The Rhythm of Innovation

Ideas don’t spread evenly.

Everett Rogers figured this out and called it the Diffusion of Innovations. It’s the pattern of how new ideas and technologies move through society.

Here’s how it works:

The Innovators go first. They’re the curious ones, always tinkering and testing. They don’t need proof—they’re driven by possibility.

Then come the Early Adopters. They’re your evangelists, the ones who “get it” right away. When they’re in, momentum starts to build.

But then there’s a gap. Geoffrey Moore called it the “chasm.”

Between the Early Adopters and the Early Majority, everything slows down. The masses don’t just need an idea—they need proof it works, and they need someone they trust to show them.

If you’re an Innovator, this is where most of your ideas go to die.

I’ve seen it happen. I’ve built things that Early Adopters loved but couldn’t bridge the gap to the mainstream. It wasn’t the idea—it was the execution.

Crossing the chasm takes intentional strategy.

You have to build a bridge. Early Adopters need to tell the Early Majority, “This is worth it.” It needs to feel safe, proven, even inevitable.

Rogers’ curve isn’t just a theory—it’s a tool. It tells you where to focus and when.

Don’t waste time convincing skeptics (Laggards). Don’t linger too long with Innovators.

Focus on the Early Adopters—they’re the key. Nail the transition, and you’ll turn innovation into momentum.

What’s fascinating to me is how predictable this is. Society naturally falls into these groups, every time.

The pattern repeats itself.

You just need to take the next step.