Netflix’s decision to offer unlimited maternity leave for one year was very well received, prompting conversation about whether this would start a trend for other companies. Many were hoping that the US, with its relatively few maternity benefits, would join other developed nations with more guaranteed time off.

But that may be overly optimistic. Netflix exists in a bubble, a Silicon Valley environment that is growing rapidly, putting recruiting talent at a premium. Tech talent has driven extremely high value to these companies, pushing valuations and profits to unseen levels. This in turn has created companies like Apple with extremely deep pockets, and even more executive and engineers are needed to stay competitive. That explains the demand and salaries we’re seeing. It also explains Microsoft’s decision to increase benefits, and the well-known perks of companies such as Google and Facebook.

Probably the best example of the fact that regular rules don’t apply to top talent is LeBron James. When many players are simply happy to be playing in the NBA, or be on a playoff team, LeBron dictates every action in his organization. He can do this because continues to put up elite numbers every year, and carried an incredible burden in taking his team to the NBA Finals this past season. Any team that wants his services has to spend whatever it takes to sign players he needs as teammates, give favorable deals to players represented by his agent, and even draft players that he prefers. LeBron is the coach, general manager, and owner. And his teams win games, simple as that.

We see this in music with Taylor Swift. She’s sold out Staples Center a record 16 times, getting a banner from Kobe Bryant, and racked up billions of YouTube views. With this comes great power; her removal of music from Spotify started conversation across an entire industry about their business model. And more famously, she single-handedly ensured that Apple would pay artists during the trial period of Apple Play just by speaking her mind. Keeping someone like Taylor Swift happy is crucial in the music industry, and she showed she could bend the rules for the good of others.

Most of us assume that we have to follow a certain set of rules; we assume that we need to jump through whatever hoops everyone else is. But in reality, certain individuals, the very best talent in their respective fields, make their own rules and dictates how the world around them works.