Contrarian Takes
12 templates in this category
When to use this:
When you want to challenge a specific industry dogma and offer a more thoughtful alternative.
Strategy:
This template directly attacks a universally accepted 'best practice.' By arguing that it's outdated, context-dependent, or a form of lazy thinking, you force your audience to re-evaluate their own strategies.
Template:
When to use this:
For starting a lively debate and generating high levels of comments and engagement.
Strategy:
This classic hook immediately signals a contrarian viewpoint. It's a direct invitation for engagement, as people will want to see if they agree or disagree with your provocative stance.
Template:
When to use this:
To educate your audience on data literacy and guide them toward more meaningful metrics.
Strategy:
This template attacks the validity of a popular industry metric, arguing that it's a 'vanity metric' that doesn't correlate with real success. This positions you as a data-savvy expert focused on what truly matters.
Template:
When to use this:
When an industry is oversaturated with a single tactic and you want to champion a different approach.
Strategy:
This is a highly disruptive take that advises doing the exact opposite of what everyone else is doing. It's a bold strategy that champions unconventional thinking as a path to standout success.
Template:
When to use this:
To provide a grounding perspective during a period of intense hype around a new technology.
Strategy:
This template pushes back against the hype cycle for a popular new tool or technology. It argues that mastery of fundamentals is more important than adopting the latest shiny object, positioning you as a wise, grounded expert.
Template:
When to use this:
To offer a nuanced, critical perspective on a popular trend, highlighting its potential downsides.
Strategy:
This template reveals the unforeseen negative consequences of a seemingly positive trend or strategy. It shows a deeper level of critical thinking and helps your audience avoid unintended pitfalls.
Template:
When to use this:
To motivate an audience struggling with perfectionism and encourage them to take action.
Strategy:
This template directly attacks the pressure for perfection. It argues that being willing to be 'bad' at something new is the only way to eventually get good, which resonates with anyone suffering from perfectionism-induced procrastination.
Template:
When to use this:
To challenge data-paralysis and advocate for a more insight-driven approach to decision-making.
Strategy:
In a data-obsessed world, this template argues that the problem isn't a lack of data, but a lack of insight or courage. It champions qualitative understanding over quantitative overload.
Template:
When to use this:
To provide a grounding, realistic perspective on success and build trust through an authentic message.
Strategy:
This template celebrates the unsexy, consistent, and 'boring' work that actually leads to success, contrasting it with the hype around exciting but unsustainable 'hacks'.
Template:
When to use this:
To offer a radical, paradigm-shifting view on productivity and achievement.
Strategy:
This is a highly provocative take that challenges the very foundation of modern productivity advice. It argues that focusing on systems and processes is superior to focusing on goals.
Template:
When to use this:
To connect with an audience feeling the negative effects of 'hustle culture' and offer a healthier alternative.
Strategy:
This template pushes back against the pervasive 'hustle culture' narrative, arguing that it's a recipe for burnout, not sustainable success. It champions rest, deep work, and strategic focus.
Template:
When to use this:
To offer a more nuanced and mature perspective on the concept of failure and risk.
Strategy:
This pushes back on the popular Silicon Valley mantra to 'fail fast, fail often.' It argues that while learning from failure is good, avoiding stupid failures is even better, championing careful planning and deliberation.