  A generic non-minimal coupling can push any higher-order terms of the scalar
potential sufficiently far out in field space to yield observationally viable
plateau inflation. We provide analytic and numerical evidence that this
generically happens for a non-minimal coupling strength $\xi$ of the order
$N_e^2$. In this regime, the non-minimally coupled field is sub-Planckian
during inflation and is thus protected from most higher-order terms. For larger
values of $\xi$, the inflationary predictions converge towards the sweet spot
of PLANCK. The latter includes $\xi\simeq 10^4$ obtained from CMB normalization
arguments, thus providing a natural explanation for the inflationary
observables measured.
