Looking To Succeed In Business? Be Ridiculous

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Not too long ago I spoke to my friend, Dan Pallotta and had a fascinating conversation with him. For those of you who don't know Dan, he's a leading global thought leader, activist, entrepreneur and humanitarian. He's done two Ted Talks, including one on human potential.

One of the reasons I like to speak to Dan is because he always reminds me that, as a business leader, no idea is too crazy or “out there," and in his words, he suggests that we should all "be ridiculous.” I think many business leaders and entrepreneurs have to keep that idea front and center.

What does Dan mean about being ridiculous? It's an idea that he explained in a post on his site. As it relates to business, it’s being able to see something that might not yet be a reality, and it's not only the biggest names in the corporate world, such as Steve Jobs, Elon Musk or Oprah Winfrey that understand the vision that is not yet a reality. Often, it's small-business owners as well.

I'll share with you my own experience as an example. I worked in the shoe industry ever since I started working as a kid in a work-study program at the age of 15 and walked into a shoe store with a job as a stock person. Decades later, I was one of the early pioneers taking gently-worn shoes to microentrepreneurs in developing nations so they could create economic paths out of poverty.

The business model was one that people told me could not be done because there were too many logistical challenges and business owners in developing countries did not have a sophisticated understanding of commerce. I ignored the advice and created a viable social enterprise and more importantly, met many talented, hardworking and visionary individuals who had the vision to break the chains of systemic poverty.

The Idea Is So Crazy

Sara Blakely, who is the founder of Spanx, also had a crazy idea. As a woman, she understood what many other women have complained about for years -- wearing pantyhose is uncomfortable. That's all Blakely knew on a fateful day that changed her life. As is explained on the Spanx website, in 1998 she wanted to look great in her pants, and she had the ridiculous idea to cut the feet off her pantyhose so she could have the added support the pantyhose offered. It was then that it occurred to Blakely that she hit upon something. She would go on to patent the idea and start her business.

Persistence Pays Off Big Time

Blakely approached many manufacturers, and one after another declined. Finally, one manufacturer called her and said he would create the Spanx, and it was because he had daughters who thought the idea was brilliant.

Blakely also dared to send the prototypes to Oprah Winfrey for her show and appeared on Oprah's show only three weeks after starting her business. She was operating out of a one-bedroom apartment at the time. The rest, as they say, is history. Eventually, Blakely earned her place in Forbes as its youngest billionaire in 2012, and it's purely because of her audacity and fearless spirit to do the unconventional.

Why Being Ridiculous Leads To Success

Being “ridiculous” or “crazy” can lead to incredible business opportunities, success and even wealth. The difference between those who succeed at the ridiculous and those who don't can be a matter of commitment, persistence and courage to do what others tell you is impossible.

Opportunity

One of the most significant obstacles to success is the fear of doing something that will make you feel like a fool if you fail or don't succeed. But, this is an opportunity. Most successful entrepreneurs had people that called their idea "crazy," but it didn't matter to them. I’ve been there myself and even had my best friend tell me I was “crazy.” But sometimes, there's an incredible opportunity, and you might be one of the few who sees it. That realization provides a chance for you to make it a reality. If you have a feeling that the idea is a good one, run with it.

Creativity

When you have a crazy or ridiculous idea, you're inevitably going to come face to face with challenges and obstacles. Perhaps it will be from the people who tell you your product or service will never sell, or it will be hard to get funders to invest in your vision. When this happens, you have to go deep and figure how you're going to get through, around or work with the people you need to make your dream a reality. All of this helps you develop your creativity and imagination because to develop the path, you have to think of ingenious solutions to make your vision a reality.

Fearlessness

I'm going to add fearlessness as the final point of why it's great to be ridiculous in business. When you're butting your head up against challenges, every single day, you're going to develop a lot of heart and spirit. Practice makes perfect, and when you become used to rejection for anything on a regular basis, in time, you will find yourself being less afraid to take chances and risk. And it is that ability to be fearless that will set you apart from the rest and make the "impossible" your reality. Remember the adage: Fortune favors the bold.

Next time you're wondering if you should start that company or develop that new line of business, my suggestion is that you be as ridiculous and crazy as you can and get to work.

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