It's unnatural to defy convention. Rules, societal norms, and accepted patterns of behavior exist for a reason, and violating them invites admonishment. However, it appears that recently, those gaining the most admiration and least admonishment are exactly those who dare to challenge convention. They are the people who identify flaws in convention and build solutions to remedy them. Everyone knows the famous examples — Bill Gates, Mark Zuckerberg, and Elon Musk — but in actuality, almost every entrepreneur is challenging convention in one form or another, whether in a radical or incremental manner.
Like practically everything, the distance between saying something and doing something is much wider than it may appear. Colloquially, "It's easier said than done." So how do these entrepreneurs manage to challenge convention? What is the driving force that compels them to excel and reach unbelievable heights?
I am by no means anywhere near the caliber and scale of the aforementioned entrepreneurs, nor would I attempt to place myself at that level. That said, I have challenged convention as an entrepreneur and learned some important lessons in the process. My intention is to help you unshackle yourself from the inhibitions and indoctrination that challenging convention is always a problem. I dare to go so far as to say that when there is that burning sensation deep within you to solve a problem you have seen, one that will not allow you to rest until you have addressed it, you must abandon any such inhibitions and throw yourself into its resolution immediately.
First, how do you know what you are passionate enough about to be compelled to such action? Aside from being an entrepreneur, I am also a lecturer of entrepreneurship and am come across students unsure of what their passion is on a daily basis. They may like football, baseball, cheerleading, choir, drama or video games, but is that the same thing as a passion? In my opinion, a passion is quite simply anything that makes you forget about basic vital needs, such as eating and sleeping. When you find yourself doing something and lose track of time and the world around you, that is your passion.
When you have found your passion, is there always a problem to solve? Not necessarily, but this article is intended for situations when there is a problem to solve. My personal example was pharmaceutical access in developing countries and how it impacted global health, specifically the ability for children to live happy and healthy lives. I found the problem, then discovered and developed a solution to that problem. How did I challenge convention and do this?
Forget what everyone knows and does.
Yes, there is some fundamental knowledge, procedures, and operations that have led to the status quo being what it is. But, if you home in on this, you will lose the "big picture" perspective that you need to identify opportunity. In my case, no one saw the potential to store and deliver freeze-dried medicine within a single container, since it had never successfully been done before. I proved that, in fact, it was possible.
So forget what everyone knows and does — look at the problem for yourself and think of what solutions you would apply to it. Then, evaluate which solutions may work best and tinker with them until you evaluate their feasibility and viability.
Ignore what people say.
Most of my thoughts on this matter are outlined in a previous article of mine. In essence, you have to be able to accept the fact that most people will point out the million reasons why what you propose will not work and never give you a positive compliment, no matter how worthy you may be.
Consider who is telling you something and why they may be saying it (i.e. what they stand to gain from saying it to you). If they are experts on the topic and non-competitors, then you should listen more carefully, but with reservations.
Persevere until you decide it isn't possible.
You need to know when to keep trying and when to abandon your efforts. Only you can make this decision, and it is important to note that it is not only based on the feasibility of your solution but on a myriad of other factors, including your own sanity.
Decide what validation the solution needs in your own mind to give you a clear "go/no-go" decision on its feasibility. Also, understand yourself and identify when your sleepless nights are the result of passion or stress. If they are consistently due to stress, it is time to abandon it, or your health will suffer.
Above all, realize that you and only you can understand and evaluate who you are and what you are capable of. Challenge convention to your own limits, not those imposed by others, and you will succeed.
