Sam Altman Quotes

Top 100 wise famous quotes and sayings by Sam Altman

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Sam Altman Famous Quotes & Sayings

Discover top inspirational quotes from Sam Altman on Wise Famous Quotes.

Sam Altman quotes: These all sounded really bad, but they turned out to be good. If they had sounded really good, there would have been too many people working on them. These all sounded really bad, but they turned out to be good. If they had sounded really good, there would have been too many people working on them.
Sam Altman quotes: If a company is profitable, the founder is in control. If it's not, investors are in control. If a company is profitable, the founder is in control. If it's not, investors are in control.
Sam Altman quotes: If you're not in college and you don't know a cofounder, the next best thing I think is to go work at an interesting company. If you're not in college and you don't know a cofounder, the next best thing I think is to go work at an interesting company.
Sam Altman quotes: When it comes to starting startups, in many ways, it's easier to start a hard startup than an easy startup. When it comes to starting startups, in many ways, it's easier to start a hard startup than an easy startup.
Sam Altman quotes: Tech companies tend to do tech best. Tech companies tend to do tech best.
Sam Altman quotes: If someone is getting every decision wrong, that's when you need to act, and at that point it'll be painfully aware to everyone. If someone is getting every decision wrong, that's when you need to act, and at that point it'll be painfully aware to everyone.
Sam Altman quotes: It's difficult to get large groups of people, to the extreme levels of focus and productivity that you need, for a startup to be successful. It's difficult to get large groups of people, to the extreme levels of focus and productivity that you need, for a startup to be successful.
Sam Altman quotes: Because so few people make an actual long term commitment to what they're building, the ones that do have a huge advantage. Because so few people make an actual long term commitment to what they're building, the ones that do have a huge advantage.
Sam Altman quotes: The most important thing is that there is clear reporting structure and everyone knows what it is. The most important thing is that there is clear reporting structure and everyone knows what it is.
Sam Altman quotes: You also want to fire people who a) create office politics, and b) who are persistently negative. You also want to fire people who a) create office politics, and b) who are persistently negative.
Sam Altman quotes: AirBnB happened because Brian Chesky couldn't pay his rent, but did have some space. AirBnB happened because Brian Chesky couldn't pay his rent, but did have some space.
Sam Altman quotes: You should be giving out a lot of equity to your employees. You should be giving out a lot of equity to your employees.
Sam Altman quotes: One thing that founders forget is that after they hire employees, they have to retain them. One thing that founders forget is that after they hire employees, they have to retain them.
Sam Altman quotes: I prefer to invest in a company that's going after a small but rapidly growing market than a big but slow growing one. I prefer to invest in a company that's going after a small but rapidly growing market than a big but slow growing one.
Sam Altman quotes: The thing we see wrong with YC apps most frequently, is that people have not thought about the market first and what people want first. The thing we see wrong with YC apps most frequently, is that people have not thought about the market first and what people want first.
Sam Altman quotes: The way you get deals done and the way you get good terms, is to have a competitive situation. The way you get deals done and the way you get good terms, is to have a competitive situation.
Sam Altman quotes: In YC experience, 2 or 3 co-founders seems to be about perfect. In YC experience, 2 or 3 co-founders seems to be about perfect.
Sam Altman quotes: Losing focus is another way that founders get off track. Losing focus is another way that founders get off track.
Sam Altman quotes: If you compromise and hire someone mediocre, you will always regret it. If you compromise and hire someone mediocre, you will always regret it.
Sam Altman quotes: Whatever the founder cares about, whatever the founders think are the key goals, that's going to be what the whole company focusses on. Whatever the founder cares about, whatever the founders think are the key goals, that's going to be what the whole company focusses on.
Sam Altman quotes: As you grow, it feels hopelessly corporate but it really is worth putting in place these compensation bands. As you grow, it feels hopelessly corporate but it really is worth putting in place these compensation bands.
Sam Altman quotes: You certainly don't need to have everything figured out in the path from here to world domination. You certainly don't need to have everything figured out in the path from here to world domination.
Sam Altman quotes: With Loopt Star, consumers get to tap interactive rewards wherever they may be. With Loopt Star, consumers get to tap interactive rewards wherever they may be.
Sam Altman quotes: Companies that I've been very involved with, that have had a very bad first hire in the first 3 or so employees never recover from it ... Companies that I've been very involved with, that have had a very bad first hire in the first 3 or so employees never recover from it ...
Sam Altman quotes: In general though, if you look at the track record of pivots, they don't become big companies. In general though, if you look at the track record of pivots, they don't become big companies.
Sam Altman quotes: Founders are usually very stingy with equity to employees and very generous with equity to investors. I think this is totally backwards. Founders are usually very stingy with equity to employees and very generous with equity to investors. I think this is totally backwards.
Sam Altman quotes: The best people know that they should join a rocketship. The best people know that they should join a rocketship.
Sam Altman quotes: When lack of structure fails, it fails all at once. What works totally fine from 0-20 employees, is disastrous at 30. When lack of structure fails, it fails all at once. What works totally fine from 0-20 employees, is disastrous at 30.
Sam Altman quotes: In YC's case, the number one cause of early death for startups is cofounder blowups. In YC's case, the number one cause of early death for startups is cofounder blowups.
Sam Altman quotes: You can win with the best product, the best price, or the best experience. You can win with the best product, the best price, or the best experience.
Sam Altman quotes: The start-ups that do well are the ones that are working all the time. The start-ups that do well are the ones that are working all the time.
Sam Altman quotes: There's at least a hundred times more people with great ideas than people that are willing to put in the effort to execute them well. There's at least a hundred times more people with great ideas than people that are willing to put in the effort to execute them well.
Sam Altman quotes: Many of the companies in the mobile location space are trying to figure out different ways to tie what they're doing to commerce. Many of the companies in the mobile location space are trying to figure out different ways to tie what they're doing to commerce.
Sam Altman quotes: I believe that sexism in tech is a real problem. I believe that sexism in tech is a real problem.
Sam Altman quotes: What you want to do is innovate on your product and your business model, management structure is not where I would try and innovate. What you want to do is innovate on your product and your business model, management structure is not where I would try and innovate.
Sam Altman quotes: Many founders hire just because it seems like a cool thing to do, and people always ask how many employees you have. Many founders hire just because it seems like a cool thing to do, and people always ask how many employees you have.
Sam Altman quotes: Growth and momentum are what a startup lives on and you always have to focus on maintaining these. Growth and momentum are what a startup lives on and you always have to focus on maintaining these.
Sam Altman quotes: Just put a little pin in your mind: when you cross 50 employees, there are a new set of HR rules that you have to comply with. Just put a little pin in your mind: when you cross 50 employees, there are a new set of HR rules that you have to comply with.
Sam Altman quotes: The second part of how to hire: try not to. The second part of how to hire: try not to.
Sam Altman quotes: A single mediocre hire in the first five will often in fact kill a startup. A single mediocre hire in the first five will often in fact kill a startup.
Sam Altman quotes: In the beginning of a company, there is no management and this actually works really well. In the beginning of a company, there is no management and this actually works really well.
Sam Altman quotes: If you go to a paintball subreddit, paintball companies can advertise to you. If you go to a paintball subreddit, paintball companies can advertise to you.
Sam Altman quotes: A related advantage of mission oriented ideas, is that you yourself will be dedicated to them. A related advantage of mission oriented ideas, is that you yourself will be dedicated to them.
Sam Altman quotes: Don't let the company get distracted or excited about other things. A common mistake is that companies get excited by their own PR. Don't let the company get distracted or excited about other things. A common mistake is that companies get excited by their own PR.
Sam Altman quotes: I think as a rough estimate, you should aim to give about 10% of the company to the first 10 employees. I think as a rough estimate, you should aim to give about 10% of the company to the first 10 employees.
Sam Altman quotes: Investors will sort of like write the check and then, despite a lot of promises, don't usually do that much; sometimes they do. Investors will sort of like write the check and then, despite a lot of promises, don't usually do that much; sometimes they do.
Sam Altman quotes: I believe in the future, and to be a good investor, you have to believe in the future. I believe in the future, and to be a good investor, you have to believe in the future.
Sam Altman quotes: More important than starting any startup, is getting to know a lot of potential co-founders. More important than starting any startup, is getting to know a lot of potential co-founders.
Sam Altman quotes: Startups on the inside are always badly broken. Startups on the inside are always badly broken.
Sam Altman quotes: Every company has a rocky beginning. Every company has a rocky beginning.
Sam Altman quotes: You should think about for the next 10 years, you're going to be giving out 3-5% of the company every year. You should think about for the next 10 years, you're going to be giving out 3-5% of the company every year.
Sam Altman quotes: Whether or not money can buy happiness, it can buy freedom, and that's a big deal. Also, lack of money is very stressful. Whether or not money can buy happiness, it can buy freedom, and that's a big deal. Also, lack of money is very stressful.
Sam Altman quotes: One of the great and terrible things about starting a start up is that you get no credit for trying. One of the great and terrible things about starting a start up is that you get no credit for trying.
Sam Altman quotes: You have to save the vision speeches for when the company is winning. When you're not winning, you just have to get momentum back ... You have to save the vision speeches for when the company is winning. When you're not winning, you just have to get momentum back ...
Sam Altman quotes: Everyone is looking for the hack, the secret to success without hard work. Everyone is looking for the hack, the secret to success without hard work.
Sam Altman quotes: The single word that matters most I think to keep the company productive as it grows is alignment. The single word that matters most I think to keep the company productive as it grows is alignment.
Sam Altman quotes: It's easy to move fast or be obsessed with quality, but the trick is you have to do both at a startup. It's easy to move fast or be obsessed with quality, but the trick is you have to do both at a startup.
Sam Altman quotes: Don't hire for the sake of hiring. Hire because there is no other way to do what you want to do. Don't hire for the sake of hiring. Hire because there is no other way to do what you want to do.
Sam Altman quotes: You think you have this great idea that everyone's going to come join, but that's not how it works. You think you have this great idea that everyone's going to come join, but that's not how it works.
Sam Altman quotes: The reduction in compassion that happens when we're all behind computer screens is not good for the world. The reduction in compassion that happens when we're all behind computer screens is not good for the world.
Sam Altman quotes: Most startups are not nearly focussed enough. They work hard ... maybe, but they don't work hard on the right things. Most startups are not nearly focussed enough. They work hard ... maybe, but they don't work hard on the right things.
Sam Altman quotes: In the early stage of a startup, hiring senior people is usually a mistake. You just want people that get stuff done. In the early stage of a startup, hiring senior people is usually a mistake. You just want people that get stuff done.
Sam Altman quotes: Firing people is one of the worst parts of running a company. Actually in my own experience, I think it is the worst. Firing people is one of the worst parts of running a company. Actually in my own experience, I think it is the worst.
Sam Altman quotes: You want to continue to be run by great products, not process for it's own sake. You want to continue to be run by great products, not process for it's own sake.
Sam Altman quotes: Cofounder relationships are among the most important in the entire company. Cofounder relationships are among the most important in the entire company.
Sam Altman quotes: I care much more about the growth rate of the market than it's current size and I also care if there's any reason it's going to top out. I care much more about the growth rate of the market than it's current size and I also care if there's any reason it's going to top out.
Sam Altman quotes: To get the very best people- they have a lot of great options, and so it can easily take a year to recruit someone. To get the very best people- they have a lot of great options, and so it can easily take a year to recruit someone.
Sam Altman quotes: At YC we have this public phrase, and it's relentlessly resourceful. At YC we have this public phrase, and it's relentlessly resourceful.
Sam Altman quotes: As the company grows and about this 25 or so employee size, your main job shifts from building a great product to building a great company. As the company grows and about this 25 or so employee size, your main job shifts from building a great product to building a great company.
Sam Altman quotes: Great execution towards a terrible idea will get you nowhere. Great execution towards a terrible idea will get you nowhere.
Sam Altman quotes: Why couldn't it have been done 2 years ago, and why will 2 years in the future be too late? Why couldn't it have been done 2 years ago, and why will 2 years in the future be too late?
Sam Altman quotes: Developing a personal connection with anyone you're trying to do a big deal with is really important. Developing a personal connection with anyone you're trying to do a big deal with is really important.
Sam Altman quotes: If you don't love and believe in what you're building, you're likely to give up at some point along the way. If you don't love and believe in what you're building, you're likely to give up at some point along the way.
Sam Altman quotes: Very ambitious startups often take a long time to work - or sometimes they take a very long time to look ambitious. Very ambitious startups often take a long time to work - or sometimes they take a very long time to look ambitious.
Sam Altman quotes: M&A negotiations feel really fun. This is one of the biggest killers of companies, is they entertain acquisition conversations. M&A negotiations feel really fun. This is one of the biggest killers of companies, is they entertain acquisition conversations.
Sam Altman quotes: The thing about Y Combinator that's cool is that most companies won't happen if we don't fund them. The thing about Y Combinator that's cool is that most companies won't happen if we don't fund them.
Sam Altman quotes: You shouldn't try to manufacture progress. You shouldn't try to manufacture progress.
Sam Altman quotes: The tenth social network, and limited only to college students with no money, also terrible. Myspace had won. The tenth social network, and limited only to college students with no money, also terrible. Myspace had won.
Sam Altman quotes: Obsess about the quality of the product. Obsess about the quality of the product.
Sam Altman quotes: No matter what you choose, build stuff and be around smart people. No matter what you choose, build stuff and be around smart people.
Sam Altman quotes: You need unstoppable people. You want people that are just going to get it done. You need unstoppable people. You want people that are just going to get it done.
Sam Altman quotes: Founders need to figure out what the message of the company is going to be. Founders need to figure out what the message of the company is going to be.
Sam Altman quotes: The other piece besides focus for execution is intensity. Startups only work at a fairly intense level. The other piece besides focus for execution is intensity. Startups only work at a fairly intense level.
Sam Altman quotes: The way to build billion dollar companies is to first build something people love. There isn't really a shortcut there. The way to build billion dollar companies is to first build something people love. There isn't really a shortcut there.
Sam Altman quotes: People are incredible creatures of habit. People are incredible creatures of habit.
Sam Altman quotes: Because it's one of these sort of connections between nodes- every pair of people adds communication overhead. Because it's one of these sort of connections between nodes- every pair of people adds communication overhead.
Sam Altman quotes: For early employees you want people that have somewhat of a risk-taking attitude. For early employees you want people that have somewhat of a risk-taking attitude.
Sam Altman quotes: Facebook has this famous poster that says move fast and break things. But at the same time they manage to be obsessed with quality. Facebook has this famous poster that says move fast and break things. But at the same time they manage to be obsessed with quality.
Sam Altman quotes: The correlation of quality of life and cost of energy is huge. The correlation of quality of life and cost of energy is huge.
Sam Altman quotes: You need to figure out what the 2 or 3 most important things are, and then just do those. You need to figure out what the 2 or 3 most important things are, and then just do those.
Sam Altman quotes: You have to let your team get all the credit for all the good stuff that happens, and you take responsibility for the bad stuff. You have to let your team get all the credit for all the good stuff that happens, and you take responsibility for the bad stuff.
Sam Altman quotes: Some day everyone will find out everyone else's comp, if it's all over the place, it will be a complete meltdown disaster Some day everyone will find out everyone else's comp, if it's all over the place, it will be a complete meltdown disaster
Sam Altman quotes: You're either not hiring at all or it's probably your single biggest block of time. You're either not hiring at all or it's probably your single biggest block of time.
Sam Altman quotes: Experience matters for some roles and not others. Experience matters for some roles and not others.
Sam Altman quotes: In addition to relentlessly resourceful, you want a tough and a calm cofounder. In addition to relentlessly resourceful, you want a tough and a calm cofounder.
Sam Altman quotes: Virgin America flyers tend to be more likely to be using a mobile device and tapping social networks - even at 35,000 feet. Virgin America flyers tend to be more likely to be using a mobile device and tapping social networks - even at 35,000 feet.
Sam Altman quotes: You should be able to describe any employee as an animal at what they do. You should be able to describe any employee as an animal at what they do.
Sam Altman quotes: Set a clear, easy-to-understand vision for your company, and make it be a mission people believe in. Set a clear, easy-to-understand vision for your company, and make it be a mission people believe in.
Sam Altman quotes: You never want to be in a place where an employee has vested 3 out of the 4 years of stock and they start thinking about leaving. You never want to be in a place where an employee has vested 3 out of the 4 years of stock and they start thinking about leaving.
Sam Altman quotes: The crowd's a really powerful force on the Internet, and people finally understand how to harness that. The crowd's a really powerful force on the Internet, and people finally understand how to harness that.

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