Seven years ago, a student walked into my office with a pitch that would change how I see success. He and his friends were launching an online company to disrupt the glasses industry. But something felt off. They’d spent the summer interning “just in case,” planned backup jobs after graduation, and six months later—the day before launch—their website barely functioned. I passed on investing. That company now valued over a billion dollars. What did I miss? Turns out, I underestimated the power of embracing originality.
Original thinkers aren’t what we expect. They’re not reckless daredevils charging ahead without a plan. They’re often the ones hesitating, questioning, and yes—procrastinating. Take it from someone who finishes tasks months early (guilty as charged). I used to think racing through deadlines was the mark of efficiency. Then a student told me her best ideas bubbled up while she was avoiding work. Cue the eye-roll. But when she surveyed workplaces, the data slapped me in the face: moderate procrastinators outshone everyone in creativity. Why? That delay lets ideas marinate. Think of it like a mental crockpot—the longer you simmer, the richer the flavor.
Leonardo da Vinci dragged his feet on the Mona Lisa for 16 years. Sixteen. Years. He called himself a failure, but those tangents into optics and light? They transformed his art. Martin Luther King Jr. rewrote his “I Have a Dream” speech until 3 a.m., then scribbled edits minutes before stepping onstage. The most iconic line? Improvised. Procrastination isn’t laziness—it’s stealthy incubation.
Here’s the kicker: being first doesn’t guarantee glory. Most pioneers crash and burn. The real winners are the improvers. Facebook wasn’t the first social network. Google wasn’t the first search engine. Warby Parker missed the “first mover” hype too. Instead, they spent months figuring out how to make people comfortable buying glasses online. Sometimes, embracing originality means letting others test the waters while you build a better boat.
Doubt creeps in for everyone. The difference? Original thinkers doubt their ideas, not themselves. Self-doubt paralyzes. Idea doubt fuels experimentation. When Jennifer Lee pitched a Frozen script with a sympathetic villain, studios balked. Evil queens sell, right? But she kept tweaking, and “Let It Go” became an anthem. Ever heard of vuja de? It’s that “aha” moment when you see the same old thing in a new light. Like realizing your default browser sucks.
Speaking of—did you know your browser predicts job performance? Firefox and Chrome users outperform Internet Explorer folks. Why? They questioned the default. It’s a tiny act of rebellion, but it adds up. Embracing originality starts with small choices: swapping routines, rethinking assumptions, or (gasp) letting a draft sit unfinished.
Fear’s part of the game too. Original people aren’t fearless—they’re terrified of not trying. Elon Musk doubted Tesla and SpaceX would succeed. But “too important not to try” became his mantra. Regret isn’t about failure; it’s about silence. Most people bite their tongues, scared of sounding stupid. But here’s a secret: originals have terrible ideas. Lots of them. Thomas Edison’s creepy talking doll? Flop city. But he also gave us the lightbulb.
If you’re hunting for brilliance, quantity beats quality every time. Bach, Beethoven, Mozart—they cranked out hundreds of works to land a few masterpieces. Warby Parker tested 2,000 names before landing on the winner. Creativity’s a numbers game. Give yourself permission to suck.
Wanna dive deeper into the messy magic of unconventional thinking? Grab a copy of Originals by Adam Grant. It’s packed with stories of people who changed the world by coloring outside the lines—procrastinators, doubters, and misfits included.
So next time you’re lingering on a task or second-guessing an idea, don’t sweat it. You’re in good company. Originality isn’t about being first, fastest, or flawlessly confident. It’s about showing up, stumbling, and stubbornly chasing what could be. The world doesn’t need more perfection. It needs more you—quirks, doubts, and all.
If you found this post helpful, consider Buy me a coffee ☕. Your support means the world to me!
Unlock even more insights and exclusive content by upgrading your subscription! Don’t miss out—upgrade now!
Leave a Reply