Ask HN: What is first step of innovation?

I have worked with a very well know entrepreneur (named in 35 Innovators Under 35 list) he used to say "First step of innovation is to copy plus slight improvement" previously i wasn't ready to accept this but now with passage of time i am getting this point.

What do you think about it ? Thanks

The first step of innovation is recognizing a similarity in two wildly different things.

The second step is wondering what would happen if you used some well-known process (tool, whatever) from one on the other.