--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I've really thought a lot about why other…" description: "\"I've really thought a lot about why other companies fail or succeed. I had to be a student of failure and find out why things went off the rails. I did..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/677/edwin-catmull-5340_business_i-ve-really-thought-a-lot-about-why-othe_1019194.jpg" --- # I've really thought a lot about why other companies fail… ![“I've really thought a lot about why other companies fail or succeed. I had to be a student of failure and find out why things went off the rails. I did that at a fairly deep level, and it's still something I do.” quote by Edwin Catmull](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/677/edwin-catmull-5340_business_i-ve-really-thought-a-lot-about-why-othe_1019194.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/677/edwin-catmull-5340_business_i-ve-really-thought-a-lot-about-why-othe_1019194.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/677/edwin-catmull-5340_business_i-ve-really-thought-a-lot-about-why-othe_1019194.jpg) > “I've really thought a lot about why other companies fail or succeed. I had to be a student of failure and find out why things went off the rails. I did that at a fairly deep level, and it's still something I do.” [Edwin Catmull](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edwin-catmull/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Studying failures deeply reveals patterns that can guide future success. **In simple terms:** Learn from mistakes. Key Takeaway Analyze failures to improve. Themes learning innovation leadership Mood analytical optimistic Type educational motivational When to use this quote - product development - startup pivots - process redesign - team retrospectives Key Concepts systems thinking risk management continuous improvement Questions to Reflect On - What recent failure can you dissect? - How do you apply lessons without repeating mistakes? A Different Perspective Over‑analysis can stall action; balance needed. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Business](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/business/) [Failure](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/failure/) [Success](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/success/) ## Related quotes > [“Most people will never start a business because nine out of ten companies fail. 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It's called life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-cranch-bond/when-you-fail-to-succeed-the-first-time-keep-trying-it-s-called-life/) [William Cranch Bond](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-cranch-bond/) > [“Life is an experiment in which you may fail or succeed. Explore more, expect least.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/santosh-kalwar/life-is-an-experiment-in-which-you-may-fail-or-succeed-explore-more/) [Santosh Kalwar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/santosh-kalwar/) > [My great concern for you in life is not that you will fail, but that you will succeed in doing the wrong things.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/howard-g-hendricks/my-great-concern-for-you-in-life-is-not-that-you-will-fail-but-that/) [Howard G. Hendricks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/howard-g-hendricks/) > [Most start-up companies fail and it is smart public policy to help entrepreneurs increase their odds of succeeding. 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It just comes from where it comes from.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edwin-catmull/creativity-doesn-t-follow-titles-it-just-comes-from-where-it-comes/) [Edwin Catmull](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edwin-catmull/) > [We'll fund a project even if I'm skeptical because I'd rather be proven wrong by somebody on the inside than by somebody on the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edwin-catmull/we-ll-fund-a-project-even-if-i-m-skeptical-because-i-d-rather-be/) [Edwin Catmull](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edwin-catmull/) > [I actually feel awkward being at the center of attention.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edwin-catmull/i-actually-feel-awkward-being-at-the-center-of-attention/) [Edwin Catmull](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edwin-catmull/) > [We have a whole industry which is gigantic: games. Games is very successful. 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In the early 1990s, we were known as the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edwin-catmull/when-it-comes-to-producing-breakthroughs-both-technological-and/) [Edwin Catmull](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edwin-catmull/) [Explore all 101 Edwin Catmull quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edwin-catmull/) ## More Business quotes > [Companies with cultures that celebrate diverse opinions and encourage the exchange of ideas have an advantage when solving difficult problems. 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