Customer Quote by Brad Stone
““Chesky was moving slowly, but at the same time, he was frustrated that his imagined success wasn’t arriving quickly enough. “Every day I was working on it and thinking, Why isn’t it happening faster?” he told me.4 “When you’re starting a company it never goes at the pace you want or the pace you expect. You imagine everything to be linear, ‘I’m going to do this, then this is going to happen and this is going to happen.’ You’re imagining steps and they’re progressive. You start, you build it, and you think everyone’s going to care. But no one cares, not even your friends.””
About This Quote
Source Book: The Everything Store by Brad Stone, 2013
Founders often expect rapid, linear growth, but reality is messy and slower, leading to frustration when expectations aren’t met.
In simple terms: Start are rarely smooth; progress is uneven.
Key Takeaway
Adjust expectations and stay resilient.
Themes
entrepreneurship
expectations
growth
frustration
Mood
determined
realistic
Type
advice
reflective
When to use this quote
- launching a startup
- seeking funding
- building a product
- marketing to early adopters
Key Concepts
linear thinking
growth mindset
market dynamics
Questions to Reflect On
- How can you reframe setbacks as learning?
- What metrics can track real progress beyond hype?
A Different Perspective
Progress may be non‑linear and external interest can be delayed.
