Tuesday, April 1, 2025
Have you ever noticed that the phrase “it’s just common sense” is often used to shut down a conversation rather than start one?
People love to talk about common sense like it’s some kind of universal truth. But the funny thing about common sense is that it’s only common until it isn’t.
For example:
- Once upon a time, common sense said housing prices always go up. (2008 would like a word.)
- Common sense told us remote work would never be viable long-term. (Turns out, it depends on how you define “viable.”)
- And for years, common sense claimed that more information was the answer to better decision-making. (Now, we’re drowning in data, and finding clarity is harder than ever.)
I think about this a lot in business. How often do we accept something as fact just because it’s repeated often enough? How many decisions are made on autopilot, without questioning whether the underlying “truth” is actually true?
It’s not that common sense is useless—it’s just that it needs to be challenged every now and then. Some of the best ideas, breakthroughs, and shifts in business (and in life) come from asking: What if we’re wrong about this? The best investors, entrepreneurs, and leaders all have one thing in common: they don’t blindly accept what’s “obvious.” They test, challenge, and rethink.
Maybe April Fool’s Day isn’t just about playing tricks—it’s about remembering that often, the real fool is the one who assumes they already have all the answers.
Until Next Time,
Mary Schuster
Chief Knowledge Officer
October Research, LLC