Be Original, Change World
Originals: How Non-Conformists Move the World
by Adam Grant
Business/Psychology/Self-Help
TL;DR
This isn't your grandma's self-help book. It's a no-BS guide to actually making your weird ideas happen. You'll learn to question everything, procrastinate strategically (yeah, seriously), embrace failure like it's your bestie, and build a squad that calls out your BS. It's not about being a lone wolf, but about smart rebellion and making your unique vision stick in a world full of sheep. Get ready to ditch the norm and actually move the damn world.
Action Items
Before you start that assignment or project, spend 5 minutes imagining it's a total disaster. What went wrong? Now, fix those 'problems' before they even happen.
Text or DM one person who always hypes you up or gives you real talk. Ask them for their honest opinion on a small idea you have, or just thank them for being in your corner.
Got a problem? Instead of one solution, brainstorm 5-10 wild, stupid, or impossible ideas to fix it. Don't judge them. Then, pick the least insane one and see if there's a tiny piece you can actually use.
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Key Chapter
Chapter - Don't Quit Your Day Job (Yet): The Art of Strategic Laziness
This chapter basically spills the tea on how true "originals" aren't just wild, reckless risk-takers. Nah, they're actually super cautious procrastinators. It's like, you have this brilliant, world-changing idea, but instead of YOLO-ing into it, you keep your stable gig and slow-cook your genius. This isn't about being a chicken; it's about minimizing your downside so you can actually afford to fail a few times. Think of it as having a safety net made of cash and sanity, so your big swing doesn't land you in your parents' basement. It's about calculated rebellion, not just throwing spaghetti at the wall.
Key Methods and Approaches
The 'Pre-Mortem' Party
(AKA: Challenging Conventional Wisdom)
Description:
Before you launch your brilliant idea, imagine it's already failed spectacularly. Then figure out why.
Explanation:
Most people do a 'post-mortem' after something crashes and burns. That's like trying to fix a broken vase after it's already shattered on the floor. A 'pre-mortem' is like having a crystal ball that shows you all the ways your grand plan could go tits up before it even starts. You gather your squad, pretend your project is a dumpster fire, and then everyone brainstorms all the reasons it failed. It's basically a fancy way of saying, 'Let's find all the hidden landmines before we step on them.'
Examples:
Before launching a new app, imagine it gets zero downloads. Why? Bad UI? No marketing? Too many bugs?
Before starting a side hustle, pretend it went bankrupt. What went wrong? Ran out of cash? No customers? Got sued?
Before a big presentation, imagine it was a total flop. Did you bore everyone? Was the tech glitchy? Did you forget key info?
Use this to poke holes in your own 'genius' ideas before they become public embarrassments.
Today's Action:
Before you start that assignment or project, spend 5 minutes imagining it's a total disaster. What went wrong? Now, fix those 'problems' before they even happen.
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