Why Looking Weird Might Be Your Competitive Advantage

Rick Barry had the most peculiar free throw shot in NBA history.

While everyone else shot overhand, Barry shot underhand. It looked awkward. It looked different. It looked weak.

It was also devastatingly effective.

Barry is fourth all-time in NBA career free throw percentage, shooting over 89% from the line. The underhand technique provided a softer, more consistent arc with less backspin — increasing the chances of the ball falling gently through the hoop.

What can we learn from Rick Barry?

Barry muted the world around him. He didn't let optics interfere with his long-term focus on results. Barry famously stated:

"I don't care how it looks — I care if it goes in."

I remember watching Shaquille O'Neal struggle at the free throw line in the early 2000s. Barry offered to help O'Neal, but Shaq declined — citing image concerns.

Think about that. O'Neal was willing to lose games because he didn't want to look foolish.

Family business can be like Rick Barry.

We can mute the world. We have autonomy. We can develop a competitive advantage through our unique approach to business.

We can build with a time horizon and style that most companies simply cannot match. While public companies optimize for quarterly earnings calls, we optimize for generational impact.

While others chase what looks impressive, we chase what actually works.

As a family business steward, here's how I respond to the outside world:

“I don't care how it looks — I care that we build with care for long-term people.” 

I have faith that everything else will fall into place.

I've read enough biographies to find solace in this truth: when you focus on your process with great people, great things follow. We will find our “luck.”

But luck is really just where preparation meets opportunity.

The businesses that last centuries don't get there by accident. They get there by taking an approach others won't: building with care for long-term people, even when it looks different from the outside.

Even when it looks as awkward as an underhand free throw.

Time is on our side if we’re bold enough to let it.

Onward,  

Matt