Originals - Adam grant: 8 quick steps to become the “only one” in your niche

Scan time: 3-4 min / Read time: 5-7 min

Chapters in book: 8 / Chapters in here: 8  (same order as book)

Hey rebel solopreneurs 🦸‍♂️🦸‍♀️

Most people think you gotta be fearless to create something new.

Wrong!

This belief keeps solopreneurs paralyzed, waiting for that magical moment when fear disappears.

The truth?

The most successful originals are actually scared... but they act anyway.

You're about to discover Adam Grant's counterintuitive secrets from "Originals" that'll shatter everything you think you know about coming up with crazy ideas and risk-taking(maybe risk taking is not at all needed?).

Time to unlock the vault.

💰 Multi-millionaire entrepreneurs who love this book

⛳️ The author's journey: from conformist professor to original thinker

Adam Grant was the ultimate academic conformist.

He followed every rule, checked every box, and believed success came from playing it safe.

Then he started studying entrepreneurs who broke all the rules he taught.

These "rule-breakers" were building billion-dollar companies while his "safe" students stayed stuck in cubicles.

The shocking moment?

When Grant realized he was teaching people to fail by teaching them to conform.

He dove deep into studying these "originals" - people who champion new ideas and make them reality.

His research revealed that originals aren't fearless risk-takers.

They're strategic risk-mitigators who just happen to be really good at it.

Grant transformed his entire approach, becoming Wharton's youngest tenured professor by studying and teaching originality instead of conformity.

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

"Originals are not the daredevils who leap before they look. They are the ones who reluctantly tiptoe to the edge of a cliff, calculate the rate of descent, triple-check their parachutes, and set up a safety net at the bottom just in case," adds Grant.

Let's explore Grant's game-changing strategies that'll rewire your thinking so you can stop playing it safe and start building something remarkable.

Time to strike gold...

1. Question everything you think you know (🎯 Creative destruction)

🧸 Example

• Warby Parker founders were "procrastinators" who waited 6 months before launching their online glasses company.

• Everyone told them they were too slow and would miss the market opportunity.

• Their "procrastination" actually helped them build a better product and avoid early mistakes that kill most startups, leading to a $3 billion company.

🔥 The power insight

• Creative destruction means breaking established systems and conventional wisdom to create something new and better

• When you reject the default option and explore alternatives, you discover opportunities that everyone else misses

• It's like being a detective who questions the obvious suspect while everyone else has already made up their minds

• Foundation solid... but how do you spot the good ideas hiding in plain sight without going broke?

2. Generate lots of ideas to find the gems (🔬 Idea recognition blindness)

🧸 Example

• Sara Blakely pitched Spanx (footless pantyhose) to every hosiery manufacturer and got rejected by all of them.

• They couldn't see the potential because it was too different from traditional pantyhose (shocking, right?).

• When she finally pitched to Neiman Marcus, the buyer immediately said "This is brilliant!" and placed an order, launching a billion-dollar company.

🔥 The power insight

• Idea recognition blindness means the inability to spot truly original ideas because they look too risky or different

• You need fresh eyes and diverse perspectives to evaluate ideas properly because we solopreneurs get trapped in our own assumptions

• It's like trying to read your own handwriting after a few drinks - sometimes you need someone else to tell you what it says

• Ideas spotted... but how do you speak up without getting completely crushed?

3. Build your courage account before making withdrawals (💪 Speaking truth to power)

🧸 Example

• Frances Hesselbein challenged Girl Scouts' outdated military-style hierarchy and cookie-selling obsession.

• She had earned massive credibility by delivering results before she started challenging the old ways.

• She transformed the organization by emphasizing leadership development, growing membership from 2.25 million to 3.5 million.

🔥 The power insight

• Speaking truth to power means having the courage to challenge authority when you see a better way

• You need "idiosyncrasy credits" - earned status that gives you permission to rock the boat without getting thrown overboard

• It's like having money in the bank before you start writing big checks - credibility first, rebellion second

• Voice found... but when's the perfect moment to act?

4. Procrastinate your way to genius (⏰ Strategic procrastination)

🧸 Example

• Leonardo da Vinci procrastinated on the Mona Lisa for 16 years, constantly refining and improving it.

• Everyone thought he was just being lazy and unfocused (classic artist stereotype).

• His "procrastination" allowed for creative breakthroughs and resulted in one of history's greatest masterpieces that immediate action would have prevented.

🔥 The power insight

• Strategic procrastination means deliberately delaying action to allow ideas to incubate and improve

• When you let problems marinate in your mind, you attack them from different angles and discover better solutions

• It's like slow-cooking a stew versus microwaving a frozen dinner - the extra time creates something magical

• Timing mastered... but how do you get others on board without expensive lessons?

5. Build the perfect coalition (🤝 Coalition building)

🧸 Example

• Donna Dubinsky wanted to change Apple's entire distribution strategy but knew direct confrontation would fail.

• She built alliances across different departments first, presenting the new strategy as building on existing strengths.

• By packaging her radical idea as a natural evolution, she made it easy for executives to support without losing face.

🔥 The power insight

• Coalition building means creating alliances with the right mix of supporters - not too few, not too many

• You need to present radical changes as natural evolution of existing practices to reduce resistance

• It's like sneaking vegetables into a kid's mac and cheese - they get the nutrition without realizing it

• Allies assembled... but how do you raise future originals without creating corporate rebels?

6. Nurture the rebel spirit (🌱 Nurturing originality)

🧸 Example

• Jackie Robinson's mother raised him to be "respectfully defiant" - challenging injustice while maintaining dignity.

• This upbringing gave him the strength to break baseball's color barrier while handling intense pressure with grace.

• His mother's approach of teaching principled rebellion created a leader who could change the world without destroying himself.

🔥 The power insight

• Nurturing originality means creating environments where people feel safe to dissent and challenge conventions

• You need exposure to diverse perspectives plus permission to respectfully disagree to develop original thinking

• It's like teaching someone to drive - you need both the open road and the safety of a good instructor

• Rebels raised... but how do you prevent groupthink without creating toxic chaos?

7. Embrace productive conflict (⚔️ Devil's advocate dysfunction)

🧸 Example

• Ray Dalio built Bridgewater Associates with "radical transparency" where anyone could challenge anyone's ideas, including his own.

• This culture of constructive dissent helped identify flaws before they became expensive disasters.

• Bridgewater became the world's largest hedge fund with superior returns because they institutionalized disagreement (imagine that!).

🔥 The power insight

• Devil's advocate dysfunction means most efforts to prevent groupthink fail because they're not genuine

• You need real dissent, not fake devil's advocates who don't actually believe their arguments

• It's like the difference between a real sparring partner and a punching bag - only one actually improves your skills

• Dissent encouraged... but how do you handle the emotional chaos?

8. Master the art of emotional surfing (🌊 Managing change emotions)

🧸 Example

• When Disney executives hated Pixar's initial Toy Story version, director John Lasseter could have totally freaked out.

• Instead, he used the brutal feedback to completely reimagine the story structure.

• He turned potential disaster into breakthrough success by embracing the emotional turbulence as valuable information.

🔥 The power insight

• Managing change emotions means navigating anxiety, resistance, and ambivalence that comes with implementing original ideas

• You need to acknowledge fear while creating psychological safety for people to take risks

• It's like being a ship captain in a storm - you can't control the weather, but you can navigate through it skillfully

• Emotions mastered... time for your next move!

🧘‍♀️ The simple success recipe

1. Question the default - Like a curious kid asking "why" about everything obvious

2. Build before you leap - Like a smart investor who keeps their day job until the side hustle pays more

3. Find your truth-telling allies - Like assembling a trusted crew before you sail into uncharted waters

🥂 Your turn!

That's it, my fellow rebels!

Stop waiting for fearlessness and start building your strategic safety nets.

The most successful originals don't eliminate risk - they just get really good at managing it.

Your action today: Pick one "obvious" way you do something in your business and ask yourself, "What if there's a better way?"

Then actually test that alternative.

Remember, every setback is just data helping you refine your approach.

Keep embracing the beautiful messiness of creating something new while your competitors stay stuck in their comfort zones.

You've got the strategic mind of an original and the courage to make it happen!

Keep rocking! 🚀🍦

Yours 'anti-stress-enjoy-life-while building a biz' vijay peduru 🦸‍♂️