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00:00What do people mean by an 800-pound gorilla?
00:04There is a classic riddle which asks where an 800-pound gorilla sits.
00:08The answer is anywhere it wants to.
00:11This is the philosophy behind the expression 800-pound gorilla, which refers to corporations,
00:17organizations, or even individuals so powerful and dominant that they literally control or
00:22at least influence all other competitors in their fields.
00:26The search engine Google TM could be considered one in the web search community, for example,
00:31because it clearly dominates the field and competitors often find themselves reacting
00:36to any changes Google TM chooses to implement.
00:40When an 800-pound gorilla moves, it's often best to move with it or else give it plenty
00:44of room.
00:46There are other companies and organizations which could be considered 800-pound gorillas.
00:52The computer software giant Microsoft R is often touted as the gorilla of the industry.
00:58Whenever Microsoft R decides to release a major upgrade to its proprietary Windows Kaiyar
01:04operating system, other software developers must adapt to the changes in formatting, programming,
01:10and security or else risk losing their share of the market.
01:14Even if a big company makes a wrong turn, as some critics charge with Microsoft's upgrade
01:20to Vista R, its sheer size and force of personality can still influence all others in its wake.
01:28An organization can also be considered an 800-pound gorilla.
01:34The American Red Cross is clearly a leader in the world of crisis management, for example.
01:40Other relief agencies may provide similar services on a smaller scale, but only the
01:45Red Cross has such a significant amount of resources and funding at its command.
01:51Some may also argue that a particularly large religious denomination, such as Catholicism,
01:56could be considered one within the world of religion.
01:59A crisis of faith within the Catholic Church could have serious ramifications for all other
02:04Christian denominations because of its sheer size and scope.
02:09Whether the effects are ultimately positive or negative, such a large organization is
02:13often the force responsible for major structural changes.
02:17Besides corporations and organizations, certain individuals may inherit 800-pound gorilla
02:23status.
02:24A powerful and well-connected politician could be described using this term.
02:30When a politician of this stature becomes interested in a certain piece of legislation
02:34or a political cause, the legislative wheels often turn faster.
02:39Certain religious leaders could also be considered 800-pound gorillas in their communities, since
02:45their opinions are respected by millions of followers and carry a significant amount of
02:49weight in society.
02:52Any 800-pound gorilla is bound to make a mistake or two during its career, and often those
02:57missteps or miscalculations can have a damaging ripple effect on the entire industry, but
03:02at least it's still able to move.
03:06As long as one is happy and moving in the right direction, others can benefit from its
03:10leadership, willingness to take risks, and the capacity to accept the occasional failure.
03:16For more clear, concise answers to common and not-so-common questions, visit the Conjecture
03:21Corporation website.