Originals: How Non-Conformists Move the World
by Adam Grant · 2016
In a nutshell
Wharton professor Adam Grant explores how individuals can champion new ideas and fight conformity. Essential for founders who want to think differently and create meaningful change in their industries.
Overview
Originals is a groundbreaking book that shows how to recognize a good idea, speak up without getting silenced, build a coalition of allies, choose the right time to act, and manage fear and doubt. Adam Grant addresses the challenge of improving the world from the perspective of becoming original: choosing to champion novel ideas and values that go against the grain, battle conformity, and buck outdated traditions.
Key Insights
- The Myth of the Risk-Taker: Successful originals are actually risk-averse in other areas of life
- Procrastination Can Help: Strategic procrastination can boost creativity
- First-Mover Disadvantage: Being first isn't always best; improving on others' ideas often wins
- Quantity Breeds Quality: More ideas increase the odds of true originality
- Groupthink is the Enemy: How to build cultures where dissent is valued
- The Power of Doubt: Self-doubt can motivate excellence
What Founders Will Learn
- How to generate and recognize original ideas
- When to take risks and when to hedge your bets
- Building a culture where innovation thrives
- Timing your launch for maximum impact
- Managing fear and doubt productively
- How to persuade others to support new ideas
- The importance of diverse coalitions
Practical Applications
- Techniques for voicing new ideas without career risk
- How to identify which ideas are worth pursuing
- Methods for building support for unconventional proposals
- Strategies for overcoming resistance to change
About the Author
Adam Grant is an organizational psychologist at Wharton, where he has been the top-rated professor for seven straight years. He is a #1 New York Times bestselling author and his TED talks have been viewed more than 25 million times.
Reception
#1 New York Times Bestseller, with a foreword by Sheryl Sandberg.
Published by Viking/Penguin Random House. Available in hardcover, paperback, ebook, and audiobook formats.
Reference
Originals: How Non-Conformists Move the World — publisher / official page. Summary adapted from the Awesome Startup Books collection.
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