“Jaws” and Shark Week and Business Lessons with Bite for 2025

“You’re gonna need a bigger boat.” But more on that in a minute. With Shark Week upon us and Jaws celebrating its 50th anniversary, Steven Spielberg’s iconic thriller remains not just a masterclass in suspense—it’s a surprisingly rich source of business wisdom and insights for navigating today’s corporate waters. Dun dun... duuunnnn dun... duuunnnnnnnn dun dun dun dun dun dun…

Spoiler Alert: For those unfamiliar with the film, there are some major plot giveaways to follow.

Spoiler Alert 2: If you don’t think there’s a lesson in Jaws about the power of outsourcing and offshoring to the Philippines, get ready to sink your teeth into a few.

A quick recap for the uninitiated: Jaws tells the tale of Police Chief Martin Brody, marine biologist Matt Hooper and shark hunter Quint (fun fact: the movie never reveals his first name—drop that at your next summertime networking event) as they battle a massive great white shark terrorizing the fictional beach town of Amity Island.

Their journey—marked by early denial and uncertain outcomes, teamwork and adaptability, failed efforts and decisive action—mirrors the challenges many organizations face in 2025, and ultimately underscores the universal power of having the Right People on your side. Break out the popcorn and let’s dive into how the film’s pivotal moments translate into actionable business lessons.

Transparency Over Denial: Addressing Problems Early

When the Amity authorities discover the victim of a deadly late-night shark attack, Chief Brody wants to close the beaches to protect the public. However, Mayor Vaughn, fearing the loss of summer tourist revenue, insists on keeping the beaches open and downplays the threat. This denial leads to further shark-induced tragedy during a crowded beach day, escalating the crisis and eroding public trust.

Ignoring market shifts and real threats facing your business, to say nothing about not being fully transparent about risks for your clients, all for the sake of short-term gain or perceived stability, can have horrific consequences.

“At ECLARO, we advocate for the proactive assessment of business needs and facing realities that might present a tough challenge at the start but cannot be ignored,” says ECLARO Co-Founder Paul Sheridan. “We help organizations assess workforce needs openly, using data-driven insights to identify and address gaps before they become crises. Transparency builds trust and resilience.”

Collaboration: Harnessing Diverse Strengths

To confront the escalating threat, Brody teams up with Hooper, a data-driven marine biologist, and Quint, a seasoned shark hunter. Their personalities and approaches often clash, but their combined expertise proves essential. Hooper’s scientific analysis confirms the true nature of the threat, while Quint’s experience guides the hunt, all with Brody’s steady hand guiding the action. Together, they achieve what none could alone: tracking and confronting the shark in open water.

“Building teams with diverse skills and perspectives is critical for navigating complex challenges, whether it be digital transformation or hybrid work or any other number of issues,” says ECLARO Co-Founder Tom Sheridan. “ECLARO excels at assembling high-performing teams tailored to your goals, matching technical expertise with cultural fit. We’ve always taken a consultative approach with our clients to help them assess what mix of talent will best work for them.”

Related: How Custom Outsourcing & Offshoring Can Build You a Great Team

Adaptability: Pivoting When Plans Fail

The hunt for the shark is filled with setbacks. Quint’s traditional methods fail to subdue the creature, and Hooper’s high-tech shark cage is destroyed in a ferocious attack. Ultimately, Brody is forced to improvise: as the boat sinks and his allies are incapacitated, he uses a pressurized air tank as a last-ditch weapon. He fires his rifle at the tank lodged in the shark’s mouth, causing it to explode and finally end the threat.

Regardless of your business or industry, sticking to outdated strategies can leave you vulnerable. ECLARO’s flexible staffing solutions help organizations stay agile by finding the Right People with the most current skills and the necessary experience to drive strategic growth. We stay ahead of industry trends, so our clients can pivot seamlessly—making adaptability a true competitive edge.

Expertise: Navigating Risks with Precision

Hooper’s scientific expertise is crucial throughout the film. He quickly identifies that the initial shark caught by local fishermen is not the true culprit and uses his knowledge to guide the team’s strategy. Without his insight, the town would have remained dangerously exposed to the real threat. Brody recognizes the value he brings when others dismiss him.

Similarly, hiring missteps—like overlooking cultural fit or necessary skills for a specific role, not doing a thorough background check or not knowing where to look for that key candidate—can sink your business. ECLARO’s recruiters bring deep industry knowledge, thoroughly vetting candidates to ensure they meet your strategic and cultural needs.

Decisive Action: Seizing Critical Moments

In the film’s climax, with the boat sinking and the shark closing in, Brody climbs the mast, takes aim and fires at the air tank in the shark’s mouth. The tank explodes, killing the shark and saving the day. This bold, decisive move—made under pressure—is the difference between ultimate success and complete failure.

In business, hesitation can mean missed opportunities or lost talent. ECLARO streamlines recruitment, delivering pre-vetted candidates quickly so you can act without delay. Like Brody’s final shot, decisive action drives lasting success.

Assessing Goals, Scaling Up: Why “You’re Gonna Need a Bigger Boat”

After the first harrowing encounter with the great white, Chief Brody famously tells Quint, “You’re gonna need a bigger boat.” It’s a line that perfectly captures the moment when a team realizes their current resources simply aren’t enough to meet the scale of the challenge ahead.

For growing businesses in 2025, this moment often comes when early success starts to strain existing systems, talent and infrastructure. And as in the movie, that moment often arrives when you don’t expect it.

“We’ve had many clients who realized that what worked for a small, founder-led team no longer worked as customer demand and other needs were quickly rising,” Paul Sheridan says. “Suddenly, you’re facing operational bottlenecks, skill gaps and the risk of burning out your core team. The need for a ‘bigger boat’ is clear—but how do you build one without losing agility or control, or without blowing your budget out of the water like that shark?

“Scaling isn’t just about hiring more people. It’s about hiring the Right People, with the right expertise and the right culture fit, at the right time,” Tom Sheridan adds. “Many businesses hit a wall when they try to grow quickly on their own, or hire for quantity rather than quality, because they haven’t planned for the needed growth, aren’t experienced in finding top talent quickly, or don’t fully know all their options.

“Sometimes, you really do need a bigger boat—and the right crew to go with it. Philippines outsourcing and offshoring with ECLARO can be your ‘bigger boat,’” Tom adds, “giving you a combination of access to specialized talent, scalable resources and cost efficiencies that you can’t find anywhere else.”

Let’s talk about how outsourcing to the Philippines can help your business meet its goals and navigate the waters to that next stage of growth. 

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