--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The key is not to figure out what the…" description: "\"The key is not to figure out what the best people are doing and try to emulate it - rather, figure out what causes people and companies to be successfu..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/306/anonymous-1_best_the-key-is-not-to-figure-out-what-the-be_1186733.jpg" --- # The key is not to figure out what the best people are… ![“The key is not to figure out what the best people are doing and try to emulate it - rather, figure out what causes people and companies to be successful.” quote by Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/306/anonymous-1_best_the-key-is-not-to-figure-out-what-the-be_1186733.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/306/anonymous-1_best_the-key-is-not-to-figure-out-what-the-be_1186733.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/306/anonymous-1_best_the-key-is-not-to-figure-out-what-the-be_1186733.jpg) > “The key is not to figure out what the best people are doing and try to emulate it - rather, figure out what causes people and companies to be successful.” [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Success stems from understanding underlying causes rather than copying top performers. **In simple terms:** Identify root causes of success. Key Takeaway Study motivations and conditions behind achievements. Themes success analysis strategy learning Mood inquisitive analytical Type strategic educational When to use this quote - Business planning - product development - career growth - research projects Key Concepts Systems thinking cause and effect innovation Questions to Reflect On - What hidden factors drive success? - How can you uncover underlying causes? A Different Perspective Emulating leaders can still provide useful tactics. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Business](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/business/) [Companies](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/companies/) [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) [Successful](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/successful/) ## Related quotes > [“As editor of the largest newspaper in West Virginia, I scan hundreds of reports daily . . . and I am amazed by the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/as-editor-of-the-largest-newspaper-in-west-virginia-i-scan-hundreds/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [People are companies too.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philip-rosedale/people-are-companies-too/) Philip Rosedale > [Unlike people, companies outlive their founders and their leaders.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ursula-burns/unlike-people-companies-outlive-their-founders-and-their-leaders/) [Ursula Burns](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ursula-burns/) > [“When companies are successful, it is natural to assume that this is a result of leaders making shrewd decisions. 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Young](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susan-c-young/) > [When companies are successful or not successful, they almost immediately jump to the wrong conclusions about how they got there or why they got…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edwin-catmull/when-companies-are-successful-or-not-successful-they-almost/) [Edwin Catmull](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edwin-catmull/) > [The companies that are successful, they start out to make meaning, not to make money.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/guy-kawasaki/the-companies-that-are-successful-they-start-out-to-make-meaning-not/) [Guy Kawasaki](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/guy-kawasaki/) > [The companies that look after their people are the companies that do really well. I'm sure we'd like a few other attributes, but that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-branson/the-companies-that-look-after-their-people-are-the-companies-that-do/) [Richard Branson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-branson/) > [I've met people at the top of companies like Accenture who started off in McDonald's.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/esther-mcvey/i-ve-met-people-at-the-top-of-companies-like-accenture-who-started/) [Esther McVey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/esther-mcvey/) > [In private companies that are successful, the management have learnt to put their staff first, customers second, shareholders last.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harry-enfield/in-private-companies-that-are-successful-the-management-have-learnt/) [Harry Enfield](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harry-enfield/) > [Every tech story is different. Every moment in history happens only once. All successful companies are successful in their own unique way. It's your…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-thiel/every-tech-story-is-different-every-moment-in-history-happens-only/) [Peter Thiel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-thiel/) > [Companies that are successful, it starts with the CEO and starts with the CEO's priorities.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julie-sweet/companies-that-are-successful-it-starts-with-the-ceo-and-starts-with/) [Julie Sweet](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julie-sweet/) > [Companies don't succeed, people do. Companies don't fail, people do.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nabil-n-jamal/companies-don-t-succeed-people-do-companies-don-t-fail-people-do/) [Nabil N Jamal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nabil-n-jamal/) > [Do what you do and have fun doing it and try not to be too miserable.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bam-margera/do-what-you-do-and-have-fun-doing-it-and-try-not-to-be-too-miserable/) [Bam Margera](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bam-margera/) > [Everyone doing it so why not I try it out too... Lets see what you have to say :)](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/unkown/everyone-doing-it-so-why-not-i-try-it-out-too-lets-see-what-you-have/) Unkown ## More by Anonymous > [And a tear rolled down her cheek, as she said goodbye; because she's walking away, and she's never looking back](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/and-a-tear-rolled-down-her-cheek-as-she-said-goodbye-because-she-s/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Life is full of change. That's how we learn and grow.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/life-is-full-of-change-that-s-how-we-learn-and-grow/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [You'll seldom experience regret for anything that you've done. It is what you haven't done that will torment you. The message, therefore, is clear.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/you-ll-seldom-experience-regret-for-anything-that-you-ve-done-it-is/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Scrabble - The game is available in Braille. That’s a nice fact. This makes me feel better about humanity for some reason. I can’t…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/scrabble-the-game-is-available-in-braille-that-s-a-nice-fact-this/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Everyone needs someone to love, and I choose you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/everyone-needs-someone-to-love-and-i-choose-you/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“THIS tale of my sore-troubled life I write,    To thank the God of nature, who conveyed    My soul to me, and with such care…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/this-tale-of-my-sore-troubled-life-i-write-to-thank-the-god-of-nature/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Put on my J's and dance the whole night away Im naughty by nature like Im hip-hop hooray With my hands in the sky,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/put-on-my-j-s-and-dance-the-whole-night-away-im-naughty-by-nature/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Me.. I have been through a lot, but I still manage to have a smile on my face. Im not worried about the past…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/me-i-have-been-through-a-lot-but-i-still-manage-to-have-a-smile-on-my/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Distance is a test of love. many will fail for those who can't withstand it, but for those who can, theres only one answer…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/distance-is-a-test-of-love-many-will-fail-for-those-who-can-t/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Im sorry I ever tried...](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/im-sorry-i-ever-tried/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Being betrayed by the one you love is the worst feeling in the world...](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/being-betrayed-by-the-one-you-love-is-the-worst-feeling-in-the-world/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Let children support their parents or be imprisoned.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/let-children-support-their-parents-or-be-imprisoned/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [The only person I've ever purposely caused pain here is myself...By simply sharing, caring too much.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/the-only-person-i-ve-ever-purposely-caused-pain-here-is-myself-by/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“Start a business, not a startup”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/start-a-business-not-a-startup/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [The truth is, of course, that the curtness of the Ten Commandments is an evidence, not of the gloom and narrowness of a religion,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/the-truth-is-of-course-that-the-curtness-of-the-ten-commandments-is/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) [Explore all 162,899 Anonymous quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) ## More Best quotes > [Failures happen. 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