Contrarianism Isn't For Everyone
A contrarian is a person that takes up a contrary position, especially a position that is opposed to that of the majority, regardless of how unpopular it may be. It is captured in the following question: “What important truth do very few people agree with you on?” The answer usually comes out like this: "Most people believe in x, but the truth is the opposite of x." As popular investor, Peter Thiel believes, every correct answer is necessarily a secret: something important and unknown. Something hard to do but doable. Those who work to discover these contrarian truths trend towards innovation. They can use the secrets they uncover to build a personal brand, valuable business, or new paradigm for viewing the world.
““The most contrarian thing of all is not to oppose the crowd but to think for yourself.””
Taking a contrarian stand translates into a fundamental questioning of common, often core, beliefs and assumptions that are widely taken for granted. This includes beliefs that you yourself hold. And there’s the rub. We all loved Kanye West when he was at the height of his music innovation, reimagining how music can be crafted, and creating a new space for hip hop one release after another. However, he quickly became a pariah when that same contrarian mind sent him on rants and isolated him in his own version of the truth.
Contranianism can be one of the most valuable “tools” for those out to differentiate themselves, innovate, and impact the world. In the same stroke, if one’s unique views aren’t bolstered with real evidence and communicated powerfully, then all we get is eccentricity and rebuke. So, question wisely.