For long-term success, bold thinkers and contrarians must learn to hold tension between three qualities: vision, humility, and the “no-quit gene,” which is also called “grit. These three traits make what I call “The Contrarian’s Trifecta.”
The three traits of the Conrarian’s Trifecta are:
- Vision: Vision means seeing the end from the beginning. Vision is noticing where there is a burning need and where an enormous market exists.
- Humility: Humility is the bedrock of the trifecta. Without it, the others will surely fail.
- The no-quit gene (grit): The next trait is the no-quit gene, which is sometimes referred to as grit. This means trying several new approaches, bumping into some dead ends, and figuring out new paths.
A triangle is the strongest shape
The Contrarian’s Trifecta framework is analogous to a triangle, nature’s strongest shape. A triangle does not buckle with pressure but can distribute immense weight between the three sides. Each trait reinforces strength in the others while keeping the danger zones in check.
Going a step further, the elegance of a triangle is the built-in structural balance between three points. These sides naturally hold each other in place. One weakness does not cause the structure to fail, nor does one side overextend itself or pressure the others to snap. Thus, the Trifecta’s traits are present in balance at once. This is a holistic philosophy where one trait in the trifecta cannot be sustained without the others. For success, you need all three: vision, humility, and the no-quit gene so you can draw from them in rapid succession.
The triangle shifts proportions while retaining its strength
When we focus on one type of problem, the triangle will shift its shape, with one side elongating. In other words, the trifecta is not necessarily an equilateral triangle. While the angles of a triangle must always equal 180 degrees, the various sides can shift in length to accommodate a change in shape while maintaining the overall strength. In the Contrarian’s Trifecta, all three traits are always present, holding the others in check so the triangle does not break. When you can quickly shift from one skill to another in the Trifecta, you can solve problems fast.
An introduction to vision
Vision is a critical trait for a contrarian. It is seeing what others do not. It is taking in data points and reading the landscape. It’s about leveraging the creative spark to perceive possibilities and new beginnings. It is about listening intently. Part of an entrepreneur’s job involves drawing from all the senses, including both those we can quantify and our intuitive abilities that are not wholly understood. Vision is about sensing, perceiving, and understanding.
An introduction to the no-quit gene
Having vision without action is useless. If you get overloaded by data, then you fall into analysis paralysis. On the other side of the triangle is the “no-quit gene,” which I sometimes call “indefatigability.” It’s also labeled as “grit” in Angela Duckworth’s body of work, which I cite in my book Creative Insecurity: Lean into the Unknown and Unleash Your Inner Misfit. worth’s TED talk on the subject is among the most viewed of all time. Her work struck a chord, making the word “grit” one of the biggest educational policy trends in recent years, a
Once you have used your visionary skills to take in data points, move forward with courageous decisiveness. This part of the Trifecta will help you persevere until you make your vision a reality. The no-quit gene is about creative problem-solving. Strategies, ideas, and even companies might change, but you never give up on yourself. You never give up on your dream of moving the needle for others. In a word, the no-quit gene is about “doing.”
An introduction to humility
The triangle’s base is humility, the foundation upon which everything else builds (or crumbles without). Humility reminds you to be flexible in accomplishing a goal as you exercise the no-quit gene. It keeps you detached from a narrow idea of success, remaining open to new possibilities that might be even better than what you had in mind. It is about accepting reality as you set aside what you think you know or want. Humility involves listening to others without judgment or defensiveness. It allows you to lean into the unknown because you accept that the unknown exists; in other words, you don’t know everything. Humility keeps you alive by allowing you to remain clear-eyed and to not succumb to magical thinking. Humility allows you to ask for help when you need it. And it will get you out of trouble when your plans go awry.
Humility also involves service. Effort fueled by ego will ultimately fail, but humility channels work into causes that further the greater good. When your work is bigger than you, you will be even more indefatigable.
You can succeed for a while on two of the three traits
The Trifecta concept matters because all three traits are needed to hold the others in check. It’s easy to find people who have done well on the strength of two qualities, and it is also easy to see examples of people who crash because they lacked a third. Most often, a lack of humility will undo the other two. A healthy dose of humility can generally counteract the downsides of the other two, but hubris is ultimately the great undoer. Remember, the triangle’s inherent strength focuses on checks and balances.
Learn more about the Contrarian’s Trifecta in my new book, Creative Insecurity, which you can get here.
