Originals

Key Takeaways

1. Originality thrives on balanced risk-taking, not reckless leaps

"The greatest tragedy of mankind comes from the inability of people to have thoughtful disagreement to find out what's true."

Balanced risk-taking : Contrary to popular belief, successful originals are not reckless risk-takers. They often maintain a "balanced risk portfolio" by being cautious in some areas while taking calculated risks in others. This approach allows them to pursue innovative ideas without jeopardizing their entire careers or livelihoods.

Examples of balanced risk-taking:

• Steve Wozniak kept his job at Hewlett-Packard while developing Apple
• Phil Knight continued selling insurance while building Nike
• The founders of Warby Parker held onto their day jobs during the company's early stages

By maintaining financial stability, these innovators had the freedom to experiment and refine their ideas without the pressure of immediate success. This strategy also provides a safety net, allowing originals to persist in the face of initial setbacks or failures.

2. Procrastination can fuel creativity when used strategically

"Procrastination may be the enemy of productivity, but it can be a resource for creativity."

Strategic procrastination : While chronic procrastination can be detrimental, strategic procrastination can enhance creativity. By allowing ideas to incubate, originals often produce more innovative solutions. This approach involves:

• Engaging in divergent thinking by exploring multiple possibilities
• Allowing time for unconscious processing of ideas
• Remaining open to new information and perspectives

Examples of productive procrastination:

• Leonardo da Vinci worked on the Mona Lisa for over a decade, allowing for continuous refinement
• Martin Luther King Jr. revised his "I Have a Dream" speech until moments before delivery
• Frank Lloyd Wright completed the design for Fallingwater at the last minute, resulting in his most celebrated work

The key is to use procrastination as a tool for idea refinement rather than an excuse for avoidance. By strategically delaying completion, originals often produce more creative and impactful work.

3. First-mover advantage is often a myth; being a "smart settler" can be more advantageous

"Being original doesn't require being first. It just means being different and better."

Smart settling : Contrary to popular belief, being first to market doesn't guarantee success. In fact, "settlers" who enter markets later often outperform pioneers. This is because:

• Settlers can learn from pioneers' mistakes
• They can improve upon existing products or services
• Market conditions may be more favorable for later entrants

Examples of successful settlers:

• Google improved upon earlier search engines
• Facebook refined the social networking concept pioneered by MySpace
• Apple's iPhone revolutionized the smartphone market, which already existed

Advantages of being a settler:

• Reduced risk of premature scaling
• Ability to adapt to established market needs
• Opportunity to differentiate through superior quality or features

Smart settlers focus on creating value and solving problems better than their predecessors, rather than simply being first.

4. Effective originals balance strong convictions with openness to new ideas

"The hallmark of originality is rejecting the default and exploring whether a better option exists."

Conviction with flexibility : Successful originals maintain a delicate balance between having strong beliefs and remaining open to new information. This approach allows them to:

• Pursue their vision with determination
• Adapt their ideas based on feedback and changing circumstances
• Avoid becoming rigid or overly attached to initial concepts

Strategies for balancing conviction and openness:

• Seek out diverse perspectives and constructive criticism
• Regularly reassess assumptions and methods
• Be willing to pivot or refine ideas when necessary

Examples of flexible conviction:

• Jeff Bezos's willingness to experiment with new business models at Amazon
• Pixar's iterative approach to storytelling and animation
• Google's "20% time" policy, encouraging employees to explore new ideas

By maintaining this balance, originals can pursue their visions while remaining adaptable and responsive to new information and opportunities.

5. Building coalitions requires tempering radical ideas for wider acceptance

"To form alliances, originals can temper their radicalism by smuggling their real vision inside a Trojan horse."

Tempering for acceptance : To gain support for innovative ideas, originals often need to present them in a more palatable form. This involves:

• Framing ideas in terms of shared values or familiar concepts
• Gradually introducing more radical elements over time
• Finding common ground with potential allies

Strategies for tempering radical ideas:

• Use analogies to connect new concepts with familiar ones
• Start with small, less controversial changes
• Emphasize shared goals and benefits

Examples of effective tempering:

• Frances Willard framing women's suffrage as "home protection" to gain support from conservative groups
• Martin Luther King Jr. connecting civil rights to American ideals of freedom and equality
• Environmentalists linking conservation to economic benefits and job creation

By presenting their ideas in a more accessible form, originals can build broader coalitions and increase their chances of success.

6. Nurturing originality in children involves explaining values, not just enforcing rules

"Children are more ethical when they're asked to be moral people—they want to earn the identity."

Value-based parenting : To foster originality in children, parents should focus on explaining values and principles rather than simply enforcing rules. This approach:

• Helps children internalize moral reasoning
• Encourages independent thinking and decision-making
• Develops a stronger sense of personal identity and ethics

Strategies for nurturing originality:

• Explain the reasoning behind rules and expectations
• Encourage children to question and discuss moral issues
• Praise character traits rather than just specific actions

Examples of value-based parenting:

• Discussing why sharing is important, not just demanding that toys be shared
• Exploring the consequences of actions on others, rather than simply punishing bad behavior
• Encouraging children to develop their own solutions to problems

By focusing on values and reasoning, parents can help children develop the critical thinking skills and ethical framework necessary for original thought and action.

7. Dissent and debate are crucial for preventing groupthink and fostering innovation

"Minority viewpoints are important, not because they tend to prevail but because they stimulate divergent attention and thought."

Cultivating constructive dissent : Organizations that encourage and value diverse opinions are more likely to innovate and avoid costly mistakes. To foster a culture of healthy dissent:

• Create psychological safety for expressing unpopular views
• Actively seek out and consider minority opinions
• Reward thoughtful criticism and debate

Strategies for promoting constructive dissent:

• Assign devil's advocates in decision-making processes
• Encourage employees to voice concerns and alternative viewpoints
• Celebrate instances where dissent led to improved outcomes

Examples of effective dissent cultures:

• Bridgewater Associates' "radical transparency" approach
• Pixar's "Braintrust" meetings for critiquing films in development
• Google's "Googlegeist" survey for gathering employee feedback

By cultivating an environment where dissent is valued and protected, organizations can harness the power of diverse perspectives to drive innovation and avoid groupthink.

8. Managing emotions is key to turning anxiety and anger into productive action

"The secret to success is sincerity. Once you can fake that, you've got it made."

Emotional regulation : Effective originals learn to manage their emotions, particularly anxiety and anger, to channel them into productive action. This involves:

• Reframing negative emotions as motivating forces
• Using strategic optimism or defensive pessimism as appropriate
• Focusing on the impact of actions rather than personal feelings

Strategies for managing emotions:

• Practice reframing anxiety as excitement
• Use visualization techniques to prepare for challenges
• Channel anger into empathy and problem-solving

Examples of emotional regulation:

• Martin Luther King Jr. turning fear into motivation for nonviolent resistance
• Olympic athletes using pre-performance routines to manage anxiety
• Entrepreneurs using rejection as fuel for improvement and perseverance

By learning to regulate and channel their emotions, originals can maintain the motivation and resilience needed to pursue innovative ideas in the face of obstacles and setbacks.

Last updated: January 22, 2025

Report Issue