Pursuit of Excellence makes Innovation happen

That innovation can drive business growth is pretty well-known. People also have ideas about what drives innovation. A need ... an innovation culture ... an innovation process ... creative people ...

The important question is: What really makes these creative people to innovate (assuming culture, process, etc exist)?

To me, the simple answer is: Excellence.

Innovators are pursuers of Excellence.

This connection between Excellence and Innovation is not often shown or preached (of course, Tom Peters has always done that).

The link also shows that where there is no pursuit of Excellence, innovation can hardly happen.