--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Starting a company is rough. It's even…" description: "\"Starting a company is rough. It's even harder when you're young - I know this firsthand, because my first company flopped when I was 25.\" — Andrew Yang" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c0a/andrew-yang-3669_business_starting-a-company-is-rough-it-s-even-ha_721153.jpg" --- # Starting a company is rough. It's even harder when you're… ![“Starting a company is rough. It's even harder when you're young - I know this firsthand, because my first company flopped when I was 25.” quote by Andrew Yang](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c0a/andrew-yang-3669_business_starting-a-company-is-rough-it-s-even-ha_721153.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c0a/andrew-yang-3669_business_starting-a-company-is-rough-it-s-even-ha_721153.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c0a/andrew-yang-3669_business_starting-a-company-is-rough-it-s-even-ha_721153.jpg) > “Starting a company is rough. It's even harder when you're young - I know this firsthand, because my first company flopped when I was 25.” [Andrew Yang](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-yang/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Launching a startup is difficult, especially for young founders who may face early failure. **In simple terms:** Starting a business is hard, more so when young. Key Takeaway Learn from early failures and persist. Themes entrepreneurship youth failure learning Mood realistic encouraging Type advisory motivational When to use this quote - seed funding - first venture - career planning Key Concepts risk innovation experience Questions to Reflect On - What lessons did your first failure teach you? - How can young founders mitigate early setbacks? A Different Perspective Youth may lack resources and networks, increasing difficulty. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Business](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/business/) [Company](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/company/) ## Related quotes > [I worked for a smoothie company, and that was rough. I also sold women's shoes for a very long time. That was super rough.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jay-ellis/i-worked-for-a-smoothie-company-and-that-was-rough-i-also-sold-women/) [Jay Ellis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jay-ellis/) > [Being an entrepreneur isn’t just a job title, and it isn’t just about starting a company. It’s a state of mind. It’s about seeing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tory-burch/being-an-entrepreneur-isn-t-just-a-job-title-and-it-isn-t-just-about/) [Tory Burch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tory-burch/) > [The biggest barrier to starting a company isn't ideas, funding or experience. It's excuses.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-lacy/the-biggest-barrier-to-starting-a-company-isn-t-ideas-funding-or/) [Sarah Lacy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-lacy/) > [Starting a company is a cause, not a job. Once it becomes a job, that's when you lose](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-parr/starting-a-company-is-a-cause-not-a-job-once-it-becomes-a-job-that-s/) [Ben Parr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ben-parr/) > [The bad thing about young people starting a company is that sometimes they do it for the wrong reasons or because they have the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-horowitz/the-bad-thing-about-young-people-starting-a-company-is-that-sometimes/) [Ben Horowitz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ben-horowitz/) > [I consistently run into young adults who have quickly turned away from traditional jobs at great companies to try their hand at a start-up.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maynard-webb/i-consistently-run-into-young-adults-who-have-quickly-turned-away/) [Maynard Webb](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maynard-webb/) > [I could imagine, some number of years from now, starting my own company. But not yet. Not for a while.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marissa-mayer/i-could-imagine-some-number-of-years-from-now-starting-my-own-company/) [Marissa Mayer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marissa-mayer/) > [Work-life balance for founders doesn't look like work-life balance for everyone else. Starting a company isn't a nine-to-six job - or a nine-to-nine job,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kathryn-minshew/work-life-balance-for-founders-doesn-t-look-like-work-life-balance/) [Kathryn Minshew](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kathryn-minshew/) > [Even if you have no interest in starting a company, having the experience of having ideas and doing them, that's muscle to exercise because…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexis-ohanian/even-if-you-have-no-interest-in-starting-a-company-having-the/) [Alexis Ohanian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexis-ohanian/) > [The biggest barrier to starting a company isn't ideas, funding or experiences. It's excuses.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-lacy/the-biggest-barrier-to-starting-a-company-isn-t-ideas-funding-or-2/) [Sarah Lacy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-lacy/) > [Being a startup entrepreneur is not for everybody and it’s not the only desirable career choice. I also know that many people have families…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-suster/being-a-startup-entrepreneur-is-not-for-everybody-and-it-s-not-the/) [Mark Suster](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-suster/) > [Starting a company is like going to war. You can't do anything else but be fully engaged. You have to be insanely, passionately, nothing-can-stop-me…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/audrey-maclean/starting-a-company-is-like-going-to-war-you-can-t-do-anything-else/) [Audrey MacLean](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/audrey-maclean/) > [The hardest thing about starting a company and running a company is, there's just so many expectations on you, and there are so many…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-horowitz/the-hardest-thing-about-starting-a-company-and-running-a-company-is/) [Ben Horowitz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ben-horowitz/) > [Starting a company in San Francisco when we did usually meant it was destined to be a data-driven tech company. But that didn't seem…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-gebbia/starting-a-company-in-san-francisco-when-we-did-usually-meant-it-was/) [Joe Gebbia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-gebbia/) > [While my six-song EP is unlikely to set any sales records, it's one of my biggest personal achievements - on par with starting my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shawn-amos/while-my-six-song-ep-is-unlikely-to-set-any-sales-records-it-s-one-of/) [Shawn Amos](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shawn-amos/) ## More by Andrew Yang > [When I graduated from Brown, I had a very limited conception of jobs, careers, and what I wanted to do. Basically, I figured I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-yang/when-i-graduated-from-brown-i-had-a-very-limited-conception-of-jobs/) [Andrew Yang](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-yang/) > [The vast majority of companies don't go public and mint dozens of millionaires. And most companies don't go around doling out stock options; private…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-yang/the-vast-majority-of-companies-don-t-go-public-and-mint-dozens-of/) [Andrew Yang](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-yang/) > [I have started or run several companies and spent time with dozens of entrepreneurs over the years. Virtually none of them, in my experience,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-yang/i-have-started-or-run-several-companies-and-spent-time-with-dozens-of/) [Andrew Yang](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-yang/) > [A company can set off in one direction, figures out that it's not the right way to go, and then go in an entirely…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-yang/a-company-can-set-off-in-one-direction-figures-out-that-it-s-not-the/) [Andrew Yang](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-yang/) > [I've always believed that talking about something is not the same as doing something about it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-yang/i-ve-always-believed-that-talking-about-something-is-not-the-same-as/) [Andrew Yang](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-yang/) > [Unfortunately, hardworking, academically gifted young people are kind of lazy when it comes to determining direction.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-yang/unfortunately-hardworking-academically-gifted-young-people-are-kind/) [Andrew Yang](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-yang/) > [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/) > [If you can't pay your bills, it has a really tough effect on your mental state.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-yang/if-you-can-t-pay-your-bills-it-has-a-really-tough-effect-on-your/) [Andrew Yang](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-yang/) > [Starting a business is similar to an athletic endeavor, like serving a tennis ball. Telling you how to do it is useless. You actually…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-yang/starting-a-business-is-similar-to-an-athletic-endeavor-like-serving-a/) [Andrew Yang](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-yang/) > [I'm a capitalist, and I believe that universal basic income is necessary for capitalism to continue.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-yang/i-m-a-capitalist-and-i-believe-that-universal-basic-income-is/) [Andrew Yang](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-yang/) > [Technology companies tend to operate in winner-take-all spaces and thus adopt a very high-commitment culture.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-yang/technology-companies-tend-to-operate-in-winner-take-all-spaces-and/) [Andrew Yang](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-yang/) > [After a couple of years in a professional setting, you'll get used to dressing presentably, preparing for meetings, speaking appropriately, showing up on time,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-yang/after-a-couple-of-years-in-a-professional-setting-you-ll-get-used-to/) [Andrew Yang](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-yang/) > [I try not to bring my phone to the gym - it's too tempting to play with it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-yang/i-try-not-to-bring-my-phone-to-the-gym-it-s-too-tempting-to-play-with/) [Andrew Yang](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-yang/) > [Back in 2001, my first start-up was mentioned in the 'New York Times' and 'USA Today.' I figured that would drive thousands of visitors…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-yang/back-in-2001-my-first-start-up-was-mentioned-in-the-new-york-times/) [Andrew Yang](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-yang/) > [Building a successful business requires a combination of human capital, financial resources, market opportunity, persistence, community support, and even luck.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-yang/building-a-successful-business-requires-a-combination-of-human/) [Andrew Yang](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-yang/) [Explore all 125 Andrew Yang quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-yang/) ## 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": "Starting a company is rough. It's even harder when you're young - I know this firsthand, because my first company flopped when I was 25.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Andrew Yang" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-yang/starting-a-company-is-rough-it-s-even-harder-when-you-re-young-i-know/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Business" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-yang/starting-a-company-is-rough-it-s-even-harder-when-you-re-young-i-know/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c0a/andrew-yang-3669_business_starting-a-company-is-rough-it-s-even-ha_721153.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c0a/andrew-yang-3669_business_starting-a-company-is-rough-it-s-even-ha_721153.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c0a/andrew-yang-3669_business_starting-a-company-is-rough-it-s-even-ha_721153.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Starting a company is rough. It's even harder when you're young - I know this firsthand, because my first…” — Andrew Yang", "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": "Andrew Yang", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-yang/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "Starting a company is rough. It's...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-yang/starting-a-company-is-rough-it-s-even-harder-when-you-re-young-i-know/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-yang/starting-a-company-is-rough-it-s-even-harder-when-you-re-young-i-know/#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 } } ] } ```