“No, that cannot be done.” I hear this sentence quite often. Sometimes I reply: “Let’s take another careful look at it.” (It sounds better than: “Yes, we are doing it anyway.” 😉)
One example was the idea of connecting robots to a carousel (#HCM). The official response at the time was: “We don’t do that.” But the customer’s requirements were clear. Together with my team, I kept asking questions, broke the challenges down into smaller problems and worked with Marti Systeme AG to find solutions. In the end, an internal “no” became an innovative project.
To me, pragmatism does not mean blindly breaking rules. It means questioning them critically when they prevent real progress. Innovation often emerges precisely where persistence and a touch of humour help us find a new path.
When did you last break a rule—for a positive reason, of course? 😉