The surprising habits of original thinkers | Adam Grant | TED

Summary

The speaker recounts his initial rejection to invest in Warby Parker, reflecting on the traits of successful 'originals' who champion new ideas. He explores the surprising benefits of moderate procrastination for creativity, the myth of the first-mover advantage, and the importance of embracing doubt and fear to drive innovation. The talk encourages viewers to recognize and nurture their own originality, emphasizing that many great ideas come from persistent attempts and the courage to challenge the norm.

Takeaways

• 🤔 The speaker initially declined to invest in Warby Parker due to their hesitancy and lack of a functioning website before launch, illustrating the common mistake of underestimating potential in early-stage ventures.
• 🎓 The concept of 'originals' is introduced as nonconformists who not only generate new ideas but also take action to implement them, driving creativity and change.
• 🕒 The speaker admits to being a 'precrastinator', contrasting with the benefits of moderate procrastination found in studies, which can lead to increased creativity.
• 💡 Originals often start quickly but take time to refine their ideas, debunking the myth of the 'first-mover advantage' and highlighting the value of improvement over首创.
• 🚀 Success stories like Facebook and Google show that waiting to refine an idea can be more beneficial than rushing to be the first in the market.
• 🤷‍♂️ Originals may appear confident, but they experience the same fears and doubts as others; they simply manage these feelings differently, often through idea doubt which is channeled into improvement.
• 🧐 The importance of questioning the default and seeking better options is exemplified by the browser study, suggesting that those who do so perform better in their jobs.
• 💡 The idea of 'vuja de' is introduced as the opposite of déjà vu, where one sees something familiar with fresh eyes, leading to innovative thinking.
• 🛑 Embracing fear and doubt is key for originals, as they are more afraid of not trying than of failing, which is a driving force for taking risks.
• 🚫 Many people stay silent with their best ideas due to fear of judgment, but originals understand that bad ideas are necessary to generate good ones.
• 🎼 The volume of output is highlighted as a predictor of success, with classical composers and other creatives producing a large quantity to increase the chance of originality.

Q & A

What was the initial hesitation of the speaker in investing in Warby Parker?

The speaker was hesitant to invest in Warby Parker because the founders were slow in getting their website operational and had backup jobs lined up, which suggested a lack of full commitment to their startup.

What is the term the speaker uses to describe himself as someone who does things ahead of time?

The speaker refers to himself as a 'precrastinator', indicating someone who tends to complete tasks well before deadlines.

What did the speaker discover about the relationship between procrastination and creativity in his research?

The speaker found that moderate procrastinators tend to be more creative than those who either rush to complete tasks or put them off entirely, suggesting a 'sweet spot' for fostering original ideas.

Why did the speaker decide to learn to procrastinate while writing a chapter on procrastination?

The speaker wanted to experience the process of procrastination firsthand to better understand its potential benefits for creativity, which was the subject of the chapter he was writing.

What historical figures are mentioned as examples of procrastinators who achieved great success?

Leonardo da Vinci and Martin Luther King, Jr. are mentioned as examples of successful procrastinators. Da Vinci took 16 years to work on the Mona Lisa, and King was still rewriting his speech the night before the March on Washington.

What is the term used to describe the opposite of déjà vu, when something familiar is seen with fresh eyes?

The term used to describe the opposite of déjà vu is 'vuja de'.

What did the speaker learn about the first-mover advantage from his research?

The speaker learned that the first-mover advantage is mostly a myth, with improvers who introduce something different and better having a much higher success rate than first movers.

What are the two kinds of doubt the speaker identifies in his research?

The speaker identifies 'self-doubt' as paralyzing and 'idea doubt' as energizing, with the latter motivating individuals to test, experiment, and refine their ideas.

How does the speaker suggest we should deal with doubt in order to foster originality?

The speaker suggests that instead of succumbing to self-doubt, one should embrace 'idea doubt', viewing initial drafts or ideas as a work in progress and using doubt as a motivator for improvement.

What browser-related study does the speaker reference to illustrate the importance of doubting the default?

The speaker references a study that suggests Firefox and Chrome users outperform Internet Explorer and Safari users, attributing this to the initiative these users took to doubt the default browser and seek a better option.

What is the key message the speaker conveys about the relationship between fear, failure, and originality?

The key message is that originals are not immune to fear, but they are more afraid of failing to try than of failing itself. They understand that inaction often leads to greater regret than taking a chance.

What role do bad ideas play in the process of becoming more original, according to the speaker?

According to the speaker, having bad ideas is an essential part of the creative process, as generating a high volume of ideas increases the likelihood of producing something original.

How did the Warby Parker founders approach naming their company, and what can we learn from this?

The Warby Parker founders tested over 2,000 possibilities before settling on their company name, demonstrating the importance of generating a large volume of ideas to find something truly unique and effective.