The problem with most people: A case for non-conformity

I'm reading Chris Guillebeau's new book, The Art of Non-Conformity. His main point is that "you don’t have to live your life the way other people expect you to. You can do good things for yourself and make the world a better place at the same time."

Thinking about non-conformity reminded me that most of us adjust our behavior based on what most people do. This seems to be human nature and psychologists refer to it as social proof. We figure that if most people are doing something, then it must be a good idea. Unfortunately, this isn't true.

• Most people are employees
• Most people don't like their work
• Most people only have a high school education
• Most people are in debt
• Most people make less than $50,000
• Most people don't exercise regularly
• Most people think they'll succeed by fixing their weaknesses

 

• A select few start their own businesses
• A select few do what they love
• A select few graduate from college
• A select few are debt free
• A select few earn a six-figure income
• A select few exercise regularly
• A select few flaunt their weaknesses, instead of trying to fix them

I'm not arguing that starting a business, having a college degree or earning a lot of money are the most important things in life. My point is that you probably don't want what most people have. You probably want what most people don't have. But if you do what most people do, if you follow the crowd, you probably won't have the life that you want.

Non-conformity is important because you probably want to be like a select few, instead of ending up like most people. Are you ready to be a freak?

Do you have anything to add? What else do most people do?

 

Comments

[Bryce]

G'day Dave,

Have bought the Art of Non-conformity for my 16 year old son for Christmas. I can't wait to borrow it. The freaks shall inherit the earth!

[Ryan Bradshaw]

Good way to take the Non-Conformity book and put a Freak Factor perspective on it.

[Joseph Joel Sherman]

Dave,
My life has changed dramatically since attending your Freak Factor lecture at Duke University three years. Thank you for teaching me to flaunt my weaknesses instead of trying to fix them. Five months ago I moved from Chapel Hill, North Carolina to Jerusalem, Israel.

I wonder if the Freak Factor can be applied to national economies?

The World Travel and Tourism Council notes that tourism in Israel contributes to 6.4% of the country's Gross Domestic Product, and employs almost a quarter of a million people - nearly one on every thirteen jobs. There seems to be two broad tracts of tourism: the old and the new. The Old - religious and historical sites, archeology, museums and natural wonders. The new - beaches and shopping malls. In a sense, much of the "new" tourism projects aim to fix what is seen as a weakness, that the tourism revolves too much around ancient places and not enough around beach front hotels and shopping malls.

Last week I visited two shopping malls in Jerusalem. It was in the style of a California indoor shopping center from the 1990s, it felt dated and was nearly empty. The second was a bit more stylish, but still dated to the 1990s, and it was even emptier than the first. The one shopping center that is crowded all the time is Mahane Yehuda Market (The Shuk), is over 100 years old, and is based on traditional regional markets.

Perhaps the shopping malls tell the story of a national economy that is caught between itself. There will always be a newer shopping mall or a grander hotel being built. But historical sites are the opposite; ancient sites appreciate with time if cared for.

[David Rendall]

Great point, Andy. We get so concerned about fitting in and not sticking out that we end up on a journey to someplace we don't want to be. Taking responsibility for our success also means taking responsibility for our failure and many folks would rather play it "safe."

[Andypels]

It seems most follow the crowd not because they want to get where the crowd is going, but for cover during the journey (to wherever). If you break from the crowd you can't blame 'the system' when you make a mistake.