10 uncommon opinions that could be true

Ever get the feeling we’re all just following a bunch of unwritten rules? You know the ones: “the early bird gets the worm,” “multitasking is a superpower,” or “always follow the market.” But what if some of that common wisdom is… not so wise after all?

Much of what we consider fact could use a serious reevaluation. Take startups, for example. The U.S. Small Business Administration reports that only about 50% of businesses survive past their fifth year.

Yet, many huge success stories started as unpopular ideas. Sometimes, the most unconventional opinions actually have yielded many results.

I love a good contrarian take, especially one that makes you go, “Huh, I never thought of it that way.” It’s like finding a secret level in a video game you’ve played a million times. Let’s put on our skeptic hats and dive into 10 uncommon opinions that might be true.

Get ready to have your mind blown.

Contrarian Investing Beats Following the Crowd

We’ve all heard the advice: follow the market trends, buy what’s hot. But what if the most brilliant move is to do the exact opposite?

One study published in Socioeconomic Challenges (2024) found that, over a specific period, contrarian strategies generated an 84.11% return, while conventional trend-following strategies actually lost 10.45% when adjusted for inflation.

It is as though you are shopping in the clearance rack of stocks, and you discover some secret gems that no one else has picked.

Sleeping in Chunks Might Be More Natural

The eight-hour block of sleep is sacred. Well, maybe not. The National Geographic highlights that before the Industrial Revolution and the advent of artificial lighting, humans were more likely to be polyphasic sleepers.  

Although the study is still in its early stages, reports from individuals who practice polyphasic sleep suggest benefits, such as improved productivity.

This could be as simple as the fact that they have more time to be awake, but it raises the issue of the one-size-fits-all approach to rest. It leaves you wondering whether our modern sleep patterns are more tailored to 9-to-5 work schedules than to our natural biology.

Waking Up at 4 AM Isn’t a Magic Bullet for Success

Articles about hyper-successful CEOs who rise before the sun are inundated on the internet. However, this rise-and-grind culture does not take into consideration one of the most basic biological facts: chronotypes.

Nobody can be forced to wake up at 4 AM, and to some individuals (the night owls), a wake-up call at 4 am is a sure way to burn out rather than to succeed. Stanford research proves that there is a limit to productivity.

A healthy amount of sleep (7 hours) is much more important to productivity than the time of the day you get up. Therefore, you can officially stop feeling guilty if you are a night owl.

Multitasking Is Actually Making You Less Productive

We all love to think we’re expert multitaskers, answering emails, taking phone calls, and writing that report that was due yesterday. There is some bad news about neuroscience, though, and it is that humans are not able to multitask complex activities.

The switching of tasks is just extremely rapid in our brains. This is a task-switching that is so exhausting. The American Psychological Association shows that multitasking may decrease productivity and raise the number of errors.

The real secret to getting things done is “deep work”—focusing on one single task without distraction. It’s less chaotic and produces way better results.

Irregular Eating Patterns May Not Be Inherently Unhealthy

“Eat three square meals a day.” We have heard it since our childhood. However, the timing of eating is less critical to metabolic health than what you eat and the total calories you consume.

A perfect example is the emergence of intermittent fasting. Research on fasting suggests that prolonged periods of rest for the digestive system can be beneficial. The three meals a day were a mere result of industrial working schedules, not a biological need.

Therefore, it is possible that it is more necessary to listen to the signals of hunger in your body rather than the clock.

A College Degree Isn’t the Only Ticket to Success

A formal degree was considered the golden ticket to an excellent career for generations. But the times are changing. Large firms are now abandoning the requirement of degrees for most positions.

Instead, it favors practical skills, experience, and problem-solving capabilities. As of 2023, the unemployment rate for American high school graduates was 5.8%, compared to 2.9% for those with a bachelor’s degree, according to Business Insider Africa.

They have come to understand that what you can do is a much better indicator of job performance than your education. This change is fantastic as it brings opportunities to all talented individuals from diverse backgrounds.

Teaming Up with Your Competitor Can Be a Genius Move

The conventional business playbook suggests that you should kill your competition. However, the most successful approach, and the most unusual, is the so-called co-opetition, which is cooperation with your competitors.

For instance, Spotify and Uber are collaborating to let you choose the music you want to listen to on your drive, or GoPro and Red Bull are jointly marketing extreme sports. Such relationships are genius. They help companies to access the customer base, share resources, and develop.

Thinking Differently Is a Superpower

Groupthink can be a problem in any organization. It happens when everyone agrees and no one questions ideas. People who challenge conventional thinking help improve decisions and encourage innovation by introducing new perspectives.

Research published in Behavioral Science & Policy shows that teams with diverse perspectives can create environments where psychological safety grows when managed well.

These are the people who ask, “But what if we’re wrong?” This simple question has saved many companies from making big mistakes.

The Scientific Consensus Can Be Wrong

We’re taught to trust scientific consensus, and for the most part, that’s good advice. But history is littered with examples of widely accepted “scientific facts” that turned out to be completely wrong.

Scientific ideas can be slow to change, even when new evidence appears. This doesn’t mean we should ignore science, but it’s wise to stay a bit skeptical. Science is about learning and discovery, not about fixed truths.

The Kids Might Actually Be Alright

It’s a tale as old as time: older generations worrying about the habits of the younger ones. But contrary to popular belief, Millennials and Gen Z might be making healthier choices than previous generations did at their age.

For example, according to the International Food Information Council, 68% of millennials and 71% of Gen Z consider health benefits when choosing food, compared to 56% of baby boomers.

Younger people are more likely to exercise, prioritize their mental health, and make environmentally conscious choices. Even if they spend time on social media, they are also developing habits that could lead to better health in the future.

Conclusion

Challenging conventional wisdom isn’t about being difficult; it’s about being curious. These uncommon opinions reveal that there’s often a different, evidence-based way to view the world.

If it’s how we invest our money, structure our day, or run our businesses, questioning the “default settings” can lead to incredible breakthroughs.

So, the next time you hear a piece of advice that everyone seems to agree on, maybe take a second to ask, “But is it really true?” You might just uncover a better way of doing things.

Science Tells Us What To Expect As We Age: Strategies for Thriving in Later Life

Science Tells Us What To Expect As We Age: Strategies for Thriving in Later Life

How does aging affect our bodies and minds, and how can we adapt to those differences? These are questions that pertain to us all. Aging gradually alters people over decades, a long period shaped by individuals’ economic and social circumstances, their behaviors, their neighborhoods, and other factors. Also, while people experience common physiological issues in later life, they don’t follow a well-charted, developmentally predetermined path. Let’s take a look at what science has told us to expect.

Why Supersonic Flights Vanished From Our Skies

Why Supersonic Flights Vanished From Our Skies

Every year on August 19th, National Aviation Day celebrates the marvels of flight and the pioneers who made it possible. But as we look to the skies, one question lingers. If we could fly from New York to London in under three and a half hours back in the 1970s, why are we still taking nearly seven today? Supersonic travel was once a thrilling reality. So, what grounded it?