Skunkworks

Many business start-ups begin with a brilliant idea and verve. Once the company is established and its first product has matured, it needs to grow but by then caution has replaced the energy that characterized the start-up as internal politics, risk avoidance and fear of failure take over for verve and brilliance.

Here's a great article from the Harvard Business Review on the subject of keeping things going when the inertia of success threatens to wind down.

One great thought: start an R&D department so people can play.