I was managing digital media and strategic marketing for the top-rated music radio station in San Francisco, riding high on success. I was working for the best GM at the best company in radio. Thanks Chuck! Then, Entercom—now Audacy—rolled into town from their medium market nowhere properties, and bought us up. They were the new corporate overlords.They insisted they had a noncompete because of the sale terms … and I bailed faster than a button pusher nuking a bad song on the radio. In 10 minutes flat, I’d packed my award plaques and found myself across the street at an amazing, legendary station, making twice the bucks. Thanks Mickey!

Why? Because the new guys had a classic case of “not invented here syndrome.” You know the type—they can’t stand anything they didn’t personally create, no matter how successful it’s been. Their lack of major market experience didn’t stop them from gutting proven strategies in favor of untested ideas they thought would magically turn the dial in their favor.

Spoiler alert: it didn’t.

Fast-forward to now, and Audacy is teetering on the brink of bankruptcy, overextended from acquiring too many major-market stations and clueless about how to manage them. Turns out, innovation isn’t about dismissing what’s already working. It’s about building on success, not bulldozing it.

Diagnosing “not invented here syndrome”

Here’s how you can tell if your company or leadership is falling into this trap:

1. Immediate rejection of existing strategies – If the first instinct is to scrap what’s been working without even understanding it, that’s a big red flag.

2. Dismissal of internal expertise – Talented team members who know the market are sidelined in favor of outsiders with no track record.

3. New for the sake of new – Change is good, but if the only reason given is “because it’s different,” that’s not innovation—that’s ego talking.

4. Unwillingness to listen to feedback – When leadership doubles down on bad decisions rather than re-evaluating based on input from the people in the trenches, the ship is heading for an iceberg.

What to do instead

1. Respect the foundation – Before tearing down what’s already in place, take the time to understand why it’s been successful. Build on strengths, don’t bulldoze them.

2. Blend old with new – True innovation comes from merging the best of both worlds. Introduce fresh ideas while leveraging existing expertise and market knowledge.

3. Value your people – The people who helped build the success are your greatest assets. Listen to them, learn from them, and involve them in the process of change.

4. Test before you leap – Want to try a new approach? Great. But pilot it before implementing a sweeping overhaul. Measure, iterate, and evolve.

The lesson? “Not invented here syndrome” is dangerous because it blinds you to the value that already exists. Don’t just focus on what’s new—focus on what works.