If a company is profitable, the founder is in control. If it's not, investors are in control.
Sam AltmanRead
If you have the opportunity to go be an early employee at a company that's just going crazy, and you believe it's the next Facebook or Google, you should go join that company.
Interpretation
What this quote means
Joining a rapidly growing company can lead to significant career success if you believe in its potential.
This quote by Sam Altman emphasizes the value of seizing opportunities when they arise, especially in the context of joining a promising startup that shows signs of explosive growth. By equating such opportunities to becoming part of giants like Facebook or Google, Altman encourages individuals to take calculated risks in their careers to capitalize on potential success and innovation.
Themes
OpportunityStartupSuccessGrowthCareer
In practice
Example use cases
During a career workshop, you might use this quote to inspire young professionals to consider joining emerging companies.
More from Sam Altman
All quotes →It's so important for startups to get their culture right at the start. They need to feel unique and that they are on their own important mission in the world.
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Seed investing is the status symbol of Silicon Valley. Most people don't want Ferraris, they want a winning seed investment.
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People always make the mistake of calling an idea small or stupid because they don't understand how it's going to evolve.
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Technology magnifies differences, and it's been replacing or obviating jobs for a long time. But what happens as that case accelerates? I'm not one of these doomsayers who says, 'There will be no jobs.'
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All companies that grow really big do so in only one way: people recommend the product or service to other people.
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