Here is an article from Nathan Thomas from Keys to the Mind
Here’s To the Crazy Ones
Did you ever see Apple’s classic comeback TV ad, “Here’s To the Crazy Ones?”
It’s a fantastic Ad, and the version that aired really sky-rocketed Apple’s return to fame.
Today they are one of the most (if not the most) successful companies in the world. They certainly did think differently, and created innovations that define how we live our lives.
Most people agree that the world is shaped and created by the crazy ones; those who think in new ways and reject what others consider normal or right.
Whilst it’s nice to watch an inspiring advertisement like this and feel motivated to ‘change the world,’ walking the talk is actually phenomenally difficult.
Why?
Nothing is more seductive than the majority
Humans are social creatures – we live in tribes or what we now call “communities.”
Your beliefs are shaped by your social circle, the media you watch and the leaders you admire.
And this is a fantastic thing! The benefits of our social nature is what makes our human race such a successful one. We combine work and share innovation.
Born and raised a hermit, sure you’d be independent and free thinking, but you’d be deprived of thousands of years work by billions of people.
Community is, in short, for the most part a very good thing.
However, nothing is always good!
Mark Twain said:
Whenever you find yourself on the side of the majority, it’s time to pause and reflect.
Some of the greatest calamities in history have been caused by the majority doing exactly what it wanted to.
From catastrophic wars to horrific genocide to segregation, racism and simply dumb and destructive consumerism, the seductive influence of the majority can lead smart people to do very dumb things.
It’s what we call social pressure.
Of course, many people realize that what the majorities is doing in these cases is wrong, but most get swept up in the tide and do it anyway.
Those that don’t are often ostracized and ridiculed.
And then something weird happens.
Public opinion starts to turn to agree with ‘the crazy ones.’
Suddenly one such as Martin Luther King is the voice we all listen to, and a cry from the wilderness becomes the conscience of a generation.
BUT Some of the Crazy Ones are Just Plain Crazy…
Martin Luther King fought valiantly for a good cause. He saw the error of the majority and bravely battled to correct it.
Not everyone who sees the error of the majority is actually right, though.
A hobo on the street corner declaring that demons possessed him through his McDonalds straw, the Neo-Nazi who is scared of everyone who’s different, the conflicted young adult who turns away from his or her family to embrace a strange and dangerous cult.
Yes, these people disagree with the majority and battle against the ridicule of others – but surely the aren’t to be celebrated, embraced and followed?
The Line Between Brilliant and Bonkers…
It may seem easy to tell where the line between brilliant and bonkers lies.
Hindsight, as they say, is 20:20. In real time, this divide is a lot harder.
The witches who were burned at the stake in medieval Europe for professing the healing powers of herbs – were they mad or brilliant?
Copernicus and Galileo too were spurned for their radical ideas.
They dared to go against conventional wisdom and declare that the Earth orbited the sun, not the other way around.
Many condemned them as dangerous lunatics, and they were the victims of much opposition and harassment.
Today, we know better.
Or at least I hope so!
Much of the time, what the majority does will be more or less the right thing to do.
But certainly not always.
The biggest and most important change in perspective you need is:
Never accept the limitations others place on you
This is subtle, because it is often very hard to spot.
For example, my ‘work’ is doing what I’m doing now – writing about interesting stuff for you guys.
It pays the bills and lets me travel the world and have fun.
Now the ‘majority perspective’ is that you can’t work part time online writing about what you love and still make enough to enjoy your life.
If I believed that, I’d probably start doubting myself and subconsciously sabotage what I’m doing.
Fortunately, I practice what I call selective conformity.
Basically, never assume that something is true just because most people believe it.
BUT also never assume something is false just because mot people believe it.
Live your life by your own compass (you’ll find it!), and question every limitation that the majority tries to impose on you.
Most, you’ll discover, will be easy to overcome with a simple change in perspective.
So, here’s to the crazy ones – the ones who are right, that is!
Cheers,