--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The only way I know to be awesome at…" description: "\"The only way I know to be awesome at startups is to be obsessively focused and pegged to the floor of the deep end, gasping for air.\" — Chris Sacca" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/352/chris-sacca-5443_awesome_the-only-way-i-know-to-be-awesome-at-sta_3178773.png" --- # The only way I know to be awesome at startups is to be… ![“The only way I know to be awesome at startups is to be obsessively focused and pegged to the floor of the deep end, gasping for air.” quote by Chris Sacca](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/352/chris-sacca-5443_awesome_the-only-way-i-know-to-be-awesome-at-sta_3178773.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/352/chris-sacca-5443_awesome_the-only-way-i-know-to-be-awesome-at-sta_3178773.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/352/chris-sacca-5443_awesome_the-only-way-i-know-to-be-awesome-at-sta_3178773.png) > “The only way I know to be awesome at startups is to be obsessively focused and pegged to the floor of the deep end, gasping for air.” [Chris Sacca](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-sacca/) ## 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 argues that thriving in startups demands relentless focus and immersion in challenging, high‑pressure environments. **In simple terms:** Startup success needs deep, intense focus. Key Takeaway Dive into challenges, stay fully engaged. Themes entrepreneurship focus hard work startup culture Mood determined intense Type motivational pragmatic When to use this quote - Launching a startup - Intensive training - High‑stakes projects Key Concepts Immersion Resilience Growth mindset Questions to Reflect On - How can you maintain focus without burning out? - What limits define healthy immersion? A Different Perspective Such intensity can cause burnout. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Awesome](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/awesome/) [Awesome Startups](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/awesome-startups-5815594/) [Deep](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/deep/) [End](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/end/) [Entrepreneurship](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/entrepreneurship/) [Gasping](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/gasping/) [Gasping Air](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/gasping-air-482116/) [Obsessively Focused](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/obsessively-focused-5815593/) [Only](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/only/) [Startups Obsessively](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/startups-obsessively-5815592/) [Way](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/way/) ## Related quotes > [There's a problem that leaves you gasping for air. You look for some meaning, blank smiles are all that's there.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bad-religion/there-s-a-problem-that-leaves-you-gasping-for-air-you-look-for-some/) [Bad Religion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bad-religion/) > [Life's fairly excruciating. Painful things happen. Every now and then, you drag yourself out of the stream and stand on the bank gasping for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/helen-garner/life-s-fairly-excruciating-painful-things-happen-every-now-and-then/) [Helen Garner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/helen-garner/) > [You find a lot out about people when they're blowing up, as we say, gasping for air, and if they can still hold conversations…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-regal/you-find-a-lot-out-about-people-when-they-re-blowing-up-as-we-say/) [William Regal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-regal/) > [“She gazed back at him, her mouth open, gasping for air. Her white blouse rose and fell with each panting breath. She shook her…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bonnie-dee/she-gazed-back-at-him-her-mouth-open-gasping-for-air-her-white-blouse/) [Bonnie Dee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bonnie-dee/) > [“As soon as Roland was gone,the cupboard door swung open, banging the back of her leg.Bill popped out,gasping for air loudly as if he'd…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lauren-kate/as-soon-as-roland-was-gone-the-cupboard-door-swung-open-banging-the/) [Lauren Kate](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lauren-kate/) > [The only time I flip out is when I'm not prepared. If I'm caught off guard, I can't help it; I start gasping for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emma-stone/the-only-time-i-flip-out-is-when-i-m-not-prepared-if-i-m-caught-off/) [Emma Stone](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emma-stone/) > [I want to be a fun mom. Not a gasping for air mom.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mariska-hargitay/i-want-to-be-a-fun-mom-not-a-gasping-for-air-mom/) [Mariska Hargitay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mariska-hargitay/) > [Being without you feels like me gasping for air...](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author-name/being-without-you-feels-like-me-gasping-for-air/) [Author Name](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/author-name/) > [“There comes a moment in life where everything you ever believed in comes crashing down, leaving you gasping for air.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shahd-alshammari/there-comes-a-moment-in-life-where-everything-you-ever-believed-in/) [Shahd Alshammari](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shahd-alshammari/) > [“As he was gasping for air he realized something. He was in deep shit. Haley was his life now. His woman. His heart. He…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/r-l-mathewson/as-he-was-gasping-for-air-he-realized-something-he-was-in-deep-shit/) [R.L. Mathewson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/r-l-mathewson/) > [Capitalism doesn't function when it starts to contract, and we can see that quite clearly right here in the eurozone. It's like pushing a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/douglas-tompkins/capitalism-doesn-t-function-when-it-starts-to-contract-and-we-can-see/) [Douglas Tompkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/douglas-tompkins/) > [“Now I understood a little what it meant to be frightened. It was like desperately gasping for air in a place without oxygen.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sohn-won-pyung/now-i-understood-a-little-what-it-meant-to-be-frightened-it-was-like/) [Sohn Won-Pyung](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sohn-won-pyung/) > [Instead, we have found ourselves gasping for air in a sea of corruption, dysfunction, environmental degradation, waste, disenchantment and inequality—and the harder we compete,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/margaret-heffernan/instead-we-have-found-ourselves-gasping-for-air-in-a-sea-of/) [Margaret Heffernan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/margaret-heffernan/) > [“When I’m with you, it’s like I’ve been seeing black-and-white and you’re the only spot of color; like I’m drowning and falling and gasping…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jacqueline-pawl/when-i-m-with-you-it-s-like-i-ve-been-seeing-black-and-white-and-you/) [Jacqueline Pawl](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jacqueline-pawl/) > [“That doesn’'t happeneverytime you kiss someone, does it? ”" Maddox said to Chloe, gasping through the pain of his double injuries.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lesley-livingston/that-doesn-t-happeneverytime-you-kiss-someone-does-it-maddox-said-to/) [Lesley Livingston](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lesley-livingston/) ## More by Chris Sacca > [I don't have a boss or PR person, so I'm accountable to no one.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-sacca/i-don-t-have-a-boss-or-pr-person-so-i-m-accountable-to-no-one/) [Chris Sacca](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-sacca/) > [George Winston piano albums have been my go-to since junior high.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-sacca/george-winston-piano-albums-have-been-my-go-to-since-junior-high/) [Chris Sacca](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-sacca/) > [The passive acceptance of exclusionary words and deeds is not okay.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-sacca/the-passive-acceptance-of-exclusionary-words-and-deeds-is-not-okay/) [Chris Sacca](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-sacca/) > [If you follow my tweets, you know, my attention and anxiety have been increasingly focused on the plight of our democracy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-sacca/if-you-follow-my-tweets-you-know-my-attention-and-anxiety-have-been/) [Chris Sacca](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-sacca/) > [I have one of the self-driving Teslas; it drives itself periodically. It's a marvel of science, but it's still frightening. I think we've got…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-sacca/i-have-one-of-the-self-driving-teslas-it-drives-itself-periodically/) [Chris Sacca](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-sacca/) > [What's success anyway? Is success about making the most money? No, money for the most part turns people into jerks.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-sacca/what-s-success-anyway-is-success-about-making-the-most-money-no-money/) [Chris Sacca](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-sacca/) > [I spent a lot of time learning how to define myself internally rather than externally. I learned how to care less about external validation.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-sacca/i-spent-a-lot-of-time-learning-how-to-define-myself-internally-rather/) [Chris Sacca](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-sacca/) > [Being a cheap bastard now means so much more freedom and choices later.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-sacca/being-a-cheap-bastard-now-means-so-much-more-freedom-and-choices-later/) [Chris Sacca](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-sacca/) > [You probably know me as a producer for 'This American Life', a top podcast in iTunes.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-sacca/you-probably-know-me-as-a-producer-for-this-american-life-a-top/) [Chris Sacca](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-sacca/) > [Uber is a better company with better math, better predictive supply, better brand, lower pickup times, higher quality of service. They'll absolutely win.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-sacca/uber-is-a-better-company-with-better-math-better-predictive-supply/) [Chris Sacca](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-sacca/) > [One of the things that struck me is how authentic 'Shark Tank' is. I don't know how more real it can be. You have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-sacca/one-of-the-things-that-struck-me-is-how-authentic-shark-tank-is-i-don/) [Chris Sacca](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-sacca/) > [Facebook is who you used to know; Twitter is who you want to know and things you want to know more about.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-sacca/facebook-is-who-you-used-to-know-twitter-is-who-you-want-to-know-and/) [Chris Sacca](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-sacca/) > [I am retiring from startup investing. It's hard to leave all this behind right when things are going so well.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-sacca/i-am-retiring-from-startup-investing-it-s-hard-to-leave-all-this/) [Chris Sacca](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-sacca/) > [I don't drink coffee. Weird, I know. But I try to stay away from caffeine. That said, we are investors in Blue Bottle, which…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-sacca/i-don-t-drink-coffee-weird-i-know-but-i-try-to-stay-away-from/) [Chris Sacca](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-sacca/) > [Planet colonization is not a short term concern of mine. The physical limitations of space travel render it low on the list for me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-sacca/planet-colonization-is-not-a-short-term-concern-of-mine-the-physical/) [Chris Sacca](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-sacca/) [Explore all 100 Chris Sacca quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-sacca/) ## More Awesome quotes > [It would be awesome to play in my backyard.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ashleigh-barty/it-would-be-awesome-to-play-in-my-backyard/) [Ashleigh Barty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ashleigh-barty/) > [“I had a dream. I had an awesome dream.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/i-had-a-dream-i-had-an-awesome-dream/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Merlin' was awesome, but the costumes would drive you insane. Every day, you'd get into chain mail and wear 30 pounds of that stuff.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eoin-macken/merlin-was-awesome-but-the-costumes-would-drive-you-insane-every-day/) [Eoin Macken](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eoin-macken/) > [Literally, 'Dance Moms' was so amazing, and I have the world to thank for that. They were so awesome - the set, the cast,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jojo-siwa/literally-dance-moms-was-so-amazing-and-i-have-the-world-to-thank-for/) [JoJo Siwa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jojo-siwa/) > ['Smallville' was a really awesome opportunity.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-witwer/smallville-was-a-really-awesome-opportunity/) [Samuel Witwer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-witwer/) > [Why does the Internet get Awesome when I have work to do?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/why-does-the-internet-get-awesome-when-i-have-work-to-do/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [If you're going to do a job, do it right. If you're going to throw a birthday party, make it amazing. If you're going…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jimmy-john-liautaud/if-you-re-going-to-do-a-job-do-it-right-if-you-re-going-to-throw-a/) [Jimmy John Liautaud](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jimmy-john-liautaud/) > [It was awesome because we were doing Ramones songs.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-lowry/it-was-awesome-because-we-were-doing-ramones-songs/) [Mike Lowry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-lowry/) > [Need to go to the pharmacy, because I'm so sick!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tasha-matthews/need-to-go-to-the-pharmacy-because-i-m-so-sick/) [Tasha Matthews](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tasha-matthews/) > [February 18 is the most awesome day of the year!!!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/yo-chica15/february-18-is-the-most-awesome-day-of-the-year/) [Yo-chica15](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/yo-chica15/) > [At comedy festivals, we always get grouped with other musical comedians, so you can get to know them and see what everyone is doing.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kate-micucci/at-comedy-festivals-we-always-get-grouped-with-other-musical/) [Kate Micucci](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kate-micucci/) > ['Dancing with the Stars' is awesome.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sabrina-bryan/dancing-with-the-stars-is-awesome/) [Sabrina Bryan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sabrina-bryan/) > [People forget we've got awesome entrepreneurs all over the country, especially in the North East.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sara-davies/people-forget-we-ve-got-awesome-entrepreneurs-all-over-the-country/) [Sara Davies](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sara-davies/) > [Seeing how the kids react to you is pretty awesome. 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