How To Be Wrong

Sometimes the only way to be right is to get comfortable with being wrong.

Most startup advice is dangerously misguided. The mythology of the lone genius founder, the obsession with capital raising, and the theatre of startup ecosystems lead countless ventures astray.

Drawing on two decades at the heart of New Zealand's most successful technology companies – Trade Me, Xero, Vend, and Timely – Rowan Simpson unravels the messy reality behind familiar glossy success stories. Combining raw honesty and sharp analysis, he challenges conventional wisdom by sharing compelling firsthand lessons about focused execution, team building, and genuine ecosystem growth.

This myth-busting guide is essential reading for founders, investors, and policymakers alike. Simpson demonstrates that embracing uncertainty, recognising patterns, and learning quickly from mistakes are not just steps on the path to success – they are the path itself.

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"Rowan is one of the smartest thinkers I have met on the unique potential Kiwi founders have to create globally significant businesses. This book brings extraordinary authenticity to this glossy opportunity while reminding us all that being wrong in a start-up is a necessary part of finding 'right'. Rowan reminds us that pursuing ambitious goals means getting comfortable with the idea of failing." Tim Brown - Co-Founder of Allbirds

"Every upcoming entrepreneur needs to read this immediately. Not just for the useful specifics, but more importantly, for his practical generosity: an empathetic and pragmatic perspective that is his real super-power. Ingest and apply that spirit to your own venture for the win-win." Derek Sivers - Author, ex-entrepreneur

"Founding a startup is often glamorised as all excitement and a smooth ride to success. The reality? It's bloody tough, messy, and far from a fairytale. This book cuts through the noise with a no-BS take, packed with juicy tales from some of New Zealand's most well-known startups." Ryan Baker - CEO & Co-Founder, Timely

"Most start up books focus on hyping up the destination and downplaying the messy, boring and difficult work involved in actually getting there. Rowan has captured the lessons from a successful career and shaped them into practical advice that will be incredibly useful to any founder or early stage employee." Michael Koziarski - ex CTO, Vend