Why Consensus Doesn’t Lead to Greatness

Years ago, during a walk through New York with a retired venture capitalist from Bessemer, I asked him a simple question:

“What separated your best investments from the rest? Could you have spotted them early on?”

His answer stuck with me.

He said, “The best investments were the ones where there was disagreement on the team. Some people believed in them, others didn’t. When everyone agreed, we usually overpaid. And when almost no one agreed, the decision was often wrong.”

Disagreement Isn’t a Flaw — It’s a Signal

That idea has stayed with me — not just in the context of investing, but across life and creative work.

Whether you’re trying to write something meaningful, launch a business, or make strategic decisions, chasing complete agreement from everyone around you can actually hold you back.

Why? Because consensus tends to smooth out bold thinking. It pulls ideas toward the middle, toward safety — and away from originality.

A Personal Lesson in Standing Firm

Over the past year, my friend Vinod Thomas and I have made a few small investments together. Interestingly, the one that’s performed the best so far is the one some of our smartest and most respected friends didn’t support.

We listened to their concerns, of course. But we had conviction — and that made all the difference.

Great Work Often Begins in Uncertainty

This isn’t a call to ignore advice or rebel for the sake of it. But it is a reminder that if you’re trying to create something exceptional, you won’t always get early applause.

Trust your instincts when they’re grounded in insight. Be willing to move forward even if others hesitate.