You're Not Crazy, You're Early

ReBorn Designs / Read Time: 8.8 min

"This AI stuff isn't how we do things here."

The product director's words hung in the air as my presentation ended. The room temperature seemed to drop ten degrees.

It was 2023, and I had just shown my team how I used Midjourney to generate concept sketches. Their faces said it all – confusion, skepticism, resistance.

If you've ever felt the sting of being dismissed when you're actually ahead of the curve, you know that moment. That crushing feeling that maybe you're crazy for seeing what others can't.

But sometimes, being "crazy" is just being early.

If you're tired of fighting the same uphill battles with stakeholders who say "that's interesting, but..." before dismissing your most innovative ideas, you're not alone.

In today's newsletter, I'll show you:

• Why design committees consistently produce mediocre footwear

• The exact framework I use to protect design integrity without burning bridges

• How calculated risk-taking actually REDUCES commercial risk (with real examples)

• The counterintuitive approach that gets even conservative executives to champion bold designs

At ReBorn Designs, we don't just create footwear concepts – we protect them through the entire development process. If you're tired of watching your best ideas die by committee, book a free 30-minute Discovery Call and let's transform your approach.

From Industry Skeptic to Industry Leader in 24 Months

Fast forward to March 2025 at Stride USA, where I led an AI workshop that ended up being the highest-attended session of the entire conference.

I was ready to give the presentation, but something was wrong.

I forgot my laptop. Didn’t have access to my PowerPoint and spent 10 minutes debugging technical issues.

Not a great start but I gave the presentation on the fly.

In just 10 minutes, I generated and refined 10 distinct footwear concepts using Midjourney and NewArc – something that would have taken weeks through traditional methods.

The room fell silent.

Then I showed them what this meant for production: an entire line architecture developed in one week instead of three months.

When I looked up, I saw:

• A VP from Nike with wide eyes, nodding slowly

• A design director from Adidas frantically taking notes

• Two students in the back with jaws literally dropped

After my session, a senior designer from a major athletic brand pulled me aside.

"I've been fighting for a budget to explore AI tools for months," he whispered. "My boss is here today. This just changed everything for us."

That's when it hit me: I wasn't crazy. I was just early.

The resistance I'd faced wasn't about the quality of the work. It was about fear of the unknown, organizational inertia, and the discomfort of change.

5 Steps to turn Resistance into Results & Guarantee Adoption

Through this journey, I've developed a process for introducing disruptive innovation in traditional environments. Here's how it works:

1. Master Your Tools Before Revealing Them

Before going public with any innovation, master it privately. Learn the tools, develop workflows, and refine your approach without the pressure of organizational resistance.

Real example: While at Sperry, I spent evenings exploring Midjourney when no one else was looking. By the time I first mentioned it, I already had dozens of successful designs in my private portfolio.

Pro tip: Don't announce you're exploring new tools until you've created something undeniably valuable with them.

2. Turn Abstract Tools into Concrete Solutions

Instead of promoting the technology, focus on the specific business problems it solves.

Real example: When presenting AI-generated concepts to stakeholders, I never led with "look at this cool AI thing." Instead, I showed how it solved our actual challenge: "Remember that fast-turn resort collection with the impossible timeline? Here's how we can meet it."

Pro tip: Frame innovation in terms of existing metrics: time saved, iterations increased, options expanded.

3. Enhance Trusted Methods Instead of Replacing Them

Don't position new approaches as replacements for trusted methods, but as enhancements.

Real example: In my presentations, I always show traditional sketches alongside AI-generated concepts, highlighting how they work together rather than competing.

Pro tip: Use the phrase "This AND that" instead of "This OR that" when introducing innovation.

4. Convert Your Critics Behind Closed Doors

Identify potential allies and convert them privately before public advocacy.

Real example: Before my first official presentation using AI tools, I privately showed my process to three influential team members, addressing their specific concerns and securing their support.

Pro tip: Ask questions like "What would make this valuable for your department?" to customize your approach for different stakeholders.

5. Use Crises as Opportunities for Innovation

Choose moments of organizational pressure when innovation becomes a necessity.

Real example: I introduced AI-assisted design during a critical deadline crunch when traditional methods couldn't deliver in time. Suddenly, "that's not how we do things" turned into "show me more."

Pro tip: Crisis creates openings for innovation – be ready with solutions when traditional approaches falter.

How I Turned Corporate Resistance into Revenue-Generating Innovation

The transformation I experienced from organizational outlier to recognized innovator didn't happen overnight. It followed this exact framework.

At Sperry, I faced significant resistance when I first suggested using AI for concept development. Comments ranged from "that's not real design" to legitimate concerns about IP security.

Rather than forcing the issue, I went underground. I continued using traditional methods publicly while developing my AI skills privately. I documented everything – the time saved, the iteration increases, the quality improvements.

When a critical deadline approached for the Resort Collection – 45+ SKUs needed in record time – I was prepared. Instead of arguing about AI theoretically, I brought solutions: "Here are three paths forward. The traditional approach will take 12 weeks. The AI-assisted approach can deliver in 4."

The results were undeniable:

• 300% increase in design iterations

• 70% reduction in concept development time

• 40% higher stakeholder approval ratings on first presentations

Now, after my Stride USA workshop, the same companies that once resisted are reaching out for guidance. The VP who told me "this isn't how we do things" recently emailed asking for a private consultation.

3 Steps to Transform Your "Crazy" Ideas into Industry Standards

Here's how to apply this approach to your own forward-thinking ideas:

1. Document your baseline metrics - Before introducing any innovation, measure your current process. How long does concept development take? How many iterations can you produce? What's your current approval rate?

2. Start a private "future lab" - Dedicate 5 hours this week to exploring tools or approaches your organization hasn't embraced yet. Don't announce it, just learn.

3. Identify your potential first ally - Who in your organization is both influential and open to new approaches? Prepare a custom presentation that addresses their specific challenges.

What seemingly crazy idea have you been sitting on that might just be ahead of its time?

Remember:

The gap between "crazy" and "visionary" is often just a matter of timing and presentation.

Cheers!
Erin

Powered by ReBorn Designs

PS: If you’re ready for more, here are other ways I can help:

• If you have any questions, reply to this email.

• Need more guidance? Hop on a Discovery Call & let’s talk more.

• Follow me on LinkedIn for bite-sized tips throughout the week (free)