MinuteRead
30 min
Loading…
Uncertainty shows you that the condition of not knowing is nothing to fear, but the birthplace of innovation, which, if you embrace it while anchoring yourself, has an unlimited potential for growth, wealth and happiness.
Uncertainty shows you that the condition of not knowing is nothing to fear, but the birthplace of innovation, which, if you embrace it while anchoring yourself, has an unlimited potential for growth, wealth and happiness.
Why aren’t most people millionaires? Really, the internet killed our last excuses not to be, didn’t it? The reason most people will remain average, with an average job, average house and average life, is not because of a lack of options.
It’s because they’re extremely risk-averse. It’s our default setting. Whenever we see anything that involves a gamble, we focus on the downside. The money and time we could lose. But the truth is, every risk comes with a more-than-average upside as well – that’s why it’s a risk!
In fact, the only way to become above average is to do risky things. Only risky things are innovative enough to stand out.
Had Mozart only tried to copy what Bach did, then you wouldn’t know his name today. If Jackson Pollock would’ve copied his mentor, Thomas Hart Benton, nobody would stand in line at the Museum of Modern Art in NYC to see his paintings.
Risk and uncertainty are the roads you must travel to reach the destinations of creativity and innovation.
But there are of course ways to help you steer the course as the waves get unpredictable. Like this one.
Usually, we react to pressure by throwing our habits out the window. Jonathan Fields says that’s exactly the wrong move, because as uncertainty gets bigger, routines anchor us and give us something reliable to hold on to. For example, if you’re a freelancer and have something to deliver on a tight deadline, chances are you’ll skip the gym and pull an all nighter or two, if you have to. But sticking to your exercise routine when things get tough is exactly what will keep you calm and stable. We often give up the thing that we need the most to keep our creativity high right then when we could really use it. Knowing what you’ll do for the first hour of your morning and not waste time gives your brain a chance to take a break and work out bigger problems in your unconscious. What’s more, you can use rituals to compliment your creative orientation. Most of us either lean towards the creative, innovative side of an inventor, who comes up with big ideas, or the process-oriented, hands-on side of a craftsman, who builds things. But sometimes you have to be both (solopreneur, anyone?), and you can use routines to balance your strengths. If you have plenty of writing ideas, for example, but find it tough to sit down and start, schedule an…
Continue reading in the MinuteRead app
Get the complete 5-minute summary of Uncertainty
Get the complete summary in the appEmbrace uncertainty, for it’s the root of innovation.
Use rituals and routine to anchor yourself in uncertain times.
Handle your worst fears with three simple questions.
"Uncertainty" is a strong fit if you want practical ideas around business, career, creativity—especially themes like embrace uncertainty, for it’s the root of innovation; use rituals and routine to anchor yourself in uncertain times. The MinuteRead summary distills these concepts into a focused read, whether you're deciding whether to buy the book or applying its lessons at work.
Scott Stirrett, author of The Uncertainty Advantage, has helped over 10,000 young people launch their careers. A Georgetown graduate, former Goldman Sachs analyst, and an Ashoka Fellow, he's passionate about helping others turn volatility into opportunity.
View all summaries by Scott StirrettContinue Reading
Access the complete 5-minute summary and thousands more nonfiction books in the MinuteRead app.
Continue reading the complete summary in the MinuteRead app.
