--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: In the early days, it was enough for…" description: "\"In the early days, it was enough for Imgur to have a team that was focused on building product and engineering. But I realized early on if we were goin..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4fb/alan-schaaf-10743_bridge_in-the-early-days-it-was-enough-for-imgu_757025.jpg" --- # In the early days, it was enough for Imgur to have a team… ![“In the early days, it was enough for Imgur to have a team that was focused on building product and engineering. But I realized early on if we were going to be successful, we needed someone who would be a bridge between the company and community.” quote by Alan Schaaf](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4fb/alan-schaaf-10743_bridge_in-the-early-days-it-was-enough-for-imgu_757025.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4fb/alan-schaaf-10743_bridge_in-the-early-days-it-was-enough-for-imgu_757025.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4fb/alan-schaaf-10743_bridge_in-the-early-days-it-was-enough-for-imgu_757025.jpg) > “In the early days, it was enough for Imgur to have a team that was focused on building product and engineering. But I realized early on if we were going to be successful, we needed someone who would be a bridge between the company and community.” [Alan Schaaf](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-schaaf/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Early success came from product focus, but later needed a bridge between company and community. **In simple terms:** Product focus needed community liaison later. Key Takeaway Build roles that connect users and developers. Themes product development community leadership Mood strategic optimistic Type business insightful When to use this quote - startup growth - community management - customer support Key Concepts organizational structure user engagement Questions to Reflect On - How do you find the right community liaison? - What metrics show effective community engagement? A Different Perspective Balancing product and community can be resource‑intensive. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Business](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/business/) [Community](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/community/) [Engineering](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/engineering/) [Team](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/team/) [Teamwork](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/teamwork/) ## Related quotes > [Imgur is a data-driven company, and our community is our most important signal. But you can't perfectly plot humans neatly into a chart. It…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-schaaf/imgur-is-a-data-driven-company-and-our-community-is-our-most/) [Alan Schaaf](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-schaaf/) > [Started off industrial engineering. Then I realized I wasn't nearly that smart. Then I switched to business.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-eubanks/started-off-industrial-engineering-then-i-realized-i-wasn-t-nearly/) [Christopher Eubanks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-eubanks/) > [A leader can create a company, but a community creates a movement,](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/blake-mycoskie/a-leader-can-create-a-company-but-a-community-creates-a-movement/) [Blake Mycoskie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/blake-mycoskie/) > [“Love is a bridge between your future and mine. A bridge constructed entirely out of trust, honesty, and in our case, wooden planks.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jarod-kintz/love-is-a-bridge-between-your-future-and-mine-a-bridge-constructed/) [Jarod Kintz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jarod-kintz/) > [My parents wielded disposal cameras and Polaroids with the best of them, occasionally begging for at least one decent photo of my brother and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-pilon/my-parents-wielded-disposal-cameras-and-polaroids-with-the-best-of/) [Mary Pilon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-pilon/) > [I remember, many years ago, coming over the Brooklyn Bridge in the night and seeing the skyline of Manhattan, with the Twin Towers. This…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/santiago-calatrava/i-remember-many-years-ago-coming-over-the-brooklyn-bridge-in-the/) [Santiago Calatrava](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/santiago-calatrava/) > [Bridge the gap with closed minds though careful dissection of ideas and solid presentation of fact.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maximillian-degenerez/bridge-the-gap-with-closed-minds-though-careful-dissection-of-ideas/) [Maximillian Degenerez](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maximillian-degenerez/) > [“Houses built on bridges are scandals. A bridge wants to not be. If it could choose its shape, a bridge would be no shape,”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/china-mi-ville/houses-built-on-bridges-are-scandals-a-bridge-wants-to-not-be-if-it/) [China Miéville](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/china-mi-ville/) > [I find that it's best to take one step at a time and cross each bridge as they come to you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-stuhlbarg/i-find-that-it-s-best-to-take-one-step-at-a-time-and-cross-each/) [Michael Stuhlbarg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-stuhlbarg/) > [“Mr Benz, the parapet of an Italian bridge doesn’t look like the proper place for you,” said Chase.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stefania-mattana/mr-benz-the-parapet-of-an-italian-bridge-doesn-t-look-like-the-proper/) [Stefania Mattana](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stefania-mattana/) > [The real test of a bridge player isn’t in keeping out of trouble, but in escaping once he’s in.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alfred-sheinwold/the-real-test-of-a-bridge-player-isn-t-in-keeping-out-of-trouble-but/) [Alfred Sheinwold](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alfred-sheinwold/) > [Telling your story is transformative. For both the storyteller and their audience, a new bridge to understanding is created.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susan-burton/telling-your-story-is-transformative-for-both-the-storyteller-and/) [Susan Burton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susan-burton/) > [People who have lost relationships often wonder why they can't just let it be water under the bridge. It is water under the bridge…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/grant-fairley/people-who-have-lost-relationships-often-wonder-why-they-can-t-just/) [Grant Fairley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/grant-fairley/) > [“Art is what gets us beyond what is real. It makes reality more real. It also shortens the distance we gotta travel to see…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laura-pritchett/art-is-what-gets-us-beyond-what-is-real-it-makes-reality-more-real-it/) [Laura Pritchett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laura-pritchett/) > [Nothing teaches great writing like the very best books do. Yet, good teachers often help students cross that bridge, and I have to say…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julia-glass/nothing-teaches-great-writing-like-the-very-best-books-do-yet-good/) [Julia Glass](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julia-glass/) ## More by Alan Schaaf > [If SOPA were to pass, Imgur would not be able to exist. We survive on user-generated content. It would be impossible for us to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-schaaf/if-sopa-were-to-pass-imgur-would-not-be-able-to-exist-we-survive-on/) [Alan Schaaf](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-schaaf/) > [For millennials, being a geek is a positive thing, and we see people proudly self-identifying themselves as geeks.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-schaaf/for-millennials-being-a-geek-is-a-positive-thing-and-we-see-people/) [Alan Schaaf](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-schaaf/) > [I've found that instability from growth comes in waves.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-schaaf/i-ve-found-that-instability-from-growth-comes-in-waves/) [Alan Schaaf](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-schaaf/) > [The Imgur community, as a whole, is generally a lot more positive and a lot more funny than other communities.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-schaaf/the-imgur-community-as-a-whole-is-generally-a-lot-more-positive-and-a/) [Alan Schaaf](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-schaaf/) > [We want to become the best place on the Internet for self-expression and entertainment. If we have to raise money to achieve that goal…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-schaaf/we-want-to-become-the-best-place-on-the-internet-for-self-expression/) [Alan Schaaf](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-schaaf/) > [When we first started growing our employees, I was scared. I would often think, 'If we had more people, what would they do? Is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-schaaf/when-we-first-started-growing-our-employees-i-was-scared-i-would/) [Alan Schaaf](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-schaaf/) > [GIFs work because the punch line is instantaneous. It's entirely different from almost any other form of content on the Internet, which takes time…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-schaaf/gifs-work-because-the-punch-line-is-instantaneous-it-s-entirely/) [Alan Schaaf](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-schaaf/) > [Not only do Imgurians get the opportunity to find the content that they love but also serve up their favorite content to others who…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-schaaf/not-only-do-imgurians-get-the-opportunity-to-find-the-content-that/) [Alan Schaaf](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-schaaf/) > [Imgurians increasingly live on their mobile devices, and we wanted to make it as easy as possible for them to browse and discuss Imgur's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-schaaf/imgurians-increasingly-live-on-their-mobile-devices-and-we-wanted-to/) [Alan Schaaf](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-schaaf/) > [If a whole bunch of users want a specific feature, and we think that feature is pretty cool, too, that that's just what we'll…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-schaaf/if-a-whole-bunch-of-users-want-a-specific-feature-and-we-think-that/) [Alan Schaaf](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-schaaf/) > [People come home from work, and they just want to unwind.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-schaaf/people-come-home-from-work-and-they-just-want-to-unwind/) [Alan Schaaf](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-schaaf/) > [If you're even on the fence about hiring someone, that person is a no. You have to feel it in your gut.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-schaaf/if-you-re-even-on-the-fence-about-hiring-someone-that-person-is-a-no/) [Alan Schaaf](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-schaaf/) > [We want to be like a YouTube for viral images.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-schaaf/we-want-to-be-like-a-youtube-for-viral-images/) [Alan Schaaf](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-schaaf/) > [I'm probably most proud of the fact that we are bootstrapped and that we are able to do not just the typical Silicon Valley…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-schaaf/i-m-probably-most-proud-of-the-fact-that-we-are-bootstrapped-and-that/) [Alan Schaaf](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-schaaf/) > [Imgur has always been profitable right from the very beginning, and the only time I ever had to spend money on it was for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-schaaf/imgur-has-always-been-profitable-right-from-the-very-beginning-and/) [Alan Schaaf](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-schaaf/) [Explore all 63 Alan Schaaf quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-schaaf/) ## More Bridge quotes > [Nothing teaches great writing like the very best books do. Yet, good teachers often help students cross that bridge, and I have to say…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julia-glass/nothing-teaches-great-writing-like-the-very-best-books-do-yet-good/) [Julia Glass](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julia-glass/) > [“Art is what gets us beyond what is real. It makes reality more real. It also shortens the distance we gotta travel to see…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laura-pritchett/art-is-what-gets-us-beyond-what-is-real-it-makes-reality-more-real-it/) [Laura Pritchett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laura-pritchett/) > [People who have lost relationships often wonder why they can't just let it be water under the bridge. It is water under the bridge…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/grant-fairley/people-who-have-lost-relationships-often-wonder-why-they-can-t-just/) [Grant Fairley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/grant-fairley/) > [Telling your story is transformative. For both the storyteller and their audience, a new bridge to understanding is created.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susan-burton/telling-your-story-is-transformative-for-both-the-storyteller-and/) [Susan Burton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susan-burton/) > [The real test of a bridge player isn’t in keeping out of trouble, but in escaping once he’s in.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alfred-sheinwold/the-real-test-of-a-bridge-player-isn-t-in-keeping-out-of-trouble-but/) [Alfred Sheinwold](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alfred-sheinwold/) > [“Mr Benz, the parapet of an Italian bridge doesn’t look like the proper place for you,” said Chase.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stefania-mattana/mr-benz-the-parapet-of-an-italian-bridge-doesn-t-look-like-the-proper/) [Stefania Mattana](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stefania-mattana/) > [I find that it's best to take one step at a time and cross each bridge as they come to you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-stuhlbarg/i-find-that-it-s-best-to-take-one-step-at-a-time-and-cross-each/) [Michael Stuhlbarg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-stuhlbarg/) > [“Houses built on bridges are scandals. A bridge wants to not be. If it could choose its shape, a bridge would be no shape,”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/china-mi-ville/houses-built-on-bridges-are-scandals-a-bridge-wants-to-not-be-if-it/) [China Miéville](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/china-mi-ville/) > [Bridge the gap with closed minds though careful dissection of ideas and solid presentation of fact.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maximillian-degenerez/bridge-the-gap-with-closed-minds-though-careful-dissection-of-ideas/) [Maximillian Degenerez](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maximillian-degenerez/) > [I remember, many years ago, coming over the Brooklyn Bridge in the night and seeing the skyline of Manhattan, with the Twin Towers. This…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/santiago-calatrava/i-remember-many-years-ago-coming-over-the-brooklyn-bridge-in-the/) [Santiago Calatrava](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/santiago-calatrava/) > [My parents wielded disposal cameras and Polaroids with the best of them, occasionally begging for at least one decent photo of my brother and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-pilon/my-parents-wielded-disposal-cameras-and-polaroids-with-the-best-of/) [Mary Pilon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-pilon/) > [“Love is a bridge between your future and mine. A bridge constructed entirely out of trust, honesty, and in our case, wooden planks.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jarod-kintz/love-is-a-bridge-between-your-future-and-mine-a-bridge-constructed/) [Jarod Kintz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jarod-kintz/) > [What I do is I'm trying to bridge the gap between yoga and fitness.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mandy-ingber/what-i-do-is-i-m-trying-to-bridge-the-gap-between-yoga-and-fitness/) [Mandy Ingber](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mandy-ingber/) > [Historically, Hong Kong has served as an important bridge between China and the world. Our freedoms, stability and the rule of law have been…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joshua-wong/historically-hong-kong-has-served-as-an-important-bridge-between/) [Joshua Wong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joshua-wong/) > [Tower Bridge would make a cool house. I like the idea of living over the river.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stuart-broad/tower-bridge-would-make-a-cool-house-i-like-the-idea-of-living-over/) [Stuart Broad](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stuart-broad/) Browse all 736 Bridge quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "In the early days, it was enough for Imgur to have a team that was focused on building product and engineering. 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