The term “800-pound gorilla” refers to powerful corporations, organizations, or individuals that dominate their field and influence competitors. Examples include Google, Microsoft, the American Red Cross, and influential politicians or religious leaders. Despite potential mistakes, these entities drive major changes and benefit others through leadership and risk-taking.
There’s a classic riddle that asks where an 800-pound gorilla is. The answer is wherever he wants. This is the philosophy behind the expression “800 pound gorilla,” which refers to corporations, organizations, or even individuals so powerful and dominant that they literally control or at least influence all other competitors in their fields. The Google search engine might be considered one in the web search community, for example, because it clearly dominates the field and competitors often find themselves reacting to any change Google chooses to implement. When an 800-pound gorilla is on the move, it’s often best to move with him or else give him plenty of room.
There are other companies and organizations that could be considered 800lb gorillas. Computer software giant Microsoft® is often touted as the gorilla of the industry. Every time Microsoft® decides to release a major update to its proprietary Windows® operating system, other software developers must adapt to changes in formatting, programming and security or risk losing their market share. Even if a large company takes a wrong turn, as some critics accuse with Microsoft’s upgrade to Vista®, its size and the strength of its personality can still influence all others in its wake.
An organization can also be considered an 800 lb gorilla. The American Red Cross is clearly a leader in the world of crisis management, for example. Other relief agencies may provide similar services on a smaller scale, but only the Red Cross has such a significant amount of resources and funding at its disposal. Some might even argue that a particularly large religious denomination, such as Catholicism, could be considered as such within the world of religion. A crisis of faith within the Catholic church could have serious ramifications for all other Christian denominations due to its scale and scope. Whether the effects are ultimately good or bad, such a large organization is often the driving force behind major structural changes.
In addition to corporations and organizations, some individuals may inherit 800-pound gorilla status. A powerful and well-connected politician could be described using this term. When a politician of this stature takes an interest in a particular piece of legislation or a political cause, the wheels of legislation often turn faster. Some religious leaders might even be considered 800-pound gorillas in their communities, as their views are respected by millions of followers and carry significant weight in society.
Any 800-pound gorilla is bound to make a mistake or two during his career, and oftentimes those missteps or miscalculations can have a detrimental ripple effect on the entire industry, but at least he’s still able to move. As long as one is happy and moving in the right direction, others can benefit from his leadership, willingness to take risks, and ability to accept the occasional failure.
Protect your devices with Threat Protection by NordVPN
