inside.

Rabinovitch, an old jeweler with a twinkle in his eye, listens quietly. Then, to the man’s shock, he hands the diamond to his grandson, Shlomi—a 12-year-old boy.

“Go on, Shlomi,” Rabinovitch says. “Cut the diamond.”

The man is horrified. “Do you even know what this is worth?” he exclaims.

Rabinovitch smiles. “Of course, I know. You know. The jewelers in Italy and Switzerland know. But Shlomi? He doesn’t care. His hand won’t tremble.”

This joke, while humorous, holds a profound lesson about innovation management. Sometimes, those unburdened by the weight of tradition or fear of failure can achieve the impossible.

Fearless Innovation

Innovation often stumbles at the crossroads of fear and tradition. Established companies, like the jewelers in Italy and Switzerland, represent expertise shackled by the fear of loss. In contrast, disruptors like Shlomi —the young boy oblivious to the stakes—embody boldness that drives breakthrough innovation.

Consider SpaceX, which disrupted the aerospace industry. Before SpaceX, launching rockets was the domain of governments and large organizations with billions of dollars at stake. But Elon Musk, despite his relative inexperience in aerospace at the time, pursued reusable rockets, a concept dismissed by industry titans. SpaceX’s engineers, many young and unburdened by NASA’s traditional constraints, succeeded where others feared to tread. Their fearlessness made them the “Shlomi” of space exploration.

Another example is Dyson. The company revolutionized the vacuum cleaner market—a space that had seen little innovation for decades. James Dyson, the company’s founder, spent years building over 5,000 prototypes to develop the first bagless vacuum cleaner using cyclonic separation. Experts and established manufacturers dismissed the idea, believing it was too costly and unnecessary. Undeterred, Dyson launched the product himself, ultimately transforming the market and setting new standards for performance and design.

Fearless innovation often requires leaders who can recognize and nurture the ‘Shlomi’s’ within their teams, empowering them to take bold risks.

Becoming Shlomi

Managers often fall into the trap of overanalyzing risks, like the jewelers who passed on the diamond. But true leadership lies in knowing when to take a leap of faith and empower those with fresh perspectives.

Take Pixar as an example. When Ed Catmull and John Lasseter bet on a young director, Pete Docter, to helm Inside Out, many questioned their decision. The movie concept—personifying human emotions—was risky and untested. Yet, Catmull believed in Docter’s vision and his lack of “fear-trembling hands.” The result? One of the most innovative and beloved films in Pixar’s history.

Another example is Zoom during the pandemic. While larger players like Microsoft Teams and Google Meet scrambled to adapt, Zoom confidently focused on simplicity and accessibility, driven by a team unencumbered by the scale of their competitors. They succeeded because they acted decisively, becoming the go-to solution for millions.

Lessons for Managers

1. Empower the Shlomi’s in Your Team: Sometimes, inexperience is an asset. Young or unseasoned team members may tackle challenges without the weight of doubt.

2. Balance Tradition with Boldness: While expertise is invaluable, don’t let it stifle creativity. Encourage calculated risks.

3. Don’t Fear Failure: True innovation involves risks, but with risk comes growth. Celebrate small failures as part of the journey. Many breakthroughs, like Dyson’s, come after countless setbacks.

4. Cultivate a Culture of Experimentation: Like Shlomi, those unafraid to experiment often bring fresh solutions. Allow for mistakes and foster learning.

   
   

To Sum Up…

The story of Rabinovitch and Shlomi isn’t just a joke; it’s a metaphor for what management and innovation can achieve when tradition, expertise, and boldness coexist.

In the contemporary tough business world, fear of failure often leads to missed opportunities. Whether you’re launching rockets, designing emotional characters, or building a vacuum cleaner, the key lies in balancing caution with courage. Innovation thrives when seasoned professionals and fearless novices collaborate.

The next time you face a daunting challenge, ask yourself: Are you paralyzed by fear like the Swiss jewelers, or ready to take a bold leap like Shlomo? Because sometimes, it’s the unshaken hands of those who don’t yet know the stakes that cut the brightest diamonds.