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Business Quote by Ben Horowitz

“Hire sales people who are really smart problem solvers, but lack courage, hunger and competitiveness, and your company will go out of business.” quote by Ben Horowitz
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“Hire sales people who are really smart problem solvers, but lack courage, hunger and competitiveness, and your company will go out of business.”

Ben Horowitz

About This Quote

Source Book: The Hard Thing About Hard Things, 2014

Hiring clever but unmotivated salespeople will cause a company to fail.

In simple terms: Smart but unambitious sales staff hurt business.

Key Takeaway

Hire driven, competitive sales talent.

Themes

leadership hiring sales company culture competition

Mood

cautious pragmatic

Type

business leadership

When to use this quote

  • startup hiring
  • sales strategy
  • team building
  • market expansion

Key Concepts

Motivation risk entrepreneurship

Questions to Reflect On

  • What traits matter most in sales hires?
  • How balance skill and drive?
A Different Perspective

Overemphasis on aggression can harm culture.

4.8 out of 5 (5 ratings)

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