Do Bigger Things by Dan McClure & Jennifer Wilde Summary

Do Bigger Things is a practical guide to ecosystem innovation, offering strategies for reinventing systems in fast-changing markets. Co-authored by innovation expert Dan McClure, it combines decades of experience helping businesses and activists tackle challenges like obsolescence and climate change. The book emphasizes collaboration, adaptive frameworks, and actionable steps to drive impactful change in complex environments.

This book is ideal for entrepreneurs, corporate leaders, and change-makers navigating disruptive industries or systemic challenges. It’s particularly relevant for professionals in sustainability, tech, or organizational development seeking tools to innovate at scale. McClure’s insights also appeal to activists addressing societal issues like climate resilience.

Yes—the book balances theoretical concepts with real-world applications, making it valuable for both strategists and practitioners. Its focus on actionable frameworks, such as identifying “burning buildings” (urgent opportunities) and building adaptive teams, provides a fresh perspective on innovation beyond traditional startup methodologies.

Key ideas include:

• Ecosystem innovation: Reinventing interconnected systems rather than isolated products.
• Choreographing change: Leading teams through uncertainty with adaptable plans.
• Practical optimism: Leveraging crises as catalysts for transformative solutions.
  McClure illustrates these with case studies from energy deregulation and climate activism.

Unlike innovation guides focused on incremental improvements, McClure advocates for systemic reinvention. The book teaches readers to identify high-stakes opportunities (“burning buildings”) and collaborate across networks to create scalable impact, blending strategic vision with hands-on execution.

The book introduces tools like:

• Opportunity mapping: Prioritizing problems with the highest transformative potential.
• Innovation choreography: Coordinating multidisciplinary teams in volatile markets.
• Resilience loops: Designing solutions that adapt to evolving challenges.

It offers strategies for overcoming bureaucratic inertia by fostering cross-functional collaboration and aligning innovation with long-term market shifts. Examples include redesigning business models during industry disruptions, akin to McClure’s work in energy sector deregulation.

Case studies span McClure’s 40-year career, such as:

• Developing computer programs to streamline utility operations during regulatory chaos.
• Supporting climate activists in designing scalable resilience strategies.
  These examples highlight translating theory into measurable outcomes.

While similar books focus on solo entrepreneurship or niche markets, Do Bigger Things emphasizes collaborative, systemic change. It’s less about avoiding competition and more about reshaping entire ecosystems, making it suited for complex challenges like sustainability or industry-wide disruption.

As industries face AI-driven disruption, climate emergencies, and global supply chain shifts, McClure’s frameworks provide a roadmap for thriving in uncertainty. The book’s emphasis on adaptive innovation aligns with today’s need for agile, mission-driven solutions.

1. Embrace chaos: Turbulence creates opportunities for reinvention.
2. Collaborate widely: Break silos to solve systemic problems.
3. Design for adaptability: Build solutions that evolve with emerging challenges.
   These principles equip readers to lead transformational change.

Some readers may find its focus on large-scale innovation less applicable to small businesses. However, its practical examples and emphasis on incremental progress within complex systems address this concern, offering scalability for organizations of all sizes.