Is the less common, unconventional choice usually the better one?

John said in 2015 that the common road is often common for a reason, and in 2018 that the right decision is sometimes the weird one. Hank favours the weird path: in 2020 he said he learns most where there is no clear path, and in 2026 that his business instinct is always to do the weirder thing.

Axis: yes, the unconventional road is better ... no, the common road is often common for a reason

Positions by date: 5 records in 5 videos. The position was refined (2018), never reversed, in these records.

John

date	how	position	video
2015-09-01	first on record	John argues the road less traveled is not always better: if everyone takes it, it becomes the more traveled, and the common road is often common for a reason.	The Road Less Traveled By 00:01:54
2018-03-27	refine	The story reminds John that sometimes the right decision is the weird decision.	A Weird and Beautiful Story 00:03:47

Hank

date	how	position	video
2020-08-28	first on record	Hank says he also needs sometimes to go where there is no clear path; he has gotten better at it, learns most there and often feels he adds most value, especially when he looks back and sees a path there now that many people find nice to walk.	Break the Mold 00:03:24
2020-12-18	restate	Prizing a little bit of the interesting or weird, as Hank does, is a baseline story you can always believe in that keeps you from getting stuck in societal ruts.	How to Change What you Want 00:03:06
2026-07-03	restate	Hank loves the choice because his prior as a businessperson is to always do the weirder thing: businesses don't do the weird thing enough anymore.	Why I Didn't Buy TED 00:02:26