Mavericks summary

During their research, the authors identified five key characteristics that define the maverick spirit. These are the qualities shared by all mavericks, from Steve Jobs to Khadim Hussain – but more on him in a moment.

We’re going to look at these maverick qualities one by one. Once you understand them, you’ll have a better idea of how to live up to your maverick potential.

Mavericks want to change things. And in order to change things, they need to be particularly resourceful. Resourcefulness – that’s another quality that all mavericks share.

For maverick leaders, resourcefulness means making connections and identifying opportunities, often in unusual ways. They see potential in unexpected places – potential that might be easily missed by other people. For example, a maverick entrepreneur can spot a gap in the marketplace and introduce original commodities, which lead to exciting new business opportunities. 

Like other maverick leaders, Katharine Birbalsingh is not only resourceful but unconventional. She’s a nonconformist, though maybe not in the way you’d expect.

In 2014, she became the founder and head teacher of the Michaela Community School in London. Birbalsingh’s approach to education is not what you would call fashionable – at least, not by twenty first-century standards. At the Michaela School, students study traditional subjects. Instead of Information Technology, they have Latin classes. The rules are similarly old-school. As they move between classrooms, students are not allowed to talk. 

As you can see, it’s not always easy being a maverick. You’ll face setbacks – and sometimes you’ll even fail.

The prospect of failure can be scary, of course. But mavericks aren’t afraid. They know that while failure is hard, it’s also necessary. That’s what happens when you try something new. 

And what if your well-planned experiment is a total disaster? Well, as we’ve already seen, most mavericks experience failure and setbacks at some point. This is why perseverance is another key characteristic of mavericks. No matter what happens, they remain undeterred. 

And they’re undeterred even when they’re facing outright hostility. That’s what happened in the case of Khadim. Remember his story from earlier? As he campaigned for girls’ education in Pakistan, he faced opposition and hostility from so many people in his community, including his own family. But despite everything, he persevered. He didn’t give up.

For mavericks, their professional life is personal. When you’re working in alignment with your higher order goals and life philosophy, the job itself can become a source of meaning and satisfaction. 

A good maverick leader is focused on making things better without ego – without arrogance. But along the way, they may discover an amazing sense of self-fulfillment through their work. 

It’s time to look at the bigger picture. The world needs not just maverick individuals, but maverick organizations who can in turn create better societies. Remember, mavericks aim high!

But what exactly does a maverick organization look like? How do you create one or change an existing company to make it more maverick?