Stupid Is as Stupid Does

[What changes will you need to make?]

In 1994 when Forrest Gump uttered those immortal words in the movie of the same name, was he talking about businesses 2009?

A communications mentor of mine recently made this observation: “Why do we call people stupid when they should be called morons? After all, it takes intelligence to do something truly
stupid!” He explained that the root of stupid is the Latin stupidus = stup(ēre) to be numb or stunned.

Granted, this was hair splitting. Anyway, we don’t knowingly hire morons (a person of borderline intelligence) or idiots (utterly foolish or senseless) to run our business. But in an ever more competitive and complex market, our own business intelligence can be numbed and stunned through habit and events beyond our control.

Layoffs, cutbacks, and pulling other levers that worked previously just may not work in 2009...and even be counterproductive. A crisis offers opportunity beyond survival for those who can conquer their fear of change, anticipate, plan, and then execute intelligent change.

A humorous and true definition of stupidity is to continue to do the same things but expect a different result. Isn’t this also true of continuing to do the same old things in a totally different
environment?

P. Rondeau