--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I'm probably the worst Silicon Valley…" description: "\"I'm probably the worst Silicon Valley insider ever. I don't hang out with Silicon Valley people.\" — Alexis Ohanian" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/94f/alexis-ohanian-4303_insider_i-m-probably-the-worst-silicon-valley-in_111248.png" --- # I'm probably the worst Silicon Valley insider ever. I… ![“I'm probably the worst Silicon Valley insider ever. I don't hang out with Silicon Valley people.” quote by Alexis Ohanian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/94f/alexis-ohanian-4303_insider_i-m-probably-the-worst-silicon-valley-in_111248.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/94f/alexis-ohanian-4303_insider_i-m-probably-the-worst-silicon-valley-in_111248.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/94f/alexis-ohanian-4303_insider_i-m-probably-the-worst-silicon-valley-in_111248.png) > “I'm probably the worst Silicon Valley insider ever. I don't hang out with Silicon Valley people.” [Alexis Ohanian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexis-ohanian/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The speaker admits feeling disconnected from the typical Silicon Valley culture, suggesting self-awareness of being an outsider despite being part of the ecosystem. **In simple terms:** I’m not a typical insider. Key Takeaway Self-awareness of outsider status. Themes identity culture tech industry authenticity Mood reflective wry Type self‑deprecating industry commentary When to use this quote - networking events where one feels out of place - team meetings with dominant jargon - industry conferences with homogeneous perspectives Key Concepts social belonging personal branding Practical Applications - Leverage outsider perspective to challenge assumptions - Seek diverse circles to broaden insight Questions to Reflect On - How does feeling like an outsider affect your contributions? - What value can an outsider bring to a tight‑knit community? A Different Perspective Being an outsider may limit access to informal networks that can be valuable for opportunities. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Insider](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/insider/) [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) [Silicon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/silicon/) [Silicon valley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/silicon-valley/) [Valley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/valley/) [Valley Insider](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/valley-insider-1320892/) [Worst](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/worst/) [Worst Silicon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/worst-silicon-1320891/) ## Related quotes > [What I Iove about Y Combinator is that it is a level playing field. If you get in, you immediately become a Silicon Valley…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-seibel/what-i-iove-about-y-combinator-is-that-it-is-a-level-playing-field-if/) [Michael Seibel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-seibel/) > [The thing we should all be looking for are people who want to make a difference. I'm a big believer in the Silicon Valley…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tim-o-reilly/the-thing-we-should-all-be-looking-for-are-people-who-want-to-make-a/) [Tim O'Reilly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tim-o-reilly/) > [What makes Silicon Valley really work? It's a unique combination of great educational institutions - especially at Stanford - that generate engineers and a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-t-chambers/what-makes-silicon-valley-really-work-it-s-a-unique-combination-of/) [John T. Chambers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-t-chambers/) > [You might call me a tech intermediary. I know how to talk to the people in Silicon Valley and then take that information and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marc-ostrofsky/you-might-call-me-a-tech-intermediary-i-know-how-to-talk-to-the/) [Marc Ostrofsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marc-ostrofsky/) > [One of the great things about moving to Silicon Valley is that you're surrounded by all these people who've done it before. This place…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/drew-houston/one-of-the-great-things-about-moving-to-silicon-valley-is-that-you-re/) [Drew Houston](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/drew-houston/) > [Historically, people have flocked to Silicon Valley because of the belief that that's where the latest innovation is happening. It's a snowball effect.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/taavet-hinrikus/historically-people-have-flocked-to-silicon-valley-because-of-the/) [Taavet Hinrikus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/taavet-hinrikus/) > [In Delicious's case, it's a great brand that belongs in Silicon Valley.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chad-hurley/in-delicious-s-case-it-s-a-great-brand-that-belongs-in-silicon-valley/) [Chad Hurley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chad-hurley/) > [Most competition in Silicon Valley now heads toward there being one monopolistic winner.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/om-malik/most-competition-in-silicon-valley-now-heads-toward-there-being-one/) [Om Malik](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/om-malik/) > [Silicon Valley is super competitive and super expensive for talent, for office space, for everything.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nathan-blecharczyk/silicon-valley-is-super-competitive-and-super-expensive-for-talent/) [Nathan Blecharczyk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nathan-blecharczyk/) > [My sense is that we're ready for another industrial revolution in this country. The great minds and innovators of Silicon Valley would come through…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jon-huntsman-jr/my-sense-is-that-we-re-ready-for-another-industrial-revolution-in/) [Jon Huntsman, Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jon-huntsman-jr/) > [We need to think about what Silicon Valley can contribute to the country - not just that somehow government bureaucrats should listen to our…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ro-khanna/we-need-to-think-about-what-silicon-valley-can-contribute-to-the/) [Ro Khanna](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ro-khanna/) > [I would say Silicon Valley and New York have inflated salaries.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harper-reed/i-would-say-silicon-valley-and-new-york-have-inflated-salaries/) [Harper Reed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harper-reed/) > [Silicon Valley is like Wall Street in that it will fill and pursue market opportunities to their logical extremes.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-yang/silicon-valley-is-like-wall-street-in-that-it-will-fill-and-pursue/) [Andrew Yang](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-yang/) > [Silicon Valley does not breed great technology. Instead, the smartest people from around the world tend to move to Silicon Valley.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patrick-collison/silicon-valley-does-not-breed-great-technology-instead-the-smartest/) [Patrick Collison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patrick-collison/) > [Sometimes it feels hard to remember that Silicon Valley is an actual place, a collage of parched suburbs, and not just the collective noun…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tatiana-schlossberg/sometimes-it-feels-hard-to-remember-that-silicon-valley-is-an-actual/) [Tatiana Schlossberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tatiana-schlossberg/) ## More by Alexis Ohanian > [Our competition has always been anything that is wasting your time when you're bored at work. In a broad sense. We want people to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexis-ohanian/our-competition-has-always-been-anything-that-is-wasting-your-time/) [Alexis Ohanian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexis-ohanian/) > [Everything is derivative. Everything is a remix, and we all stand on the shoulders of giants - a great phrase.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexis-ohanian/everything-is-derivative-everything-is-a-remix-and-we-all-stand-on/) [Alexis Ohanian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexis-ohanian/) > [Let's say you're all worried about student-loan debt and you need to have steady income. That doesn't have to be your everything.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexis-ohanian/let-s-say-you-re-all-worried-about-student-loan-debt-and-you-need-to/) [Alexis Ohanian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexis-ohanian/) > [Every founder has to delude themselves into thinking, "Yes, it's going to be big. It's going to take over the world."](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexis-ohanian/every-founder-has-to-delude-themselves-into-thinking-yes-it-s-going/) [Alexis Ohanian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexis-ohanian/) > [Love making jewelry? Awesome! Find blogs that inspire you, follow people on social media who have great taste, start an Etsy store, and borrow…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexis-ohanian/love-making-jewelry-awesome-find-blogs-that-inspire-you-follow-people/) [Alexis Ohanian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexis-ohanian/) > [Hundreds of these companies I've seen since the beginning stages - including Dropbox and Airbnb - one of them has actually been crushed by…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexis-ohanian/hundreds-of-these-companies-i-ve-seen-since-the-beginning-stages/) [Alexis Ohanian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexis-ohanian/) > [Until we actually get legislation that protects our rights online, we will continue to fight against stupid, lobbyist-bought legislation. We want bills that protect…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexis-ohanian/until-we-actually-get-legislation-that-protects-our-rights-online-we/) [Alexis Ohanian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexis-ohanian/) > [I often think of a quote from entrepreneur Jim Rohn: 'You are the average of the five people you spend the most time with.'…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexis-ohanian/i-often-think-of-a-quote-from-entrepreneur-jim-rohn-you-are-the/) [Alexis Ohanian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexis-ohanian/) > [Because it's so empowering, I want people to think about being entrepreneurial regardless. They don't have to start companies, but that's what makes them…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexis-ohanian/because-it-s-so-empowering-i-want-people-to-think-about-being/) [Alexis Ohanian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexis-ohanian/) > [People want a remarkable experience; it's what they'll talk about, largely because the bar has been set so low by so many companies.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexis-ohanian/people-want-a-remarkable-experience-it-s-what-they-ll-talk-about/) [Alexis Ohanian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexis-ohanian/) > [My entire career has been built on the understanding that I am not only not the smartest person in the room, I am definitely…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexis-ohanian/my-entire-career-has-been-built-on-the-understanding-that-i-am-not/) [Alexis Ohanian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexis-ohanian/) > [If I didn't believe in rooting for founders and investing in founders, I'd be a bit of a hypocrite.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexis-ohanian/if-i-didn-t-believe-in-rooting-for-founders-and-investing-in-founders/) [Alexis Ohanian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexis-ohanian/) > [I try to help founders as much as I can, but so many of us we won't even take meetings with people who still…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexis-ohanian/i-try-to-help-founders-as-much-as-i-can-but-so-many-of-us-we-won-t/) [Alexis Ohanian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexis-ohanian/) > [The first version of everything is janky,](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexis-ohanian/the-first-version-of-everything-is-janky/) [Alexis Ohanian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexis-ohanian/) > [The first step, and the thing that everyone has to do right on the Internet is make something people want.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexis-ohanian/the-first-step-and-the-thing-that-everyone-has-to-do-right-on-the/) [Alexis Ohanian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexis-ohanian/) [Explore all 113 Alexis Ohanian quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexis-ohanian/) ## More Insider quotes > [In my former life I was in insider, as much as anybody else. And I knew what it's like, and I still know what…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donald-trump/in-my-former-life-i-was-in-insider-as-much-as-anybody-else-and-i-knew/) [Donald Trump](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donald-trump/) > [“Looks like I’ve found myself a handy man,” I smiled. “Oh yeah,” he grinned, “I’m as handy as they come.” “I can see it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/micalea-smeltzer/looks-like-i-ve-found-myself-a-handy-man-i-smiled-oh-yeah-he-grinned/) [Micalea Smeltzer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/micalea-smeltzer/) > [“I closed my mouth in order to cut off the high-pitched keening escaping my lips. Who knew a wolf could scream like a jungle…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/micalea-smeltzer/i-closed-my-mouth-in-order-to-cut-off-the-high-pitched-keening/) [Micalea Smeltzer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/micalea-smeltzer/) > [I will never be an insider. I want to be the champion of people who don't have insiders and lobbyists supporting them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pat-quinn/i-will-never-be-an-insider-i-want-to-be-the-champion-of-people-who/) [Pat Quinn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pat-quinn/) > [My past makes me an insider, but my profession makes me an outsider. A writer always stands outside to report on reality.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amitava-kumar/my-past-makes-me-an-insider-but-my-profession-makes-me-an-outsider-a/) [Amitava Kumar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amitava-kumar/) > [“To resist the urge to kick my grandma I grabbed a roll, ripped it in half, and proceeded to slather it with butter.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/micalea-smeltzer/to-resist-the-urge-to-kick-my-grandma-i-grabbed-a-roll-ripped-it-in/) [Micalea Smeltzer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/micalea-smeltzer/) > [I am not an insider - definitely not... but I don't think you could call me an outsider.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-neil/i-am-not-an-insider-definitely-not-but-i-don-t-think-you-could-call/) [Andrew Neil](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-neil/) > [“Kyle tapped Caeden’s shoulder. “Isn’t your little brother the one who sang the Fergie song at the top of his lungs during that assembly…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/micalea-smeltzer/kyle-tapped-caeden-s-shoulder-isn-t-your-little-brother-the-one-who/) [Micalea Smeltzer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/micalea-smeltzer/) > [Who would want to be considered a part of a culture or an insider..A man who is educated.Or someone who wants to be a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mc-hammer/who-would-want-to-be-considered-a-part-of-a-culture-or-an-insider-a/) [MC Hammer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mc-hammer/) > [I haven't changed - the public has. I'm an insider now, which is hilarious.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-waters/i-haven-t-changed-the-public-has-i-m-an-insider-now-which-is-hilarious/) [John Waters](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-waters/) > [“It’s getting harder,” his breath caressed my cheek. “What is?” I asked. “To resist you,” his fingers flexed against me.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/micalea-smeltzer/it-s-getting-harder-his-breath-caressed-my-cheek-what-is-i-asked-to/) [Micalea Smeltzer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/micalea-smeltzer/) > [“He barked a laugh before nudging my leg with his wet nose. “Ew, Caeden! You got wolf snot all over my leg!” I left…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/micalea-smeltzer/he-barked-a-laugh-before-nudging-my-leg-with-his-wet-nose-ew-caeden/) [Micalea Smeltzer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/micalea-smeltzer/) > [I'm not a celebrity. I don't take myself too seriously. I know where I stand in the food chain. And no matter how much…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/perez-hilton/i-m-not-a-celebrity-i-don-t-take-myself-too-seriously-i-know-where-i/) [Perez Hilton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/perez-hilton/) > [Awards shows have devolved into self-parodies - liberals in limos, corny insider jokes delivered by the hosts among bad teleprompter reading from the some…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-ridley/awards-shows-have-devolved-into-self-parodies-liberals-in-limos-corny/) [John Ridley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-ridley/) > [Well, we have to realize the truth about the person who is a hip-hop insider. Most of these people are not really insiders. They…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mc-hammer/well-we-have-to-realize-the-truth-about-the-person-who-is-a-hip-hop/) [MC Hammer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mc-hammer/) [Browse all 98 Insider quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/insider/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "I'm probably the worst Silicon Valley insider ever. 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