A story is used to explicate lessons from two cases of product innovation in Australia. Insights are derived from cross-case analysis informed by qualitative semi-structured interviews. The analysis reveals that knowledge of the innovation arena fuels alertness to innovation opportunity and an ability to overcome extant obstacles. Passionate interest in the innovation arena fuels a learning habit, and the resulting knowledge vitally enables innovation. The story format is used to also provoke reflections about innovation as a story about discovery. Furthermore, the narrative style also deals with the tale of the researcher who undertakes the research process, revealing the undertaking as a tale of discovery too.