Balancing Innovation with Performance

Greg Galle

Welcome to Next Moves with AI, a special series of Make Next Happen, where we explore how AI can help leaders navigate the messy, uncertain world of innovation—with clarity and confidence.

Greg Galle

I’m Greg Galle, co-founder of Solve Next, and I’m here with co-host Daniel Buritica, Solve Next’s Chief Operating Officer. In this series, we transparently use AI to develop our content, building on the foundational stories and tools of Solve Next. Join us as we push the boundaries of what AI can achieve in the world of innovation leadership.

Daniel Buritica

Most organizations struggle to move ideas from —balancing . That’s where come in.

Daniel Buritica

In this series, we’re introducing you to —helping you make .

Greg Galle

Today’s episode tackles how to balance operational demands with future-focused innovation, and we’ll show you how the Next Cycle Navigator—AI Assistant can help you make it happen. Let’s dive in.

Daniel Buritica

Alright, so let’s talk about something we all face—this constant tug-of-war between what we need to deliver today and the big ideas that could shape tomorrow. It’s like, we’re sprinting and daydreaming at the same time. And you’ve got organizations saying, "Hey, we need to innovate," but also, "Oh no, don’t slip up on quarterly results." That’s a tough spot, right?

Greg Galle

Absolutely. That dynamic—what we call the "Capital Conundrum"—is at the heart of this challenge.

Greg Galle

Organizations often lock their resources into short-term performance systems, squeezing every drop of efficiency out of their operations. But here’s the issue: by doing so, they inadvertently starve the forms of capital needed for long-term transformative growth—things like human creativity, reputational trust, and intellectual potential. You're basically asking for magic without planting the seeds.

Daniel Buritica

Right! It’s kind of wild when you think about it. You can’t expect future breakthroughs when no one has the time—or the support—to experiment or fail. Like, imagine you’re trying to build a fire but refusing to let go of the logs you need to fuel it. It's not gonna work! That’s the conundrum right there.

Greg Galle

That’s where an Intelligent Innovation System comes in. You’ve got immediate operational needs on one side and exploratory innovation—the long horizon—on the other side. The key is establishing a capital-building system, driven by human ingenuity and coached by AI. A rigorous, disciplined innovation system that creates, protects, and liberates what we call "multidimensional capital"—not just financial capital; you’re building human, intellectual, political, reputational, social, and, yes, financial capital. These work together to sustain, scale, and deliver on the promise of innovation.

Daniel Buritica

Okay, I’m loving this idea of multidimensional capital. Like, think about Meduhyeen’s transformation. They invested in more than just infrastructure—they focused on people, trust, culture. And, boom, real innovation happened! But Greg, let’s break this down a bit. AI as a coach—how does that work in practice?

Greg Galle

Great example with Metayeen, Daniel. So, AI as a coach means using tools like the Next System to provide actionable insights and real-time guidance. It helps leaders not only map out their priorities but also ensure each initiative gets aligned with long-term strategic goals. It’s like having a strategic buddy who whispers, "Focus here" or "This direction makes the most impact."

Daniel Buritica

Oh, I I like that, a strategic buddy!

Greg Galle

Exactly. And here’s where Strategic Capital Alignment becomes critical. By allocating resources—not just funding, but talent and trust—strategically across both now and next, you anchor your efforts in sustainability. You’re effectively tackling today's demands while building the sturdy scaffolding for tomorrow’s breakthroughs.

Daniel Buritica

Yes, otherwise you’re, like, stuck in this hamster wheel of short-term fixes. So… building that scaffolding, that’s how you keep from sacrificing the future for what’s right in front of you. I mean, if you’re not building capital, what are you building?

Greg Galle

Exactly, and that's where many organizations stumble. They exhaust themselves optimizing for short-term efficiency and lose their competitive edge over time. The Next System helps leaders keep that larger perspective alive while giving them the tools to excel in the moment.

Daniel Buritica

Okay, so it’s clear—if you want to innovate sustainably, it’s not just about resources. It’s how you stack those resources to create momentum for the future. I’m really curious how AI fits into the practical pieces, like shaping the cycle itself…

Greg Galle

That’s where the Next Cycle Navigator really makes a difference. It’s like having a roadmap for momentum—it breaks everything down into five key stages: Formulate, Incubate, Accelerate, Operate, and Grow. Each stage builds on the previous one, introducing structure and discipline to the innovation process while taking advantage of the support AI offers at each step. It reduces uncertainty, maximizes learning from investments, and ensures your efforts stay aligned with long-term goals. It’s the intentional framework organizations need to break free from guesswork.

Daniel Buritica

Alright, let’s break that apart. I I love the idea of stages—it makes the whole process feel doable instead of overwhelming. But Greg, what’s the difference here? Like, what makes this different than, say, a typical project management approach?

Greg Galle

Good question. Traditional project management tends to assume certainty and focuses on linear execution—plan, execute, and hope it works. But, as you know, with innovation it’s way messier. The Next Cycle Navigator uses a discovery-driven approach that embraces uncertainty. It’s not just about managing projects; it’s about validating assumptions at every stage, systematically reducing risks while learning what really works.

Daniel Buritica

Okay, I’m with you. So it’s more like, every step is a test drive? You’re not committing full-scale until you know it’s really, uh, sustainable and solid.

Greg Galle

Exactly. Let me paint the picture through these phases. In the Formulate Stage, for example, you start by asking, "Is it Wanted? Is this something that addresses a real problem?" Take Metayeen again. When they introduced the Metro Cable system, they didn’t dive in blind—they validated that connecting underserved neighborhoods was a dire need before committing resources. It was about solving the right problem, not just any problem.

Daniel Buritica

Makes sense. And those are the kind of questions that stop you from just building shiny stuff no one needs.

Greg Galle

Exactly. Then you move into the Incubate Stage. This is where you test those solutions on a small scale—pilots, prototypes, small bets. In Metayeen’s case, they didn’t build an entire transportation network overnight. They started with just one cable line, validated feasibility, and determined it was Worth It by measuring the societal and economic impact. That’s the key—small moves that yield big insights.

Daniel Buritica

Yeah, small bets—it’s like you’re stacking wins, right? You’re kinda building this portfolio of what works, what doesn’t, and what’s promising. And, then, what? Is this where things start scaling?

Greg Galle

Exactly, that’s the Accelerate Stage. Here, you take what you’ve proved is Wanted, Doable, and Worth It, and you expand it. But even scaling has to be disciplined. You layer these validations one on top of another, ensuring alignment with your broader capital-building strategy. Rushing this phase can derail even the most promising innovation.

Daniel Buritica

Right, it’s like expanding before the foundation’s ready. Recipe for disaster.

Greg Galle

Precisely. Then comes the Operate Stage, which is all about consistent monitoring and adapting. Think of it as installing a dashboard for your innovation—tracking leading indicators that might signal it’s time to start innovating again. AI plays a huge role here, offering real-time insights that tell you whether your initiative is on course, needs adjustment—or something more radical.

Daniel Buritica

Wait. So AI doesn’t just help you start; it can be like a co-pilot, watching every move and nudging you when change might be in order?

Greg Galle

That’s right. It’s not about replacing human ingenuity but amplifying it. And finally, we get to the Grow Stage. This is scaling validated solutions to their full potential—turning early successes into bigger capital builders. And here’s where you leverage all that multidimensional capital we talked about earlier—human, intellectual, reputational—to maintain momentum and advantage.

Daniel Buritica

So the Navigator isn’t just a tool—it’s also a mindset, yeah? It’s saying, "Hey, innovation isn’t a gamble; it’s a disciplined, repeatable approach."

Greg Galle

Exactly, and when done right, it creates not just innovations but systems for ongoing innovation. A culture that doesn’t just tolerate uncertainty but thrives because of it.

Daniel Buritica

Greg, this disciplined approach to innovation you mentioned—it really makes me think about how history can offer lessons for avoiding failure. There’s that saying, "History is the best teacher, especially when it’s not your own failure at stake." Let’s look at Sears. It’s a classic example of what happens when bold vision meets terrible execution. What went wrong there?

Greg Galle

Yeah, Sears is, unfortunately, a cautionary tale. They tried to reinvent themselves by leaping into digital transformation with projects like the Shop Your Way loyalty program. But they skipped the critical steps of validation. They assumed the market wanted it, scaled without proper pilots, and had no real system to measure early indicators of success. It was ambition without discipline—a house of cards resting on untested assumptions.

Daniel Buritica

And it collapsed hard, right? I mean, we’re talking about alienating loyal customers while trying to woo new ones who were never really interested to begin with. Oof. So… no small bets, no continuous learning, no scaffolding to scale?

Greg Galle

Exactly. They neglected every step of the Next Cycle Framework—Formulate, Incubate, Accelerate, Operate, and Grow. By skipping early-stage validation, they ended up with full-scale systems that were buggy and misaligned with customer needs. What Sears needed was a disciplined, iterative approach. Instead, they burned resources and eroded trust.

Daniel Buritica

Alright, let’s flip it then—Meduhyeen. As a proud Colombian, I love this story of transformation; it’s the exact opposite of Sears. They started with that cable car project, Metro Cable, and it wasn’t just about moving people, it was about connecting communities. That was validation in action, right?

Greg Galle

Absolutely. Metayeen nailed the Formulate Stage by identifying the community’s real pain points—mobility, inequality, and access. They validated these with stakeholders, ensuring the solutions were Wanted, Doable, and Worth It. Then they didn’t go all-in; they piloted just one line of the Metro Cable system, proving its feasibility and impact before scaling.

Daniel Buritica

Small bet, big payoff. And more than just logistics, it showed people that the city cared. It was social capital welding economic and physical infrastructure together.

Greg Galle

Yes. And even during scaling in the Accelerate Stage, they stayed disciplined—integrating with other transport systems, involving cross-functional teams, and continually improving based on real-time data. It was innovation done systematically, using every stage of validation to ensure it worked long-term.

Daniel Buritica

It’s such a night-and-day contrast. Sears was chaos: no validation, rushed scaling, burning all resources. Meduhyeen? Careful, thoughtful, and human-centered. So, Greg, for leaders listening now, what’s the biggest takeaway?

Greg Galle

For me, it all comes back to discipline. Whether it’s a city or a corporation, you can’t skip the discovery-driven steps. Innovation isn’t about throwing money at big ideas or chasing shiny new tech. It's about solving real needs, validating with small bets, and scaling wisely. The Next System and tools like the Next Cycle Navigator give you the ability to do just that while intelligently managing risks.

Daniel Buritica

And you know what stands out to me? Both cases highlight how multidimensional capital—human, reputational, intellectual, political, and social—makes the difference. If you don’t invest in these alongside financial capital, you’re building on quicksand.

Greg Galle

Couldn’t agree more. Building this Serious Capital ensures your innovations don’t just survive but thrive for years to come. The Next System acts like that friend who keeps you grounded and laser-focused, even when the pressure is high.

Daniel Buritica

Alright, listeners, that’s your move—start small, stay disciplined, build that capital.

Daniel Buritica

That’s it for this episode of !If today’s conversation sparked ideas, —we’ve dropped the link in the show notes.

Greg Galle

And if you’re ready to , let’s talk. You can find us at or connect with us on .

Daniel Buritica

Don’t forget to so you don’t miss the next AI tool in the series.

Greg Galle

Until next time—