This isn't an inherent lack of creativity, it's the way commerce relates to respective cultures. Even some of those counterfeits show a good deal of creativity. Like I said, the greatest period of American innovation- not to diminish the achievements at all- but those achievements were emblems and results of a specific era and zeitgeist. Ambition wasn't invented in America, but American ambition- especially as it existed in the 19th and 20th centuries- could not have existed anywhere else.
Neither that as well. In many cases it's more of a not needing to think outside the box, what's the reason for it? Especially if something is working just fine.
There is a certain admiration and also frustration with such thinking. Admiration because many times when it comes certain objects or something like martial arts, over time it gets refined---perfected, it becomes elegant, evolved. Toyota's way of business for example, is an example of efficency (when implimented a certain way) and used by many in the coorporate world. Like wise, Sun Tzu's The Art of War is studied to this day by historians and taught around military academies around the world. Frustration, because sometimes the business practices and schooling can hinder a person from forming an individual solution or getting things in the pipeline quicker.
One thing, is that Japan used to be the king of electronics, in cars and products. In cars today, that goes to the Germans, in terms of products, it's a grab. Korea is right up there with them, although, i have read that it has been due to copying the Japanese way and methodology. I don't know how much of that is true or not.
If i am incorrect on anything, please correct me, and excuse my ignorance.
No, ambition was not born here, but it is encouraged here, probably far more than any other place on earth.