--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: One thing I'm so grateful for is…" description: "\"One thing I'm so grateful for is sidestepping the usual venture capital, private equity route. My friends who have gone that way are many times beholde..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/150/blake-mycoskie-4833_beholden_one-thing-i-m-so-grateful-for-is-sideste_1415263.png" --- # One thing I'm so grateful for is sidestepping the usual… ![“One thing I'm so grateful for is sidestepping the usual venture capital, private equity route. My friends who have gone that way are many times beholden to their boards of directors, to 'sell' ideas to a team.” quote by Blake Mycoskie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/150/blake-mycoskie-4833_beholden_one-thing-i-m-so-grateful-for-is-sideste_1415263.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/150/blake-mycoskie-4833_beholden_one-thing-i-m-so-grateful-for-is-sideste_1415263.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/150/blake-mycoskie-4833_beholden_one-thing-i-m-so-grateful-for-is-sideste_1415263.png) > “One thing I'm so grateful for is sidestepping the usual venture capital, private equity route. My friends who have gone that way are many times beholden to their boards of directors, to 'sell' ideas to a team.” [Blake Mycoskie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/blake-mycoskie/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Avoiding traditional VC routes can preserve autonomy and reduce board pressure, leading to authentic innovation. **In simple terms:** Skipping VC keeps independence and creativity. Key Takeaway Consider alternative financing for freedom. Themes entrepreneurship autonomy finance Mood optimistic pragmatic Type business motivational When to use this quote - startup funding - product development - leadership - investment Key Concepts venture capital business models Questions to Reflect On - What are the risks of non‑VC funding? - How do you maintain control while growing? A Different Perspective Alternative funding may limit resources and scaling speed. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Beholden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/beholden/) [Capital](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/capital/) [Directors](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/directors/) [Equity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/equity/) [Friends](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/friends/) [Grateful](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/grateful/) [Ideas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ideas/) [Justice](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/justice/) [Private equity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/private-equity/) [Team](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/team/) [Venture capital](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/venture-capital/) ## Related quotes > [I delivered lectures, and I was also a consultant for international companies in finance, both private equity and big venture capital funds.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ehud-barak/i-delivered-lectures-and-i-was-also-a-consultant-for-international/) [Ehud Barak](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ehud-barak/) > [The stock market has gone up and if you are stock picking, that's fine, you may do a bit better than the market. But…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kevin-kinsella/the-stock-market-has-gone-up-and-if-you-are-stock-picking-that-s-fine/) [Kevin Kinsella](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kevin-kinsella/) > [Venture capital has peaked in terms of its appetite, in terms of how much money it wants to put in. So now private equity…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kevin-kinsella/venture-capital-has-peaked-in-terms-of-its-appetite-in-terms-of-how/) [Kevin Kinsella](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kevin-kinsella/) > [I've probably done more venture capital deals and expansion financings than I have done private equity deals. But both are the same. Private equity…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-pagliuca/i-ve-probably-done-more-venture-capital-deals-and-expansion/) [Stephen Pagliuca](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-pagliuca/) > [Hedge funds, private equity and venture capital funds have played an important role in providing liquidity to our financial system and improving the efficiency…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-reed/hedge-funds-private-equity-and-venture-capital-funds-have-played-an/) [Jack Reed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-reed/) > [I sell ideas. Actually, if you think about it, everything is really no more than idea. The past is nothing more than a memory,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ted-dekker/i-sell-ideas-actually-if-you-think-about-it-everything-is-really-no/) [Ted Dekker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ted-dekker/) > [It is about the players that take us to success. When they feel your convictions you can sell them your ideas a bit better…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andre-villas-boas/it-is-about-the-players-that-take-us-to-success-when-they-feel-your/) [Andre Villas-Boas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andre-villas-boas/) > [Selling and telling are two different things. In politics, we sell ideas.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tan-cheng-bock/selling-and-telling-are-two-different-things-in-politics-we-sell-ideas/) [Tan Cheng Bock](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tan-cheng-bock/) > [The only people in the world who can change things are those who can sell ideas.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lois-wyse/the-only-people-in-the-world-who-can-change-things-are-those-who-can/) [Lois Wyse](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lois-wyse/) > [Just getting a degree is not enough, and you need to sell your ideas.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/akkineni-nagarjuna/just-getting-a-degree-is-not-enough-and-you-need-to-sell-your-ideas/) [Akkineni Nagarjuna](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/akkineni-nagarjuna/) > [Understand that you need to sell you and your ideas in order to advance your career, gain more respect, and increase your success, influence…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jay-abraham/understand-that-you-need-to-sell-you-and-your-ideas-in-order-to/) [Jay Abraham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jay-abraham/) > [It's my duty to sell the ideas. But there's always a question when it comes to beauty.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-schjeldahl/it-s-my-duty-to-sell-the-ideas-but-there-s-always-a-question-when-it/) [Peter Schjeldahl](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-schjeldahl/) > [The tools I learned photographing celebrities, now I want to use them to sell ideas.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-lachapelle/the-tools-i-learned-photographing-celebrities-now-i-want-to-use-them/) [David LaChapelle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-lachapelle/) > [“The second part of it, which I think is really critical, is understanding that being creative means that you have to sell your ideas.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jocelyn-k-glei/the-second-part-of-it-which-i-think-is-really-critical-is/) [Jocelyn K. Glei](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jocelyn-k-glei/) > [Companies should be selling ideas more than benefits. Sell ideas. Not stuff.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aaron-ross/companies-should-be-selling-ideas-more-than-benefits-sell-ideas-not/) [Aaron Ross](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aaron-ross/) ## More by Blake Mycoskie > [It may sound too good to be true, but once you've seen the happiest people in your life who have nothing, you really start…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/blake-mycoskie/it-may-sound-too-good-to-be-true-but-once-you-ve-seen-the-happiest/) [Blake Mycoskie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/blake-mycoskie/) > [I would never want to take TOMS or myself into an issues debate. That's not what we're about. We're about helping people.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/blake-mycoskie/i-would-never-want-to-take-toms-or-myself-into-an-issues-debate-that/) [Blake Mycoskie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/blake-mycoskie/) > [With TOMS, I found a way to create sustainable giving and consistently help those who are in need.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/blake-mycoskie/with-toms-i-found-a-way-to-create-sustainable-giving-and-consistently/) [Blake Mycoskie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/blake-mycoskie/) > [One day, when I own a house, I'll keep a library full of books. Books are different from other possessions-they're more like friends.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/blake-mycoskie/one-day-when-i-own-a-house-i-ll-keep-a-library-full-of-books-books/) [Blake Mycoskie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/blake-mycoskie/) > [Walk away from anyone who is unduly focused on vacation and compensation. It's a sign of potential trouble. No matter how talented you are,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/blake-mycoskie/walk-away-from-anyone-who-is-unduly-focused-on-vacation-and/) [Blake Mycoskie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/blake-mycoskie/) > [Giving is what fuels us. Giving is our future.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/blake-mycoskie/giving-is-what-fuels-us-giving-is-our-future/) [Blake Mycoskie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/blake-mycoskie/) > [When you don't know the rules, you break them all. It's hard to take big risks when you know the history of an industry…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/blake-mycoskie/when-you-don-t-know-the-rules-you-break-them-all-it-s-hard-to-take/) [Blake Mycoskie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/blake-mycoskie/) > [The future of TOMS is really creating a whole new business model of this one-for-one giving and expanding the TOMS model from shoes into…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/blake-mycoskie/the-future-of-toms-is-really-creating-a-whole-new-business-model-of/) [Blake Mycoskie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/blake-mycoskie/) > [I always have my journal with me. It was handmade by a guy at the San Telmo market in Buenos Aires. If you go…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/blake-mycoskie/i-always-have-my-journal-with-me-it-was-handmade-by-a-guy-at-the-san/) [Blake Mycoskie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/blake-mycoskie/) > [My goal was to go back to Argentina, and give them all-all the shoes-away. Not just to give them away, but to place them…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/blake-mycoskie/my-goal-was-to-go-back-to-argentina-and-give-them-all-all-the-shoes/) [Blake Mycoskie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/blake-mycoskie/) > [Vogue Magazine does something really interesting here: They make it look like I know exactly what I'm doing. Because Vogue made it look like…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/blake-mycoskie/vogue-magazine-does-something-really-interesting-here-they-make-it/) [Blake Mycoskie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/blake-mycoskie/) > [TOMS is no longer a shoe company... we're a one-for-one company.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/blake-mycoskie/toms-is-no-longer-a-shoe-company-we-re-a-one-for-one-company/) [Blake Mycoskie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/blake-mycoskie/) > [If you just go out and try to make money by starting a business, you're going to come up with something that's just like…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/blake-mycoskie/if-you-just-go-out-and-try-to-make-money-by-starting-a-business-you/) [Blake Mycoskie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/blake-mycoskie/) > [When you incorporate giving into your business in an authentic and transparent way, your customers become your best marketers.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/blake-mycoskie/when-you-incorporate-giving-into-your-business-in-an-authentic-and/) [Blake Mycoskie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/blake-mycoskie/) > [Traveling as much as I do, I get lonely sometimes. I have friends now in cities all over the world, so I get to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/blake-mycoskie/traveling-as-much-as-i-do-i-get-lonely-sometimes-i-have-friends-now/) [Blake Mycoskie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/blake-mycoskie/) [Explore all 106 Blake Mycoskie quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/blake-mycoskie/) ## More Beholden quotes > [“Be beholden to no one, he had said. Make sure you owe nobody any favors.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-flanagan/be-beholden-to-no-one-he-had-said-make-sure-you-owe-nobody-any-favors/) [John Flanagan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-flanagan/) > [I've never believed that 'Idol' as a franchise is beholden to any individual because everybody said it would die the minute Simon Cowell left,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nigel-lythgoe/i-ve-never-believed-that-idol-as-a-franchise-is-beholden-to-any/) [Nigel Lythgoe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nigel-lythgoe/) > [I owe nobody anything. I'm beholden to nobody.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-hardy/i-owe-nobody-anything-i-m-beholden-to-nobody/) [Dan Hardy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dan-hardy/) > [“If beauty is in the eye of the beholder than consider yourself beholden.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/truth-devour/if-beauty-is-in-the-eye-of-the-beholder-than-consider-yourself/) Truth Devour > [God is not beholden to us at all. He doesn't owe us anything.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-piper/god-is-not-beholden-to-us-at-all-he-doesn-t-owe-us-anything/) [John Piper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-piper/) > [The Shins is, in a way, a recording project that turned into a live band. So I don't really keep myself beholden to any…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-mercer/the-shins-is-in-a-way-a-recording-project-that-turned-into-a-live/) [James Mercer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-mercer/) > [“You are a woman; this is your body. You are beholden to no one, Ke-Han or Volstovic.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/danielle-bennett/you-are-a-woman-this-is-your-body-you-are-beholden-to-no-one-ke-han/) [Danielle Bennett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/danielle-bennett/) > [“I go where I want to go, I do what I want to do, and I am beholden to no one.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-m-derobertis/i-go-where-i-want-to-go-i-do-what-i-want-to-do-and-i-am-beholden-to/) Mark M. DeRobertis > [“There's nothing worse in the world than to owe and be beholden to anyone.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frank-mccourt/there-s-nothing-worse-in-the-world-than-to-owe-and-be-beholden-to/) [Frank McCourt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frank-mccourt/) > [The simple fact is we do not live in a democracy. Certainly not the kind our Founding Fathers intended. We live in a corporate…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-van-zandt/the-simple-fact-is-we-do-not-live-in-a-democracy-certainly-not-the/) [Steven Van Zandt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-van-zandt/) > [It is time to celebrate the New Black Americans - those who have sealed the Deal, who aren't beholden to liberal indulgence any more…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-ridley/it-is-time-to-celebrate-the-new-black-americans-those-who-have-sealed/) [John Ridley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-ridley/) > [We can't be beholden to the past.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rob-liefeld/we-can-t-be-beholden-to-the-past/) [Rob Liefeld](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rob-liefeld/) > [I am beholden to calumny, that she hath so endeavored to belie me.-It shall make me set a surer guard on myself, and keep…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-jonson/i-am-beholden-to-calumny-that-she-hath-so-endeavored-to-belie-me-it/) [Ben Jonson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ben-jonson/) > [I don't think there's an interesting boundary between philosophy and science. Science is totally beholden to philosophy. There are philosophical assumptions in science and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sam-harris/i-don-t-think-there-s-an-interesting-boundary-between-philosophy-and/) [Sam Harris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sam-harris/) > [When leaders are no longer beholden to the people who elected them, corruption results and the recruitment of extremists becomes easier.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/iqbal-quadir/when-leaders-are-no-longer-beholden-to-the-people-who-elected-them/) [Iqbal Quadir](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/iqbal-quadir/) [Browse all 35 Beholden quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/beholden/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "One thing I'm so grateful for is sidestepping the usual venture capital, private equity route. 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