After the shock and awe, we’ve pretty well gone through all the stages of grief in regards to the collapse of Wall Street and the subsequent teetering of the world’s markets, (or at least ignored it all, opting to just attended the various discount/recession themed parties and clothing swaps). It now seems we’re settling into acceptance… but why not excitement instead? An interesting gopher of an idea has been popping up around the innovation and entrepreneurial scene– maybe this collapse was a good thing?

It’s not a crazy idea. If you know us well, you know we’re of innovation. If you know us REALLY well, you know that we have crushes on people like  Joseph Schumpeter and theories like creative destruction.

The notion has been found in writings by myriad thinkers, but according to Schumpeter, the term describes the process of transformation that accompanies radical innovation, where entry into the market by entrepreneurs that sustained long-term economic growth, lead to the destruction of the value of corporate culture ( which is contrary to true capitalism) and established companies that enjoyed monopoly power.

In a broader sense, it’s the age old ideas behind the Phoenix out of the ashes, the something beautiful can be rebuilt upon total destruction. When something is truly leveled ( and the entrenched malign ideas, people and methods with it ) it becomes all the easier (and some might say, only then) can truly new and innovative ideas take root as new alternatives and opportunities.

So take a deap breath and get pumped. We’re excited to see what’s next, because, perhaps Werner Sombart put it best, “again out of destruction a new spirit of creativity arises”.