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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.
Sam Altman
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Interpretation

What this quote means

This quote highlights the importance of being open-minded about ideas, no matter how insignificant they may seem initially.

Sam Altman emphasizes that many people often dismiss ideas as small or foolish simply because they do not grasp their potential for future development. This reflects a common tendency to judge things superficially without recognizing the capacity for growth and innovation that can emerge from seemingly trivial concepts.

Themes

IdeasPotentialGrowthInnovationPerception

In practice

Example use cases

In a brainstorming session, to encourage team members to share all ideas without fear of judgment.

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If a company is profitable, the founder is in control. If it's not, investors are in control.
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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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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.
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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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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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