Career iconoclasm is indeed hard to sustain in academia. In other organizations, it is a bit easier. Almost every organization is in tension between mission and self-preservation. (Startups are all about mission, however.) Usually, the preservationists win. But they'll tolerate a few well-behaved hippies, who care more about mission.
Yes, I don't mean to dominish contrarianism writ large or suggest everything is fine. But I think it's common to be heteredox in something you know a lot about, and then apply that heuristic in spaces you don't have expertise, to your peril. That's what I meant by career iconoclasm!
Career iconoclasm is indeed hard to sustain in academia. In other organizations, it is a bit easier. Almost every organization is in tension between mission and self-preservation. (Startups are all about mission, however.) Usually, the preservationists win. But they'll tolerate a few well-behaved hippies, who care more about mission.
Yes, I don't mean to dominish contrarianism writ large or suggest everything is fine. But I think it's common to be heteredox in something you know a lot about, and then apply that heuristic in spaces you don't have expertise, to your peril. That's what I meant by career iconoclasm!