What Calvin & Hobbes Can Remind You About Creativity and Innovation (Yes, Really!)

Remember when we’d buy newspapers and, along with the headlines, get collections of books or comic strips tucked inside?

Think of this Sunday reminder of something like that — your little bonus for the week. Every Sunday, I’ll be sharing a more informal piece filled with pop culture, cartoons, and innovation inspiration. A fun, light way to kick off the week!

CALVIN AND HOBBES © Watterson.

Ever wondered what a mischievous 6-year-old and his imaginary tiger friend could teach you about innovation? How can Calvin’s wild ideas and Hobbes’ thoughtful skepticism possibly relate to the tech-driven world we live in?

Stick with me, because Calvin & Hobbes is actually a masterclass in how to think outside the box — and why embracing a bit of chaos can fuel your next big idea.

If you’ve ever read Calvin & Hobbes, you know it’s not just a comic about a kid’s adventures. It’s about limitless imagination. Calvin doesn’t care about the rules — he invents his own world, his own reality, whether it’s fighting off space aliens as Spaceman Spiff or building the ultimate snow fort. Sure, his plans often spiral into hilarious chaos, but that’s kind of the point. Creativity without boundaries is where real innovation starts.

In a way, Calvin’s approach to life is exactly what intrapreneurs need. How many times have you been stuck in your daily routine, limited by processes that don’t make sense anymore? You’re doing things just because “that’s how they’ve always been done.” But Calvin? He’d turn those routines upside down and ask, “Why?” He’d suggest something outrageous just to see where it leads.

Innovation isn’t always about having the perfect plan — it’s about trying, failing, and rethinking. Calvin’s failures are legendary, but they’re never failures in his mind. They’re experiments, just like in innovation. Today’s cardboard box might be a transmogrifier or a time machine, and even if it doesn’t work as planned, it’s a stepping stone toward something even better. Calvin’s boundless imagination turns a simple box into anything he needs — because he’s not limited by what the box is supposed to be. That’s the spirit of innovation: seeing beyond what’s in front of you, daring to use it in a new way.

And let’s not forget Hobbes. While Calvin’s running wild with his outlandish schemes, Hobbes is the practical side — sometimes rolling his eyes, but always keeping Calvin grounded when needed. The balance between vision (Calvin) and practicality (Hobbes) is what makes innovation work. You need the wild ideas, but you also need the practicality to turn them into something real, something useful.

CALVIN AND HOBBES © Watterson.

In innovation, you’re going to need both mindsets. Be bold like Calvin, imagining the impossible. But let your inner Hobbes step in when it’s time to figure out how to bring that idea into the real world. Calvin doesn’t always get it right, and guess what? Neither will you. But without those big ideas — and a bit of chaos — nothing will change.

So next time you feel stuck, channel your inner Calvin & Hobbes. Ask yourself:

• What outrageous idea haven’t I explored yet?

• What boundaries am I sticking to that don’t need to be there?

Because just like Calvin, your next wild idea might be the start of something great — even if it begins with a snowball to the face.

Let’s wrap it up for today:

Remember, innovation isn’t all spreadsheets and roadmaps. Sometimes, it’s about letting your imagination run wild — Calvin-style. Embrace your inner Spaceman Spiff and stop letting process paralysis hold you back. Start building snow forts that could collapse, and who knows? You might just end up with the next big thing.

Happy Sunday, folks. Stay curious. 🐯

What Calvin & Hobbes Can Remind You About Creativity and Innovation (Yes, Really!) (substack.com) I write about pop-culture reference (Stay Tuned for more, such as spies, Star Wars, Chuck Norris, etc.) and what all of them can teach you about innovation, being creative, being a good PM or just being an intrapeneur in your current company (basically an entrepeneur, but you have a boss that's not you).