Here’s To The Crazy Ones

Here's to the crazy ones.

Arguably the most iconic opening lines to an advertisement in television history. While I never remember seeing it on TV, the words of Apple's famous ad brings chills even as I read the words Steve Jobs recorded fifteen years ago.

The misfits. The rebels. The troublemakers. The round pegs in the square holes.

This creed is more than just a rally cry for Apple; it was a personal statement of Jobs life. He infused this perspective in the DNA of Apple: never willingly fit into anyone else's box; redefine the box.

The ones who see things differently.

For Jobs, that box was the intersection of art and business. He had the uncanny ability to think differently about what many believed to be opposite philosophies or ideologies. But as leaders, we too stand at that crossroads all too often.

They're not fond of rules. And they have no respect for the status quo.

And at those times, we have to be willing to go above and beyond. In order to lead others to help make our vision a reality we cannot settle for what "others are doing." We cannot play by the rules; we have to rewrite them.

You can quote them, disagree with them, glorify or vilify them.

With that kind of thinking, enemies are inevitable. People will try to tear down what you have built, smear your reputation, and disqualify your position. But, leadership is not the position for you if you just want to make friends.

About the only thing you can't do is ignore them.

Because once you gain momentum, leadership is a funny thing; it begins to grow exponentially. Your sphere of influence is no longer three people... it's now nine.. now twenty-seven... now eighty-one. Before you know it, the critics and nay-sayers are taking a second look.

Because they change things.

Why? Because you thought differently. You held two seemingly opposing ideas in tension effectively saying, "I know the world says these two things cannot mix, but I believe there is a beautiful, elegant way they can live together. It might not exist yet, but I know I can make it happen." Because that kind of thinking changes everything.

They push the human race forward.

It is this kind of thinking that is contagious. Because it stirs in the soul of every individual it touches. It speaks to the deepest parts of our being, connecting to some innate desire we cannot even put adequate words around. A desire for progress. A desire for movement. A desire to be part of something bigger than ourselves.

And while some may see them as the crazy ones, we see genius.

As leaders, it is our job to identify and seize those opportunities, because most people cannot see what we see. Leaders are on the forefront. We are the ones whose job it is to think differently and push the boundaries on the status quo and set the bar higher. The reality is people will look at you like you're crazy. People will scoff and smirk. Know that it comes with the territory. But remember, you are not the only one. There are people just like you working hard to turn some "crazy dream" into "creative genius." Because when that line is crossed, the world takes notice.

Because the people who are crazy enough to think they can change the world,

So if you are not crazy enough to think you can change the world, then you are not a leader. You have to be willing to put your reputation on the line. You have to be willing to take an unpopular risk. You have to be able to think outside the box. Maybe our job, as leaders, is to stand at the intersection of two seemingly opposite ideologies, strategies, or arenas and show the world they can be held in tension. And that tension that stirs deep in their being is a good thing and something worth exploring. And we invite them alongside us for a journey of what it looks like to unite these two very different ideas in a way the world has never seen before. Whether that means a new way to combat gang violence through new job opportunities that do not take criminal record into account or increasing literacy rates by mobilizing parents to read to their children every night, if we, as leaders, do not believe these realities are possible, then we are not leaders with dreams worth following.

...are the ones who do.

Are we fighting for the tension? Are we actively seeking ways to put forth creative solutions that others have not even thought of yet? Are we welcoming the challenge of those nay-sayers and critics? Are we breaking out of the boundaries that have been imposed on us? Are we going identifying the points of intersection, leveraging our influence, and spending our time, money, and resources to stand in the gap by holding two seemingly opposing ideas, goals, or dreams in tension in order to fight for the unknown solution and the time to make it a reality?

Because that is how you make a dent in the universe.

And maybe that's what it means to Think Different.