Yes, original thinking leads to amazing things like the lightbulb, Tesla, and other great inventions. But you might argue that even Apple started as a mismatch of the Sony Walkman and Blackberry. The more common route to success I’ve witnessed requires suspending all critical thinking and blindly following a formula. It’s not glamorous, but it works. Let’s dive into why “shit for brains” might just be the most reliable path to success.

The Common Path: Shit for Brains

Franchises: The Recipe for Wealth

Take franchises, for example. They’re a goldmine if you follow the rules. McDonald’s even has a university to ensure franchisees do everything by the book. Divergent thinking? Not allowed. Stick to the formula, and you’re set for life.

Multilevel Marketing (MLM) Companies

Then there’s Amway and other MLMs. People have made untold fortunes by following the company’s script without applying any of their own critical thinking. Just do what they tell you, and you could end up wealthy.

Real Estate and Courses

Consider your friend who took a course on flipping houses or accumulating real estate. They didn’t think; they just followed the steps. If their timing was right, and they hit a boom period in real estate, they’re probably sitting on millions now.

Anecdotal Evidence: The Mainframe Distributor

I’ll never forget my childhood friend who got a distributorship for large mainframe computers in the seventies. He didn’t dot every I or cross every T, and some of his computers ended up in Russia. He had to clear up his troubles in DC later, but he’s obscenely rich now. Not thinking and just plowing ahead worked out for him.

The Middle Path: Challenges and Realities

Most of us fall somewhere in the middle, balancing between blind conformity and radical originality. This middle path is tricky. It requires you to follow some guidelines while thinking outside the box just enough to make improvements or find unique solutions.

The Road Not Travelled: The Thrill of Divergence

Then there’s the road not travelled, filled with excitement and unknowns. For some of us, like me, this path is where we find our joy. It’s not always the way to immense wealth, but it’s rich with personal fulfillment and adventure.

Embracing Originality

Those of us who love the road not travelled have what I call a mismatching brain. We crave exploration and innovation, even if others don’t always understand us. It’s a lonelier path, but incredibly rewarding when our ideas catch on.

Personal Happiness: The Traditional Route

I’m sure some of you have friends who followed the traditional marriage route. They married through arranged marriages or chose partners within their community, religion, or culture. Many of them went on to have extremely happy, successful lives surrounded by like-minded people. This route, too, can lead to personal happiness and fulfillment, reinforcing the idea that following a well-known path without questioning can lead to a happy and successful life.

Conclusion: Two Paths to Success

In summary, both paths—the shit for brains route and the road not travelled—are valid routes to success. The former is reliable and often leads to wealth and happiness by following proven formulas. The latter is for those who seek excitement and fulfillment through originality.

For those of us who thrive on the unconventional, the road not travelled offers a richness of experience that conventional paths lack. It may not always lead to immense wealth, but it brings joy and discovery.

A Proposal for Reflection

So here’s my proposal: either follow the well-known path without question or embrace original thinking to become a one-in-a-billion innovator. Reflect on where you stand and choose the journey that fits your personality and aspirations. For me, the road not travelled is where I find my excitement and joy, and I wouldn’t have it any other way.

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Next time, let’s delve deeper into the joy and challenges of the road not travelled. For those of us who love adventure and the unknown, it’s a journey worth every step.