--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Don't stop at the first no. You have to…" description: "\"Don't stop at the first no. You have to be a risk taker. If there weren't room for creativity, the patent office would close down.\" — Debbi Fields" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/208/debbi-fields-11206_creativity_don-t-stop-at-the-first-no-you-have-to-b_2732014.jpg" --- # Don't stop at the first no. You have to be a risk taker… ![“Don't stop at the first no. You have to be a risk taker. If there weren't room for creativity, the patent office would close down.” quote by Debbi Fields](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/208/debbi-fields-11206_creativity_don-t-stop-at-the-first-no-you-have-to-b_2732014.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/208/debbi-fields-11206_creativity_don-t-stop-at-the-first-no-you-have-to-b_2732014.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/208/debbi-fields-11206_creativity_don-t-stop-at-the-first-no-you-have-to-b_2732014.jpg) > “Don't stop at the first no. You have to be a risk taker. If there weren't room for creativity, the patent office would close down.” [Debbi Fields](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/debbi-fields/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Persistence requires moving beyond initial rejection and embracing risk to foster innovation. **In simple terms:** Keep trying despite a first no; be bold. Key Takeaway Embrace risk and keep pushing. Themes risk creativity perseverance innovation failure resilience Mood determined optimistic Type motivational inspirational When to use this quote - startup pitching - creative projects - career advancement - inventor brainstorming Key Concepts entrepreneurship creative problem solving growth mindset Questions to Reflect On - What risks have you avoided due to fear? - How can you test ideas cheaply? A Different Perspective Not every risk leads to success; resources may be limited. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Creativity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/creativity/) [Creativity Patent](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/creativity-patent-2963156/) [Firsts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/firsts/) [Ifs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ifs/) [Office](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/office/) [Patent](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/patent/) [Patent Office](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/patent-office-387064/) [Patents](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/patents/) [Risk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/risk/) [Risk Taker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/risk-taker/) [Rooms](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/rooms/) [Stop Risk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/stop-risk-2963157/) ## Related quotes > [Today the patent office is obsolete. You just take whatever you do, tool up, and start production for six months. At the end of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-laffoley/today-the-patent-office-is-obsolete-you-just-take-whatever-you-do/) [Paul Laffoley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-laffoley/) > [Great minds don't think alike. If they did, the Patent Office would only have about fifty inventions.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scott-adams/great-minds-don-t-think-alike-if-they-did-the-patent-office-would/) [Scott Adams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scott-adams/) > [There is a patent office at the seat of government of the universe, whose managers are as much interested in the dispersion of seeds…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-david-thoreau/there-is-a-patent-office-at-the-seat-of-government-of-the-universe/) [Henry David Thoreau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-david-thoreau/) > [A country without a patent office and good patent laws is just a crab, and can't travel any way but sideways and backways.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-twain/a-country-without-a-patent-office-and-good-patent-laws-is-just-a-crab/) [Mark Twain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-twain/) > [Lincoln said that the Patent Office adds the flame of interest to the light of creativity. And that is why we need to improve…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jay-inslee/lincoln-said-that-the-patent-office-adds-the-flame-of-interest-to-the/) [Jay Inslee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jay-inslee/) > [That reminds me to remark, in passing, that the very first official thing I did, in my administration-and it was on the first day…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-twain/that-reminds-me-to-remark-in-passing-that-the-very-first-official/) [Mark Twain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-twain/) > [When God created man and woman, he did not take a patent. That's why any imbecile has been able to do so ever since.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-bernard-shaw/when-god-created-man-and-woman-he-did-not-take-a-patent-that-s-why/) [George Bernard Shaw](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-bernard-shaw/) > [We have no patent on anything we do and anything we do can be copied by anyone else. But you can't copy the heart…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/howard-schultz/we-have-no-patent-on-anything-we-do-and-anything-we-do-can-be-copied/) [Howard Schultz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/howard-schultz/) > [Now Stan and I were still working in secret at that time but, because of this development, we had to inform the University of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-fleischmann/now-stan-and-i-were-still-working-in-secret-at-that-time-but-because/) [Martin Fleischmann](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-fleischmann/) > [The under-funded and over-extended United States Patent and Trademark Office does not have the resources to adequately evaluate the burgeoning number of applications, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/viet-d-dinh/the-under-funded-and-over-extended-united-states-patent-and-trademark/) [Viet D. Dinh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/viet-d-dinh/) > [Don't fight the patent, fight the infringement.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/drew-curtis/don-t-fight-the-patent-fight-the-infringement/) [Drew Curtis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/drew-curtis/) > [“Working a Patent is not as easy as it sounds”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kalyan-c-kankanala/working-a-patent-is-not-as-easy-as-it-sounds/) [Kalyan C. Kankanala](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kalyan-c-kankanala/) > [Except in very narrow cases, where there's breakthrough science that needs patent production, worrying about competitors is a waste of time. If you can't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-ries/except-in-very-narrow-cases-where-there-s-breakthrough-science-that/) [Eric Ries](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-ries/) > [The idea that I can be presented with a problem, set out to logically solve it with the tools at hand, and wind up…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-carmack/the-idea-that-i-can-be-presented-with-a-problem-set-out-to-logically/) [John Carmack](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-carmack/) > [ Next came the Patent laws. These began in England in 1624; and, in this country, with the adoption of our constitution. Before then \[these?\],… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abraham-lincoln/next-came-the-patent-laws-these-began-in-england-in-1624-and-in-this/) [Abraham Lincoln](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abraham-lincoln/) ## More by Debbi Fields > [What I wanted was to be allowed to do the thing in the world that I did best - which I believed then and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/debbi-fields/what-i-wanted-was-to-be-allowed-to-do-the-thing-in-the-world-that-i/) [Debbi Fields](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/debbi-fields/) > [Don't ever lose sight of your dreams. And, more importantly, reach for the stars.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/debbi-fields/don-t-ever-lose-sight-of-your-dreams-and-more-importantly-reach-for/) [Debbi Fields](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/debbi-fields/) > [Once you find something you love to do, be the best at doing it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/debbi-fields/once-you-find-something-you-love-to-do-be-the-best-at-doing-it/) [Debbi Fields](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/debbi-fields/) > [The important thing is not being afraid to take a chance.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/debbi-fields/the-important-thing-is-not-being-afraid-to-take-a-chance/) [Debbi Fields](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/debbi-fields/) > [Small business in America is what fuels the American economy. We need more small business to assist us in creating a great nation and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/debbi-fields/small-business-in-america-is-what-fuels-the-american-economy-we-need/) [Debbi Fields](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/debbi-fields/) > [I love having fun! Why not?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/debbi-fields/i-love-having-fun-why-not/) [Debbi Fields](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/debbi-fields/) > [And, more importantly, reach for the stars. And realize that it is never too late – not now, not ever – for you to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/debbi-fields/and-more-importantly-reach-for-the-stars-and-realize-that-it-is-never/) [Debbi Fields](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/debbi-fields/) > [Be great at what you do, and don't ever settle for mediocrity or else you will always wonder how great you could have been.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/debbi-fields/be-great-at-what-you-do-and-don-t-ever-settle-for-mediocrity-or-else/) [Debbi Fields](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/debbi-fields/) > [Number one, I absolutely love making chocolate chip cookies. I mean, it's fun. It's exciting. Beyond the fact that I love making them, I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/debbi-fields/number-one-i-absolutely-love-making-chocolate-chip-cookies-i-mean-it/) [Debbi Fields](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/debbi-fields/) > [There are people out there who want to say yes. That gave me confidence to keep asking.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/debbi-fields/there-are-people-out-there-who-want-to-say-yes-that-gave-me/) [Debbi Fields](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/debbi-fields/) > [Good enough never is. Set your standards so high that even the flaws are considered excellent.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/debbi-fields/good-enough-never-is-set-your-standards-so-high-that-even-the-flaws/) [Debbi Fields](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/debbi-fields/) > [Being good enough never is.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/debbi-fields/being-good-enough-never-is/) [Debbi Fields](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/debbi-fields/) > [A cookie store is a bad idea. Besides, the market research reports say America likes crispy cookies, not soft and chewy cookies like you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/debbi-fields/a-cookie-store-is-a-bad-idea-besides-the-market-research-reports-say/) [Debbi Fields](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/debbi-fields/) > [Too many people have a wonderful dream and just talk about it rather than do something about it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/debbi-fields/too-many-people-have-a-wonderful-dream-and-just-talk-about-it-rather/) [Debbi Fields](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/debbi-fields/) > [I get very excited when I wake up in the morning and I am just full of oxygen.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/debbi-fields/i-get-very-excited-when-i-wake-up-in-the-morning-and-i-am-just-full/) [Debbi Fields](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/debbi-fields/) [Explore all 61 Debbi Fields quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/debbi-fields/) ## More Creativity quotes > [The prophet who fails to present a bearable alternative and yet preaches doom is part of the trap that he postulates. Not only does…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/margaret-mead/the-prophet-who-fails-to-present-a-bearable-alternative-and-yet/) [Margaret Mead](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/margaret-mead/) > [That's the great secret of creativity. You treat ideas like cats: you make them follow you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ray-bradbury/that-s-the-great-secret-of-creativity-you-treat-ideas-like-cats-you/) [Ray Bradbury](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ray-bradbury/) > [“The Soviet “creative intelligentsia” - that is, people accustomed to thinking one thing, saying another and doing a third - is as a whole…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrei-amalrik/the-soviet-creative-intelligentsia-that-is-people-accustomed-to/) [Andrei Amalrik](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrei-amalrik/) > [It’s so important to create in your own voice, to hold onto what makes you unique, and have faith in your vision.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-lasseter/it-s-so-important-to-create-in-your-own-voice-to-hold-onto-what-makes/) [John Lasseter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-lasseter/) > [A rock pile ceases to be a rock pile the moment a single man contemplates it, bearing within him the image of a cathedral.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/antoine-de-saint-exup-ry/a-rock-pile-ceases-to-be-a-rock-pile-the-moment-a-single-man/) [Antoine de Saint-Exupery](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/antoine-de-saint-exup-ry/) > [You don't get lucky. You create lucky.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robin-sharma/you-don-t-get-lucky-you-create-lucky/) [Robin Sharma](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robin-sharma/) > [By making conscious choices in our behavior and where we focus our attention, we can transform our experience of our body, decrease our biological…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/deepak-chopra/by-making-conscious-choices-in-our-behavior-and-where-we-focus-our/) [Deepak Chopra](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/deepak-chopra/) > [“You are the end of beauty and creativity one must have created so far.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/m-f-moonzajer/you-are-the-end-of-beauty-and-creativity-one-must-have-created-so-far/) [M.F. Moonzajer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/m-f-moonzajer/) > [Jonah Lehrer is one of the most talented explainers of science that we’ve got. What a pleasure it is to follow his investigation of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joshua-foer/jonah-lehrer-is-one-of-the-most-talented-explainers-of-science-that/) [Joshua Foer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joshua-foer/) > [If you've got creativity, imagination, and intelligence, and you want to be hypnotised, then there's no reason you shouldn't be able to.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/keith-barry/if-you-ve-got-creativity-imagination-and-intelligence-and-you-want-to/) [Keith Barry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/keith-barry/) > [“I believe in magic. As a writer, I create them on blank paper.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sonnia-kemmer/i-believe-in-magic-as-a-writer-i-create-them-on-blank-paper/) [Sonnia Kemmer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sonnia-kemmer/) > [Creativity is like chasing chickens.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christoph-niemann/creativity-is-like-chasing-chickens/) [Christoph Niemann](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christoph-niemann/) > [It is proposed that a form of free dialogue may well be one of the most effective ways of investigating the crisis which faces…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-bohm/it-is-proposed-that-a-form-of-free-dialogue-may-well-be-one-of-the/) [David Bohm](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-bohm/) > [You always hear actors say, 'Theater is my first love,' and it is. It's a time when you really get to do what you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amy-landecker/you-always-hear-actors-say-theater-is-my-first-love-and-it-is-it-s-a/) [Amy Landecker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amy-landecker/) > [Create an environment for people to fail, to learn, and to grow. Their creativity and productivity will increase.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/create-an-environment-for-people-to-fail-to-learn-and-to-grow-their/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) [Browse all 13,625 Creativity quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/creativity/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Don't stop at the first no. You have to be a risk taker. If there weren't room for creativity, the patent office would close down.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Debbi Fields" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/debbi-fields/don-t-stop-at-the-first-no-you-have-to-be-a-risk-taker-if-there-weren/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Creativity" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/debbi-fields/don-t-stop-at-the-first-no-you-have-to-be-a-risk-taker-if-there-weren/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/208/debbi-fields-11206_creativity_don-t-stop-at-the-first-no-you-have-to-b_2732014.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/208/debbi-fields-11206_creativity_don-t-stop-at-the-first-no-you-have-to-b_2732014.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/208/debbi-fields-11206_creativity_don-t-stop-at-the-first-no-you-have-to-b_2732014.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Don't stop at the first no. You have to be a risk taker. If there weren't room for creativity, the patent…” — Debbi Fields", "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": "Debbi Fields", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/debbi-fields/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "Don't stop at the first no....", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/debbi-fields/don-t-stop-at-the-first-no-you-have-to-be-a-risk-taker-if-there-weren/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/debbi-fields/don-t-stop-at-the-first-no-you-have-to-be-a-risk-taker-if-there-weren/#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 } } ] } ```