Business Quote by Ed Catmull
““When companies are successful, it is natural to assume that this is a result of leaders making shrewd decisions. Those leaders go forward believing that they have figured out the key to building a thriving company. In fact, randomness and luck played a key role in that success.””
About This Quote
Source Interview: Pixar Leadership Talk, 2012
Success often masks the role of chance; leaders attribute outcomes to skill while luck is a hidden factor.
In simple terms: Luck matters more than we think.
Key Takeaway
Acknowledge randomness in achievements.
Themes
leadership
success
luck
decisionmaking
Mood
reflective
analytical
Type
insightful
critical
When to use this quote
- business strategy
- career planning
- investor evaluation
Key Concepts
probability
cognitive bias
serendipity
Questions to Reflect On
- How can you measure luck in your own successes?
- What safeguards protect against overconfidence?
A Different Perspective
Overemphasis on skill can ignore systemic factors.
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![“If the State does not acquire supremacy over [vast private] enterprises, it becomes their puppet, and they become the real State.” quote by Bertrand Russell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/bad/bertrand-russell-69_acquire_if-the-state-does-not-acquire-supremacy_1379.jpg)
