If a company is profitable, the founder is in control. If it's not, investors are in control.
Sam AltmanRead
People always make the mistake of calling an idea small or stupid because they don't understand how it's going to evolve.
Interpretation
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.
In practice
In a brainstorming session, to encourage team members to share all ideas without fear of judgment.
If a company is profitable, the founder is in control. If it's not, investors are in control.
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.
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.
Seed investing is the status symbol of Silicon Valley. Most people don't want Ferraris, they want a winning seed investment.
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.'
All companies that grow really big do so in only one way: people recommend the product or service to other people.
I had much rather be adorned by beauty of character than by jewels. Jewels are the gift of fortune, character comes from within.
There is little difference in people, but that little difference makes a big difference. The little difference is attitude. The big difference is whether it is positive or negative.
If we shall take the good we find, asking no questions, we shall have heaping measures.
Jealousy is cruel as the grave: the coals thereof are coals of fire, which hath a most vehement flame. [Therefore do not compare your lot with another's lest you see their advantages and lose the joy of what you already have.]
In the space of no-mind, truth descends like light
I remember my first visit with my guru. He had shown that he read my mind. So I looked at the grass and I thought, 'My god, he's going to know all the things I don't want people to know.' I was really embarrassed. Then I looked up and he was looking directly at me with unconditional love.
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