The origin stories of companies often involve mythologized accounts of how certain ideas came to fruition. This phenomenon extends to internal dynamics, where individuals may vie for credit over particular innovations.

The Flamin’ Hot movie tells the inspiring tale of Richard Montañez, a janitor at Frito-Lay, who pitched the idea of spicy chips to the PepsiCo CEO. However, upon closer scrutiny by journalists, discrepancies in the timeline emerge, challenging the narrative.

In reality, ideas often emerge from a collective consciousness, with multiple individuals independently exploring similar concepts. Walter Isaacson’s The Code Breaker exemplifies how scientific discoveries are frequently the result of collaborative efforts, even if only a few individuals receive formal recognition, such as the Nobel Prize.

The lesson here is that innovation is seldom the product of solitary genius but rather a collaborative process influenced by a shared cultural zeitgeist.