---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The ‘Innovator’s Dilemma’ doesn’t exist…"
description: "\"“The ‘Innovator’s Dilemma’ doesn’t exist at Apple,” he said, referring to Clay Christensen’s popular book about how big companies fail to anticipate th..."
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/aec/adam-lashinsky-3927_business_the-innovator-s-dilemma-doesn-t-exist-at_971359.jpg"
---

#  The ‘Innovator’s Dilemma’ doesn’t exist at Apple,” he…

![“The ‘Innovator’s Dilemma’ doesn’t exist at Apple,” he said, referring to Clay Christensen’s popular book about how big companies fail to anticipate the next wave because they are unwilling to sacrifice existing sales.” quote by Adam Lashinsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/aec/adam-lashinsky-3927_business_the-innovator-s-dilemma-doesn-t-exist-at_971359.jpg)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/aec/adam-lashinsky-3927_business_the-innovator-s-dilemma-doesn-t-exist-at_971359.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/aec/adam-lashinsky-3927_business_the-innovator-s-dilemma-doesn-t-exist-at_971359.jpg)

> ““The ‘Innovator’s Dilemma’ doesn’t exist at Apple,” he said, referring to Clay Christensen’s popular book about how big companies fail to anticipate the next wave because they are unwilling to sacrifice existing sales.””

[Adam Lashinsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adam-lashinsky/)

## About This Quote

This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.

Apple disregards the Innovator’s Dilemma, implying they can avoid failure by not sacrificing current sales.

**In simple terms:** Apple claims they can avoid the usual downfall of big firms.

Key Takeaway

Question complacency in success.

Themes

innovation business strategy disruption

Mood

analytical optimistic

Type

business strategic

When to use this quote

- product development
- market competition
- corporate culture

Key Concepts

economics leadership

Questions to Reflect On

- How does Apple stay ahead?
- What risks does ignoring disruption pose?

A Different Perspective

Even successful firms can miss future threats.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Business](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/business/) [Innovator](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/innovator/) [Popular book](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/popular-book/)

## Related quotes

> [The paradox explored in my book 'The Innovator's Dilemma' is that successful companies can fail by making the 'right' decisions in the wrong situations.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/clayton-christensen/the-paradox-explored-in-my-book-the-innovator-s-dilemma-is-that/)

[Clayton Christensen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/clayton-christensen/)

> [Few incumbents will succeed in deploying blockchain applications to enable new business models. The innovator's dilemma will prevail. Even if they aspire to, they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-mougayar/few-incumbents-will-succeed-in-deploying-blockchain-applications-to/)

[William Mougayar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-mougayar/)

> [The process of writing 'The Innovator's Dilemma' entailed the developing a new theory. My colleagues, students and I have been improving that theory, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/clayton-christensen/the-process-of-writing-the-innovator-s-dilemma-entailed-the/)

[Clayton Christensen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/clayton-christensen/)

> [“The Innovator’s Dilemma:”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brad-stone/the-innovator-s-dilemma/)

[Brad Stone](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brad-stone/)

> [“Managers at all levels of Apple said they rarely were pressed for any kind of financial analysis or to defend decisions based on potential…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adam-lashinsky/managers-at-all-levels-of-apple-said-they-rarely-were-pressed-for-any/)

[Adam Lashinsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adam-lashinsky/)

> [“I think you're my apple," she said quietly. "I don't regret tasting you. I can't. You're not perfect by any means—there are sweeter out…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-m-darhower/i-think-you-re-my-apple-she-said-quietly-i-don-t-regret-tasting-you-i/)

[J.M. Darhower](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-m-darhower/)

> [“We shared a piece of Poncho's apple pie, and I told Poncho about PureTone. Like all serious musicians, he is depressed by the quality…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-young/we-shared-a-piece-of-poncho-s-apple-pie-and-i-told-poncho-about/)

[Neil Young](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-young/)

> [“I shrugged. 'Any fool can peel the Apple,' I said. 'It takes a real man to eat the core.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-king/i-shrugged-any-fool-can-peel-the-apple-i-said-it-takes-a-real-man-to/)

[Stephen King](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-king/)

> [If a company truly wants to resolve the innovator's dilemma, it does need to be able to create wave after wave of disruptive innovation.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/clayton-christensen/if-a-company-truly-wants-to-resolve-the-innovator-s-dilemma-it-does/)

[Clayton Christensen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/clayton-christensen/)

> [“The companies that solved the innovator’s dilemma, Christensen wrote, succeeded when they “set up autonomous organizations charged with building new and independent businesses around…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brad-stone/the-companies-that-solved-the-innovator-s-dilemma-christensen-wrote/)

[Brad Stone](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brad-stone/)

> [“Just as Clayton Christensen had predicted in The Innovator’s Dilemma, technological innovation caused wrenching pain to the company and the broader industry”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brad-stone/just-as-clayton-christensen-had-predicted-in-the-innovator-s-dilemma/)

[Brad Stone](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brad-stone/)

> [“By that time, Bezos and his executives had devoured and raptly discussed another book that would significantly affect the company’s strategy: The Innovator’s Dilemma,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brad-stone/by-that-time-bezos-and-his-executives-had-devoured-and-raptly/)

[Brad Stone](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brad-stone/)

> [“Economics itself offers a parallel that explains why this integration affects creativity. Clay Christensen has written about the “Innovator’s Dilemma”: the fact that large…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lawrence-lessig/economics-itself-offers-a-parallel-that-explains-why-this-integration/)

[Lawrence Lessig](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lawrence-lessig/)

> [Most start-up companies fail and it is smart public policy to help entrepreneurs increase their odds of succeeding. But, the biggest loss to our…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-ries/most-start-up-companies-fail-and-it-is-smart-public-policy-to-help/)

[Eric Ries](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-ries/)

> [I brought one big question with me to Harvard. Why do smart companies fail?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/clayton-m-christensen/i-brought-one-big-question-with-me-to-harvard-why-do-smart-companies/)

[Clayton M. Christensen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/clayton-m-christensen/)

## More by Adam Lashinsky

> [“The reason you have committees is that you have divided responsibilities,” Jobs said. “We don’t. At Apple you can figure out exactly who is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adam-lashinsky/the-reason-you-have-committees-is-that-you-have-divided/)

[Adam Lashinsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adam-lashinsky/)

> [Groceries, TV shows, and shoes are a few categories Amazon has been willing to hang onto for years.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adam-lashinsky/groceries-tv-shows-and-shoes-are-a-few-categories-amazon-has-been/)

[Adam Lashinsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adam-lashinsky/)

> [Amazon has suffered quarters-long profit droughts. Alphabet has given its investors agita over profligate spending on non-core products. Microsoft's growth - if not its…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adam-lashinsky/amazon-has-suffered-quarters-long-profit-droughts-alphabet-has-given/)

[Adam Lashinsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adam-lashinsky/)

> [Chip maker Nvidia is the new old thing, an overnight success story years in the making that is having its moment and then some.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adam-lashinsky/chip-maker-nvidia-is-the-new-old-thing-an-overnight-success-story/)

[Adam Lashinsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adam-lashinsky/)

> [“George Blankenship, a top executive of Apple’s retail initiative when it began, explained the very real link between storytelling and driving demand.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adam-lashinsky/george-blankenship-a-top-executive-of-apple-s-retail-initiative-when/)

[Adam Lashinsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adam-lashinsky/)

> [Apple is a military-like command-and-control organization where people lower down in the organization manage up. They are constantly preparing their boss who may be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adam-lashinsky/apple-is-a-military-like-command-and-control-organization-where/)

[Adam Lashinsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adam-lashinsky/)

> [“The trick with selling breakthrough products is to explain them clearly.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adam-lashinsky/the-trick-with-selling-breakthrough-products-is-to-explain-them/)

[Adam Lashinsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adam-lashinsky/)

> [Roku collects money two ways: by selling hardware, which it calls 'players'; and by selling advertising and taking a cut of revenues from the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adam-lashinsky/roku-collects-money-two-ways-by-selling-hardware-which-it-calls/)

[Adam Lashinsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adam-lashinsky/)

> [As the finish line for 2017 begins to come into focus, I'm beginning to wonder what an Uber turnaround would look like.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adam-lashinsky/as-the-finish-line-for-2017-begins-to-come-into-focus-i-m-beginning/)

[Adam Lashinsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adam-lashinsky/)

> [“Ive’s dreamy insistence on a stainless-steel bezel for iPhones and industrial-grade glass for iPads, for instance, paid off in a way that managers worried…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adam-lashinsky/ive-s-dreamy-insistence-on-a-stainless-steel-bezel-for-iphones-and/)

[Adam Lashinsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adam-lashinsky/)

> [“I always considered part of my job was to keep the quality level of people in the organizations I work with very high. That’s…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adam-lashinsky/i-always-considered-part-of-my-job-was-to-keep-the-quality-level-of/)

[Adam Lashinsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adam-lashinsky/)

> [Chinese companies, in their well-capitalized, rapidly growing, and surprisingly lightly regulated markets, have become global innovation leaders.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adam-lashinsky/chinese-companies-in-their-well-capitalized-rapidly-growing-and/)

[Adam Lashinsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adam-lashinsky/)

> [“PC makers put crapware on their computers—antivirus software, subscription offers, and so on—precisely because the revenue is lucrative. Apple forgoes such opportunities time and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adam-lashinsky/pc-makers-put-crapware-on-their-computers-antivirus-software/)

[Adam Lashinsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adam-lashinsky/)

> [Innovation has its limits, of course, and Salesforce has proved adept at supplementing its growth with acquisitions, a tool long available to older rivals…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adam-lashinsky/innovation-has-its-limits-of-course-and-salesforce-has-proved-adept/)

[Adam Lashinsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adam-lashinsky/)

> [“Blankenship described Tesla’s version, an obvious homage to Apple marketing, regarding how to sell its $150,000-plus Roadster. “Zero to sixty in 3.7 seconds,” he…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adam-lashinsky/blankenship-described-tesla-s-version-an-obvious-homage-to-apple/)

[Adam Lashinsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adam-lashinsky/)

[Explore all 119 Adam Lashinsky quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adam-lashinsky/)

## More Business quotes

> [Companies with cultures that celebrate diverse opinions and encourage the exchange of ideas have an advantage when solving difficult problems. A company that doesn't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/doug-mcmillon/companies-with-cultures-that-celebrate-diverse-opinions-and-encourage/)

[Doug McMillon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/doug-mcmillon/)

> [You can laugh at me, but I understand show business.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ksenia-sobchak/you-can-laugh-at-me-but-i-understand-show-business/)

[Ksenia Sobchak](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ksenia-sobchak/)

> [“Start a business, not a startup”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/start-a-business-not-a-startup/)

[Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/)

> [“Take some books and read; that’s an immense help; and books are always good company if you have the right sort.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/louisa-may-alcott/take-some-books-and-read-that-s-an-immense-help-and-books-are-always/)

[Louisa May Alcott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/louisa-may-alcott/)

> [I'm a business first and foremost so whatever my business is, it's separate from my personal. It's like whatever I do business wise, it's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/snoop-dogg/i-m-a-business-first-and-foremost-so-whatever-my-business-is-it-s/)

[Snoop Dogg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/snoop-dogg/)

> [Many early-stage entrepreneurs make one simple mistake: Describing this 'big picture' in vague concepts and words.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sunil-nagaraj/many-early-stage-entrepreneurs-make-one-simple-mistake-describing/)

[Sunil Nagaraj](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sunil-nagaraj/)

> [Nobody has a crystal ball, and part of evolving a business plan is to say, 'I might have said we're going left, but I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ryan-kavanaugh/nobody-has-a-crystal-ball-and-part-of-evolving-a-business-plan-is-to/)

[Ryan Kavanaugh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ryan-kavanaugh/)

> [I think a business guy is different from an artist. They walk different paths. Artists create the best outputs when they're having fun. And…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/g-dragon/i-think-a-business-guy-is-different-from-an-artist-they-walk/)

[G-Dragon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/g-dragon/)

> [ “\[S\]ometimes, when you are a food person, the possible irrelevance of what you are doing doesn’t cross your mind until it’s too late. (Once,… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nora-ephron/s-ometimes-when-you-are-a-food-person-the-possible-irrelevance-of/)

[Nora Ephron](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nora-ephron/)

> [If you have a different mindset, you will have a different outcome: if you make different choices from your peers, your life will then…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-ma/if-you-have-a-different-mindset-you-will-have-a-different-outcome-if/)

[Jack Ma](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-ma/)

> [“Some say the Earth is angry Because he wants no company; I say the Earth is angry Because he lives alone.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/n-k-jemisin/some-say-the-earth-is-angry-because-he-wants-no-company-i-say-the/)

[N.K. Jemisin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/n-k-jemisin/)

> [ If the State does not acquire supremacy over \[vast private\] enterprises, it becomes their puppet, and they become the real State. ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bertrand-russell/if-the-state-does-not-acquire-supremacy-over-vast-private-enterprises/)

[Bertrand Russell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bertrand-russell/)

> [It's not just that families can't buy a home or start a business without some savings tucked away.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-cooper/it-s-not-just-that-families-can-t-buy-a-home-or-start-a-business/)

[Jim Cooper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-cooper/)

> [I'm not into business at all.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/freddie-mercury/i-m-not-into-business-at-all/)

[Freddie Mercury](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/freddie-mercury/)

> [I've long believed one of the mainsprings of our own liberty has been the widespread ownership of property among our people and the expectation…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ronald-reagan/i-ve-long-believed-one-of-the-mainsprings-of-our-own-liberty-has-been/)

[Ronald Reagan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ronald-reagan/)

[Browse all 39,016 Business quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/business/)

```json
{
    "@context": "https://schema.org",
    "@graph": [
        {
            "@type": "Quotation",
            "text": "“The ‘Innovator’s Dilemma’ doesn’t exist at Apple,” he said, referring to Clay Christensen’s popular book about how big companies fail to anticipate the next wave because they are unwilling to sacrifice existing sales.”",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "Adam Lashinsky"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adam-lashinsky/the-innovator-s-dilemma-doesn-t-exist-at-apple-he-said-referring-to/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "Business"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adam-lashinsky/the-innovator-s-dilemma-doesn-t-exist-at-apple-he-said-referring-to/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/aec/adam-lashinsky-3927_business_the-innovator-s-dilemma-doesn-t-exist-at_971359.jpg",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/aec/adam-lashinsky-3927_business_the-innovator-s-dilemma-doesn-t-exist-at_971359.jpg",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/aec/adam-lashinsky-3927_business_the-innovator-s-dilemma-doesn-t-exist-at_971359.jpg",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“The ‘Innovator’s Dilemma’ doesn’t exist at Apple,” he said, referring to Clay Christensen’s popular book…” — Adam Lashinsky",
                "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
                "creator": {
                    "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization"
                }
            }
        },
        {
            "@type": "BreadcrumbList",
            "itemListElement": [
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 1,
                    "name": "Home",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 2,
                    "name": "Quotes",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 3,
                    "name": "Adam Lashinsky",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adam-lashinsky/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 4,
                    "name": "“The ‘Innovator’s Dilemma’ doesn’t exist at...",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adam-lashinsky/the-innovator-s-dilemma-doesn-t-exist-at-apple-he-said-referring-to/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adam-lashinsky/the-innovator-s-dilemma-doesn-t-exist-at-apple-he-said-referring-to/#breadcrumb"
        },
        {
            "@type": "WebSite",
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website",
            "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/",
            "publisher": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization"
            }
        },
        {
            "@type": "Organization",
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization",
            "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/",
            "logo": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png",
                "width": 512,
                "height": 512
            }
        }
    ]
}
```
