--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: It was the first follower that…" description: "\"It was the first follower that transformed the lone nut into a leader.\" — Derek Sivers" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fab/derek-sivers-9939_firsts_it-was-the-first-follower-that-transform_2550584.png" --- # It was the first follower that transformed the lone nut… ![“It was the first follower that transformed the lone nut into a leader.” quote by Derek Sivers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fab/derek-sivers-9939_firsts_it-was-the-first-follower-that-transform_2550584.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fab/derek-sivers-9939_firsts_it-was-the-first-follower-that-transform_2550584.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fab/derek-sivers-9939_firsts_it-was-the-first-follower-that-transform_2550584.png) > “It was the first follower that transformed the lone nut into a leader.” [Derek Sivers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/derek-sivers/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. A single early supporter can turn an isolated individual into a recognized leader. **In simple terms:** Early support creates leadership. Key Takeaway Cultivate early allies. Themes leadership community influence Mood inspirational reflective Type advice storytelling When to use this quote - startup founding - team building - social movements Key Concepts social dynamics network effects Questions to Reflect On - Who can you support today to amplify impact? - What qualities make a follower effective? A Different Perspective Without genuine commitment, the follower may be a fluke. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Firsts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/firsts/) [Follower](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/follower/) [Follower Transformed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/follower-transformed-1517187/) [Followers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/followers/) [Leader](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/leader/) [Leadership](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/leadership/) [Lone](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/lone/) [Lone Nut](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/lone-nut-1517189/) [Nut Leader](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/nut-leader-1517190/) [Nuts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/nuts/) [Transformed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/transformed/) [Transformed Lone](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/transformed-lone-1517188/) ## Related quotes > [“the first follower is what transforms the lone nut into a leader.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/guy-kawasaki/the-first-follower-is-what-transforms-the-lone-nut-into-a-leader/) [Guy Kawasaki](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/guy-kawasaki/) > [The first follower is actually an underestimated form of leadership in itself. … The first follower is what transforms a lone nut into a leader.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/derek-sivers/the-first-follower-is-actually-an-underestimated-form-of-leadership/) [Derek Sivers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/derek-sivers/) > [If you really care about starting a movement, have the courage to follow and show others how to follow. And when you find a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/derek-sivers/if-you-really-care-about-starting-a-movement-have-the-courage-to/) [Derek Sivers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/derek-sivers/) > [I have implicit faith in Sun Yat-sen, not because I am his blind follower, but because he really arouses the deepest respect in everybody.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chiang-kai-shek/i-have-implicit-faith-in-sun-yat-sen-not-because-i-am-his-blind/) [Chiang Kai-shek](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chiang-kai-shek/) > [I'm just a follower.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sia/i-m-just-a-follower/) [Sia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sia/) > [Learn How To Be Leader Not A Follower Because Being A Follower Sometimes Lead You Into Something Good Or Bad...So Be Independent Not Dependent](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/out-spoken/learn-how-to-be-leader-not-a-follower-because-being-a-follower/) [Out Spoken](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/out-spoken/) > [“Katika maisha, kila mtu ni kiongozi na ni mfuasi pia kutegemeana na hali. Kiongozi hatakiwi kuwa na kiburi, wala hatakiwi kuwa na roho yenye…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/enock-maregesi/katika-maisha-kila-mtu-ni-kiongozi-na-ni-mfuasi-pia-kutegemeana-na/) [Enock Maregesi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/enock-maregesi/) > [I'm a strong follower of hydrotherapy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alice-ripley/i-m-a-strong-follower-of-hydrotherapy/) [Alice Ripley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alice-ripley/) > [Innovation distinguishes between a leader and a follower.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/innovation-distinguishes-between-a-leader-and-a-follower/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“Do not Speak for Anyone. Just let them know their Right to Speak.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vineet-raj-kapoor/do-not-speak-for-anyone-just-let-them-know-their-right-to-speak/) [Vineet Raj Kapoor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vineet-raj-kapoor/) > [Try not to be like everyone else because then youll just be a follower. Go out of your way to be different! Different means…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/try-not-to-be-like-everyone-else-because-then-youll-just-be-a/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I've always been a rule-follower. Even when I was a kid, I tried to do everything by the book.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-curtis-chapman/i-ve-always-been-a-rule-follower-even-when-i-was-a-kid-i-tried-to-do/) [Steven Curtis Chapman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-curtis-chapman/) > [Growing up, I never was a big follower of the Dodgers.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andre-ethier/growing-up-i-never-was-a-big-follower-of-the-dodgers/) [Andre Ethier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andre-ethier/) > [It is better to be nothing than a follower of other painters. The wise man has said when one follows another one is always…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-baptiste-camille-corot/it-is-better-to-be-nothing-than-a-follower-of-other-painters-the-wise/) [Jean-Baptiste Camille Corot](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-baptiste-camille-corot/) > [“I am neither a philosopher nor a thinker, but simply follower of my own thoughts.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/m-f-moonzajer/i-am-neither-a-philosopher-nor-a-thinker-but-simply-follower-of-my/) [M.F. Moonzajer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/m-f-moonzajer/) ## More by Derek Sivers > [It's only a little difficult to say no. You've got to believe that the work you're doing is ultimately more useful to the world.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/derek-sivers/it-s-only-a-little-difficult-to-say-no-you-ve-got-to-believe-that-the/) [Derek Sivers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/derek-sivers/) > [Whatever excites you, go do it. Whatever drains you, stop doing it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/derek-sivers/whatever-excites-you-go-do-it-whatever-drains-you-stop-doing-it/) [Derek Sivers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/derek-sivers/) > [“Never forget that absolutely everything you do is for your customers. Make every decision—even decisions about whether to expand the business, raise money, or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/derek-sivers/never-forget-that-absolutely-everything-you-do-is-for-your-customers/) [Derek Sivers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/derek-sivers/) > [Let’s never forget that whatever brilliant ideas you have or hear, that the opposite may also be true.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/derek-sivers/let-s-never-forget-that-whatever-brilliant-ideas-you-have-or-hear/) [Derek Sivers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/derek-sivers/) > [Making a company is a great way to improve the world while improving yourself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/derek-sivers/making-a-company-is-a-great-way-to-improve-the-world-while-improving/) [Derek Sivers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/derek-sivers/) > [I love that sometimes we need to go to the opposite side of the world to realize assumptions that we didn't even know we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/derek-sivers/i-love-that-sometimes-we-need-to-go-to-the-opposite-side-of-the-world/) [Derek Sivers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/derek-sivers/) > [I realized why I need to start a new company. Not for the money. Not because I'm 'bored'. But because a company is a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/derek-sivers/i-realized-why-i-need-to-start-a-new-company-not-for-the-money-not/) [Derek Sivers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/derek-sivers/) > [The first follower is actually an underestimated form of leadership in itself. … The first follower is what transforms a lone nut into a leader.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/derek-sivers/the-first-follower-is-actually-an-underestimated-form-of-leadership/) [Derek Sivers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/derek-sivers/) > [Pay close attention to when you're being the real you & when you're trying to impress an invisible jury.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/derek-sivers/pay-close-attention-to-when-you-re-being-the-real-you-when-you-re/) [Derek Sivers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/derek-sivers/) > [Five years after I started CD Baby, when it was a big success, the media said I had revolutionized the music business. But 'revolution'…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/derek-sivers/five-years-after-i-started-cd-baby-when-it-was-a-big-success-the/) [Derek Sivers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/derek-sivers/) > [Every time you're making a choice, one choice is the safe/comfortable choice - and one choice is the risky/uncomfortable choice. the risky/uncomfortable choice is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/derek-sivers/every-time-you-re-making-a-choice-one-choice-is-the-safe-comfortable/) [Derek Sivers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/derek-sivers/) > [Business is not about money. It's about making dreams come true for others and for yourself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/derek-sivers/business-is-not-about-money-it-s-about-making-dreams-come-true-for/) [Derek Sivers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/derek-sivers/) > [Everyone who became great at something has a similar story: For years, they worked on their craft every day, even if they weren’t in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/derek-sivers/everyone-who-became-great-at-something-has-a-similar-story-for-years/) [Derek Sivers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/derek-sivers/) > [Don't be on your deathbed someday, having squandered your one chance at life, full of regret because you pursued little distractions instead of big…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/derek-sivers/don-t-be-on-your-deathbed-someday-having-squandered-your-one-chance/) [Derek Sivers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/derek-sivers/) > [Make every decision—even decisions about whether to expand the business, raise money, or promote someone—according to what's best for your customers.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/derek-sivers/make-every-decision-even-decisions-about-whether-to-expand-the/) [Derek Sivers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/derek-sivers/) [Explore all 69 Derek Sivers quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/derek-sivers/) ## More Firsts quotes > [I always say there are two things to be successful. The first is decide exactly what you want - set your goals - and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-tracy/i-always-say-there-are-two-things-to-be-successful-the-first-is/) [Brian Tracy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-tracy/) > [My first ever job after college was as a flight attendant. I wanted to travel and could not afford it, so I decided to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jacqueline-winspear/my-first-ever-job-after-college-was-as-a-flight-attendant-i-wanted-to/) [Jacqueline Winspear](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jacqueline-winspear/) > [Since I worked with Danny Boyle before on Slumdog Millionaire, we have great success and everything. So, when I first got the script and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/a-r-rahman/since-i-worked-with-danny-boyle-before-on-slumdog-millionaire-we-have/) [A. R. 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Maybe it's his first time around.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-simon/a-man-walks-down-the-street-it-s-a-street-in-a-strange-world-maybe-it/) [Paul Simon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-simon/) > [I did not know that the planning for biological and chemical warfare was so widespread in England, and even in France before France fell.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nicholson-baker/i-did-not-know-that-the-planning-for-biological-and-chemical-warfare/) [Nicholson Baker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nicholson-baker/) > [The biggest change for me as a mom was realizing I needed to put someone else before me. Now the hardest part about the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kim-alexis/the-biggest-change-for-me-as-a-mom-was-realizing-i-needed-to-put/) [Kim Alexis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kim-alexis/) > [When I first started, my message was about joy, but I didn't really have the vocabulary and life experience to fully deliver it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jason-mraz/when-i-first-started-my-message-was-about-joy-but-i-didn-t-really/) [Jason Mraz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jason-mraz/) > [I'm very used to working with first time actors - you can just look back at 'E.T.' with Drew Barrymore, and Christian Bale from…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-spielberg/i-m-very-used-to-working-with-first-time-actors-you-can-just-look/) [Steven Spielberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-spielberg/) > [I have lifted my plane . . . for perhaps a thousand flights and I have never felt her wheels glide from the Earth…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/beryl-markham/i-have-lifted-my-plane-for-perhaps-a-thousand-flights-and-i-have/) [Beryl Markham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/beryl-markham/) > [We need a system that serves our needs, not the needs of others. Remember, under a Trump administration it's called America first. Remember that.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donald-trump/we-need-a-system-that-serves-our-needs-not-the-needs-of-others/) [Donald Trump](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donald-trump/) > [The U.S.-Mexican border es un herida abierta where the Third World grates against the first and bleeds. And before a scab forms it hemorrhages…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gloria-e-anzald-a/the-u-s-mexican-border-es-un-herida-abierta-where-the-third-world/) [Gloria E. Anzaldúa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gloria-e-anzald-a/) > [Meanwhile someone is shining my head to get it dry to attach my top-hat to my head with toupee tape. I get into microphone…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tituss-burgess/meanwhile-someone-is-shining-my-head-to-get-it-dry-to-attach-my-top/) [Tituss Burgess](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tituss-burgess/) > [Peace is the first thing the angels sang. Peace is the mark of the children of God. 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