Why breakthrough innovation often needs to start with rebellion

"The optimists. Oh, they were the ones who said, 'We're going to be out by Christmas.' And Christmas would come, and Christmas would go. Then they'd say, 'We're going to be out by Easter.' And Easter would come, and Easter would go. And then Thanksgiving, and then it would be Christmas again. And they died of a broken heart."

"If essence precedes existence, then there is a plan for us, we have a destiny. But if God plays dice with the universe-the possibility Einstein suggested-then we are free to make our own plans and pursue our own path. There is no order and no script waiting to be followed, no hidden blueprint."

Einstein and Bohr debated quantum mechanics in the 1920s, fundamentally questioning whether reality follows predetermined order or operates through probability. This philosophical dispute challenged the ancient principle that essence precedes existence. If essence precedes existence, life follows a predetermined plan. Conversely, if randomness governs the universe, individuals possess freedom to create their own meaning. Admiral Stockdale's experience as a POW in Vietnam illustrated this principle practically. Optimistic prisoners who expected imminent release repeatedly faced disappointment and despair, ultimately dying from broken hearts. Stockdale survived by accepting the harsh reality of his situation while maintaining resolute commitment to his values and survival.

Read at Fast Company