When a field, an art or a business is new, everyone does things her own way. Since there are no “rules,” everyone is free to explore and discover which methods work better than others. But when someone starts earning fame or fortune from doing things a certain way, that way becomes the norm — and anyone who doesn’t adhere to the norm is ostracized.
But what happens when the most popular method actually isn’t the most efficient?
Relax. Follow Through. But Make It.
Basketball fans may know the name Rick Barry, since he was a perennial All-Star in the ’70s (and since 3 of his sons have played in the NBA since). But what Barry is best known for is being the greatest free throw shooter in NBA history* despite being the only modern pro to throw the ball underhand.
In the above video (which also features Jamaal Wilkes and Red Auerbach, making it a crazy NBA time time capsule), Barry explains the mechanics of his “unusual” free throw style, and the physics of why it works. And it worked better than any other free throw shooter in the history of the game*, to the tune of a 90% lifetime free throw percentage.
So why does nobody else use Barry’s approach? Because it looks stupid. Athletes are taught from the time they’re toddlers that throwing the ball underhand is to “throw like a girl.” So boys grow into men programmed with the mindset that to be a man is to perform tasks the way other men perform them — which includes shooting free throws with an overhand approach that’s a mechanical nightmare compared to Barry’s underhand simplicity.
When Auerbach asks Barry why he shoots the way he does, Barry’s answer defies anyone’s sissified presumptions: he figures it gives him the best chance to make the basket. Which could be translated as, “I’m willing to look like the biggest pussy on the court if it means I score more points and win the game.” (And considering Barry led the NBA in scoring in 1967, at 35.6 ppg, it paid off.)
If Rick Barry Had Your Job…
… what would he do differently?
In what ways are you settling for mediocrity just so you can fit in with your peers when, with a few small adjustments, you could catapult yourself ahead of the competition?
Sure, they might laugh — but you’ll be the one who’s winning.
* Barry’s record has since been surpassed by Mark Price and, more recently, Steve Nash, both of whom shoot overhand free throws. But considering Barry also attempted 1000 more free throws than either of them, he sustained his high rate of conversions against many more possible misses.
Tags: America, Business, common sense, history, perception, pop culture, Sociology, sports
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Chris Hall
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Beau Blackwell
