Breaking Down the Science of Entrepreneurship with Adam Grant

How original thinkers find success – and how you can too.

Adam Grant’s claim to fame? He may have started the first social network at Harvard, years before Facebook. But then he shut it down because, when you can see people face-to-face, you don’t need an online network, right?

Adam Grant is a Wharton professor, organizational psychologist, researcher, and the bestselling author of Originals, a fantastic book about how individuals find success by challenging norms and championing new ideas. He also has a podcast with TED called WorkLife, where he explores unusual workplaces to change your perspective on what a workplace can be.

Today, Adam joins us to break down the science behind entrepreneurship. Whether you’re starting a company or you’ve been in business for a while, he shows you to question workplace norms and behaviors to achieve your goals. Listen now.

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“I don’t have to be cut from a different cloth or have different DNA to do this.”

Adam outlines the traits of the original thinker from his research– and the traits, they might surprise you. It’s not about taking outrageous risks or jumping feet-first into a business idea you’ve been dreaming about. Successful entrepreneurs often don’t like taking big risks, but they carry on with their plans anyway, despite fear. He also shares research suggesting that quitting your day job to pursue your dream business might not be the best idea—at least, not for a while.

“He realized the mistake he was making was, he was unrolling his whole vision, and people weren’t ready for it.”

Throughout the interview, Adam returns to Elon Musk as an example of an original thinker, and specifically, a tempered radical: someone who rolls out their seemingly untenable plan for the future in reasonable, actionable steps, until the public sees the bigger vision as realistic and possible. In this, he also explores the difference between self-doubt and idea-doubt. Those who have complete certainty in their abilities but doubt their ideas will press forward—they’re more likely to question their process and find better alternatives when times get tough.

“More and more, the power is in the hands of the people who are motivated and talented.”

People no longer want to put their lives on hold for their nine-to-five. If you’re here on this journey with us, chances are that statement resonates with you. Adam Grant shows us that changes can be made if we’re brave enough to take action.