Great Minds Think Differently

WY_CO
WY_CO
Aug 23, 2017 · 7 min read

You’ve likely heard the phrase thousands of times. You may even say it yourself from time to time. But when you stop and think about it, can you really get behind it? Can you say with conviction that “great minds” truly think alike?

We can’t. In fact, we believe this little four word phrase is detrimental to building successful businesses and communities. To help you along, we’re going to break it down for you and share exactly why we’re against this common cliché…

If you and the people around you see the world exactly the same way, then you might imagine that the ideas you come up with would be quite similar.

Picture the scene — you and your colleague are faced with a problem to solve. You come up with a solution to a problem. Your solution mimics that of your colleague’s solution. After you realize that you’ve landed in the same place, you high five, share a laugh, and conclude with good ol’ faithful — “ah, great minds think alike.” And then you move forward with your day and execute on the solution.

This approach lacks innovation, invention, and creativity. In fact, we’ll go as far as to say that it’s a celebration of intellectual complacency. The very thing that makes great minds great is that they don’t think like other minds, great or otherwise.

And so what would happen if rather than sending high-fives around the board room for coming up with a solution of sameness, we challenge one another? Push each other to explore more? Engage in conversations that move the needle forward and help to represent ideas from a diverse group of thinkers?

If we do that, we could be on to creating something bigger, better, bolder. We might even be on our way to a next great invention.

We Roam itself was born from an idea that was different (read: How We Roam Was Born). The concept of traveling the world while working remotely stands outside of convention. It’s a game changer in the working world as we know it. Beyond traveling to destinations around the globe, we knew that it would take a strong community of diverse and open minded individuals to really deliver on our promise of personal and professional growth for everyone who joins on.

“Our mission from the start has been to foster a community that challenges and empowers people of diverse backgrounds, life experiences, and perspectives.” — Nathan Yates, We Roam CEO & Co-founder

And so, our goal has been to bring together a diverse community of Roamers, not only across race, ethnicity, gender, sexual orientation, religion and age, but also across cultural backgrounds, life experiences, thoughts, and ideas. Embracing diversity enhances our community culture and also drives success. It is the inclusion of a variety of experiences and perspectives that creates a strong culture of empowerment, one that fosters new ideas and innovation.

Molly Hellring — Designer & 3D Modeler

“Before coming on to We Roam, as a member of the LGBT community, I was a little bit hesitant. I had a fear that I wouldn’t fit in. I was afraid I might not relate to the majority of people on the trip… So far it’s been great. I do miss hanging out with the queer community. But everyone here is very open minded — to take your job with you and wander the world, you have to be. The Orion group is inclusive and accepting. It’s still very different than being in New York with the queer community, but that’s why I came on this trip. To step outside of my comfort zone and to collaborate with people who see the world differently than I do.” — Molly

As We Roam continues to grow, we are looking for ways to bring our trip cohorts together and utilize each Roamer’s unique background and skillset to build out plans that will allow us to leave our footprint and positively impact the world.

“We’re in the process of developing our We Roam community service and giving back program. The goal is to bring Roamer thought leaders together each month, present them with a problem to solve for the next month (and next city we visit), and have them brainstorm creative ways to make a meaningful impact within each local community that we meet… We have small teams, but they have unlimited imaginations and a will to push eachother, work together, and see things through. We’ve already made some really great steps forward in working with refugee groups. We’ve got more problems to solve though. With our Roamers, the possibilities are really endless.” — Billy Schreyer, Orion Program Lead

In modern society, it’s easy to put ourselves into boxes based on our personal experiences. If we aren’t forced to step out of those boxes, then we lose our ability to think critically and creatively. In addition to building an inclusive culture and a powerful force for change, we want to provide an experience for Roamers to work alongside professionals in industries different from their own so they can broaden their perspectives and advance their careers.

Steve Jobs says it best — “The broader one’s understanding of the human experience, the better design we will have.”

“We know that people do their best work when they are inspired by their environments, outside of their comfort zones, and surrounded by people who challenge them. This is why we are taking professional development to the next level by creating collaborative workshops for our Roamers. The purpose is for Roamers to work together, learn from each other, and to make break throughs that allow them to move beyond their own commonly held beliefs.” — Eli Harris, Lyra Program Lead


Brad Good — Admissions Consultant

“I have found that being part of the We Roam community pushes me to see things differently — this community has a diverse background of interests and skills and as such, the opportunities to stretch myself personally and professionally are much larger than if I were to be on my own as a digital nomad. Simply knowing there is a support system is almost enough in itself, but then seeing that support system step up when you need them makes it all worth it. While we all want to experience local culture, we can delve into the culture and meet locals by pushing each other to do so.” — Brad

Hilary Scott — Front-End Developer

“Being a part of We Roam is an opportunity to grow — to explore new ideas and new cultures around the world. And to connect with people I wouldn’t have otherwise met.” — Hilary

Max Peterson — Software Engineer

“We all have different backgrounds and skillsets. It’s great that we can step outside of our work bubbles and tap each other for help or advice. For example, Zach (a fellow Roamer) needed help with programming last week and I was able to lend a hand. If he were back in the states working around people who do the same thing as him, he might not be able to get quick feedback or assistance.” — Max

Ashley Stone — Senior Sourcing Specialist

“I love that I am able to hang out 1:1 with anyone in our group and have a connection. We are all experiencing drastic change as we explore the world. But we dive into different cultures and explore together. We roam together. I love that I always have someone that I’m able to process my journey with.” — Ashley


We build and thrive when we surround ourselves with people who are different from us. People who are willing to hear our opinions, understand our positions, and offer alternatives. Our differences help us explore, connect, and grow. Our differences make us a sum greater than our parts.

The world has not progressed as it has because everyone has thought the same. It is curiousity and collaboration that moves the world forward. If we exist in a place where we can’t listen to new innovative ideas because we are so used to thinking in one way, progress will never happen.

So the next time you hear the phrase — “great minds think alike,” consider instead that maybe the greatest minds think differently. And that on our own we are great, BUT when we bring our different ideas together, we are greater.


If this type of environment and lifestyle sounds interesting to you AND you think you have what it takes to become a Roamer… SUBMIT AN APPLICATION HERE!

WYCO

The WY_CO global members community offers an exclusive pass for select remote professionals to travel, work, and live in the world’s most dynamic cities, one month at a time.

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WY_CO

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WY_CO

Travel the world & work remotely

WYCO

WYCO

The WY_CO global members community offers an exclusive pass for select remote professionals to travel, work, and live in the world’s most dynamic cities, one month at a time.

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