"It takes more courage to change your mind than to live with the consequences of being stubborn." - Futurist Jim Carroll
Why is it that so many smart people kill their own ideas?
Stubbornness.
That's often the culprit.
In thirty years of watching companies rise and fall, I've seen this truth play out countless times. The graveyard of business history is littered with organizations that had all the right instincts initially but lacked the courage to change direction when the market demanded it.
Here's what fascinates me about innovation: the very conviction that drives breakthrough thinking can become its greatest enemy. I've watched brilliant entrepreneurs pour years into products nobody wanted, simply because they couldn't summon the courage to admit their original vision was flawed.
Over the last few weeks, I've been helping one of my sons and his wife prep their new home for their move-in. I've been assigned the glorious task of doing the 'dump runs' - taking loads of old carpet, flooring, and other junk to the municipal landfill site. And every day that I do that, I drive past the Lazaridis School of Business and Economics at the University of Waterloo - they're close by. I've also gone past the Perimeter Institute for Theoretical Physics, established by Jim Balsillie. He also helped to establish the Balsillie Executive Institute - Professional Development at the University.
This is what happens when you donate a lot of money to your alma mater.
In any event, given the abject ultimate failure that was their company, Research in Motion (of Blackberry Fame), I wonder what one might learn at such institutions. A degree in the Master's of Stubbornness?. A Master of Doubling Down When Wrong? A PhD in Ignoring Market Signals or a Certificate in Advanced Denial Management? Or how about a Strategic Vision Impairment Certification or an Executive MBA in Dismissing Disruptive Technology?
Think about it. They revolutionized mobile communication with the Blackberry, once the most popular mobile device in the world, but when touchscreens emerged, they stubbornly clung to physical keyboards. Their engineering prowess became their prison. Meanwhile, Apple dared to cannibalize its own iPod business to create the iPhone.
This isn't just about technology companies.
It impacts everyone.
Remember: in a world of exponential change, the ability to change course isn't a sign of weakness or inconsistency.
It's the ultimate competitive advantage.
The future belongs to those with the courage to continuously reinvent it.
**#Stubbornness** **#Courage** **#Adaptation** **#Change** **#Innovation** **#Flexibility** **#Leadership** **#Pivot** **#Strategy** **#Growth**
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Futurist Jim Carroll has met a lot of stubborn people in his time - it comes with his focus on innovation.
Read the full post: https://jimcarroll.com/2025/08/decoding-tomorrow-your-daily-future-inspiration-it-takes-more-courage-to-change-your-mind-than-to-live-with-the-consequences-of-being-stubborn/
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