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Peter Thiel, one of the sharpest minds in business and venture capital, has a way of getting people to think in new, bold directions. His philosophy centers around a unique question that many struggle to answer: "Tell me something that’s true that almost nobody agrees with you on."
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It sounds simple, but it's deceptively hard. We’ve all been trained to think that truth is something everyone already agrees upon. To suggest a new idea that challenges common beliefs takes real courage. And this is exactly what Thiel is after—ideas that are so different, so contrarian, that they stand alone as truly valuable.
The Courage to Break Away from Conventional Thinking
The difficulty in answering Thiel’s question doesn’t lie in intellect; it lies in the fear of stepping out of the box. We are often intimidated by the thought of offering a bold idea that no one else might support. After all, it takes guts to suggest something that might make others raise an eyebrow or question your sanity.
But as Thiel sees it, these are the ideas that truly matter—the ones that are different, the ones that no one is building yet.
Real-World Examples of Bold Thinkers
While we’ve all heard of famous innovators like Elon Musk or Steve Jobs, there are many successful entrepreneurs who’ve made a mark by answering Thiel’s question in their own unique ways—people who dared to think differently when others thought they were wrong.
Gina Bianchini, for instance, co-founded Ning, a platform that allowed people to build their own social networks. This was back in the early 2000s when Facebook was taking off and everyone thought that a single, centralized platform was the only model that would work. Her idea of giving users the power to create and control their own communities was contrarian at the time. Today, Ning continues to thrive, serving those who want niche, customizable online spaces.
Another great example is Mikkel Svane, the founder of Zendesk. When Svane first started building his customer service software, people told him that he was wasting time. Most thought that customer service software was boring and that there was no real innovation to be had in that space. But Svane disagreed. He believed in a simpler, friendlier approach to customer service, and Zendesk grew to become a multi-billion dollar company, proving that thinking differently can pay off big.
Embracing Contrarian Thinking for Success
What makes these examples special? They all reflect the courage to step away from conventional wisdom. Just like Thiel’s question asks, these entrepreneurs looked at the world and saw gaps where no one else did. They built businesses in areas others avoided, and their success proves that the path to greatness is not always the well-worn one.
So next time you’re brainstorming a new business idea, ask yourself: What great business is nobody building? And don’t shy away from the ideas that seem too bold or different. It’s these very ideas that could set you apart and lead to something extraordinary.
The courage to challenge the norm and offer an idea that few others agree with is what innovation is built on. If you can answer Thiel’s tough question, you may just be on the brink of something incredible!
Listen to Peter Thiel:
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