Why it's sometimes okay to go with the flow, says this CEO

As the saying goes, only dead fish go with the flow. But Nicholas Syhler, co-founder of medical startup Embla, disagrees.  

"Flow, here in our world, means culture," he told CNBC's My Biggest Lessons. 

When you go with the flow, your actions are guided by the cultural norms of the communities you are in, whether it be your industry, your workplace or even your family, he said.  

However, he distinguishes between dead fish, who merely follow in the footsteps of others, and "smart fish." 

"Smart fish … know when a waterfall is approaching," he said. According to Syhler, these are people who suggest new ways of doing things when they see how a company's entrenched thinking might lead to problems down the road.   

"Know that it's okay to dissent on what is the norm today. That is how we change," he said.

Watch the video for the rest of Syhler's lessons.