The Surprising Habits of Original Thinkers

In one of my favorite TED talks to date, Adam Grant discusses “The Surprising Habits of Original Thinkers”. After years of studying the dynamics of success and productivity in the workplace, Adam Grant discovered a powerful and often overlooked motivator: helping others.

My key take-aways below:

Originals are

non-conformists.

People who not only have ideas, but take action to champion them.

Originals are late to the party.

Consider procrastination

Procrastination can give you time to consider divergent ideas and to think in non-linear ways.

Procrastinating is a vice when it comes to productivity, but it can be a virtue when it comes to creativity.

The first mover is a myth. Improvers have a better chance of success.

To be original

you don’t have to be first.

You just have to be different and better.

Originals are full of

fear and doubt.

They just manage it differently.

Doubt the default.

The greatest originals are the ones who fail the most, because they’re the ones who try the most.

Know that being slow to start and quick to finish can boost your creativity.

You need a lot of bad ideas in order to get a few good ones.