A Smart Bear · Jason Cohen
articleprincipleIgnoring the Wisdom of Crowds
15 September 2024Profit
Source excerpt
About A Smart BearDiscover how to leverage the wisdom of the crowds, but also when to avoid it, as it can easily lead you astray.
This is a limited feed-provided excerpt, not the full original work.
Apollo layer
What a founder can learn
Founder takeaway
Treat crowd opinion as an input, not an answer. Before following consensus, assess whether the group has relevant knowledge—and whether its judgment could systematically steer you wrong.
Why it matters
Founders often face popular advice, customer requests, and market narratives that appear authoritative. Knowing when to use or resist consensus improves decision quality and prevents scarce resources from following noise.
Relevant guides
Put it to work
For one current decision, ask: What does the crowd know that we do not, and what conditions could make its consensus misleading?
Private notes