Be Contrarian

A few years ago, I was given what I believe to be the ultimate compliment - "you are a disruptor."

Being a Disruptor doesn’t mean being loud. It means being contrarian. One of my personal core values is Being Contrarian. Not for the sake of disagreement - but because progress rarely comes from nodding along with “the way it’s always been done.”

In operations and supply chain, the default answer is often "That’s standard.” “That’s how the system works.” “Everyone does it this way.” And my personal favorite (sarcasm), "That's how we've always done it."

Being contrarian means asking: Should it work this way? Who benefits from this process? What problem are we solving or what are we protecting?

Disruption doesn’t always look like tearing things down - sometimes it looks like challenging assumptions that no longer fit the business - questioning metrics that reward activity instead of outcomes - saying the uncomfortable thing early (before it becomes an expensive issue later).

Contrarian thinking isn’t about ego. It’s about responsibility. It's not saying it in a harsh way or in a demeaning way. If you see a better path and stay silent, you’re not being aligned, you’re being complicit.

The best leaders I’ve worked with don’t want agreement. They want clarity.
They want someone willing to push back with data, experience, and intent.

That’s how real disruption happens. Quietly. Thoughtfully. Relentlessly.