--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Well, you have to understand where we…" description: "\"Well, you have to understand where we came from. We are not here because we decided 10 years ago that we were going to be x-size company, and, oh, yeah..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4f1/bernard-ebbers-26932_business_well-you-have-to-understand-where-we-cam_1773920.png" --- # Well, you have to understand where we came from. We are… ![“Well, you have to understand where we came from. We are not here because we decided 10 years ago that we were going to be x-size company, and, oh, yeah, Jackson would be a good headquarters. We work here in Mississippi because we started here, and we are certainly happy here. Those of us working…” quote by Bernard Ebbers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4f1/bernard-ebbers-26932_business_well-you-have-to-understand-where-we-cam_1773920.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4f1/bernard-ebbers-26932_business_well-you-have-to-understand-where-we-cam_1773920.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4f1/bernard-ebbers-26932_business_well-you-have-to-understand-where-we-cam_1773920.png) > “Well, you have to understand where we came from. We are not here because we decided 10 years ago that we were going to be x-size company, and, oh, yeah, Jackson would be a good headquarters. We work here in Mississippi because we started here, and we are certainly happy here. Those of us working out of Jackson intend to continue working out of Jackson.” [Bernard Ebbers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bernard-ebbers/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The quote stresses the importance of staying rooted in a company's origins and location rather than pursuing arbitrary growth plans. **In simple terms:** Stay true to your roots and original purpose. Key Takeaway Honor the founding vision and community. Themes lo lo business growth culture Mood proud reflective Type motivational business When to use this quote - Company expansion decisions - employee retention strategies - community engagement initiatives Key Concepts Strategic planning organizational identity regional loyalty Questions to Reflect On - How does staying local affect long‑term competitiveness? - What balance should be struck between heritage and growth? A Different Perspective May overlook market opportunities and limit scalability. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Business](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/business/) [Company](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/company/) [Economy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/economy/) [Mississippi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mississippi/) [Where we came](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/where-we-came/) [Work out](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/work-out/) ## Related quotes > [Old school Janet Jackson is always good. I usually go old school, it's very rare that I pick a song from nowadays.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jenna-dewan/old-school-janet-jackson-is-always-good-i-usually-go-old-school-it-s/) [Jenna Dewan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jenna-dewan/) > [Michael Jackson has a very good heart. 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I think it is important that we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jason-mraz/i-was-raised-playing-music-in-coffeehouses-and-i-feel-that-was-the/) [Jason Mraz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jason-mraz/) ## More by Bernard Ebbers > [I used practically all the money I had available.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bernard-ebbers/i-used-practically-all-the-money-i-had-available/) [Bernard Ebbers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bernard-ebbers/) > [I wasn't ever advised by Scott Sullivan of anything ever being wrong.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bernard-ebbers/i-wasn-t-ever-advised-by-scott-sullivan-of-anything-ever-being-wrong/) [Bernard Ebbers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bernard-ebbers/) > [We were a fast-growing company, and I was a demanding boss.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bernard-ebbers/we-were-a-fast-growing-company-and-i-was-a-demanding-boss/) [Bernard Ebbers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bernard-ebbers/) > [The strength in our third-quarter financial results is cause for excitement. 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To this day, I don't know technology, and I don't know finance or accounting.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bernard-ebbers/i-know-what-i-don-t-know-to-this-day-i-don-t-know-technology-and-i/) [Bernard Ebbers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bernard-ebbers/) > [Our communications services revenue growth is being driven by continued strong top-line performance in data, Internet and international - three of the fastest growing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bernard-ebbers/our-communications-services-revenue-growth-is-being-driven-by/) [Bernard Ebbers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bernard-ebbers/) > [I don't know about technology and I don't know about finance and accounting.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bernard-ebbers/i-don-t-know-about-technology-and-i-don-t-know-about-finance-and/) [Bernard Ebbers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bernard-ebbers/) > [I didn't have anything to apologize for.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bernard-ebbers/i-didn-t-have-anything-to-apologize-for/) [Bernard Ebbers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bernard-ebbers/) > [I know I lost my temper, but I tried to be human along the way.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bernard-ebbers/i-know-i-lost-my-temper-but-i-tried-to-be-human-along-the-way/) [Bernard Ebbers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bernard-ebbers/) > [I just want you to know you aren't going to church with a crook](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bernard-ebbers/i-just-want-you-to-know-you-aren-t-going-to-church-with-a-crook/) [Bernard Ebbers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bernard-ebbers/) [Explore all 21 Bernard Ebbers quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bernard-ebbers/) ## More Business quotes > [Companies with cultures that celebrate diverse opinions and encourage the exchange of ideas have an advantage when solving difficult problems. 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