--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: After more than ten years as an…" description: "\"“After more than ten years as an entrepreneur, I came to reject that line of thinking. I have learned from both my own successes and failures and those..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e75/eric-ries-2911_business_after-more-than-ten-years-as-an-entrepre_1556807.png" --- # After more than ten years as an entrepreneur, I came to… ![“After more than ten years as an entrepreneur, I came to reject that line of thinking. I have learned from both my own successes and failures and those of many others that it’s the boring stuff that matters the most. Startup success is not a consequence of good genes or being in the right place at…” quote by Eric Ries](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e75/eric-ries-2911_business_after-more-than-ten-years-as-an-entrepre_1556807.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e75/eric-ries-2911_business_after-more-than-ten-years-as-an-entrepre_1556807.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e75/eric-ries-2911_business_after-more-than-ten-years-as-an-entrepre_1556807.png) > ““After more than ten years as an entrepreneur, I came to reject that line of thinking. I have learned from both my own successes and failures and those of many others that it’s the boring stuff that matters the most. Startup success is not a consequence of good genes or being in the right place at the right time. Startup success can be engineered by following the right process, which means it can be learned, which means it can be taught.”” [Eric Ries](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-ries/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Success stems from disciplined processes, not luck or innate talent; mastering fundamentals beats relying on chance. **In simple terms:** Process beats luck. Key Takeaway Learn and teach the right process. Themes process learning entrepreneurship execution systems Mood determined analytical Type advisory practical When to use this quote - building a startup - product development - team management - scaling operations Key Concepts Lean methodology systems thinking process engineering Questions to Reflect On - How can you embed disciplined processes into daily work? - What habits ensure you focus on fundamentals? A Different Perspective Process alone can't guarantee market fit without customer insight. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Business](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/business/) [Customer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/customer/) [Entrepreneur](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/entrepreneur/) [Entrepreneurship](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/entrepreneurship/) [Failure](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/failure/) [Success](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/success/) ## Related quotes > [“Startup success is not a consequence of good genes or being in the right place at the right time. Startup success can be engineered…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-ries/startup-success-is-not-a-consequence-of-good-genes-or-being-in-the/) [Eric Ries](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-ries/) > [Start-up success is not a consequence of good genes or being in the right place at the right time. Success can be engineered by…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-ries/start-up-success-is-not-a-consequence-of-good-genes-or-being-in-the/) [Eric Ries](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-ries/) > [“Startup success can be engineered by following the right process, which means it can be learned, which means it can be taught.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-ries/startup-success-can-be-engineered-by-following-the-right-process/) [Eric Ries](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-ries/) > [Imagine working 20% smarter instead of 20% longer...Work-life balance and startup success at any stage aren't mutually exclusive. There are enough hours in the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-cummings/imagine-working-20-smarter-instead-of-20-longer-work-life-balance-and/) David Cummings > [Success is the consequence of first having dreams and then acting upon them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-tyler/success-is-the-consequence-of-first-having-dreams-and-then-acting/) [Richard Tyler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-tyler/) > [Success is a consequence and must not be a goal. I've never sought it (though I desire it) and seek it less and less.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gustave-flaubert/success-is-a-consequence-and-must-not-be-a-goal-i-ve-never-sought-it/) [Gustave Flaubert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gustave-flaubert/) > [Success is a consequence and must not be a goal.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gustave-flaubert/success-is-a-consequence-and-must-not-be-a-goal/) [Gustave Flaubert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gustave-flaubert/) > [Startup success is driven most by the product passion, quality, vision, team-work and persistence of the founding team and the talent that the team…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-breyer/startup-success-is-driven-most-by-the-product-passion-quality-vision/) [Jim Breyer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-breyer/) > [If you want to build a startup that has a good chance of succeeding, don't listen to me. Listen to Paul Graham and others…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-arrington/if-you-want-to-build-a-startup-that-has-a-good-chance-of-succeeding/) [Michael Arrington](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-arrington/) > [“It is not enough to be in the right place at the right time. You should also have an open mind at the right…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-erdos/it-is-not-enough-to-be-in-the-right-place-at-the-right-time-you/) [Paul Erdős](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-erdos/) > [Directors didn't know what to do with me in college. I didn't really sound like a belter. I didn't look like a soprano. But…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jessie-mueller/directors-didn-t-know-what-to-do-with-me-in-college-i-didn-t-really/) [Jessie Mueller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jessie-mueller/) > [Right time, the right place The right body, the right face Timber I'm falling in love](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maddie-b/right-time-the-right-place-the-right-body-the-right-face-timber-i-m/) Maddie\_b > [A quotation in the right place at the right time is like water in a desert.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vikrant-parsai/a-quotation-in-the-right-place-at-the-right-time-is-like-water-in-a/) [Vikrant Parsai](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vikrant-parsai/) > [Niall Horan was in the right place at the right time, he's the luckiest guy in the world and he knows that.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/louis-walsh/niall-horan-was-in-the-right-place-at-the-right-time-he-s-the/) [Louis Walsh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/louis-walsh/) > [I do not believe we are all created equal. Physical and emotional differences, parental guidance, varying environments, being in the right place at the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/i-do-not-believe-we-are-all-created-equal-physical-and-emotional/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) ## More by Eric Ries > [The lesson of the MVP is that any additional work beyond what was required to start learning is waste, no matter how important it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-ries/the-lesson-of-the-mvp-is-that-any-additional-work-beyond-what-was/) [Eric Ries](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-ries/) > [HubSpot has used the lean startup method to build a spectacularly successful company. What I particularly love about HubSpot is that they are so…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-ries/hubspot-has-used-the-lean-startup-method-to-build-a-spectacularly/) [Eric Ries](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-ries/) > [By the time that product is ready to be distributed widely, it will already have established customers.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-ries/by-the-time-that-product-is-ready-to-be-distributed-widely-it-will/) [Eric Ries](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-ries/) > [It was 1999, and we were building a way for college kids to create online profiles for the purpose of sharing... with employers. Oops.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-ries/it-was-1999-and-we-were-building-a-way-for-college-kids-to-create/) [Eric Ries](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-ries/) > [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/) > [“waiting too long to release can lead to the ultimate waste: making something that nobody wants.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-ries/waiting-too-long-to-release-can-lead-to-the-ultimate-waste-making/) [Eric Ries](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-ries/) > [There's nothing wrong with raising venture capital. Many lean startups are ambitious and are able to deploy large amounts of capital. What differentiates them…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-ries/there-s-nothing-wrong-with-raising-venture-capital-many-lean-startups/) [Eric Ries](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-ries/) > [“In the Lean Startup model, every product, every feature, every marketing campaign—everything a startup does—is understood to be an experiment designed to achieve validated…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-ries/in-the-lean-startup-model-every-product-every-feature-every-marketing/) [Eric Ries](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-ries/) > [Learning is the essential unit of progress for startups.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-ries/learning-is-the-essential-unit-of-progress-for-startups/) [Eric Ries](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-ries/) > [“...a long-term reputation is only at risk when companies engage in vocal launch activities such as PR and building hype. When a product fails…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-ries/a-long-term-reputation-is-only-at-risk-when-companies-engage-in-vocal/) [Eric Ries](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-ries/) > [The minimum viable product is that version of a new product which allows a team to collect the maximum amount of validated learning about…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-ries/the-minimum-viable-product-is-that-version-of-a-new-product-which/) [Eric Ries](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-ries/) > [Every startup has a chance to change the world, by bringing not just a new product, but an entirely new institution into existence.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-ries/every-startup-has-a-chance-to-change-the-world-by-bringing-not-just-a/) [Eric Ries](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-ries/) > [Entrepreneurs can't forecast accurately, because they are trying something fundamentally new. So they will often be laughably behind plan - and on the brink…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-ries/entrepreneurs-can-t-forecast-accurately-because-they-are-trying/) [Eric Ries](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-ries/) > [Meritocracy is a good thing. Whenever possibly, people should be judged based on their work and results, not superficial qualities.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-ries/meritocracy-is-a-good-thing-whenever-possibly-people-should-be-judged/) [Eric Ries](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-ries/) > [The lean startup method is not about cost, it is about speed.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-ries/the-lean-startup-method-is-not-about-cost-it-is-about-speed/) [Eric Ries](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-ries/) [Explore all 138 Eric Ries quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-ries/) ## 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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It's like whatever I do business wise, it's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/snoop-dogg/i-m-a-business-first-and-foremost-so-whatever-my-business-is-it-s/) [Snoop Dogg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/snoop-dogg/) > [Many early-stage entrepreneurs make one simple mistake: Describing this 'big picture' in vague concepts and words.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sunil-nagaraj/many-early-stage-entrepreneurs-make-one-simple-mistake-describing/) [Sunil Nagaraj](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sunil-nagaraj/) > [Nobody has a crystal ball, and part of evolving a business plan is to say, 'I might have said we're going left, but I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ryan-kavanaugh/nobody-has-a-crystal-ball-and-part-of-evolving-a-business-plan-is-to/) [Ryan Kavanaugh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ryan-kavanaugh/) > [I think a business guy is different from an artist. They walk different paths. Artists create the best outputs when they're having fun. And…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/g-dragon/i-think-a-business-guy-is-different-from-an-artist-they-walk/) [G-Dragon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/g-dragon/) > [ “\[S\]ometimes, when you are a food person, the possible irrelevance of what you are doing doesn’t cross your mind until it’s too late. (Once,… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nora-ephron/s-ometimes-when-you-are-a-food-person-the-possible-irrelevance-of/) [Nora Ephron](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nora-ephron/) > [If you have a different mindset, you will have a different outcome: if you make different choices from your peers, your life will then…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-ma/if-you-have-a-different-mindset-you-will-have-a-different-outcome-if/) [Jack Ma](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-ma/) > [“Some say the Earth is angry Because he wants no company; I say the Earth is angry Because he lives alone.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/n-k-jemisin/some-say-the-earth-is-angry-because-he-wants-no-company-i-say-the/) [N.K. Jemisin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/n-k-jemisin/) > [ If the State does not acquire supremacy over \[vast private\] enterprises, it becomes their puppet, and they become the real State. ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bertrand-russell/if-the-state-does-not-acquire-supremacy-over-vast-private-enterprises/) [Bertrand Russell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bertrand-russell/) > [It's not just that families can't buy a home or start a business without some savings tucked away.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-cooper/it-s-not-just-that-families-can-t-buy-a-home-or-start-a-business/) [Jim Cooper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-cooper/) > [I'm not into business at all.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/freddie-mercury/i-m-not-into-business-at-all/) [Freddie Mercury](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/freddie-mercury/) > [I've long believed one of the mainsprings of our own liberty has been the widespread ownership of property among our people and the expectation…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ronald-reagan/i-ve-long-believed-one-of-the-mainsprings-of-our-own-liberty-has-been/) [Ronald Reagan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ronald-reagan/) [Browse all 39,016 Business quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/business/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“After more than ten years as an entrepreneur, I came to reject that line of thinking. 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