The Yankees don’t care what bat you swing. Why should you?

Ever notice how we talk about innovation while quietly following 200 unspoken rules?

Most of us build businesses like we’re following a silent dress code: “this is how it’s done” is the vibe, even when no one’s said it out loud. But the New York Yankees? They threw that mindset out. Their players don’t follow the league-standard equipment rules. In fact, when it comes to picking bats, they give their hitters complete freedom. Use whatever works. Big barrel, light handle, weird grip; no one cares, as long as you smash the ball.

You’d think that would lead to chaos. It doesn’t. It leads to home runs.

Now imagine what that looks like inside a company. You’re hiring a marketing lead. You hand them a stack of Notion docs, a dusty SOP, and a “we’ve always done it this way” playbook. But what if, like the Yankees, you let them bring their own bat? Their own system? Their weird little growth loops that don’t match the playbook but work?

Most people don’t even realize they’re operating inside invisible lines. They use Notion because everyone does. They ship features because the roadmap says so. They write newsletters like it’s 2017 because that’s what they were taught. And the wild part? That’s often the reason they plateau. The rules aren’t helping. They’re just leftovers from someone else’s playbook.

Here’s something to try this week: look at one part of your business, hiring, marketing, onboarding, product, and ask yourself: “Is this actually the best way? Or just the way I’ve seen?” Then break something small. Use a bat no one expects. That’s where leverage lives.

Want to see this mindset applied to building a newsletter? Here’s how Milk Road built, broke, and rebuilt their referral engine in under a year. Spoiler: they didn’t follow anyone’s rules. That’s why it worked.

And if you’re stuck trying to grow while holding a bat that doesn’t even fit your hands, now’s the time to switch it up:

Reply if this hit (Get it?).

Or if you’ve ever ignored a dumb rule and it worked out.

See you Wednesday,
Lundin
Still switching bats mid-game