The Current The power of going ‘Against the Grain’ with Terry O’Reilly
Dec 29, 2025
Terry O'Reilly, the insightful host of CBC's 'Under the Influence' and author of 'Against the Grain,' dives deep into the stories of mavericks who defied the odds. He discusses Gustave Eiffel's bold vision for the Eiffel Tower, the revolutionary advertising techniques of Lasker and Bernbach, and Taylor Swift’s unique approach to controlling her music career. O'Reilly also explores why society often rejects new ideas and how criticism can either fuel or defeat innovation. His key takeaway? Persistence is key to reshaping the world.
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Lonely Willpower Drives Change
- Mavericks who challenge the status quo tend to be isolated but persistently driven.
- Terry O'Reilly says their solitary willpower is the common thread behind major innovations.
Eiffel Turned Ridicule Into Reward
- Gustave Eiffel faced ridicule and calls of "metal asparagus" when proposing his tower.
- He financed construction cleverly and recouped his investment within a year, becoming very wealthy.
Salesmanship Reframed Advertising
- Albert Lasker met a Canadian ad writer who argued advertising is "salesmanship in print."
- That shift to persuasion transformed the advertising industry into the modern form we know.