Ego can get us into trouble. We have an idea, we might feel great about it, but we know that it has flaws. As others point out those flaws we experience little losses, but we hold on to it because we have affection for our idea, or because it's the only one we have. Then others oppose our idea, but we continue to shelter it from the storm, all the while decreasing the likelihood that we'll have the time and flexibility to develop and transition to a new idea.

Throughout the course of our project or development cycle, we continue to support our less-than-stellar idea, burning our influence, resources, and good will. We patch the idea, mask it, and smooth out the rough edges. It may be the best version of that idea the world has ever seen, but we know deep down that it's still not a good idea. 

At the end of the journey, we take inventory, and we're so invested in our idea that we still want to say good things about it. But the potential is spent, and the believability of our best case scenarios is severely compromised. We hold in our hands nothing more valuable than a raffle ticket whose number was never called. 

The moral of the story: There's nothing wrong with going your own way, getting all maverick-y and showing your organization, or the world, what you understand that they've all missed. But every idea is a revolution, and if your coup fails, don't be surprised by the quiet consequences of leaving everybody else behind.