The Missing Piece Problem

The Missing Piece Problem

From Learn to Lead by Abilitie

May 20, 2026 · 7 min · Episode 149

About this episode

This episode explores how the success of ideas depends on the right timing, technology, and behavior, illustrated through various case studies.

Some ideas don’t fail because they’re bad, they fail because something is missing. In this episode, we explore how QR codes, online grocery delivery, and ride sharing all struggled before finally taking off, and why something as simple as a tin can took nearly 50 years to become usable. Each story reveals a powerful leadership insight: great ideas don’t exist in isolation, they depend on timing, technology, and behavior coming together at the right moment. — Learn To Lead is brought to you by Abilitie, a leading provider of experiential learning. Abilitie’s simulations andleadership programs have inspired over 100,000 professionals in more than 50 countries. To learn more about Abilitie and about our host Matthew Confer, visit the links below: Abilitie Leadership Development - https://www.abilitie.com Host Matthew Confer: Book: https://www.theupsideofdownsidethinking.com/ LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/matthewconfer/ Matthew’s TEDx Talk on Decision Making - https://www.ted.com/talks/matthew_confer_before_you_decide_3_steps_to_better_decision_making Make sure you subscribe to our show to ensure you get our next episode when it is released.

People in this episode

Host: Matthew Confer

Topics covered

  • leadership
  • innovation
  • timing
  • technology
  • business success
  • failure analysis

Keywords

  • leadership
  • innovation
  • QR codes
  • grocery delivery
  • ride sharing
  • business failure
  • timing

Sponsors

Abilitie

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: TED

Books & works: The Upside of Downside Thinking

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