One Of A Kind

I got the chance to visit one of the world's best schools for developing young, exceptionally talented, and highly motivated athletes into Olympic medallists in winter sports. Its ideal location in the Swiss Alps provides the perfect atmosphere, complete with outstanding slopes, cutting-edge training infrastructure, and comfortable student housing. Coaches are not only experienced but in many cases, former elite competitors themselves. Their commitment to excellence is unwavering. Then there's the teaching team, who are in charge of delivering a rigorous educational curriculum rivaled only by the world's best boarding schools.

As you can expect, getting accepted is not easy. Forget about high scores on the admission exam or the physical tests; everyone does it. It's pointless to try to stand out by demonstrating commitment, passion, and mental strength; this is expected of all applicants. It turns out that having a chance to be trained by the best comes down to candidates demonstrating originality .

Many people associate originality with being fresh or uncommon, but I believe this is an understatement. Independent and critical thinking, vision, imagination, creativity, and resourcefulness are all part of a holistic approach to it. It also entails experimenting with novel procedures and pathways that have yet to be discovered. Surprisingly, these are all characteristics that millions of people throughout the world possess, yet they fall short of being original. What separates the wheat from the chaff is the determination to take action, in other words, to use these skills to create and contribute something unique and important to a certain field.

And it all starts with inspiration. In his book Originality , Thomas Sharper Knowlson points out that this will emerge from the interaction of physical, mental, and social factors. He lays out various "Laws of Inspiration" to support his thesis, three of which I will emphasize. The mind, for starters, undergoes moments of expansion and contraction. A period of in-depth inquiry and reflection should be followed by a shift in focus or a period of mental inactivity. Second, the emergence of a new concept is somewhat reliant on the activity of primary and secondary external stimuli. The former refers to the sights and sounds that ignite a train of thinking that has already been prepared in the brain. The latter is made up of general circumstances that encourage creativity. The third requirement, which is the most significant for inspiring creativity, has been saved until last: "Think for yourself."

It's worth noting that when we're inspired and have a unique idea, we frequently find ourselves at a crossroads. Professor Adam Grant of the University of Pennsylvania's Wharton School writes in Originals that when faced with uncertainty, our first reaction is to reject originality, looking for ways to explain why new ideas can fail. We can always find reasons not to take risks when we utilize the logic of consequence. Other times, however, we are encouraged to be the first to move. This is because being leaders, not followers, is what we've been taught. Yet, the benefits of moving swiftly and being first are many times offset by the drawbacks. Risk takers have a strong desire to be first, and they are prone to make rash decisions. Meanwhile, more risk-averse individuals sit on the sidelines, waiting for the proper moment to present itself. As Grant notes, “It’s true that the early bird gets the worm, but we can’t forget that the early worm gets caught”.

Let's say we have the necessary talents, are willing to take calculated risks, and are ready to turn a worthwhile concept into reality. So, what's next? The first step, according to Grant, is to question the default. It becomes evident that laws and systems are not fixed in stone when we realize that they were developed by human beings just like us.

Second, rather than a few major ideas, we shall have a lot of them. To get to the new and different, we have to rule out the familiar. But, for the most part, we fail to do so. We have a tendency to fall in love with our first concept and fail to grasp that greatness requires us to produce a lot of garbage in the process. Along with developing ideas, there is also the matter of evaluating them. Rather than examining if they are similar to what came before, we should question if they will achieve the desired result. An outside opinion is helpful in this case. However, not just anyone's opinion. We need to include people who have come up with a few original ideas because being in the mentality of creating new possibilities and thinking creatively enhances their openness to new performances.

And third, we must immerse ourselves in a novel domain. When we extend our frame of reference, we become more original. We can do this simply by reading about different people, cultures, and environments.

Originality distinguishes people who succeed in life from those who don’t. Yes, many follow the herd down traditional paths and still achieve meaningful results. But becoming one of a kind demands more. True originals reject conformity. They pursue the road less traveled and act on a set of innovative, counter-intuitive beliefs. True originals know whom to listen to. They are unconcerned about the many voices seeking to tear them down, preferring to pay attention to those who have the correct mindset. True originals take calculated risks. They evaluate a large number of ideas in order to choose the ones that are most likely to succeed. True originals have a big impact. They improve things by making contributions that transcend the passage of time. And true originals create their own style. They recognize that creativity, stamina, and determination need to be anchored by authenticity.

When it comes to winter sports, the names of remarkable women and men who have dominated their respective disciplines come to mind. Although not on the list of multiple medalists, Michael Edwards deserves special attention. In 1988, he rejected conformity by becoming the first competitor to represent Great Britain in Olympic ski jumping. He didn't mind people who said his age, weight, or vision difficulties were a hindrance. By jumping longer and longer distances, he was able to manage his risks. He was impactful, setting a new record at the Calgary Winter Olympics. And, most importantly, he developed his own distinct style. His authenticity made him the media celebrity known as Eddie the Eagle .

"No matter how many people say you can't do something, use that as inspiration to prove them wrong," he once said . Listen to that. Be sure you have everything you need to be original. Prove them wrong.

Author: Esteban Polidura, CFA. December 11, 2021.?