--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Start at the beginning,” he said. “Move…" description: "\"“Start at the beginning,” he said. “Move one step in the direction of your goal. Remember that you can change direction to maneuver around obstacles. Y..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/bb5/cory-doctorow-1928_direction_start-at-the-beginning-he-said-move-one_1001970.png" --- # Start at the beginning,” he said. “Move one step in the… ![“Start at the beginning,” he said. “Move one step in the direction of your goal. Remember that you can change direction to maneuver around obstacles. You don’t need a plan, you need a vector.” quote by Cory Doctorow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/bb5/cory-doctorow-1928_direction_start-at-the-beginning-he-said-move-one_1001970.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/bb5/cory-doctorow-1928_direction_start-at-the-beginning-he-said-move-one_1001970.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/bb5/cory-doctorow-1928_direction_start-at-the-beginning-he-said-move-one_1001970.png) > ““Start at the beginning,” he said. “Move one step in the direction of your goal. Remember that you can change direction to maneuver around obstacles. You don’t need a plan, you need a vector.”” [Cory Doctorow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cory-doctorow/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Progress is achieved by taking small, directed actions toward a goal, adapting direction as needed, without over‑planning. **In simple terms:** Small steps and flexibility lead to success. Key Takeaway Act with direction, adjust as obstacles appear. Themes goal action adaptability strategy innovation Mood determined optimistic Type motivational practical When to use this quote - personal projects - startup development - career planning - learning new skills Key Concepts vector thinking incremental progress agile methodology Questions to Reflect On - What small vector can you set today? - How will you pivot when obstacles arise? A Different Perspective Lack of a detailed plan can cause missed opportunities or wasted effort. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Direction](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/direction/) [Goals](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/goals/) [Strategy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/strategy/) ## Related quotes > [Talent may get someone off the starting blocks faster, but without a sense of direction or a goal to strive for, it won't count…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-bayles/talent-may-get-someone-off-the-starting-blocks-faster-but-without-a/) [David Bayles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-bayles/) > [And Seaman, just like a falling oak, manages to change direction.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-motson/and-seaman-just-like-a-falling-oak-manages-to-change-direction/) [John Motson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-motson/) > [Sometimes life has to tell you a little more forcefully: 'Slow down or change direction.'](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/declan-donnelly/sometimes-life-has-to-tell-you-a-little-more-forcefully-slow-down-or/) [Declan Donnelly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/declan-donnelly/) > [The Titanic hit the iceberg not because they could not see it coming but because they could not change direction.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dean-devlin/the-titanic-hit-the-iceberg-not-because-they-could-not-see-it-coming/) [Dean Devlin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dean-devlin/) > [If we don't change our direction we're likely to end up where we're headed.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/if-we-don-t-change-our-direction-we-re-likely-to-end-up-where-we-re/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Anyone playing with you is going to change where your direction is.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charlie-hunter/anyone-playing-with-you-is-going-to-change-where-your-direction-is/) [Charlie Hunter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charlie-hunter/) > [If we don't change the direction we are headed, we will end up where we are going.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jodi-picoult/if-we-don-t-change-the-direction-we-are-headed-we-will-end-up-where/) [Jodi Picoult](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jodi-picoult/) > [When you let people put you up on a pedestal, you step one step in any direction, and you're going to go down.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-dobson/when-you-let-people-put-you-up-on-a-pedestal-you-step-one-step-in-any/) [James Dobson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-dobson/) > [XML is a giant step in no direction at all.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erik-naggum/xml-is-a-giant-step-in-no-direction-at-all/) [Erik Naggum](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erik-naggum/) > [Don't be so concerned about the size of your next step…The direction is what matters!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-simmons/don-t-be-so-concerned-about-the-size-of-your-next-step-the-direction/) [Joseph Simmons](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-simmons/) > [“I might not know every step of my journey, but standing still wouldn’t accomplish a thing. Sometimes you just had to take a step,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-brashear/i-might-not-know-every-step-of-my-journey-but-standing-still-wouldn-t/) [Jean Brashear](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-brashear/) > [“When you slip down a mountain of Joy , don't Worry. Instead of living gloomily in the dark valley , look up at the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rvm/when-you-slip-down-a-mountain-of-joy-don-t-worry-instead-of-living/) RVM > [To get more clarity, take a step in the direction of the destination.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-hyatt/to-get-more-clarity-take-a-step-in-the-direction-of-the-destination/) [Michael Hyatt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-hyatt/) > [FOR EVERY STEP YOU TAKE IN THE DIRECTION OF YOUR DREAMS,YOUR DREAMS TAKE TWO STEPS CLOSER TO YOU..YOU WILL ALWAYS BE AHEAD OF THOSE…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fash/for-every-step-you-take-in-the-direction-of-your-dreams-your-dreams/) Fash > [“Take the first step in the direction toward something that feels right and see where it leads you. And do it NOW. 3.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jen-sincero/take-the-first-step-in-the-direction-toward-something-that-feels/) [Jen Sincero](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jen-sincero/) ## More by Cory Doctorow > [“For me -- for pretty much every writer -- the big problem isn't piracy, it's obscurity.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cory-doctorow/for-me-for-pretty-much-every-writer-the-big-problem-isn-t-piracy-it-s/) [Cory Doctorow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cory-doctorow/) > [“Kurt smiled a shy smile. "You're just trying to cheer me up," he said. "Course I am," Andy said. "You deserve to be full…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cory-doctorow/kurt-smiled-a-shy-smile-you-re-just-trying-to-cheer-me-up-he-said/) [Cory Doctorow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cory-doctorow/) > [Right, and you point out something important which is that people who don’t want to pay, people who are pirates, don’t get bothered by…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cory-doctorow/right-and-you-point-out-something-important-which-is-that-people-who/) [Cory Doctorow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cory-doctorow/) > [The other one I did was 'I, Robot.' I take apart Isaac Asimov's Robots world.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cory-doctorow/the-other-one-i-did-was-i-robot-i-take-apart-isaac-asimov-s-robots/) [Cory Doctorow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cory-doctorow/) > [“When in problem, or in doubt, run in cirles, scream and shout”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cory-doctorow/when-in-problem-or-in-doubt-run-in-cirles-scream-and-shout/) [Cory Doctorow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cory-doctorow/) > [“the problem with reading off a screen isn’t resolution, eyestrain, or compatibility with reading in the bathtub: it’s that computers are seductive, they tempt…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cory-doctorow/the-problem-with-reading-off-a-screen-isn-t-resolution-eyestrain-or/) [Cory Doctorow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cory-doctorow/) > [I'm 17 years old. I'm not a straight-A student or anything. Even so, I figured out how to make an Internet that they can't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cory-doctorow/i-m-17-years-old-i-m-not-a-straight-a-student-or-anything-even-so-i/) [Cory Doctorow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cory-doctorow/) > [“Anything invented before you were eighteen was there all along. Anything invented before you’re thirty is exciting and will change the world forever. Anything…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cory-doctorow/anything-invented-before-you-were-eighteen-was-there-all-along/) [Cory Doctorow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cory-doctorow/) > [Novels for me are how I find out what's going on in my own head. And so that's a really useful and indeed critical…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cory-doctorow/novels-for-me-are-how-i-find-out-what-s-going-on-in-my-own-head-and/) [Cory Doctorow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cory-doctorow/) > [“It’s our version of Christian guilt—it’s impious to feel good about your piety. You have to want to be good, but not feel good…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cory-doctorow/it-s-our-version-of-christian-guilt-it-s-impious-to-feel-good-about/) [Cory Doctorow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cory-doctorow/) > [The important thing about security systems isn’t how they work, it’s how they fail.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cory-doctorow/the-important-thing-about-security-systems-isn-t-how-they-work-it-s/) [Cory Doctorow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cory-doctorow/) > [This is why I loved technology: if you used it right, it could give you power and privacy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cory-doctorow/this-is-why-i-loved-technology-if-you-used-it-right-it-could-give-you/) [Cory Doctorow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cory-doctorow/) > [Funny, for all surveillance, Osama bin Laden is still free—and we're not. Guess who's winning the "war on terror?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cory-doctorow/funny-for-all-surveillance-osama-bin-laden-is-still-free-and-we-re/) [Cory Doctorow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cory-doctorow/) > [I had this really great amazing thing happen where I almost finished the book and I really needed to come up with an ending…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cory-doctorow/i-had-this-really-great-amazing-thing-happen-where-i-almost-finished/) [Cory Doctorow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cory-doctorow/) > [It's the stupid questions that have some of the most surprising and interesting answers. Most people never think to ask the stupid questions.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cory-doctorow/it-s-the-stupid-questions-that-have-some-of-the-most-surprising-and/) [Cory Doctorow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cory-doctorow/) [Explore all 195 Cory Doctorow quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cory-doctorow/) ## More Direction quotes > [I'm not gonna squeal out that this is my 23rd retirement, my real, real retirement. But you know there comes a time where you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-funk/i-m-not-gonna-squeal-out-that-this-is-my-23rd-retirement-my-real-real/) [Terry Funk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terry-funk/) > [My favorite job is the next one. Its such a gratifying experience getting to creatively keep trying something new and push things in a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roger-craig-smith/my-favorite-job-is-the-next-one-its-such-a-gratifying-experience/) [Roger Craig Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roger-craig-smith/) > [Every time you think a negative thought, it's one step in the wrong direction, for me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sean-paul/every-time-you-think-a-negative-thought-it-s-one-step-in-the-wrong/) [Sean Paul](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sean-paul/) > [“No matter how many times you get turned around,you will still find yourself going in the right direction \*B\*”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/b-easley/no-matter-how-many-times-you-get-turned-around-you-will-still-find/) [B. Easley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/b-easley/) > [Life's lessons don't come with books, notes nor instructions...just mistakes and EVERYONE makes them!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nishan-panwar/life-s-lessons-don-t-come-with-books-notes-nor-instructions-just/) [Nishan Panwar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nishan-panwar/) > [I don't think comedy really does change people's minds; I think you can only get someone who is almost ready to change their mind.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-jefferies/i-don-t-think-comedy-really-does-change-people-s-minds-i-think-you/) [Jim Jefferies](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-jefferies/) > [The prime communities of the Southwest are survival communities. Their sustenance is governed by rainfall and wind direction. You can study little enclaves of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/antoine-predock/the-prime-communities-of-the-southwest-are-survival-communities-their/) [Antoine Predock](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/antoine-predock/) > [Napster has pointed the way for a new direction for music distribution, and we believe it will form the basis of important and exciting…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barry-diller/napster-has-pointed-the-way-for-a-new-direction-for-music/) [Barry Diller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barry-diller/) > [But I would say if the Security Council is only relevant if it agrees with the United States, then we have come a long…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hans-blix/but-i-would-say-if-the-security-council-is-only-relevant-if-it-agrees/) [Hans Blix](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hans-blix/) > [Vote SNP for a party that always stands up for Scotland, that is stronger for Scotland, and a government that will keep the country…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nicola-sturgeon/vote-snp-for-a-party-that-always-stands-up-for-scotland-that-is/) [Nicola Sturgeon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nicola-sturgeon/) > [I have a horrible sense of direction.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jared-polis/i-have-a-horrible-sense-of-direction/) [Jared Polis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jared-polis/) > [When I see Mario Gotze, his development does not go in the right direction. He has outstanding qualities, but he has not reached his…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-ballack/when-i-see-mario-gotze-his-development-does-not-go-in-the-right/) [Michael Ballack](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-ballack/) > [Even in 'Hollyoaks,' we were known as 'the black family' as opposed to just 'the new family.' But that's where we are in the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ricky-whittle/even-in-hollyoaks-we-were-known-as-the-black-family-as-opposed-to/) [Ricky Whittle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ricky-whittle/) > [I love being a private company. I don't ever want to be forced to not do the things I need to do to keep…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kendra-scott/i-love-being-a-private-company-i-don-t-ever-want-to-be-forced-to-not/) [Kendra Scott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kendra-scott/) > [Nobody had anticipated that chemicals was the direction in which Reliance was headed. I did chemical engineering because it was supposed to be the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mukesh-ambani/nobody-had-anticipated-that-chemicals-was-the-direction-in-which/) [Mukesh Ambani](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mukesh-ambani/) [Browse all 2,024 Direction quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/direction/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“Start at the beginning,” he said. “Move one step in the direction of your goal. Remember that you can change direction to maneuver around obstacles. 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