--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Nothing motivates a great employee more…" description: "\"Nothing motivates a great employee more than a mission that's so important that it supersedes everyone's personal ambition.\" — Ben Horowitz" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6f2/ben-horowitz-1791_ambition_nothing-motivates-a-great-employee-more_2360595.png" --- # Nothing motivates a great employee more than a mission… ![“Nothing motivates a great employee more than a mission that's so important that it supersedes everyone's personal ambition.” quote by Ben Horowitz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6f2/ben-horowitz-1791_ambition_nothing-motivates-a-great-employee-more_2360595.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6f2/ben-horowitz-1791_ambition_nothing-motivates-a-great-employee-more_2360595.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6f2/ben-horowitz-1791_ambition_nothing-motivates-a-great-employee-more_2360595.png) > “Nothing motivates a great employee more than a mission that's so important that it supersedes everyone's personal ambition.” [Ben Horowitz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ben-horowitz/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. A compelling mission can align people, making personal goals secondary to the collective purpose. **In simple terms:** Mission overrides personal ambition. Key Takeaway Align team around a powerful mission. Themes mission leadership motivation Mood inspirational strategic Type leadership philosophical When to use this quote - company restructuring - product launch - non‑profit fundraising - social movement Key Concepts purpose collective effort organizational culture Questions to Reflect On - How can you balance personal ambition with mission focus? - What mission inspires you most? A Different Perspective A strong mission may ignore individual needs and burnout. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Ambition](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ambition/) [Employee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/employee/) [Goals](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/goals/) [Great employee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/great-employee/) [Missions](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/missions/) [Motivation](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/motivation/) ## Related quotes > [Preparation for a mission is important. A mission is a voluntary act of service to God and humankind. Missionaries support that privilege with their…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/russell-m-nelson/preparation-for-a-mission-is-important-a-mission-is-a-voluntary-act/) [Russell M. Nelson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/russell-m-nelson/) > [That's what really motivates me, being great.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/evan-fournier/that-s-what-really-motivates-me-being-great/) [Evan Fournier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/evan-fournier/) > [Before you can have great employees you have to put them in a position to create their own future.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/garrison-wynn/before-you-can-have-great-employees-you-have-to-put-them-in-a/) [Garrison Wynn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/garrison-wynn/) > [Having ideas and doing them - that's what entrepreneurship comes down to. That's something that makes you not just a great founder who I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexis-ohanian/having-ideas-and-doing-them-that-s-what-entrepreneurship-comes-down/) [Alexis Ohanian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexis-ohanian/) > [The first thing to look for when searching for a great employee is somebody with a personality that fits with your company culture. Most…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-branson/the-first-thing-to-look-for-when-searching-for-a-great-employee-is/) [Richard Branson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-branson/) > [Developing great employees attracts great customers.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ron-kaufman/developing-great-employees-attracts-great-customers/) [Ron Kaufman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ron-kaufman/) > [Because it's so empowering, I want people to think about being entrepreneurial regardless. They don't have to start companies, but that's what makes them…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexis-ohanian/because-it-s-so-empowering-i-want-people-to-think-about-being/) [Alexis Ohanian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexis-ohanian/) > [On what high-performing companies should be striving to create: A great place for great people to do great work.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marilyn-c-nelson/on-what-high-performing-companies-should-be-striving-to-create-a/) Marilyn C. Nelson > [To win in the marketplace you must first win in the workplace.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/douglas-conant/to-win-in-the-marketplace-you-must-first-win-in-the-workplace/) [Douglas Conant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/douglas-conant/) > [No company, small or large, can win over the long run without energized employees who believe in the mission and understand how to achieve…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-welch/no-company-small-or-large-can-win-over-the-long-run-without-energized/) [Jack Welch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-welch/) > [There are only three measurements that tell you nearly everything you need to know about your organization's overall performance: employee engagement, customer satisfaction, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-welch/there-are-only-three-measurements-that-tell-you-nearly-everything-you/) [Jack Welch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-welch/) > [The first thing to look for when searching for a great employee is somebody with a personality that fits with your company culture. Most…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-branson/the-first-thing-to-look-for-when-searching-for-a-great-employee-is-2/) [Richard Branson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-branson/) > [I had, like, 11 jobs. I've been fired 11 times! 'Cause I'm not cut for that. You know, I was a great employee, man.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-harvey/i-had-like-11-jobs-i-ve-been-fired-11-times-cause-i-m-not-cut-for/) [Steve Harvey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-harvey/) > [“Being a bad employer is more of an achievement than being a great employee.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mokokoma-mokhonoana/being-a-bad-employer-is-more-of-an-achievement-than-being-a-great/) [Mokokoma Mokhonoana](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mokokoma-mokhonoana/) > [When you have chemistry with a potential hire, they will most likely become a great employee.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barbara-corcoran/when-you-have-chemistry-with-a-potential-hire-they-will-most-likely/) [Barbara Corcoran](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barbara-corcoran/) ## More by Ben Horowitz > [There is no silver bullet. There are always options and the options have consequences.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-horowitz/there-is-no-silver-bullet-there-are-always-options-and-the-options/) [Ben Horowitz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ben-horowitz/) > [Groupon looked like a very high valuation, but any investment in a great company at any stage is almost always a good investment.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-horowitz/groupon-looked-like-a-very-high-valuation-but-any-investment-in-a/) [Ben Horowitz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ben-horowitz/) > [By far the most difficult skill I learned as a C.E.O. was the ability to manage my own psychology. Organizational design, process design, metrics,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-horowitz/by-far-the-most-difficult-skill-i-learned-as-a-c-e-o-was-the-ability/) [Ben Horowitz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ben-horowitz/) > [“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…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-horowitz/the-hard-thing-is-when-those-great-people-develop-a-sense-of/) [Ben Horowitz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ben-horowitz/) > [“As painful as it might be, I knew that we had to get into the broader market in order to understand it well enough…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-horowitz/as-painful-as-it-might-be-i-knew-that-we-had-to-get-into-the-broader/) [Ben Horowitz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ben-horowitz/) > [“On my grandfather’s tombstone, you will find his favorite Marx quote: “Life is struggle.” I believe that within that quote lies the most important…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-horowitz/on-my-grandfather-s-tombstone-you-will-find-his-favorite-marx-quote/) [Ben Horowitz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ben-horowitz/) > [“Bill Campbell: "It's not about the money." Ben Horowitz: "What's it about, Bill?" Bill: "It's about the FUCKING money.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-horowitz/bill-campbell-it-s-not-about-the-money-ben-horowitz-what-s-it-about/) [Ben Horowitz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ben-horowitz/) > [When the value of the company clearly has fallen below what its assets are worth, having a shareholder who says, 'Let's get a better…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-horowitz/when-the-value-of-the-company-clearly-has-fallen-below-what-its/) [Ben Horowitz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ben-horowitz/) > [One person is never as stupid as a group of people. That's why they have lynch mobs, not lynch individuals.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-horowitz/one-person-is-never-as-stupid-as-a-group-of-people-that-s-why-they/) [Ben Horowitz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ben-horowitz/) > [“out the right product is the innovator’s job, not the customer’s job.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-horowitz/out-the-right-product-is-the-innovator-s-job-not-the-customer-s-job/) [Ben Horowitz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ben-horowitz/) > [As companies move to web-based computing they get a lot more servers, which are difficult to manage and control. All kinds of problems can…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-horowitz/as-companies-move-to-web-based-computing-they-get-a-lot-more-servers/) [Ben Horowitz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ben-horowitz/) > [Breakthrough ideas usually come from guys who look like they're hallucinating](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-horowitz/breakthrough-ideas-usually-come-from-guys-who-look-like-they-re/) [Ben Horowitz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ben-horowitz/) > [When screening engineers from other companies, its smart to value engineers from great companies more than those from mediocre companies.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-horowitz/when-screening-engineers-from-other-companies-its-smart-to-value/) [Ben Horowitz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ben-horowitz/) > [“No matter who you are, you need two kinds of friends in your life. The first kind is one you can call when something…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-horowitz/no-matter-who-you-are-you-need-two-kinds-of-friends-in-your-life-the/) [Ben Horowitz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ben-horowitz/) > [“The difference between being mediocre and magical is often the difference between letting people take creative risk and holding them too tightly accountable. Accountability…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-horowitz/the-difference-between-being-mediocre-and-magical-is-often-the/) [Ben Horowitz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ben-horowitz/) [Explore all 207 Ben Horowitz quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ben-horowitz/) ## More Ambition quotes > [Ambition drives you on, ability certainly helps, but the fickle finger of fate and luck are great things.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fergus-henderson/ambition-drives-you-on-ability-certainly-helps-but-the-fickle-finger/) [Fergus Henderson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fergus-henderson/) > [One needs more than ambition and talent to make a success of anything, really. There must be love and a vocation.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jessye-norman/one-needs-more-than-ambition-and-talent-to-make-a-success-of-anything/) [Jessye Norman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jessye-norman/) > [I just think my own ambition would not allow me to sit on the gifts that my creator had given me. And so that's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/janelle-monae/i-just-think-my-own-ambition-would-not-allow-me-to-sit-on-the-gifts/) [Janelle Monae](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/janelle-monae/) > [A man's worth is no greater than the worth of his ambitions](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/a-man-s-worth-is-no-greater-than-the-worth-of-his-ambitions/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I'm hungry and ambitious.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julen-lopetegui/i-m-hungry-and-ambitious/) [Julen Lopetegui](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julen-lopetegui/) > [“I was ambitious and desperate to direct my first film, so I capitulated and blew it. Never again. Never fucking again.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/craig-ferguson/i-was-ambitious-and-desperate-to-direct-my-first-film-so-i/) [Craig Ferguson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/craig-ferguson/) > [I was always attracted most to joining City, and I am pleased to be at such a good club with such a big ambition…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edin-dzeko/i-was-always-attracted-most-to-joining-city-and-i-am-pleased-to-be-at/) [Edin Dzeko](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edin-dzeko/) > [Work towards your goal and dont watch the post size,its either they hate,or like you.there is no room for both sides.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/isaac-buabeng/work-towards-your-goal-and-dont-watch-the-post-size-its-either-they/) [Isaac Buabeng](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/isaac-buabeng/) > [“But young men have not only this frivolous ambition of being thought masters of execution, inciting them on the one hand, but also their…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/but-young-men-have-not-only-this-frivolous-ambition-of-being-thought/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I almost never have a plan for myself... I'm not ambitious in that way.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martha-plimpton/i-almost-never-have-a-plan-for-myself-i-m-not-ambitious-in-that-way/) [Martha Plimpton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martha-plimpton/) > [I play for high stakes and given an audience - there is no act too daring or too noble.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/winston-churchill/i-play-for-high-stakes-and-given-an-audience-there-is-no-act-too/) [Winston Churchill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/winston-churchill/) > [There's nothing worse than a leader who lacks ambition.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/there-s-nothing-worse-than-a-leader-who-lacks-ambition/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [If i can't even protect my captain's dream, then whatever ambition i have is nothing but talk..](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zoro/if-i-can-t-even-protect-my-captain-s-dream-then-whatever-ambition-i/) [Zoro](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zoro/) > [It may seem unattainable but if you put actions, your heart and your mind into it, you will prevail.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/london-mond/it-may-seem-unattainable-but-if-you-put-actions-your-heart-and-your/) [London Mond](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/london-mond/) > [Obligation is what's leading us to toward successful, and what keeps us moving towards the future.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wazim-shaw/obligation-is-what-s-leading-us-to-toward-successful-and-what-keeps/) [Wazim Shaw](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wazim-shaw/) [Browse all 4,601 Ambition quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ambition/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Nothing motivates a great employee more than a mission that's so important that it supersedes everyone's personal ambition.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Ben Horowitz" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-horowitz/nothing-motivates-a-great-employee-more-than-a-mission-that-s-so/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Ambition" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-horowitz/nothing-motivates-a-great-employee-more-than-a-mission-that-s-so/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6f2/ben-horowitz-1791_ambition_nothing-motivates-a-great-employee-more_2360595.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6f2/ben-horowitz-1791_ambition_nothing-motivates-a-great-employee-more_2360595.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6f2/ben-horowitz-1791_ambition_nothing-motivates-a-great-employee-more_2360595.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Nothing motivates a great employee more than a mission that's so important that it supersedes everyone's…” — Ben Horowitz", "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": "Ben Horowitz", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ben-horowitz/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "Nothing motivates a great employee more...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-horowitz/nothing-motivates-a-great-employee-more-than-a-mission-that-s-so/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-horowitz/nothing-motivates-a-great-employee-more-than-a-mission-that-s-so/#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 } } ] } ```