--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: When we started Workday, we were…" description: "\"When we started Workday, we were originally very focused on the core HR system. Then we added payroll, and then we got into performance management.\" — ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/93e/aneel-bhusri-13782_management_when-we-started-workday-we-were-original_1053362.jpg" --- # When we started Workday, we were originally very focused… ![“When we started Workday, we were originally very focused on the core HR system. Then we added payroll, and then we got into performance management.” quote by Aneel Bhusri](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/93e/aneel-bhusri-13782_management_when-we-started-workday-we-were-original_1053362.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/93e/aneel-bhusri-13782_management_when-we-started-workday-we-were-original_1053362.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/93e/aneel-bhusri-13782_management_when-we-started-workday-we-were-original_1053362.jpg) > “When we started Workday, we were originally very focused on the core HR system. Then we added payroll, and then we got into performance management.” [Aneel Bhusri](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aneel-bhusri/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Company growth began with core HR, then expanded to payroll and performance, illustrating strategic layering and product ecosystem evolution. **In simple terms:** Start core, then expand. Key Takeaway Build core, add layers. Themes business strategy product expansion HR payroll performance management Mood analytical strategic Type business leadership When to use this quote - startup growth - enterprise software - HR departments - team building Key Concepts Strategic scaling ecosystem development market adaptation Questions to Reflect On - When should you add new product lines? - How to maintain core quality while expanding? A Different Perspective Overexpansion can dilute focus; need balance. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Added Payroll](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/added-payroll-2532917/) [Core Hr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/core-hr-2532914/) [Management](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/management/) [Originally Focused](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/originally-focused-2532916/) [Performance](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/performance/) [Started](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/started/) [Started Workday](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/started-workday-2532915/) [System](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/system/) [Workday Originally](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/workday-originally-2532913/) ## Related quotes > [Everyone has a budget, I don't care who you are. But they said if we are in a pennant race in the middle of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dusty-baker/everyone-has-a-budget-i-don-t-care-who-you-are-but-they-said-if-we/) [Dusty Baker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dusty-baker/) > [We are a country obsessed by records. For us, hundreds, ten thousand runs, and large haul of wickets are more important than the performance…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ravi-shastri/we-are-a-country-obsessed-by-records-for-us-hundreds-ten-thousand/) [Ravi Shastri](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ravi-shastri/) > [Performance poetry is not one genre. Some chant, sing and dance. Some stand rooted to the spot and stare. Some chat their way in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-rosen/performance-poetry-is-not-one-genre-some-chant-sing-and-dance-some/) [Michael Rosen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-rosen/) > [“When we perform at our highest level of potential, we are content. Because we have given I best in what we enjoy doing.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ellen-j-barrier/when-we-perform-at-our-highest-level-of-potential-we-are-content/) [Ellen J. Barrier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ellen-j-barrier/) > [The life of a play begins and ends in the moment of performance. This is where author, actors, and directors express all they have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-brook/the-life-of-a-play-begins-and-ends-in-the-moment-of-performance-this/) [Peter Brook](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-brook/) > [There is something about the live performance of an orchestra that makes it very different to a film. 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There are many ways to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stone-cold-steve-austin/when-i-see-things-through-my-eyes-i-don-t-want-to-ever-just-be-really/) [Stone Cold Steve Austin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stone-cold-steve-austin/) > [The fans can accept a poor performance, but they won't take it when you choose not to put in the effort.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pep-guardiola/the-fans-can-accept-a-poor-performance-but-they-won-t-take-it-when/) [Pep Guardiola](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pep-guardiola/) > [Win or lose or draw, you always go back and critique your performance and say you could have done things better. Even if I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dustin-poirier/win-or-lose-or-draw-you-always-go-back-and-critique-your-performance/) [Dustin Poirier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dustin-poirier/) > [One of the undervalued contributors to Trump's stunning 2016 victory was the masterful performance Pence had in his debate against Hillary Clinton running mate…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mollie-hemingway/one-of-the-undervalued-contributors-to-trump-s-stunning-2016-victory/) [Mollie Hemingway](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mollie-hemingway/) > [I love fashion. I like dressing how I feel, and my music shows how I feel - they go hand in hand. My performance…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/banks/i-love-fashion-i-like-dressing-how-i-feel-and-my-music-shows-how-i/) [Banks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/banks/) > [Certainly the most requested song in performance is 'Love is Here to Stay,' and that is a favorite for me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-feinstein/certainly-the-most-requested-song-in-performance-is-love-is-here-to/) [Michael Feinstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-feinstein/) > [Performance matters because games are built on great performance, but form factor and energy efficiency matter incredibly because they want to build something that's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jensen-huang/performance-matters-because-games-are-built-on-great-performance-but/) [Jensen Huang](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jensen-huang/) ## More by Aneel Bhusri > [We work as a team, and that is a huge part of why we have been successful; we run fast as a team.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aneel-bhusri/we-work-as-a-team-and-that-is-a-huge-part-of-why-we-have-been/) [Aneel Bhusri](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aneel-bhusri/) > [Because everybody else was investing in the consumer Internet, I did, too.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aneel-bhusri/because-everybody-else-was-investing-in-the-consumer-internet-i-did/) [Aneel Bhusri](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aneel-bhusri/) > [I think, in general, data protection really matters.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aneel-bhusri/i-think-in-general-data-protection-really-matters/) [Aneel Bhusri](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aneel-bhusri/) > [We spend a lot of time looking at the things we like: Amazon, Google, Facebook.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aneel-bhusri/we-spend-a-lot-of-time-looking-at-the-things-we-like-amazon-google/) [Aneel Bhusri](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aneel-bhusri/) > [I'm not a stock expert by any means. 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I think, in almost all cases, if…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aneel-bhusri/i-m-hard-pressed-to-think-of-companies-that-don-t-need-venture/) [Aneel Bhusri](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aneel-bhusri/) > [Happy employees build great products, and they take care of customers.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aneel-bhusri/happy-employees-build-great-products-and-they-take-care-of-customers/) [Aneel Bhusri](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aneel-bhusri/) > [San Francisco is a wonderful city, but you do have housing issues. 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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/) > [While the people retain their virtue and vigilance, no administration, by any extreme of wickedness or folly, can very seriously injure the government in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abraham-lincoln/while-the-people-retain-their-virtue-and-vigilance-no-administration/) [Abraham Lincoln](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abraham-lincoln/) > [“Without time management, you lose control of your life and do what other people tell you to do. 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