--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I have to admit that business-type…" description: "\"I have to admit that business-type thoughts do sneak into my head: I hope our customers pay us, I hope this stuff is decent, I hope we get it done on t..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/956/bill-gates-137_bigs_i-have-to-admit-that-business-type-thoug_1522028.jpg" --- # I have to admit that business-type thoughts do sneak into… ![“I have to admit that business-type thoughts do sneak into my head: I hope our customers pay us, I hope this stuff is decent, I hope we get it done on time. The little additions and subtractions that one has to do. Take sales, take costs and try to get that big positive number at the bottom.” quote by Bill Gates](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/956/bill-gates-137_bigs_i-have-to-admit-that-business-type-thoug_1522028.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/956/bill-gates-137_bigs_i-have-to-admit-that-business-type-thoug_1522028.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/956/bill-gates-137_bigs_i-have-to-admit-that-business-type-thoug_1522028.jpg) > “I have to admit that business-type thoughts do sneak into my head: I hope our customers pay us, I hope this stuff is decent, I hope we get it done on time. The little additions and subtractions that one has to do. Take sales, take costs and try to get that big positive number at the bottom.” [Bill Gates](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-gates/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Balancing commercial goals with product quality and deadlines is a constant mental negotiation for entrepreneurs. **In simple terms:** Business thinking mixes profit focus with quality and timing concerns. Key Takeaway Align profit goals with product excellence. Themes business entrepreneurship balance finance product development Mood reflective analytical Type advice philosophical When to use this quote - startup planning - budget reviews - product launches - client negotiations Key Concepts profit optimization time management quality control Questions to Reflect On - How do you ensure quality while chasing profit? - What metrics balance revenue and customer satisfaction? A Different Perspective Profit focus can overlook long‑term brand trust. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Bigs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/bigs/) [Bottom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/bottom/) [Business](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/business/) [Cost](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/cost/) [Customers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/customers/) [Customers Pay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/customers-pay-1098294/) [Decent](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/decent/) [Done](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/done/) [Get it done](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/get-it-done/) [Littles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/littles/) [Numbers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/numbers/) [Pay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/pay/) [Pay Hope](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/pay-hope-1562082/) [Sneak](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sneak/) [Stuff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/stuff/) [Subtraction](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/subtraction/) [Thoughts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thoughts/) [Thoughts Sneak](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thoughts-sneak-5628473/) [Time](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/time/) [Trying](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/trying/) [Type](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/type/) [Type Thoughts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/type-thoughts-5628474/) ## Related quotes > [Although you have so far demonstrated little faith in my ability to pay, I yet hope to demonstrate that I am somebody who pays…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/friedrich-nietzsche/although-you-have-so-far-demonstrated-little-faith-in-my-ability-to/) [Friedrich Nietzsche](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/friedrich-nietzsche/) > [You want to understand the smallest feature set customers will pay for in the first release.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patrick-vlaskovits/you-want-to-understand-the-smallest-feature-set-customers-will-pay/) [Patrick Vlaskovits](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patrick-vlaskovits/) > [Pricing is actually a pretty simple and straight forward thing. Customers will not pay literally a penny more than the true value of the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ron-johnson/pricing-is-actually-a-pretty-simple-and-straight-forward-thing/) [Ron Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ron-johnson/) > [This is what customers pay us for - to sweat all these details so it's easy and pleasant for them to use our computers.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-jobs/this-is-what-customers-pay-us-for-to-sweat-all-these-details-so-it-s/) [Steve Jobs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-jobs/) > [Customers pay only for what is of use to them and gives them value. Nothing else constitutes quality.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-drucker/customers-pay-only-for-what-is-of-use-to-them-and-gives-them-value/) [Peter Drucker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-drucker/) > [Most banks tell their customers that they only pay a small upfront fee for international payments. But in reality, customers pay much more.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/taavet-hinrikus/most-banks-tell-their-customers-that-they-only-pay-a-small-upfront/) [Taavet Hinrikus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/taavet-hinrikus/) > [Customers pay a price, but they remember the value.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ron-kaufman/customers-pay-a-price-but-they-remember-the-value/) [Ron Kaufman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ron-kaufman/) > [I think as technology and expertise makes possible these sort of amazing levels of fidelity to the real world, a lot of people sort…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/khoi-vinh/i-think-as-technology-and-expertise-makes-possible-these-sort-of/) [Khoi Vinh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/khoi-vinh/) > [According to the celestial multiplication table, once one is three, and three times one is one, and according to heavenly subtraction if we take…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-green-ingersoll/according-to-the-celestial-multiplication-table-once-one-is-three-and-2/) [Robert Green Ingersoll](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-green-ingersoll/) > [Mystical additions and subtractions always come out the way you want.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/umberto-eco/mystical-additions-and-subtractions-always-come-out-the-way-you-want/) [Umberto Eco](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/umberto-eco/) > [She can't do Subtraction." said the White Queen. "Can you do Division? Divide a loaf by a knife-what's the answer to that?" "I suppose-"…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lewis-carroll/she-can-t-do-subtraction-said-the-white-queen-can-you-do-division/) [Lewis Carroll](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lewis-carroll/) > [It's all very Italian (and decidedly un-American): to insist that doing the right thing is the most pleasurable thing, and that the act of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-pollan/it-s-all-very-italian-and-decidedly-un-american-to-insist-that-doing/) [Michael Pollan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-pollan/) > [No more Lastrygonians.” Ella fluttered down and landed next to them. “Six minus six is zero. Spears are good for subtraction, yep.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rick-riordan/no-more-lastrygonians-ella-fluttered-down-and-landed-next-to-them-six/) [Rick Riordan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rick-riordan/) > [Had my life increased, or merely added to itself? There had been addition and subtraction in my life, but how much multiplication?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julian-barnes/had-my-life-increased-or-merely-added-to-itself-there-had-been/) [Julian Barnes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julian-barnes/) > [According to the celestial multiplication table, once one is three, and three times one is one, and according to heavenly subtraction if we take…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-green-ingersoll/according-to-the-celestial-multiplication-table-once-one-is-three-and/) [Robert Green Ingersoll](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-green-ingersoll/) ## More by Bill Gates > [If you’re a person struggling to eat and stay healthy you might have heard about Michael Jordan or Muhammad Ali, but you’ll never have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-gates/if-you-re-a-person-struggling-to-eat-and-stay-healthy-you-might-have/) [Bill Gates](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-gates/) > [I really had a lot of dreams when I was a kid, and I think a great deal of that grew out of the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-gates/i-really-had-a-lot-of-dreams-when-i-was-a-kid-and-i-think-a-great/) [Bill Gates](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-gates/) > [Understanding science and pushing the boundaries of science is what makes me immensely satisfied.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-gates/understanding-science-and-pushing-the-boundaries-of-science-is-what/) [Bill Gates](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-gates/) > [We're focused on providing innovations in software, driving the continuous improvement for a much better experience, and there's a lot going on here that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-gates/we-re-focused-on-providing-innovations-in-software-driving-the/) [Bill Gates](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-gates/) > [Paper is no longer a big part of my day. I get 90% of my news online, and when I go to a meeting…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-gates/paper-is-no-longer-a-big-part-of-my-day-i-get-90-of-my-news-online/) [Bill Gates](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-gates/) > [Software will get to be somewhat more mature, ah, but it will never be as predictable as most areas of engineering.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-gates/software-will-get-to-be-somewhat-more-mature-ah-but-it-will-never-be/) [Bill Gates](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-gates/) > [Students deserve great teachers. And teachers deserve the support they need to become great.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-gates/students-deserve-great-teachers-and-teachers-deserve-the-support-they/) [Bill Gates](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-gates/) > [The machines need to get faster. They need to get cheaper.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-gates/the-machines-need-to-get-faster-they-need-to-get-cheaper/) [Bill Gates](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-gates/) > [Like many others, I have deep misgivings about the state of education in the United States. Too many of our students fail to graduate…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-gates/like-many-others-i-have-deep-misgivings-about-the-state-of-education/) [Bill Gates](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-gates/) > [Over time, yes, countries will need to look at specific GMO products like they look at drugs today, where they don't approve them all.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-gates/over-time-yes-countries-will-need-to-look-at-specific-gmo-products/) [Bill Gates](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-gates/) > [Competition is always a fantastic thing, and the computer industry is intensely competitive.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-gates/competition-is-always-a-fantastic-thing-and-the-computer-industry-is/) [Bill Gates](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-gates/) > [I don't think there's anything unique about human intellience. All the nuerons in the brain that make up perceptions and emotions operate in a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-gates/i-don-t-think-there-s-anything-unique-about-human-intellience-all-the/) [Bill Gates](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-gates/) > [At every juncture, advanced tools have been the key to a new wave of applications, and each wave of applications has been key to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-gates/at-every-juncture-advanced-tools-have-been-the-key-to-a-new-wave-of/) [Bill Gates](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-gates/) > [Software is more important than hardware.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-gates/software-is-more-important-than-hardware/) [Bill Gates](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-gates/) > [Talking to mothers, always brings it home because they're so anxious to do everything they can for their kids and so tragic for them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-gates/talking-to-mothers-always-brings-it-home-because-they-re-so-anxious/) [Bill Gates](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-gates/) [Explore all 1,165 Bill Gates quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-gates/) ## More Bigs quotes > [I am certain that children always know more than they are able to tell, and that makes the big difference between them and adults,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jacques-lusseyran/i-am-certain-that-children-always-know-more-than-they-are-able-to/) [Jacques Lusseyran](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jacques-lusseyran/) > [It is said that history turns on small hinges. A human career, too, results from an accumulating series of decisions about large and small…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/norman-vincent-peale/it-is-said-that-history-turns-on-small-hinges-a-human-career-too/) [Norman Vincent Peale](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/norman-vincent-peale/) > [I'm a true believer in prayer, a big believer in prayer.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/janet-jackson/i-m-a-true-believer-in-prayer-a-big-believer-in-prayer/) [Janet Jackson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/janet-jackson/) > [The biggest change for me as a mom was realizing I needed to put someone else before me. Now the hardest part about the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kim-alexis/the-biggest-change-for-me-as-a-mom-was-realizing-i-needed-to-put/) [Kim Alexis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kim-alexis/) > [I'm a big fan of all the Boston guys that are acting - Matt Damon , Ben Affleck, Mark Wahlberg - they made a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kenny-wormald/i-m-a-big-fan-of-all-the-boston-guys-that-are-acting-matt-damon-ben/) [Kenny Wormald](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kenny-wormald/) > [The only regret I have in my career, is my managers wanted a big payday, and I wanted four or five more fights before…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gerry-cooney/the-only-regret-i-have-in-my-career-is-my-managers-wanted-a-big/) [Gerry Cooney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gerry-cooney/) > [It goes to show you how we in the press so often miss the big stories that are right under our noses. There is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roger-ebert/it-goes-to-show-you-how-we-in-the-press-so-often-miss-the-big-stories/) [Roger Ebert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roger-ebert/) > [Okay, so I'll admit I'm curious. Big deal. We both know what that leads to. Dead cat.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susan-elizabeth-phillips/okay-so-i-ll-admit-i-m-curious-big-deal-we-both-know-what-that-leads/) [Susan Elizabeth Phillips](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susan-elizabeth-phillips/) > [I don't want this to be a distraction. This has been distracting enough. I'm not going to rehash this going forward. I'm sure other…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jayson-werth/i-don-t-want-this-to-be-a-distraction-this-has-been-distracting/) [Jayson Werth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jayson-werth/) > [I didn't get how big it was until I went home, turned on the television and saw it on all the news, and later…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-simon/i-didn-t-get-how-big-it-was-until-i-went-home-turned-on-the/) [Paul Simon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-simon/) > [It’s a small thing to help one animal, but to that one animal it’s a big thing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gene-baur/it-s-a-small-thing-to-help-one-animal-but-to-that-one-animal-it-s-a/) [Gene Baur](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gene-baur/) > [Since I was a little child, my nose - I think it's too big.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/celine-dion/since-i-was-a-little-child-my-nose-i-think-it-s-too-big/) [Celine Dion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/celine-dion/) > [People forget that there is a big difference between coercion and persuasion. The idea that evangelism is coercive is nonsense.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-dever/people-forget-that-there-is-a-big-difference-between-coercion-and/) [Mark Dever](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-dever/) > [I turn a lot of stuff down - big, big movies, the kind I wouldn't want to go to the cinema to see.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matthew-fox/i-turn-a-lot-of-stuff-down-big-big-movies-the-kind-i-wouldn-t-want-to/) [Matthew Fox](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matthew-fox/) > [I got in trouble my whole life for having a big mouth.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-tyler/i-got-in-trouble-my-whole-life-for-having-a-big-mouth/) [Steven Tyler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-tyler/) [Browse all 15,539 Bigs quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/bigs/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "I have to admit that business-type thoughts do sneak into my head: I hope our customers pay us, I hope this stuff is decent, I hope we get it done on time. 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