Ready to delve into the riveting world of women's suffrage movement, the power of alliances and the struggle for societal change? Ever wondered how Lucy Stone, Susan B. Anthony, and Elizabeth Cady Stanton left their marks on history? What about the importance of originality and risk-taking in the realm of business, as shown by the founders of Warby Parker? Or are you intrigued by the strategies used by individuals like Martin Luther King Jr. and Jackie Robinson to challenge the status quo and drive significant change? Begin your journey with us and explore how emotions, strategic procrastination and the power of dissent can propel society forward.

Originals: How Non-Conformists Move the World

In 2008, four students set out on a mission to disrupt the eyewear industry. Frustrated with the high costs of glasses, they aimed to make them more affordable, despite control of the market by giant Luxottica. 

Their idea was to sell glasses online, a concept met with criticism and doubt. Despite having no background in e-commerce, retail, or fashion, they pursued their idea, launching Warby Parker in 2010. The company, named after two characters created by novelist Jack Kerouac, exceeded expectations by hitting their first-year sales target in less than a month. By 2015, Warby Parker topped Fast Company’s list of the world’s most innovative companies.

This success story challenges the conventional belief that originality requires extreme risk-taking. The founders of Warby Parker didn't drop everything to focus on their start-up; instead, they balanced their risk by maintaining other jobs and commitments. This approach is not unique to them. Many successful entrepreneurs and creative minds have maintained full-time employment while pursuing major projects. This balanced risk approach provides a sense of security, allowing for the freedom to be original without jeopardizing financial stability.

Originality doesn't necessarily require breaking away from the status quo or taking extreme risks. Often, it involves questioning existing norms and finding ways to improve upon them. By understanding that most of these norms are socially constructed, we gain the courage to challenge and change them. This shift in perspective, from accepting the default to exploring better options, is a significant step towards becoming more original.

Originality also doesn't require a disregard for social approval. Successful originals often balance their portfolio of risks, taking extreme risks in one area while exercising caution in another. This balance allows them to pursue originality without jeopardizing their relationships, reputations, or careers. Ultimately, the people who choose to champion originality are those who propel us forward. Despite experiencing the same fear and doubt as everyone else, they take action anyway, knowing that failing to try would yield more regret than failure itself.

Does Originality in Business Always Require Extreme Risk-Taking?

At the dawn of the 21st century, Steve Jobs, Jeff Bezos, and John Doerr were captivated by a revolutionary piece of technology - the Segway. Despite their collective faith and substantial financial backing, the Segway failed to transform urban transport as expected. In contrast, Seinfeld, a show initially dismissed by network executives and test audiences, became TV's most popular series. So, why did these experienced professionals misjudge the future success of these ventures?

The key lies not in idea generation, but in idea selection. Successful selection involves gathering feedback, ensuring a diversity of perspectives, and having a deep understanding of the field in question. Erroneous predictions tend to occur when creators are too attached to their ideas, falling into the trap of overconfidence. On the other hand, managers and test audiences often resist novelty, sticking to established templates and underestimating the value of originality.

Steve Jobs, Jeff Bezos, and John Doerr misjudged the Segway's potential due to lack of experience in the transport field, overconfidence, and an unverified enthusiasm for the product. They were captivated by the novelty of the Segway and the passion of its inventor, Dean Kamen, but they failed to critically assess its practicality and market feasibility.

In contrast, Rick Ludwin, an NBC executive, recognized the potential of Seinfeld due to his broad and deep experience in comedy. His outsider perspective allowed him to appreciate the show's unique approach, while his experience in comedy gave him the necessary expertise to understand its humor. Ludwin was also able to detect the passion and meticulousness of the show's creators, an essential element of successful execution.

The Warby Parker eyewear company provides another example of successful idea selection. The founders took a democratic approach to idea generation and evaluation, inviting all employees to submit suggestions and comment on them. This open process encouraged a diversity of perspectives and ensured that ideas were evaluated by creators in the relevant field. 

Overall, the key to recognizing original ideas lies in fostering a diversity of perspectives, maintaining a balance of deep and broad experience, and being open to novelty. It also requires a critical assessment of both the novelty and practicality of ideas, and an evaluation of the passion and execution capabilities of the creators.

Segway vs Seinfeld: The Art of Selecting Successful Ideas - A Lesson from Industry Giants

In the early 1990s, CIA analyst Carmen Medina noticed a fundamental problem within the intelligence community: the sharing of information was slow and inefficient. Medina proposed a radical solution: to use the Internet to share intelligence in real-time. However, her idea was quickly dismissed due to perceived security risks. 

Despite facing opposition and career setbacks, Medina persisted in advocating for her idea. She recognised the need for a different communication system within the intelligence community and refused to back down. Eventually, her persistence paid off. By the late 2000s, Medina played a significant role in creating Intellipedia, an internal wiki for intelligence agencies to share knowledge. 

This story teaches us various lessons in effective communication, persistence, and the power of original ideas. Medina’s journey also highlights the importance of speaking up and promoting change, even in the face of opposition. It also sheds light on the challenges faced by women and minorities in male-dominated fields, and how speaking up can both incur backlash and earn respect.

Furthermore, the story of Donna Dubinsky, who challenged Steve Jobs and went on to pioneer the smartphone revolution, reinforces the importance of speaking up and the potential benefits of doing so. Her journey shows that sometimes, exiting a stifling organisation can be a better path to originality. 

In essence, we must voice our opinions, not be afraid of challenging the status quo, and be persistent in advocating for our ideas. Sometimes, the most unconventional suggestions can lead to the greatest innovations.

Can Speaking Up and Challenging the Status Quo Spark Revolutionary Innovation?

In August 1963, Martin Luther King Jr. sat in his hotel room, struggling to put pen to paper for a speech that would change history. The March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom was scheduled for the next day and he hadn't yet prepared his closing speech. King's last-minute scramble, or to put it another way, his strategic procrastination, resulted in one of the most famous speeches of all time.

Many people assume that acting early is the key to success. However, being a first mover can have its disadvantages. When you act quickly, you risk overlooking important details or failing to consider alternative approaches. On the other hand, by delaying action, you provide yourself with more time to engage in divergent thinking and potentially come up with a more novel idea.

This concept applies not only to individual tasks but also to business strategies. Contrary to popular belief, being the first to market doesn't necessarily guarantee success. In fact, pioneers often face more obstacles and have a higher failure rate than those who enter the market later. Settlers, or late entrants, can learn from the pioneers' mistakes and adjust their strategies accordingly. They are also more likely to have developed a superior quality product or service.

The timing of when we achieve peak creativity can also vary greatly. While some people may experience a burst of originality early in their careers, others may find their most inventive ideas come later in life. This is typically because younger people are more likely to approach problems with a fresh perspective, while older individuals often benefit from years of experience and knowledge.

The Art of Strategic Procrastination: Lessons from Martin Luther King Jr.'s Iconic Speech

In the struggle for women's suffrage in America, Lucy Stone, an advocate for women's rights, played a critical role. Despite fading into the background of history, Stone's actions and influence were instrumental in the movement. 

She was the first woman in America to retain her own name after marriage and became a full-time lecturer for women's rights, rallying countless supporters and converting numerous adversaries. Stone's speeches and activism inspired many, including Susan B. Anthony and Elizabeth Cady Stanton, who joined the suffrage movement due to her influence.

However, the suffrage movement faced internal divisions. Stone, Anthony, and Stanton initially collaborated but eventually split due to ideological differences, causing a rift that fragmented the movement and slowed progress. The division led to a duplication of efforts and reinforced stereotypes that women were unfit for political life.

In their efforts to mobilize support, the suffragists discovered the importance of alliances. They found unexpected allies in the Woman's Christian Temperance Union (WCTU), a conservative group advocating against alcohol abuse. Despite the ideological differences, the suffragists and WCTU formed alliances that led to significant progress in the suffrage movement.

The key to effective coalitions is striking a balance between radical and pragmatic approaches. Radical ideas are necessary to challenge the status quo, but they also need to be tempered to appeal to mainstream audiences. This balance was evident in the women's suffrage movement. Stone, a radical figure, inspired many to join the movement, but it was the more moderate approach of Frances Willard, a leader in the WCTU, that helped build alliances and broaden the movement's support base.

However, alliances can be fraught with complications. Stone's relationship with Anthony and Stanton was ambivalent, oscillating between friendship and rivalry. Ambivalent relationships can be more stressful than purely negative relationships, as they require more emotional energy and coping resources.

In the face of this challenge, Stone recognized the value of turning adversaries into allies. She engaged with her opponents, convincing them of the merits of the suffrage movement. These converted adversaries became the most effective advocates for the cause, as they understood the doubts and reservations of those still resistant to the movement.

How Did Lucy Stone's Radicalism and Frances Willard's Pragmatism Shape the Suffrage Movement?

In the world of baseball, stealing a base is one of the riskiest moves. But for Jackie Robinson, the youngest of five children and the first black player in Major League Baseball, stealing home plate was a defining moment that encapsulated his lifelong tendency to challenge the status quo and take risks. This inclination towards originality and rebellion can be traced back to his upbringing.

Historically, younger siblings have been found to be more likely to take risks than their older counterparts. This is attributed to two key factors: the way children handle sibling rivalry, and the differences in parenting styles for younger children. Younger siblings often seek to stand out and differentiate themselves from their older siblings, a phenomenon known as "niche picking". Parents also tend to be more relaxed with their younger children, giving them more freedom to explore, make mistakes, and learn from them.

Role models play a crucial role in shaping a child's originality. For Jackie Robinson, it was a mechanic who made him realize the impact of his actions on his mother and a young minister who encouraged him to stand out. In fact, research shows that mentors have a greater influence on a person's desire to drive meaningful change than parents.

However, parents play a pivotal role in nurturing originality by setting the right moral standards. They can foster a sense of right and wrong by explaining the consequences of actions and emphasizing character. For instance, a study led by psychologist Christopher Bryan found that children were more likely to clean up when they were asked to be helpers instead of to help. This approach encourages children to tie their actions to their identities, making certain behaviors much less attractive.

Overall, encouraging originality in children involves giving them freedom to be different, explaining the consequences of their actions on others, emphasizing good character, and introducing them to different kinds of role models. By doing so, we can raise any child to become more original, regardless of their birth order.

Stealing Home: The Impact of Birth Order and Role Models on Jackie Robinson's Trailblazing Originality

Technology icon Edwin Land, founder of Polaroid, was known for his creative vision and disdain for market research. He believed in giving people products they didn't know they wanted yet, just like Steve Jobs did years later. However, Land's failure to instill these attributes in Polaroid's culture led to its downfall. 

Polaroid was one of the companies that pioneered the digital camera, but went bankrupt because they failed to adapt to the digital age. This was due to a culture of groupthink, where consensus was favored over dissent. Groupthink is the enemy of originality, causing people to conform to the dominant views rather than championing diversity of thought.

On the other hand, Bridgewater Associates, a hedge fund managing over $170 billion in investments, has a strong culture of promoting dissenting opinions. Their founder, Ray Dalio, believes that to make wise decisions, groups need original ideas and dissenting views. He created a culture of radical transparency, where employees are evaluated on whether they speak up and challenge the status quo. They even have an open-access database where employees can flag any problem they identify. This culture has made Bridgewater one of the most successful hedge funds in history.

The success of a company largely depends on its culture. A culture that promotes originality and diversity of thought, while encouraging dissent and challenging the status quo, is more likely to innovate and adapt to changing markets. Conversely, a culture of groupthink that discourages dissent and values conformity can lead to a company's downfall. Therefore, leaders should strive to create a culture that fosters originality and welcomes dissent.

Does a Company's Success Rely on a Culture of Dissent and Originality?

In 2007, Lewis Pugh, a former lawyer and British Special Air Service member, braved the Arctic Sea in a Speedo, becoming the first person to survive a long-distance swim across the North Pole. His exceptional ability to heat his own body in preparation for the cold was dubbed "anticipatory thermogenesis". 

Pugh used his unique skill not just to break records, but to raise awareness about climate change. Such a daring feat required overcoming deep-seated fear and anxiety, a theme that resonates in all of our lives when we strive to challenge the status quo.

Emotions play a significant role in our decision-making processes, especially when it comes to taking risks or standing up for our beliefs. For instance, research shows that employees who were adept at managing their emotions were more likely to voice their ideas and challenge the status quo, and were rated more effective by their managers.

Two strategies are often used to cope with fear and anxiety: strategic optimism and defensive pessimism. Strategic optimists anticipate the best, while defensive pessimists expect the worst. Both can perform equally well, as defensive pessimists use their pessimism to prepare thoroughly for worst-case scenarios, turning fear into motivation.

In fact, fear can be a powerful motivator when it comes to stepping out of our comfort zones. To overcome fear, it's often more effective to reframe it as excitement rather than trying to suppress it. This is because fear is an intense emotion, and it's easier to convert it into another equally intense emotion that propels us to action.

When it comes to motivating others to act, showing them they're not alone can be incredibly powerful. Just having one ally can significantly decrease feelings of loneliness and fear. In the face of oppressive regimes, resistance movements have used small, risk-free actions to show people that they're part of a larger group, easing their fears and encouraging them to take bigger steps.

Humor can also be a powerful tool to combat fear. Activist groups like Otpor!, which played a significant role in overthrowing Serbian dictator Slobodan Milosevic, used humor to both attract allies and subvert enemies. Humor can diminish fear and anger, and even motivate action by turning negative emotions into positive ones.

Harnessing Emotions to Challenge the Status Quo: Lessons from Lewis Pugh's Arctic Swim

Originality does not necessarily require extreme risk-taking or a disregard for social approval, rather it involves questioning existing norms and discovering ways to enhance them. Originality is often achieved by those who balance risk, maintaining other roles or commitments alongside their innovative pursuits. This approach provides security, allowing for creative exploration without jeopardizing financial stability or personal relationships.

Additionally, the importance of idea selection in fostering originality cannot be overstated. This process involves gathering diverse perspectives and understanding the relevant field. Successful idea selection requires a critical assessment of the novelty and practicality of ideas and an evaluation of the passion and execution capabilities of the creators.

In challenging the status quo and taking risks, several strategies can be highly effective. One key approach is strategic procrastination, which allows more time for divergent thinking and often leads to more novel and successful outcomes. Building effective coalitions is also crucial, as it involves balancing radical and pragmatic approaches and turning adversaries into allies. 

Parents and role models play a significant role in shaping a child's originality, and fostering a culture that encourages dissent and values diverse thought is essential in preventing groupthink in organizations. 

Emotions play a powerful role in decision-making processes, especially in taking risks or standing up for beliefs. Strategies for managing fear and anxiety, such as strategic optimism, defensive pessimism, and reframing fear as excitement, can be particularly useful. Overcoming fear, managing anxiety and anger, and motivating others to act are fundamental to challenging the status quo and driving significant change.

In conclusion, understanding the nature of originality and the strategies to achieve it is crucial. It's essential to question norms, balance risks, and critically assess ideas. Building coalitions, valuing dissent, and managing emotions effectively are key practices. By adopting these approaches, we can challenge the status quo, foster originality, and drive societal progress.

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Originals: How Non-Conformists Move the World

Adam Grant

Ready to delve into the riveting world of women's suffrage movement, the power of alliances and the struggle for societal change?

Ever wondered how Lucy Stone, Susan B. Anthony, and Elizabeth Cady Stanton left their marks on history?

What about the importance of originality and risk-taking in the realm of business, as shown by the founders of Warby Parker?

Or are you intrigued by the strategies used by individuals like Martin Luther King Jr. and Jackie Robinson to challenge the status quo and drive significant change?

Begin your journey with us and explore how emotions, strategic procrastination and the power of dissent can propel society forward.

Key Ideas

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