Innovation and transformation in higher education (and elsewhere) is not just about brilliant insights or unfettered creativity.  That part is easy. The key is perseverance in the face of overwhelming obstacles and resistance.  If failure is an option, it is inevitable. Excuses are the remnants of forsaken aspirations.  Progress is the result of determination, grit and tenacity. Excuses and progress start from the same place, but they end very differently. The most successful innovations eventually become the status quo and are the foundation for the next transformation. I’ll discuss a significant example of all of this as I describe the phenomenon of the University of Phoenix from its beginning in 1976 to its rise as a leading innovator in higher education.  You may be amazed at how little you really know about the university, or how much it affects how higher education conducts its business today.  So tune in.  What have you got to lose?

EdUp Insights with Bill Pepicello is part of the EdUp Experience Podcast Network.