Crossing Geckos and Mussels

"I like to move in the fringes of established fields, where totally different fields interact. That's where opportunities are."

--Phil Messersmith, professor of biomedical engineering at Northwestern University.

Messersmith, who has an undergraduate degree in life sciences, a master's degree in bioengineering, and a PhD in materials science is the inventor of "geckel," an adhesive material that was inspired by two of nature's best models for adhesion--geckos and mussels.

Geckos are masters of dry adhesion and mussels know how to make it stick in the water. Geckel has the "advantages of an adhesive material that is easy to remove and reapply and that stays put, even underwater." Read more here.  

What I love about this story is not only that Messersmith is a classic boundary crosser, but that he understands that innovation comes from moving into action--and noticing what happens:

"If all we do in my lab is accomplish what we say in a proposal, I consider it a failure. You find new things, you recognize opportunities--perhaps even in a failed experiment--and generate a new idea from that...Geckel wasn't even on the radar when I wrote the proposal [to the NIH for mimicking mussel adhesive proteins.]"

I sometimes have to remind myself to stop planning and just get into action. If you are a boundary crosser and are waiting to find the "perfect" job, one that fits all of who you are, stop waiting. Trust that with action will come insight that you couldn't get from thinking it through.