It's Not What You Don't Know

“It’s not what you don’t know that will kill you … it’s what you are 100% certain is true that just ain’t so!” — Mark Twain

As a CEO, how sure are you that you are right? What “lessons” have you learned over the course of your life that influence your decision making? That shut down your ability to listen to others — particularly those further down the hierarchy? That shut down the willingness of others to challenge what you are sure is true?

“Netflix isn’t even on the radar screen in terms of competition … it’s more Wal-Mart and Apple.” — Blockbuster CEO Jim Keyes, 2008. Blockbuster filed for bankruptcy two years later.

“I think there is a world market for maybe five computers.” — IBM President Thomas Watson, 1943.

“Screw the Nano … What the hell does the Nano do? Who wants to listen to 1,000 songs?” — Motorola President Ed Zander, 2006.

“There’s no reason anyone would want a computer in their home.” — Ken Olsen, founder of Digital Equipment Corporation, 1977 — one year after Apple introduced the personal computer.

“Google’s not a real company … it’s a house of cards.” — Microsoft President Steve Ballmer, 2004.

“Television won’t be able to hold onto any market it captures after the first six months. People will soon get tired of staring at a plywood box every night.” — Darryl Zanuck, co-founder of Twentieth Century Fox, 1946.

“There’s just not that many videos I want to watch.” — Steve Chen, CTO and co-founder of YouTube, expressing concern about the long-term viability of his own company, 2006.

Success has a way of putting blinders on people — particularly those who lead organizations. Often, we listen just hard enough to think of a response. Listen harder. Ask more questions. Find out what other people know that you don’t.