The Columbus Egg Principle – and What It Teaches Property Investors

There’s an old fable about Christopher Columbus I’ve always loved.

In 1493, fresh off his first voyage to the Americas, Columbus sat at a celebratory dinner with Spanish nobles. But instead of praising his achievement, they downplayed it.

“Anyone could have sailed west and found land,” they scoffed. “You just happened to get there first.”

Columbus smiled and picked up a boiled egg.
“Gentlemen,” he said, “I’ll concede your point—if you can make this egg stand on its tip.”

One by one they tried. Carefully. Creatively. But no matter how they balanced it, the egg toppled.

Then Columbus took the egg, gave its tip a gentle tap against the table to flatten a sliver of shell, and set it upright.

“You see,” he said, “once you know how, it seems obvious.”

And isn’t that true?

We often look at success stories—whether it’s explorers like Columbus, entrepreneurs like Steve Jobs, or property investors who built portfolios worth millions—and we think: “Of course. That was obvious.”

But here’s the catch: Obvious is a post-achievement label.

At the time, these ideas didn’t look obvious. They looked risky. Ridiculous, even.

Think about property investing in Australia.

Years ago, investors who bought inner suburban Sydney apartments were told they were mad because “everyone wants houses with land.” Fast forward, and family-friendly apartments in boutique blocks in tightly held suburbs have outperformed in capital growth.

Or those who bought a house in Brisbane a decade ago. People thought they were crazy as the market had been flat for quite a few years. Today, those same properties are easily worth double the price.

Remember when people laughed at the idea of using a buyer’s agent? “Why would you pay someone when you can just buy it yourself?” Now, smart investors wouldn’t dream of going it alone.

Just like Columbus’s egg, once the path is shown—once the results are in—people look back and say, “Oh, that was easy. Anyone could’ve done it.”

But we both know the truth.

The pioneers—the ones who bought in Brisbane before the current boom, or who invested countercyclically in Sydney during the market downturn in 2022 - endured doubt, criticism, even ridicule.

That’s the price of being early.

And it applies to any form of innovation.

• Airbnb was dismissed as a “serial killer app” because who would let strangers sleep on their couch?
• Apple was ridiculed for removing keyboards from phones.
• Blockbuster shrugged at Netflix when it offered itself for sale.

The best ideas look crazy - until they don’t.

So let me ask you:

What’s the idea sitting in your journal -  or maybe in your heart - that feels obvious to you but crazy to everyone else?

Is it starting that property portfolio?
Is it buying your next investment in a market no one’s paying attention to yet?
Is it building wealth for your children when your peers are still focused on upgrading their cars?

True innovation isn’t about everyone agreeing with you today. It’s about everyone agreeing with you later.

And as you push forward, enduring the doubts and the sideways glances, remember these words from Friedrich Nietzsche:

“And those who were seen dancing were thought to be insane by those who could not hear the music.”

Dance to your music.

Take the steps that feel right for your future - even if others can’t hear the beat yet.

They’ll catch up later.

About Michael Yardney Michael is the founder of Metropole Property Strategists who help their clients grow, protect and pass on their wealth through independent, unbiased property advice and advocacy. He's once again been voted Australia's leading property investment adviser and one of Australia's 50 most influential Thought Leaders. His opinions are regularly featured in the media.