Life gets busy.And we tend to forget the unique capability within ourselves and become somebody else forgetting how original we are.
Now let us take a quick snap shot of the book by Adam Grant "Originals".
Originals is a book that provides techniques to utilize your uniqueness as a tool for becoming successful
“Argue like you’re right and listen like you’re wrong.”– ADAM GRANT
Originality Underpins Fulfilling Careers
A dictionary definition of originality emphasizes the importance of having a unique character. In the modern world, originals have to take the initiative to make their unique vision a reality.
Research suggests that originals differ from others in minute details. Economist Housman carried out a research and identified only a specific group of customer service team stayed in their jobs for a longer time. And he found the reason to be the choice of internet browser.The ones who installed a different browser than the default browser kept their jobs for a longer time.They were more likely to tackle difficulties and come up with solutions.
To be succcessful, you should thrive to be a original.
Idea Quantity Encourages Idea Quality
Adam Grant suggests that if you are willing to churn out an arrayof ideas, you will be more likely to improve your idea quality.
Traditionally, people work by the saying ‘quality over quantity’. However, in the case of ideas, both quantity and quality are equally important. The quantity of ideas encourages the quality of ideas during brainstorming. This point is supported by research from the psychologist, Dean Simonton. Simonon found that highly creative individuals do not generally produce better ideas. Instead, they produce more ideas than others. Their increased idea output leads to a higher probability that they will develop a small handful of brilliant ideas. To reinforce this point, Adam Grant provides an example of Pablo Picasso. Picasso is renowned for a handful of artworks. However, few people realize that Picasso’s work portfolio includes 2,800 ceramics, 1,800 paintings, 1,200 sculptures, and more than 12,000 drawings. The quantity of Picasso’s work allowed a few quality ideas to propel him to success.
Procrastination Can Be Productive
“Procrastination may be the enemy of productivity, but it can be a resource for creativity.”
– ADAM GRANT
We are frequently told that procrastination is our worst enemy. Plus, almost every self-help book describes successful people as being those who can conquer procrastination.
Procrastination is a strategy in idea production for great Originals, which leaves brain open to wide possibilities.
Leonardo da Vinci was a massive procrastinator. He started painting the Mona Lisa back in 1503 but then abandoned the project to work on something else. He didn’t actually finish the Mona Lisa until 16 years later. Some would view this as luck. On the other hand, historian William Pannapacker believes that this time allowed da Vinci to procrastinate in an effective way. During this time, da Vinci experimented with optical illusions and new painting techniques. By using this experimentation as a time of procrastination, he returned to the Mona Lisa with a different mindset and new ideas.
Admit You Have Weaknesses
Voicing your opinions has the potential to threaten your business career and your network.Although voicing your opinions can have adverse effects, choosing how you voice your opinions can flip this impact. Adam Grant suggests offering you opinions, but make sure that you also provide reasons why your superiors might not want to accept your proposal.
Start presenting your idea by opening with the shortcomings of your idea. Admitting your idea has weaknesses will surprise those you are talking to and suggest you are an honest individual.
Adam Grant provides an example of an entrepreneur couple, Rufus Griscom and Alisa Volkman. This couple were presenting their online parenting magazine and blog network, Babble, to potential backers. The couple started their pitch by being completely honest and admitting that their website’s user engagement was lower than expected. Specifically, 40 percent of their site was made up of irrelevant celebrity gossip. Additionally, they also accepted that their back end was in significant need of an update. The investors were charmed by the honesty with which the couple spoke about their company. They trusted the couple, and this meant they trusted their company. Subsequently, the couple was able to raise $3.3 million in funding and were eventually acquired by Disney in 2011.
Make Radical Ideas Normal
“Being original doesn’t require being first. It just means being different and better.”
– ADAM GRANT
Humans tend to reject things that are not familiar to us. However, this tendency prevents us from thinking of and accepting original ideas. Despite this, Adam Grant introduces ways to introduce original ideas into your work and get your coworkers on board.
Firstly, Adam Grant introduces the Mere Exposure Effect. This effect states that repeating original ideas can help give others time to warm up to the idea. For example, you can introduce an original idea, wait a few weeks, and then reintroduce the idea after your coworkers have had time to normalize the idea. Additionally, research suggests that consistently exposing people to new ideas allows them to become more receptive over time.
As well as integrating your original ideas into preexisting ideas, you can also frame them within a familiar context. Adam Grant provides an example of the famous Disney film, The Lion King. When the original idea of this film was first pitched to Disney, they were very skeptical. The producers did not like the dark storyline that was incorporated into the film script. However, Disney CEO Michael Eisner was able to change people’s opinions of the film by framing The Lion King within a familiar context. He highlighted the similarities between the film’s themes and Shakespeare’s King Lear and Hamlet. Immediately, the producers were persuaded. Just providing a common point of reference allows original ideas to become part of a mainstream context. The rest is history. The Lion King became 1994’s highest-grossing film and gained two Oscars.
Collaborate With Opposing Opinions
You will not get far in life if you only listen to people who agree with you and offer you constant praise. Criticism is generally not very pleasant, but it is crucial for personal growth. Surrounding yourself with some people who hold entirely different views to you is one way of preventing groupthink. Hence, people are encouraged to share their real opinions rather than just conforming to the majority’s views.
Groupthink is a negative phenomenon that occurs when people within a group prioritize avoiding conflict by reaching consensus over making the optimal choice. Groupthink was first described as a phenomenon by Yale researcher Lester Irving Janis. Janis outlined groupthink as one of the biggest drivers of poor team decision making. Additionally, groupthink significantly reduces the potential for creativity.
Disguise Your Ideas to Gain Support
Adam Grant recommends readers ensure they use the right tone when conveying their ideas. Specifically, he states that you need to keep people interested, but you must not go over the top. In fact, Adam Grant suggests you should be sneaking your ideas into conversations.
Adam makes this claim as this approach can help you avoid horizontal hostility. Horizontal hostility is a form of prejudice that can occur between members of the same group.
In this book, an example of Meredith Perry is used to show how disguising an idea can be more effective. Perry is the inventor of wireless charging equipment. Upon presenting this idea to physics professors and engineers, she received very little support. Therefore, Perry changed her approach. Perry disguised her idea and just told them that she wanted to design a transducer, rather than one that sent power wirelessly. This idea obtained considerably more support, as it sounded less challenging. Perry obtained several funders. Subsequently, she started her company, uBeam, which now provides innovative wireless charging solutions.
Originality in Adam Grant’s Words
Throughout the book, Adam Grant provides several explanations of what it means to be original. Here they are:
“Originality is an act of creative destruction”
“The hallmark of originality is rejecting the defunct and exploring whether a better option exists”
“Originality is not a fixed trait. It is a free choice”
“Becoming original is not the easiest path in the pursuit of happiness but it leaves us perfectly poised for the happiness of pursuit”
“Originality brings more bumps in the road, yet it leaves us with more happiness and a greater sense of meaning”
Now let us take a quick snap shot of the book by Adam Grant "Originals".
Originals is a book that provides techniques to utilize your uniqueness as a tool for becoming successful
“Argue like you’re right and listen like you’re wrong.”– ADAM GRANT
Originality Underpins Fulfilling Careers
A dictionary definition of originality emphasizes the importance of having a unique character. In the modern world, originals have to take the initiative to make their unique vision a reality.
Research suggests that originals differ from others in minute details. Economist Housman carried out a research and identified only a specific group of customer service team stayed in their jobs for a longer time. And he found the reason to be the choice of internet browser.The ones who installed a different browser than the default browser kept their jobs for a longer time.They were more likely to tackle difficulties and come up with solutions.
To be succcessful, you should thrive to be a original.
Idea Quantity Encourages Idea Quality
Adam Grant suggests that if you are willing to churn out an arrayof ideas, you will be more likely to improve your idea quality.
Traditionally, people work by the saying ‘quality over quantity’. However, in the case of ideas, both quantity and quality are equally important. The quantity of ideas encourages the quality of ideas during brainstorming. This point is supported by research from the psychologist, Dean Simonton. Simonon found that highly creative individuals do not generally produce better ideas. Instead, they produce more ideas than others. Their increased idea output leads to a higher probability that they will develop a small handful of brilliant ideas. To reinforce this point, Adam Grant provides an example of Pablo Picasso. Picasso is renowned for a handful of artworks. However, few people realize that Picasso’s work portfolio includes 2,800 ceramics, 1,800 paintings, 1,200 sculptures, and more than 12,000 drawings. The quantity of Picasso’s work allowed a few quality ideas to propel him to success.
Procrastination Can Be Productive
“Procrastination may be the enemy of productivity, but it can be a resource for creativity.”
– ADAM GRANT
We are frequently told that procrastination is our worst enemy. Plus, almost every self-help book describes successful people as being those who can conquer procrastination.
Procrastination is a strategy in idea production for great Originals, which leaves brain open to wide possibilities.
Leonardo da Vinci was a massive procrastinator. He started painting the Mona Lisa back in 1503 but then abandoned the project to work on something else. He didn’t actually finish the Mona Lisa until 16 years later. Some would view this as luck. On the other hand, historian William Pannapacker believes that this time allowed da Vinci to procrastinate in an effective way. During this time, da Vinci experimented with optical illusions and new painting techniques. By using this experimentation as a time of procrastination, he returned to the Mona Lisa with a different mindset and new ideas.
Admit You Have Weaknesses
Voicing your opinions has the potential to threaten your business career and your network.Although voicing your opinions can have adverse effects, choosing how you voice your opinions can flip this impact. Adam Grant suggests offering you opinions, but make sure that you also provide reasons why your superiors might not want to accept your proposal.
Start presenting your idea by opening with the shortcomings of your idea. Admitting your idea has weaknesses will surprise those you are talking to and suggest you are an honest individual.
Adam Grant provides an example of an entrepreneur couple, Rufus Griscom and Alisa Volkman. This couple were presenting their online parenting magazine and blog network, Babble, to potential backers. The couple started their pitch by being completely honest and admitting that their website’s user engagement was lower than expected. Specifically, 40 percent of their site was made up of irrelevant celebrity gossip. Additionally, they also accepted that their back end was in significant need of an update. The investors were charmed by the honesty with which the couple spoke about their company. They trusted the couple, and this meant they trusted their company. Subsequently, the couple was able to raise $3.3 million in funding and were eventually acquired by Disney in 2011.
Make Radical Ideas Normal
“Being original doesn’t require being first. It just means being different and better.”
– ADAM GRANT
Humans tend to reject things that are not familiar to us. However, this tendency prevents us from thinking of and accepting original ideas. Despite this, Adam Grant introduces ways to introduce original ideas into your work and get your coworkers on board.
Firstly, Adam Grant introduces the Mere Exposure Effect. This effect states that repeating original ideas can help give others time to warm up to the idea. For example, you can introduce an original idea, wait a few weeks, and then reintroduce the idea after your coworkers have had time to normalize the idea. Additionally, research suggests that consistently exposing people to new ideas allows them to become more receptive over time.
As well as integrating your original ideas into preexisting ideas, you can also frame them within a familiar context. Adam Grant provides an example of the famous Disney film, The Lion King. When the original idea of this film was first pitched to Disney, they were very skeptical. The producers did not like the dark storyline that was incorporated into the film script. However, Disney CEO Michael Eisner was able to change people’s opinions of the film by framing The Lion King within a familiar context. He highlighted the similarities between the film’s themes and Shakespeare’s King Lear and Hamlet. Immediately, the producers were persuaded. Just providing a common point of reference allows original ideas to become part of a mainstream context. The rest is history. The Lion King became 1994’s highest-grossing film and gained two Oscars.
Collaborate With Opposing Opinions
You will not get far in life if you only listen to people who agree with you and offer you constant praise. Criticism is generally not very pleasant, but it is crucial for personal growth. Surrounding yourself with some people who hold entirely different views to you is one way of preventing groupthink. Hence, people are encouraged to share their real opinions rather than just conforming to the majority’s views.
Groupthink is a negative phenomenon that occurs when people within a group prioritize avoiding conflict by reaching consensus over making the optimal choice. Groupthink was first described as a phenomenon by Yale researcher Lester Irving Janis. Janis outlined groupthink as one of the biggest drivers of poor team decision making. Additionally, groupthink significantly reduces the potential for creativity.
Disguise Your Ideas to Gain Support
Adam Grant recommends readers ensure they use the right tone when conveying their ideas. Specifically, he states that you need to keep people interested, but you must not go over the top. In fact, Adam Grant suggests you should be sneaking your ideas into conversations.
Adam makes this claim as this approach can help you avoid horizontal hostility. Horizontal hostility is a form of prejudice that can occur between members of the same group.
In this book, an example of Meredith Perry is used to show how disguising an idea can be more effective. Perry is the inventor of wireless charging equipment. Upon presenting this idea to physics professors and engineers, she received very little support. Therefore, Perry changed her approach. Perry disguised her idea and just told them that she wanted to design a transducer, rather than one that sent power wirelessly. This idea obtained considerably more support, as it sounded less challenging. Perry obtained several funders. Subsequently, she started her company, uBeam, which now provides innovative wireless charging solutions.
Originality in Adam Grant’s Words
Throughout the book, Adam Grant provides several explanations of what it means to be original. Here they are:
“Originality is an act of creative destruction”
“The hallmark of originality is rejecting the defunct and exploring whether a better option exists”
“Originality is not a fixed trait. It is a free choice”
“Becoming original is not the easiest path in the pursuit of happiness but it leaves us perfectly poised for the happiness of pursuit”
“Originality brings more bumps in the road, yet it leaves us with more happiness and a greater sense of meaning”
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