In 1914, George Herman “Babe” Ruth entered Major League Baseball as a pitcher. And not just any pitcher—he was elite. In 1916, Ruth posted a 1.75 ERA and won 23 games for the Red Sox. He was one of the best arms in the league.

But something didn’t sit right.

Because even then, when he wasn’t on the mound, Ruth was crushing balls in batting practice. He knew he had more to offer. Not just as a good pitcher, but as a great hitter.

In 1919, Ruth stepped off the mound and into the batter’s box for good. That year, he led the league with 29 home runs. The next year? 54. Then 59. And the game was never the same again.

Why does this matter for your business?

Because most businesses today are still pitching. They’re good at some things. They’re running plays that technically work. They’re making things work. Getting by…ok.

But they’re not hitting. Not swinging with full power at the thing that could actually change the game.

Problem: Tactical Growth Masquerading as Strategy

You’ve heard the conversation:

“We need more salespeople.” “Let’s run more ads.” “We should redo the website.” “How about more content?”

Maybe. But that’s not strategy. That’s tactics.

The real question isn’t: How can we do more? It’s: Where is our untapped power—and who needs to see it now?

The Strategic Miss Most Teams Ignore

In one of our own planning sessions, we started with all the usual ideas. But we paused and asked:

• What’s working right now that we’re not amplifying?
• What customers already love us but haven’t expanded?
• Who are we made for—but haven’t reached?

When we stopped chasing the noise and started aligning strengths with need, everything sharpened.

Because that’s what real strategic growth looks like: Not adding more—aiming better.

Solution: Hit Where You Have Power

Find Your Ruth Move

• Where are you elite—but playing small?
• What asset, service, or insight is being underused because it’s buried in your pitch rotation?

Shrink the Field

• Who’s the smallest viable audience that would respond instantly if they saw this?
• Who’s your Yankees? Not everyone—just the ones who unlock your next era.

Aim with Intensity, Not Volume

• Stop the scattershot.
• Build one campaign, one asset, one message that drives the right result for the right people.

Your Challenge: Build Like Ruth

This week, take one thing off your to-do list. Replace it with this question: “What is our home-run swing—and who actually needs to see it?”

Stop pitching. Start hitting.

See you next Saturday. Follow for more.

PS – The Rest of the Story

In 1919, Babe Ruth was still a pitcher—and still dominant. But that year, the Boston Red Sox let him experiment more with hitting. He responded by crushing a league-leading 29 home runs and shifting the entire perception of his potential.

That offseason, the Red Sox sold Ruth’s contract to the Yankees for $100,000—the largest sum in baseball history at the time. It wasn’t just about the money. It was a strategic reset. The Yankees saw not just a great pitcher, but a generational slugger who could change the trajectory of their franchise.

They were right. Ruth would go on to hit 54 home runs the next year and become the cornerstone of a Yankees dynasty.

Boston traded away a tactical asset. New York invested in a strategic future.