Race Bikes Don't Have Training Wheels

When I interview new team candidates, one of the key skills I look for is the ability to know when to break the rules. Don't get me wrong, rules and best practices are some of the greatest human inventions ever.

1. They help us save time when making decisions.

2. They give (junior) team members a safety net (You can't screw things up if you follow the rules).

But rules and best practices are like the training wheels on a bike. They are meant to help children safely ride their bikes without needing to learn how to balance. Still, sooner or later, every child gets tired of the training wheels and starts to aspire to ride their bikes without them. While the training wheels help children get a head start with riding their bikes. They also make it harder for children to do more cool and clever tricks with their bikes. 

The reason race bikes don't come with training wheels is not only because professional cyclists are great at balancing themselves on a bike, but also that racing without the training wheels gives more control, efficiency, and freedom to the cyclists to do whatever is needed to win the race. 

In our every day lives, a lot of people miss that point. They mistakenly believe that being a professional is all about mastering the art of using training wheels. That's what it feels like every time I watch someone lecture others on the exact process to follow, or the exact best practice to implement, without considering the context behind the problem they are dealing with, or seeking a more clever solution that gives them some new advantage. 

If you want to win the race, you better challenge the current processes and best practices, and hire more people who are able to think in new ways.