I've learnt something from every failure. The products I helped design at the first two companies I worked for were utter failures. But now I know why.
Tony FadellRead
If you look at most successful startups, they're run by people in their mid to late forties, who've gone through the trenches multiple times and had multiple failures, so they understand.
Interpretation
Successful startups often stem from experienced individuals who have faced and learned from failures.
This quote emphasizes that the majority of successful startups are often led by individuals who have accumulated experience over time, particularly through previous failures. Tony Fadell suggests that this experience equips these leaders with a deeper understanding of the challenges they face, ultimately contributing to their success.
In practice
In a presentation about entrepreneurship, you could use this quote to illustrate the importance of resilience.
He who would accomplish little must sacrifice little; he who would achieve much must sacrifice much; he who would attain highly must sacrifice greatly.
If you succeed not, cast not away the quills yet, nor scratch the wainscot, beat not the poor desk, but bring all to the forge and file again; turn it new.
An organization's success has more to do with clarity of shared purpose, common principles and strength of belief in them than to assets, expertise, operating ability or management competence, important as they may be.
My whole career strategy has been to build a base so that I could take the roles I want to play. I'd hate to think that a shorter part might not be available because I was worried about my billing.
I didn't want to be a big star. I wanted to be a really good actor.
People don't understand that when I grew up, I was never the most talented. I was never the biggest. I was never the fastest. I certainly was never the strongest. The only thing I had was my work ethic, and that's been what has gotten me this far.
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