Is failure really failure—or just an idea ahead of its time?

In this episode of Perception Paradox, I sit down with Dirk Ploss, a creative powerhouse in corporate innovation, technology, and startups. Dirk has seen it all—from early internet days in 1985 to transforming "dead ideas" into groundbreaking innovations.

We unpack:
x Why failure is just context—and how to turn setbacks into breakthroughs
x How storytelling & empathy make or break startup success
x The secret to corporate partnerships (hint: it’s NOT just about funding)

x Why networking is your superpower as an entrepreneur

 Listen now & discover how to revive ideas that the world wasn’t ready for—yet!

About Dirk Ploss: Dirk is an experienced creative, manager and futurist with a background in marketing, e-commerce and innovation management. He is a serial entrepreneur, multiple book author and a great storyteller.

Connect with Dirk: https://www.linkedin.com/in/derploss/

🎙️ Hosted by Zivile Einikyte:

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.perceptionparadox.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠LinkedIn⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠:

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/zivileeinikyte/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

🎵 Music by Luca Nioi: 

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠http://www.lucanioi.com/⁠⁠⁠

Chapters

00:00 Intro Animation

01:31 Introduction and Background

04:07 The Journey of Entrepreneurship

06:41 Mindset and Resilience in Innovation

09:21 Radical Innovation in Corporations

12:09 The Role of Startups in Driving Innovation

14:36 Connecting Founders with Corporates

18:18 Empathy as a Key Trait for Founders

19:54 Reviving Dead Ideas

23:36 The Importance of Context in Innovation

27:11 Storytelling in Entrepreneurship

29:55 Surprising Insights on Innovation Management

32:41 Final Thoughts