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Bucking the norm can make you happier, argues Linda Rottenberg, author of the new book Crazy Is a Compliment.
Linda Rottenberg is used to people thinking she's nuts. When she told her parents she was leaving her safe corporate job to launch her own company, they were skeptical: Would her Yale law degree go to waste? And when she pitched her idea—to establish a fund that would help other entrepreneurs get their start—to Latin American investors, they nicknamed her la chica loca. But today her company, Endeavor, has helped nearly a thousand entrepreneurs generate more than $6 billion in revenue annually. In other words, her kind of crazy works.
Her new book, Crazy Is a Compliment: The Power of Zigging When Everyone Else Zags, explains why: "People label an idea 'crazy' because it threatens the status quo—and those who benefit from it," she says. But those ideas often come from trailblazers; Rottenberg cites legends like Henry Ford, Estée Lauder (who first dreamed up gift-with-purchase beauty samples), and even two moms who worked at Clorox and pitched their bosses the concept of environmentally friendly cleaning products. "Give yourself permission to see the world differently," she says. "If you aren't being called crazy, you just aren't thinking big enough yet."
Ready to start? Here, a little Crazy 101 for your own career from Rottenberg:
Stop planning and start doing.
"Don't wait to pitch until you have all the data lined up. I've seen women delay a meeting for weeks until their PowerPoint presentation is perfect, while men will walk into a conference room less prepared but ultimately more confident. You're never going to have all the answers; sometimes you just need faith."
Then, take smart risks.
"When pitching a new idea, yes, you have to take a leap, but I'm not saying jump off a ledge. Even Sara Blakely, inventor of Spanx, didn't quit her day job selling fax machines until her idea took off. We often think of entrepreneurs as swashbuckling daredevils, but it's really about taking baby steps. You're not maxing out your credit cards or forgoing student loans—you're thinking differently."
Know that stalking is an underrated strategy.
"I once waited for a potential investor outside the men's room, and after he emerged, I explained why I wanted a few minutes of his time. Get over the sense that you might be perceived as aggressive; find a little chutzpah and reach out to a mentor you admire. People respond to passion. The subject of my stalking did: He agreed to co chair our global advisory board."
Be a little bit vulnerable at work.
"I always thought you weren't supposed to mix your personal life with business—and that women, especially, should be independent and self-sufficient, not emotional. However, six years ago, when my husband was diagnosed with a rare form of bone cancer, I realized I had to be open with my colleagues about why I needed time off. When I returned, my employees told me, 'Linda, we used to think you were superhuman.... It was hard to relate to you. But your honesty inspires us.' Our team is more energized because they know that if something important comes up in their personal lives, they can—and should—make it their priority."
Create your balance.
"I don't believe in worklife balance. Thinking that it has to be 50-50 all the time stresses me out! Instead, it's about integrating your work and home lives, being clear about your values, and communicating them to the people around you. You don't have to choose. For instance, when I brought my girls with me to a recent summit, they led 200 entrepreneurs in an Endeavor cheer. I find that integration—the feeling that your personal and professional lives are harmonious, instead of at war with each other—is much more helpful than 'balance.'"
