Books Quote by Ben Horowitz
““Every time I read a management or self-help book, I find myself saying, “That’s fine, but that wasn’t really the hard thing about the situation.” The hard thing isn’t setting a big, hairy, audacious goal. The hard thing is laying people off when you miss the big goal. The hard thing isn’t hiring great people. The hard thing is when those “great people” develop a sense of entitlement and start demanding unreasonable things. The hard thing isn’t setting up an organizational chart. The hard thing is getting people to communicate within the organization that you just designed. The hard thing isn’t dreaming big. The hard thing is waking up in the middle of the night in a cold sweat when the dream turns into a nightmare.””
About This Quote
Source Book: The Hard Thing About Hard Things, 2014
Real difficulty lies in managing people and expectations, not just setting big goals.
In simple terms: People and expectations are the real challenges.
Key Takeaway
Prioritize communication and realistic expectations.
Themes
leadership
expectations
communication
Mood
serious
analytical
Type
business
motivational
When to use this quote
- layoffs
- team building
- goal setting
- crisis management
Key Concepts
Organizational behavior
psychology
Questions to Reflect On
- How do you handle entitlement?
- What systems improve internal communication?
A Different Perspective
Focusing only on goals ignores human factors.
