--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Don't be afraid of developing a…" description: "\"Don't be afraid of developing a contrarian viewpoint on what type of person is perfect for your company as CTO and how you're going to find that person..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/56c/mariam-naficy-41351_afraid_don-t-be-afraid-of-developing-a-contrari_1745663.jpg" --- # Don't be afraid of developing a contrarian viewpoint on… ![“Don't be afraid of developing a contrarian viewpoint on what type of person is perfect for your company as CTO and how you're going to find that person.” quote by Mariam Naficy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/56c/mariam-naficy-41351_afraid_don-t-be-afraid-of-developing-a-contrari_1745663.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/56c/mariam-naficy-41351_afraid_don-t-be-afraid-of-developing-a-contrari_1745663.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/56c/mariam-naficy-41351_afraid_don-t-be-afraid-of-developing-a-contrari_1745663.jpg) > “Don't be afraid of developing a contrarian viewpoint on what type of person is perfect for your company as CTO and how you're going to find that person.” [Mariam Naficy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mariam-naficy/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Encourages embracing unconventional hiring criteria for CTO, focusing on fit and potential rather than stereotypes. **In simple terms:** Consider non‑traditional qualities when hiring a CTO. Key Takeaway Look beyond typical profiles for leadership. Themes leadership diversity recruitment Mood thoughtful analytical Type strategic advisory When to use this quote - executive search - startup hiring - team building - strategic planning Key Concepts innovation bias organizational culture Questions to Reflect On - What traits truly define a successful CTO? - How can you balance novelty with proven expertise? A Different Perspective Unconventional choices may risk misalignment with company needs. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Afraid](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/afraid/) [Company](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/company/) [Company Cto](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/company-cto-1558855/) [Contrarian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/contrarian/) [Contrarian Viewpoint](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/contrarian-viewpoint-1558857/) [Cto Going](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/cto-going-1558854/) [Developing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/developing/) [Developing Contrarian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/developing-contrarian-1558856/) [Find](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/find/) [Going](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/going/) [How](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/how/) [Perfect](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/perfect/) [Person](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/person/) [Type](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/type/) [Type of person](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/type-of-person/) [Viewpoint](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/viewpoint/) [You](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/you/) [Your](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/your/) ## Related quotes > [I have contrarian tendencies.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-t-conway-iii/i-have-contrarian-tendencies/) [George T. Conway III](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-t-conway-iii/) > [I am something of a contrarian, I suppose. I feel less comfortable when everybody agrees with me. I say, 'I better reexamine my position!'…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/antonin-scalia/i-am-something-of-a-contrarian-i-suppose-i-feel-less-comfortable-when/) [Antonin Scalia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/antonin-scalia/) > [I have a slight contrarian impulse I can't seem to shake.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-f-kennedy-jr/i-have-a-slight-contrarian-impulse-i-can-t-seem-to-shake/) [John F. Kennedy Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-f-kennedy-jr/) > [“Decision making brings together many of the finest traits of contrarian leadership--thinking gray, thinking free, artful listening, delegating authority while retaining ultimate responsibility,artful procrastination,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-b-sample/decision-making-brings-together-many-of-the-finest-traits-of/) [Steven B. Sample](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-b-sample/) > [To be a contrarian, you've got to be a contrarian against your own people.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-carville/to-be-a-contrarian-you-ve-got-to-be-a-contrarian-against-your-own/) [James Carville](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-carville/) > [“Let’s watch out for the unpredictability and the wildcat jumps of contrarian people, whose sole interests are soaring targets at high-speed, at all costs…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erik-pevernagie/let-s-watch-out-for-the-unpredictability-and-the-wildcat-jumps-of/) [Erik Pevernagie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erik-pevernagie/) > [None of this means, however, that a business or stock is an intelligent purchase simply because it is unpopular; a contrarian approach is just…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/warren-buffett/none-of-this-means-however-that-a-business-or-stock-is-an-intelligent/) [Warren Buffett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/warren-buffett/) > [When the things in front of you in life reveal how messed up the system is, you lose faith in the system pretty quickly.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jalen-rose/when-the-things-in-front-of-you-in-life-reveal-how-messed-up-the/) [Jalen Rose](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jalen-rose/) > [The very act of becoming an entrepreneur is contrarian to middle class values, study hard, get a good job, be happy with secure income…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rashmi-bansal/the-very-act-of-becoming-an-entrepreneur-is-contrarian-to-middle/) [Rashmi Bansal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rashmi-bansal/) > [When your views are truly contrarian, they are inevitably uncomfortable. Courage and the ability to withstand pain are required,](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-steinhardt/when-your-views-are-truly-contrarian-they-are-inevitably/) [Michael Steinhardt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-steinhardt/) > [Value investing is at its core the marriage of a contrarian streak and a calculator.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/seth-klarman/value-investing-is-at-its-core-the-marriage-of-a-contrarian-streak/) [Seth Klarman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/seth-klarman/) > [“Defending unpopular positions is what lawyers do”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-clement/defending-unpopular-positions-is-what-lawyers-do/) [Paul Clement](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-clement/) > [It’s actually pretty easy to be contrarian. It’s hard to be contrarian and right.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/reid-hoffman/it-s-actually-pretty-easy-to-be-contrarian-it-s-hard-to-be-contrarian/) [Reid Hoffman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/reid-hoffman/) > [Contrarian thinking at its best simply asks, Is this really true? It speaks up when the politically correct answer or the conventional wisdom doesn't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/larry-osborne/contrarian-thinking-at-its-best-simply-asks-is-this-really-true-it/) [Larry Osborne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/larry-osborne/) > [Successful contrarian investing requires us to live with discomfort, for being "wrong" and alone. But bargains do not exist in the absence of fear.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-d-arnott/successful-contrarian-investing-requires-us-to-live-with-discomfort/) [Robert D. Arnott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-d-arnott/) ## More by Mariam Naficy > [At age 28, I had no retail experience, no consumer marketing experience and no real Internet experience. But I decided I wanted to work…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mariam-naficy/at-age-28-i-had-no-retail-experience-no-consumer-marketing-experience/) [Mariam Naficy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mariam-naficy/) > [I founded Minted in 2007 with the desire to use 'crowd-sourcing' to bring designs from the best emerging and independent designers in the world…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mariam-naficy/i-founded-minted-in-2007-with-the-desire-to-use-crowd-sourcing-to/) [Mariam Naficy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mariam-naficy/) > [Unlike Etsy, which is all handmade, we print and ship the products, not the designers. We relieve the designer from having to make and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mariam-naficy/unlike-etsy-which-is-all-handmade-we-print-and-ship-the-products-not/) [Mariam Naficy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mariam-naficy/) > [The Minted mission is to be a community that supports designers from all over the world and provides them with an opportunity to be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mariam-naficy/the-minted-mission-is-to-be-a-community-that-supports-designers-from/) [Mariam Naficy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mariam-naficy/) > [Over the years, I observed that many talented graphic designers, including those in my own family, had difficulty getting their designs to market. I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mariam-naficy/over-the-years-i-observed-that-many-talented-graphic-designers/) [Mariam Naficy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mariam-naficy/) > [All of the designs on Minted are crowd-sourced from a global community of independent designers. We hold monthly design and art challenges that anyone…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mariam-naficy/all-of-the-designs-on-minted-are-crowd-sourced-from-a-global/) [Mariam Naficy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mariam-naficy/) > [The name Minted speaks to the freshness of our design - the fact that we are receiving thousands of new designs each week and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mariam-naficy/the-name-minted-speaks-to-the-freshness-of-our-design-the-fact-that/) [Mariam Naficy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mariam-naficy/) > [Minted.com is both a global design community and stationery retailer. Independent graphic designers from all over the world submit designs to our ongoing design…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mariam-naficy/minted-com-is-both-a-global-design-community-and-stationery-retailer/) [Mariam Naficy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mariam-naficy/) > [Excellent content is available online to everyone. I like it because it's a flattening of the playing field.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mariam-naficy/excellent-content-is-available-online-to-everyone-i-like-it-because/) [Mariam Naficy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mariam-naficy/) [Explore all 10 Mariam Naficy quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mariam-naficy/) ## More Afraid quotes > [It took me 20 years to buy an electric typewriter, because I was afraid it would be too sensitive. I like to bang the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elmore-leonard/it-took-me-20-years-to-buy-an-electric-typewriter-because-i-was/) [Elmore Leonard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elmore-leonard/) > [“Carrie Fisher. “Stay afraid, but do it anyway.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gabrielle-union/carrie-fisher-stay-afraid-but-do-it-anyway/) [Gabrielle Union](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gabrielle-union/) > [I used to be afraid of my temper, but it turns out I don't really have one.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zoe-bell/i-used-to-be-afraid-of-my-temper-but-it-turns-out-i-don-t-really-have/) [Zoe Bell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zoe-bell/) > [I get afraid of the dark if I'm in a great deal of dark, and I have to move around inside of that fear...…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emil-ferris/i-get-afraid-of-the-dark-if-i-m-in-a-great-deal-of-dark-and-i-have-to/) [Emil Ferris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emil-ferris/) > [I am not afraid of praise, for I have practiced it on myself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-david-thoreau/i-am-not-afraid-of-praise-for-i-have-practiced-it-on-myself/) [Henry David Thoreau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-david-thoreau/) > [I'm a pretty fearless person. I'm afraid of, like, creepy men in white vans and sidewalks with no streetlights. But I'm not afraid to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/josie-totah/i-m-a-pretty-fearless-person-i-m-afraid-of-like-creepy-men-in-white/) [Josie Totah](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/josie-totah/) > [I will support my party when they are right on an issue, but am not afraid to stand up to party bosses who are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/darlene-senger/i-will-support-my-party-when-they-are-right-on-an-issue-but-am-not/) [Darlene Senger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/darlene-senger/) > [Why am I so afraid to loose you,when you're not even mine?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/why-am-i-so-afraid-to-loose-you-when-you-re-not-even-mine/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I want to tell you, but I cant, becuase I'm afraid if I do you'll never treat me same the again](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cristina-orante/i-want-to-tell-you-but-i-cant-becuase-i-m-afraid-if-i-do-you-ll-never/) [Cristina Orante](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cristina-orante/) > [Mistakes I've made in the past make me afraid to try new things in the future. I want to be perfect.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-altucher/mistakes-i-ve-made-in-the-past-make-me-afraid-to-try-new-things-in/) [James Altucher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-altucher/) > [“Humans are naturally scared and confused beings. They not only fear the unknown, as they live fearing themselves... ☥”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/luis-marques/humans-are-naturally-scared-and-confused-beings-they-not-only-fear/) [Luis Marques](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/luis-marques/) > [If you are too afraid of failure, you cant possibly do what needs to be done to succeed in living a fulfilling life. The…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/melchor-lim/if-you-are-too-afraid-of-failure-you-cant-possibly-do-what-needs-to/) [Melchor Lim](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/melchor-lim/) > [We cannot be afraid of the dark that they live in.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/burnie-burns/we-cannot-be-afraid-of-the-dark-that-they-live-in/) [Burnie Burns](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/burnie-burns/) > [“I think the reason we're cruel sometimes is that we're afraid we're going to like something.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-berg/i-think-the-reason-we-re-cruel-sometimes-is-that-we-re-afraid-we-re/) [Elizabeth Berg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-berg/) > [I'm still with that feeling that I am afraid of doing the wrong thing, because somebody is going to punish me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eartha-kitt/i-m-still-with-that-feeling-that-i-am-afraid-of-doing-the-wrong-thing/) [Eartha Kitt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eartha-kitt/) [Browse all 5,519 Afraid quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/afraid/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Don't be afraid of developing a contrarian viewpoint on what type of person is perfect for your company as CTO and how you're going to find that person.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Mariam Naficy" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mariam-naficy/don-t-be-afraid-of-developing-a-contrarian-viewpoint-on-what-type-of/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Afraid" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mariam-naficy/don-t-be-afraid-of-developing-a-contrarian-viewpoint-on-what-type-of/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/56c/mariam-naficy-41351_afraid_don-t-be-afraid-of-developing-a-contrari_1745663.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/56c/mariam-naficy-41351_afraid_don-t-be-afraid-of-developing-a-contrari_1745663.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/56c/mariam-naficy-41351_afraid_don-t-be-afraid-of-developing-a-contrari_1745663.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Don't be afraid of developing a contrarian viewpoint on what type of person is perfect for your company as…” — Mariam Naficy", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Mariam Naficy", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mariam-naficy/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "Don't be afraid of developing a...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mariam-naficy/don-t-be-afraid-of-developing-a-contrarian-viewpoint-on-what-type-of/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mariam-naficy/don-t-be-afraid-of-developing-a-contrarian-viewpoint-on-what-type-of/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```