Most companies that are great at something - like AOL dialup or Borders bookstores - do not become great at new things people want (streaming for us) because they are afraid to hurt their initial business.
Reed HastingsRead
Most entrepreneurial ideas will sound crazy, stupid and uneconomic, and then they’ll turn out to be right.
Interpretation
What this quote means
Entrepreneurial ideas often seem impractical at first, but many can lead to success.
This quote emphasizes that many groundbreaking entrepreneurial ideas are often initially dismissed as foolish or unrealistic. However, history has shown that such ideas can eventually prove to be effective and transformative, highlighting the importance of vision and persistence in entrepreneurship.
Themes
EntrepreneurshipInnovationSuccessCrazy IdeasBusiness
In practice
Example use cases
This quote could be used in a motivational speech at a business seminar.
More from Reed Hastings
All quotes →Be brutally honest about the short term and optimistic and confident about the long term.
Reed HastingsRead
Do not tolerate brilliant jerks. The cost to teamwork is too high.
Reed HastingsRead
I learned the value of focus. I learned it is better to do one product well than two products in a mediocre way.
Reed HastingsRead
Truly brilliant marketing happens when you take something most people think of as a weakness and reposition it so people think of it as a strength.
Reed HastingsRead
Similar quotes
The secret of success is to make your mind work for you - not against you. This means constantly being positive, constantly setting up challenges you can meet - either today, next week, or next month etc.
Arnold SchwarzeneggerRead
There is an immutable conflict at work in life and in business, a constant battle between peace and chaos. Neither can be mastered, but both can be influenced. How you go about that is the key to success.
Phil KnightRead
Work hard, have fun and make history.
Jeff BezosRead
With the Supremes I made so much money so fast all I wanted to do was buy clothes and pretty things. Now I'm comfortable with money and it's comfortable with me.
Diana RossRead
The two most important words I ever wrote were on that first Wal-Mart sign, ‘Satisfaction Guaranteed’. They're still up there, and they have made all the difference.
Sam WaltonRead
I think when you win the national championship, it works throughout your team. Where human nature is to say, I did well. I got my quota this month. Now do I get some time off? Do I get a bonus? Do I get to go on a cruise? But it's not to keep trying to be the best. That's not necessarily human nature.
Nick SabanRead