There is No Box; Independent Thinking in a Conformist World

We spend nights in strangers’ homes (Airbnb). Share rides with strangers (ride-hailing). Voluntarily share our personal details, photos, and opinions with strangers on social media. These actions once unthinkable, have manifested into billion-dollar industries. All this was because of independent thinkers. But independent thinking goes beyond defying convention.

There is no Box.

It is conventional to think outside the box to find solutions. However, for independent thinkers, the box does not exist. Work is done in iterations each improving upon previous successes or failures.

We'll explore independent thinking. How it drives innovation and elite performance. We'll also acknowledge the limitations of conformism and blind contrarianism. We'll discuss the significance of questioning assumptions and fostering intellectual curiosity. This will empower you to forge your path to understanding and a better quality of life.

The Role of Conformity in Society

First, you have to ask yourself, why do the systems want everyone to think the same? Every system, societal or mechanical, needs uniformity to work towards a goal and ensure its survival. When its parts are uniform and predictable, its functions are smooth and efficient.

In a society, this means promoting conformity to maintain order, stability, and control. If everyone thinks the same, there are fewer conflicts and disruptions.

Conformity reduces the complexity and unpredictability that can arise from independent thought. In essence, it's in the system’s best interest for everyone to think the same. It preserves the status quo and ensures seamless operations of societal functions.

Limits of Conformity and Importance of Independent Thinking

Conformity plays an important role in maintaining societal order however there are Conformity is key to maintaining societal order, however, it limits progress and innovation. Truth is not a fixed concept, it is constantly evolving. If everyone blindly followed the same beliefs, we’d stagnate in outdated ideas that serve us no more. By questioning assumptions, you gain a more complete understanding of the world.

Creativity and innovation is stifled in a groupthink environment. Nobody explores new ideas or challenges the status quo. Independent thinkers, however, venture into uncharted territories, often stumbling upon unexpected breakthroughs.

Blind conformity hinders personal growth. You develop a stronger sense of self after questioning and reevaluating your own beliefs.

Conformity is a necessary social glue, however, it should never come at the expense of progress and innovation.

Tim Grover on "How to Think, Not What to Think"

Tim Grover, coach to elite athletes like Michael Jordan and Kobe Bryant, outlines a philosophy on winning that challenges conventional wisdom in his book Winning: The Unforgiving Race to Greatness.

Grover highlights that true winners, such as Michael Jordan, forge their paths.

"Everyone wanted to be like Mike.

Mike did not want to be like anyone else."

Established training methods didn't lead to exceptional results. This led to MJ and Grover training on game days. The ultimate measure of the success of this approach was MJ’s performance.

Winners are not afraid to think originally or pursue ‘crazy’ ideas;

"They weren’t afraid to think originally, they weren’t worried about what others would think about their 'crazy' ideas. That whole BS about thinking outside the box is just that: BS. Winners don’t see the box. They see possibilities."

A deeper understanding your craft goes beyond passively accepting information. It requires active engagement with the tasks involved.

Thinking for yourself means you can formulate your ideas and execute them without consulting experts.

The more you think for yourself, the less you’ll need the “experts.”

Peter Thiel's "Unpopular Truth" Interview Question

In Zero to One: Notes on Startups, or How to Build the Future, Peter Theil, the German American billionaire, entrepreneur and VC, states the best interview question you can ask someone;

What important truth do most people disagree with you on?

What this question asks is simply this, are there true thoughts that you are reluctant to share with your closest peers? To have an answer to this question you have to think and come up with true answers. Answers that need courage to articulate because they will likely challenges conventional wisdom.

Most settle for simple answers people already agree on like a broken educational system or tired religious arguments. All of which are bad answers.

To come up with an answer to such a question, you need to be able to challenge your default programming. You have to;

• Question what you know about the past.

• Identify what the masses believe.

• Find the objective truth past the noise.

After the thinking is done you now have to summon up the courage to act on that truth. Dedicating your one life to focus on this truth.

For the Airbnb team, it was that people would be open to staying in strangers’ homes if there was a trustworthy convenient system. For the Uber, it was that tech would revolutionize urban transportation by connecting riders with drivers. For Steve Jobs, it was that tech could be simple, beautiful, and accessible to everyone not just tech enthusiasts.

This question sounds easy because it’s straightforward. Actually, it’s very hard to answer. It’s intellectually difficult because the knowledge that everyone is taught in school is by definition agreed upon. And it’s psychologically difficult because anyone trying to answer must say something she knows to be unpopular. Brilliant thinking is rare, but courage is in even shorter supply than genius.

The Allure of Being Different and the Trap of Contrarianism

It is human nature to want to be different, to want to stand out from the crowd. Being contrarian is the path of least resistance to being perceived as unique and intellectually superior. This is because “thinking differently” is the formula used by most successful people to achieve those great feats.

The title ‘contrarian’ is attractive as it offers a sense of identity and purpose. You want titles so others can recognize and allow you to represent certain archetypes. Thus, If you are able to attract other like-minded people, who echo your ideas back to you, it further solidifies your contrarian identity.

However, the reality is that more often than not, contrarians are wrong more often than they are right. Conventional wisdom is wisdom for a reason, it is usually based on a broad base of knowledge and experience for good reason.

Independent Thinking vs. Contrarian Thinking

Independent thinking is a tough business. It means questioning what you already believe and building your own ideas from scratch, a rigorous painful process.

This does not mean always having an opposing view on things. On the other hand, thinking like everyone else gets you the same results as everyone else.

On the other hand, contrarian thinking is just taking an opposing view for the sake of being perceived as different. This route lacks the hard work required to hold an opinion about something. It's the path of least resistance most contrarians take.

Contrarians are usually wrong. Conventional wisdom is usually right. The idea is to be contrarian and right then you can win big.

Independent thinking requires a healthy dose of skepticism, but it's not the same as cynicism and distrust. Cynics reject established knowledge while independent thinkers critically evaluate, drawing fresh insights.

The Risks of Contrarian Thinking.

The allure of contrarian thinking is undeniable. We celebrate the mavericks who defy the odds and win challenging the status quo. However, this is misleading. For every winner who bucks the trend and wins big as a result of contrarian thinking, there are countless failures. Taking the opposing view doesn’t always lead to great outcomes. In fact, they likely will lead you to failure.

Conventional wisdom has ‘wisdom’ in it for a reason. It is the accumulated knowledge and first-hand experience of countless predecessors. Disregarding it is shortsighted. Think of it as standing on the shoulders of giants. It is the foundation upon which independent thinkers build new ideas.

Contrarians argue without understanding the reasons behind common beliefs. This leads to superficial arguments and missed opportunities for genuine insights.

While contrarians may occasionally stumble upon success, those who do are the exceptions, not the rule. Independent thinking is a sure way to achieve consistent and meaningful breakthroughs.

Practical Steps for Independent Thinking

Read.

To be able to hold an opinion, you have to read. You have to read and sit with that information long enough to have your own opinion on the matter. It's easy to be persuaded to take the writer’s side even though they have also made assumptions in their thinking and are somehow incentivized.

Read to inform your position on a subject.

Be OK with being disliked.

There is a price to independent thinking. Once done with the thinking part, you'll end up with conclusions different from the conventional wisdom. This automatically puts you at odds with others since it threatens their identity.

You are questioning long-held beliefs and social norms. Be prepared for discomfort. This is a necessary step towards authenticity and truth.

You have to prioritize genuine understanding over external validation. The path may not always be comfortable but it sure is valuable.

Keep an Open Mind.

The ego craves certainty. It wants to cling to answers because genuine curiosity is hard work. Independent thinking forces us to confront unknowns and challenge preconceived notions.

Conventional thinkers prioritize appearing correct over actually being so. Independent thinkers cultivate a relentless curiosity. They are compelled to question assumptions and seek genuine understanding.

Assumptions, biases, and prejudices are the biggest threats to clear thinking. They warp our perception on things and shape a distorted reality.

Independent thinking is not a rebellious act or a status game. It is the pursuit of a genuine understanding and insights that are potentially game-changing in a business context.

Challenge your Assumptions

At the foundation of every thought, some assumptions are mostly wrong. Assumptions are like variables that can be replaced to test different outcomes.

Let’s take wealth creation. The idea is; “The best way to get wealthy is to get a high-paying job and work hard”

Traditional assumptions include;

1. A high-paying job guarantees wealth

2. There is security in traditional employment

We can change the assumptions based on research to come up with new assumptions;

1. People have gotten wealth by creating intangible value for others which has led to wealth.

2. Learning is continuous and is essential to long-term wealth creation. This is the only security you’ll ever need. Your ability to learn.

Question and revise your underlying assumptions. This opens up new richer perspectives and maximizes the impact of your decisions.

Conclusion.

It’s natural to want to be different. However, the reality is that contrarian thinking is a risky business that is more likely to lead to failure than success. Independent thinking on the other hand, is a difficult path but the only one to real insight.

To think critically, question dogma and assumptions to arrive at your conclusions. Similarly, you have to be willing to go with the grain when there is clear evidence to support it. Conventional wisdom, although imperfect is still wisdom.

Greatness is knowing when to join and when to defy the crowd.

References

Winning: The Unforgiving Race to Greatness: Tim S. Grover.

In Zero to One: Notes on Startups, or How to Build the Future.

ON THINKING FOR YOURSELF Essays and Aphorisms.

Embrace Contrarianism: Unleashing Success Through Divergent Thinking