Albert Einstein famously said, “Insanity is doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results.” Yet, many organizations, teams, and individuals fall into the trap of routine, mistaking repetition for progress. They tweak, refine, and optimize within the same framework, hoping for breakthroughs that never come.
We are the ‘original betterment company’ and well known for years of innovation and helping our customers innovate. More than ever before, innovation demands edginess. Being More Edgy, is the #1 on our eight cultural tenets to help sustain and amplify our growth and propel us to a brighter future.
What Edginess is NOT
Edginess is not about being reckless. It’s not about change for the sake of change. And it’s not about being disruptive in a way that creates chaos with no real direction.
- It’s NOT being different just to be different. True edginess is purposeful. It’s not about making shocking moves just to get attention. If an idea lacks real impact or substance, it’s just noise.
- It’s NOT about burning everything down. Edgy thinkers don’t destroy systems just because they dislike them; they rebuild them better. Innovation isn’t about tearing things apart—it’s about elevating what works and discarding what doesn’t.
- It’s NOT about ignoring risk altogether. Being edgy doesn’t mean being reckless. It means taking calculated risks and stepping beyond comfort zones in ways that create real momentum.
- It’s NOT about rejecting tradition entirely. Sometimes, what worked before can still be useful—but only if it serves a purpose. The key is knowing when to evolve beyond it.
Now that we know what edginess isn’t, let’s talk about what it looks like in action.
What Does It Mean to Be Edgy?
Being edgy is about pushing boundaries, challenging norms, and embracing discomfort; it’s about strategic boldness—the kind that forces people to reconsider the status quo and sparks true transformation.
Edginess isn’t just about aesthetics or being controversial for the sake of it. It’s about mindset and execution. It’s about choosing to stand at the fringe of what’s acceptable and daring to take a step forward when everyone else hesitates.
The Problem with Playing It Safe
Traditional corporate and institutional cultures love predictability. Processes are designed to minimize risk, not maximize innovation. Over time, this creates an echo chamber where the same ideas are recycled under new branding, giving the illusion of progress.
Here’s what playing it safe gets you: Marginal improvements, Short-term wins, Consensus-driven decisions that please everyone and excite no one!
Here’s what being edgy gets you: Game-changing breakthroughs, Bold new perspectives, A culture where fresh ideas thrive!
How to Inject Edginess into Innovation
If you want to change the culture of monotony and spark real innovation, you need to be intentional about breaking the cycle. Here’s how:
1. Challenge the Default Mode
Most businesses and individuals operate in autopilot mode, following “best practices” without questioning if they’re the best for their specific context. Start by asking:
- Why are we doing things this way and what if we did the opposite?
- Who benefits from the current approach, and who is left out?
Disrupting the default forces new perspectives to emerge.
2. Encourage “Bad” Ideas
Innovation requires a safe space for radical thinking. Too often, ideas are killed prematurely because they seem unrealistic. The best innovations often start as bad ideas that evolve. The first draft of the iPhone? Considered impractical. Streaming movies online? A logistical nightmare at first.
Create an environment where people are encouraged to bring forward ideas that seem crazy, weird, or even stupid. Within those “bad” ideas, you’ll find golden threads of brilliance waiting to be pulled.
3. Celebrate Rebellion and Dissent
In any group setting, dominant voices and perspectives often silence unconventional thinking. If you’re leading a team, make rebellion part of the culture:
- Rotate the role of “Devil’s Advocate” in meetings
- Reward employees who challenge leadership (constructively, 😊)
- Hire people who think differently and give them space to speak
Real innovation doesn’t come from yes-men; it comes from people willing to say, “This is broken—let’s fix it.”
4. Get Comfortable with Discomfort (Opening Doors by Fred)
Edginess makes people uneasy. That’s the point. Innovation isn’t about making things easier; it’s about making things better, which often means going through discomfort first.
If your team, product, or strategy feels too comfortable, you might be playing it too safe. The best ideas feel uncomfortable at first because they require change—and change is hard.
5. Make Failure Part of the Process
Edgy thinkers don’t fear failure; they see it as part of the process. The biggest innovators didn’t just have wins; they had several spectacular failures along the way. What set them apart was their ability to learn, adapt, and move forward aggressively. All of these are part of our eight cultural tenets.
The key is failing fast and learning faster. Instead of avoiding failure, expect it, dissect it, and use it to improve.
Edgy Thinking = Cultural Shifts
If we want a culture of real innovation, we need to embed edginess into our DNA. The world’s most groundbreaking companies and thinkers don’t wait for permission to disrupt; they take risks, embrace discomfort, and push beyond the obvious.
The choice is simple: Stay safe and stay stagnant—or be edgy and change the game.
Which one will you choose?
