For organizational growth, you have to challenge conventional wisdom.

My grandfather was born in 1908 and grew up as baseball was being woven into the fabric of America.  He loved the game and played semi-pro ball into his early twenties.

In the late 70’s and early 80’s as I was playing little league and travel baseball, we’d watch games on TV, talk old-school and modern baseball.  He’d always get bent out of shape watching Pirates catcher Tony Pena and his unorthodox method of catching game.

“That’s now how a catcher squats.  How’s he going to throw to second on a steal?  How can he react on a pitch in the dirt?”  I was in my early teens when we’d have this back and forth.  I’d always respond saying “it works for him, he knows what he’s doing; maybe he’s lulling baserunners into a false sense of security.”

Tony Pena was challenging conventional wisdom, shaking things up, looking for new ways to do things. Looking back, I guess I was doing the same with my grandpop.  Or maybe I just being stubborn and enjoying being a contrarian.  Possibly it was both.

I guess I carried my stubborn and contrarian approach to things into my career.  I never really liked just going along.  I always look for new ways to do things, asking frequently “what if” and “why not” and “who says we can’t”.

Just because something has always been done a certain way doesn’t mean it’s the only way of doing things.