--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The only big companies that succeed will…" description: "\"The only big companies that succeed will be those that obsolete their own products before somebody else does.\" — Bill Gates" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b8e/bill-gates-137_big-companies_the-only-big-companies-that-succeed-will_1372664.jpg" --- # The only big companies that succeed will be those that… ![“The only big companies that succeed will be those that obsolete their own products before somebody else does.” quote by Bill Gates](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b8e/bill-gates-137_big-companies_the-only-big-companies-that-succeed-will_1372664.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b8e/bill-gates-137_big-companies_the-only-big-companies-that-succeed-will_1372664.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b8e/bill-gates-137_big-companies_the-only-big-companies-that-succeed-will_1372664.jpg) > “The only big companies that succeed will be those that obsolete their own products before somebody else does.” [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. Companies must innovate by retiring their own products before competitors do, ensuring continuous relevance. **In simple terms:** Innovate before others do. Key Takeaway Continuously replace your own offerings. Themes innovation competition self‑disruption strategy Mood strategic forward‑thinking Type business technology When to use this quote - product development - R&D meetings - strategic planning Key Concepts business strategy product lifecycle market dynamics Questions to Reflect On - How can firms transition customers to new products smoothly? - What signals indicate it’s time to retire a product? A Different Perspective Self‑disruption can alienate existing customers. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Big companies](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/big-companies/) [Business](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/business/) [Company](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/company/) [Obsolete](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/obsolete/) ## Related quotes > [Management must take the lead in making obsolete its own products and services rather than waiting for a competitor to do so.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-drucker/management-must-take-the-lead-in-making-obsolete-its-own-products-and/) [Peter Drucker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-drucker/) > [In three years, every product my company makes will be obsolete. The only question is whether we will make them obsolete or somebody else…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-gates/in-three-years-every-product-my-company-makes-will-be-obsolete-the/) [Bill Gates](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-gates/) > [Banking gives you a glimpse into what makes companies succeed and what makes companies fail,](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sally-jewell/banking-gives-you-a-glimpse-into-what-makes-companies-succeed-and/) [Sally Jewell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sally-jewell/) > [I fully understand that not all of the companies will succeed and that there will be losses along the way, but this is very…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andy-murray/i-fully-understand-that-not-all-of-the-companies-will-succeed-and/) [Andy Murray](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andy-murray/) > [Companies that succeed are driven by internal ambition. Stock price doesn’t drive them. Ambition and values drive them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sumantra-ghoshal/companies-that-succeed-are-driven-by-internal-ambition-stock-price/) Sumantra Ghoshal > [From now on, the technology companies that succeed will be those that have developed skills at listening and a sophisticated understanding of their customers'…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-j-palmisano/from-now-on-the-technology-companies-that-succeed-will-be-those-that/) [Samuel J. Palmisano](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-j-palmisano/) > [MBA programs are underwritten by large companies and they succeed at producing future employees of large companies. In that regard, they are doing exactly…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lewis-schiff/mba-programs-are-underwritten-by-large-companies-and-they-succeed-at/) [Lewis Schiff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lewis-schiff/) > [The good news about building a company during times like this is that the companies that do succeed are going to be extremely strong…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marc-andreessen/the-good-news-about-building-a-company-during-times-like-this-is-that/) [Marc Andreessen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marc-andreessen/) > [As someone who understands what's needed for entrepreneurs and start-up companies to succeed, I can tell you there is nothing more integral to their…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-patricof/as-someone-who-understands-what-s-needed-for-entrepreneurs-and-start/) [Alan Patricof](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-patricof/) > [To get a big company moving fast, especially on a many-headed opportunity like the Internet, you have to have hundreds of people participating and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-gates/to-get-a-big-company-moving-fast-especially-on-a-many-headed/) [Bill Gates](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-gates/) > [I don't think you're going to have one bank. Big companies aren't going to give us all their business. So they can pick and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jamie-dimon/i-don-t-think-you-re-going-to-have-one-bank-big-companies-aren-t/) [Jamie Dimon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jamie-dimon/) > [America's high schools are obsolete. By obsolete, I don't just mean that they're broken, flawed, or underfunded, though a case could be made for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-gates/america-s-high-schools-are-obsolete-by-obsolete-i-don-t-just-mean/) [Bill Gates](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-gates/) > [Microsoft Products are Generally Bug Free](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-gates/microsoft-products-are-generally-bug-free/) [Bill Gates](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-gates/) > [Microsoft has had many, many successful products. I'm committed to one company. This is the industry I've decided to work in.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-gates/microsoft-has-had-many-many-successful-products-i-m-committed-to-one/) [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/) ## 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 Big companies quotes > [Most big companies don't like you very much, except hotels, airlines and Microsoft, which don't like you at all.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-bryson/most-big-companies-don-t-like-you-very-much-except-hotels-airlines/) [Bill Bryson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-bryson/) > [In the commercial world, big companies mostly die within a few decades because they cannot maintain an internal system to keep them aligned to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dominic-cummings/in-the-commercial-world-big-companies-mostly-die-within-a-few-decades/) [Dominic Cummings](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dominic-cummings/) > [Whatever vocation you decide on, track down the best people in the world at doing it and surround yourself with them. Aim high and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scott-weiss/whatever-vocation-you-decide-on-track-down-the-best-people-in-the/) [Scott Weiss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scott-weiss/) > [I started noticing a lot of big companies are bored with ads; they feel sort of lost in the advertising world. They're not into…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gavin-mcinnes/i-started-noticing-a-lot-of-big-companies-are-bored-with-ads-they/) [Gavin McInnes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gavin-mcinnes/) > [Be creative. Innovate consistently on the little things that the big companies ignore. Little things often make big differences in business.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-branson/be-creative-innovate-consistently-on-the-little-things-that-the-big/) [Richard Branson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-branson/) > [I don't think you're going to have one bank. Big companies aren't going to give us all their business. So they can pick and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jamie-dimon/i-don-t-think-you-re-going-to-have-one-bank-big-companies-aren-t/) [Jamie Dimon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jamie-dimon/) > [In the increasingly digital world, data is a valuable currency, yet as consumers, we control and own little of it. As consumers, we must…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-mougayar/in-the-increasingly-digital-world-data-is-a-valuable-currency-yet-as/) [William Mougayar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-mougayar/) > [I never imagined I'd be working with government, or military or politicians or big companies. None of this stuff I'm doing was on any…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/simon-sinek/i-never-imagined-i-d-be-working-with-government-or-military-or/) [Simon Sinek](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/simon-sinek/) > [The shining star in the world is Shanghai. That's what CEOs from big companies say - 'if I want mathematical analytical work done, it's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hans-rosling/the-shining-star-in-the-world-is-shanghai-that-s-what-ceos-from-big/) [Hans Rosling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hans-rosling/) > [They have a policy in China for their big companies called "Go abroad." It's a rational thing for both the company and the country…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jamie-dimon/they-have-a-policy-in-china-for-their-big-companies-called-go-abroad/) [Jamie Dimon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jamie-dimon/) > [I hear my own daughters talking about big companies polluting the environment, and then I realise they are talking about companies of which one…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/indra-nooyi/i-hear-my-own-daughters-talking-about-big-companies-polluting-the/) [Indra Nooyi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/indra-nooyi/) > [You need to ask yourself, ‘Where do you want to work: startups, mid-size or large companies?’ If you find yourself debating the ‘startup versus…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-blank/you-need-to-ask-yourself-where-do-you-want-to-work-startups-mid-size/) [Steve Blank](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-blank/) > [I suspect there's a lot of validity to the premise that big companies aren't going to attract entrepreneurial talent.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/evan-williams/i-suspect-there-s-a-lot-of-validity-to-the-premise-that-big-companies/) [Evan Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/evan-williams/) > [“If you’re struggling to get into big companies, you probably have a weak value proposition. Pure and simple.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jill-konrath/if-you-re-struggling-to-get-into-big-companies-you-probably-have-a/) [Jill Konrath](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jill-konrath/) > [Before I started my company in 1998, I worked for big companies traveling a lot and saw firsthand how much waste there was. I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maria-cornejo/before-i-started-my-company-in-1998-i-worked-for-big-companies/) [Maria Cornejo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maria-cornejo/) [Browse all 124 Big companies quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/big-companies/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "The only big companies that succeed will be those that obsolete their own products before somebody else does.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Bill Gates" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-gates/the-only-big-companies-that-succeed-will-be-those-that-obsolete-their/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Big companies" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-gates/the-only-big-companies-that-succeed-will-be-those-that-obsolete-their/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b8e/bill-gates-137_big-companies_the-only-big-companies-that-succeed-will_1372664.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b8e/bill-gates-137_big-companies_the-only-big-companies-that-succeed-will_1372664.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b8e/bill-gates-137_big-companies_the-only-big-companies-that-succeed-will_1372664.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“The only big companies that succeed will be those that obsolete their own products before somebody else does.” — Bill Gates", "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": "Bill Gates", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-gates/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "The only big companies that succeed...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-gates/the-only-big-companies-that-succeed-will-be-those-that-obsolete-their/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-gates/the-only-big-companies-that-succeed-will-be-those-that-obsolete-their/#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 } } ] } ```