--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: My entire career has been built on the…" description: "\"My entire career has been built on the understanding that I am not only not the smartest person in the room, I am definitely not the smartest person in..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/51c/alexis-ohanian-4303_career_my-entire-career-has-been-built-on-the-u_292019.png" --- # My entire career has been built on the understanding that… ![“My entire career has been built on the understanding that I am not only not the smartest person in the room, I am definitely not the smartest person in the world. And I am instead going to try to create as many opportunities to connect those great ideas and help them be great.” quote by Alexis Ohanian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/51c/alexis-ohanian-4303_career_my-entire-career-has-been-built-on-the-u_292019.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/51c/alexis-ohanian-4303_career_my-entire-career-has-been-built-on-the-u_292019.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/51c/alexis-ohanian-4303_career_my-entire-career-has-been-built-on-the-u_292019.png) > “My entire career has been built on the understanding that I am not only not the smartest person in the room, I am definitely not the smartest person in the world. And I am instead going to try to create as many opportunities to connect those great ideas and help them be great.” [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. He acknowledges not being the smartest, so he creates opportunities to connect ideas and help them succeed. **In simple terms:** He isn’t the smartest, but he builds bridges for ideas. Key Takeaway Facilitate connections and empower others. Themes humility collaboration empowerment Mood inspirational thoughtful Type leadership philosophical When to use this quote - startup incubators - community events - online platforms Key Concepts networking idea incubation mentorship Questions to Reflect On - How can you balance humility with leadership? - What structures best support idea exchange? A Different Perspective Relying on others may dilute personal vision. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Career](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/career/) [Great ideas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/great-ideas/) [Help](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/help/) [Learning](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/learning/) [Understanding](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/understanding/) [World](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/world/) ## Related quotes > [There's nothing 'flash in the pan' about my career. It's been built fan by fan, city by city.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/iliza-shlesinger/there-s-nothing-flash-in-the-pan-about-my-career-it-s-been-built-fan/) [Iliza Shlesinger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/iliza-shlesinger/) > [I think most of my career has been built on conviction and the personality to carry that image or stride confidently on the catwalk.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erin-o-connor/i-think-most-of-my-career-has-been-built-on-conviction-and-the/) [Erin O'Connor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erin-o-connor/) > [Ours is a career built on a friendship, not a friendship built on a career.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/declan-donnelly/ours-is-a-career-built-on-a-friendship-not-a-friendship-built-on-a/) [Declan Donnelly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/declan-donnelly/) > [A career is measured over the course of the years, not moments. Over good decisions, over successes, not moments, failures, missteps, or bad comments.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexis-maybank/a-career-is-measured-over-the-course-of-the-years-not-moments-over/) [Alexis Maybank](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexis-maybank/) > [We always said our career was built on our friendship and that our friendship was the secret of our success. The career just happened…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/declan-donnelly/we-always-said-our-career-was-built-on-our-friendship-and-that-our/) [Declan Donnelly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/declan-donnelly/) > [I realized a career is built as much on what you don't do as what you do do.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rose-mcgowan/i-realized-a-career-is-built-as-much-on-what-you-don-t-do-as-what-you/) [Rose McGowan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rose-mcgowan/) > [My career is built around a pattern that just keeps repeating itself over and over again. There's nothing surprising about it at all. My…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-young/my-career-is-built-around-a-pattern-that-just-keeps-repeating-itself/) [Neil Young](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-young/) > [Commit to a career built on sacrifice, not compromise.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/devon-franklin/commit-to-a-career-built-on-sacrifice-not-compromise/) [DeVon Franklin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/devon-franklin/) > [Every great company, brand, career has been built in exactly the same way: bit by bit, step by step, little by little.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/seth-godin/every-great-company-brand-career-has-been-built-in-exactly-the-same/) [Seth Godin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/seth-godin/) > [If you can create a career built on passion, your chances for success, fulfillment, and longevity are far greater than if you take any…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/katherine-schwarzenegger/if-you-can-create-a-career-built-on-passion-your-chances-for-success/) Katherine Schwarzenegger > [I admit I do have a very nice butt. Some say my career was built on it!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-claude-van-damme-2/i-admit-i-do-have-a-very-nice-butt-some-say-my-career-was-built-on-it/) [Jean Claude Van Damme](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-claude-van-damme-2/) > [We all have great ideas. No one ever says, "I've got this terrible idea."](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexis-ohanian/we-all-have-great-ideas-no-one-ever-says-i-ve-got-this-terrible-idea/) [Alexis Ohanian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexis-ohanian/) > [No, everyone has great ideas, but what makes a difference, especially online, or just in life, is actually doing it; getting that first version…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexis-ohanian/no-everyone-has-great-ideas-but-what-makes-a-difference-especially/) [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/) > [“If you're the smartest person in the room, you might wanna switch rooms.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sabrina-newby/if-you-re-the-smartest-person-in-the-room-you-might-wanna-switch-rooms/) [Sabrina Newby](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sabrina-newby/) ## 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/) > [I'm probably the worst Silicon Valley insider ever. I don't hang out with Silicon Valley people.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexis-ohanian/i-m-probably-the-worst-silicon-valley-insider-ever-i-don-t-hang-out/) [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/) > [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 Career quotes > [“Don’t allow anyone to pressure you into taking a job in a field that doesn’t feel right in your gut. You are the one…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alison-james/don-t-allow-anyone-to-pressure-you-into-taking-a-job-in-a-field-that/) Alison James > [In every province, the chief occupations, in order of importance, are lovemaking, malicious gossip, and talking nonsense.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/voltaire/in-every-province-the-chief-occupations-in-order-of-importance-are/) [Voltaire](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/voltaire/) > [I think I've had the longest career of strength, focus, and still being able to sell records. I think I'm that guy. I'm still…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nas/i-think-i-ve-had-the-longest-career-of-strength-focus-and-still-being/) [Nas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nas/) > [One needs more than ambition and talent to make a success of anything, really. There must be love and a vocation.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jessye-norman/one-needs-more-than-ambition-and-talent-to-make-a-success-of-anything/) [Jessye Norman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jessye-norman/) > [There are so many things you can do with your life, you can go to school and study toward your career, you can become…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/simphiwe-scientist-dumi/there-are-so-many-things-you-can-do-with-your-life-you-can-go-to/) [Simphiwe Scientist Dumi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/simphiwe-scientist-dumi/) > [I always knew I wanted to have a good career, so I made it happen.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chord-overstreet/i-always-knew-i-wanted-to-have-a-good-career-so-i-made-it-happen/) [Chord Overstreet](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chord-overstreet/) > [I am a very big fan of Brian Eno, of his work as an artist and making his music, and as a producer. In…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rostam-batmanglij/i-am-a-very-big-fan-of-brian-eno-of-his-work-as-an-artist-and-making/) [Rostam Batmanglij](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rostam-batmanglij/) > [If I can beat a proven champion like Canelo, that will take my career to a different level.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gennady-golovkin/if-i-can-beat-a-proven-champion-like-canelo-that-will-take-my-career/) [Gennady Golovkin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gennady-golovkin/) > [My non-career. My excuse for a career? Honestly, I never think about the word 'career.' I've had managers, the minute they say it to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-verlaine/my-non-career-my-excuse-for-a-career-honestly-i-never-think-about-the/) [Tom Verlaine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-verlaine/) > [“The vocation of a man lies in his vision.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lailah-gifty-akita/the-vocation-of-a-man-lies-in-his-vision/) [Lailah Gifty Akita](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lailah-gifty-akita/) > [I started off as a model maker, so the first part of my career was a model maker and then a motion control camera…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-knoll/i-started-off-as-a-model-maker-so-the-first-part-of-my-career-was-a/) [John Knoll](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-knoll/) > [Growing up I did commercials and things like that, but nothing serious. As I got older, my family is really hardcore into academics. They…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/portia-doubleday/growing-up-i-did-commercials-and-things-like-that-but-nothing-serious/) [Portia Doubleday](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/portia-doubleday/) > [You can have a career and kids who love you. But you have to nurture yourself and find a way to be fulfilled so…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/catherine-reitman/you-can-have-a-career-and-kids-who-love-you-but-you-have-to-nurture/) [Catherine Reitman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/catherine-reitman/) > [As for doing good; that is one of the professions which is full. Moreover I have tried it fairly and, strange as it may…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-david-thoreau/as-for-doing-good-that-is-one-of-the-professions-which-is-full/) [Henry David Thoreau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-david-thoreau/) > [Even though I'm already successful and have a career, it is always good to have your eggs in more than one basket.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/farrah-abraham/even-though-i-m-already-successful-and-have-a-career-it-is-always/) [Farrah Abraham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/farrah-abraham/) [Browse all 11,387 Career quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/career/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "My entire career has been built on the understanding that I am not only not the smartest person in the room, I am definitely not the smartest person in the world. 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