--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Most companies are busy making their…" description: "\"Most companies are busy making their products worse, not better. Updating is almost always a disaster.\" — Eric Ries" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c42/eric-ries-2911_busy_most-companies-are-busy-making-their-pro_2097959.png" --- # Most companies are busy making their products worse, not… ![“Most companies are busy making their products worse, not better. Updating is almost always a disaster.” quote by Eric Ries](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c42/eric-ries-2911_busy_most-companies-are-busy-making-their-pro_2097959.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c42/eric-ries-2911_busy_most-companies-are-busy-making-their-pro_2097959.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c42/eric-ries-2911_busy_most-companies-are-busy-making-their-pro_2097959.png) > “Most companies are busy making their products worse, not better. Updating is almost always a disaster.” [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. Companies often degrade products through frequent, poorly managed updates, leading to customer dissatisfaction. **In simple terms:** Updates can make products worse. Key Takeaway Prioritize quality over rapid changes. Themes product development quality control customer experience Mood cautious critical Type advice warning When to use this quote - software releases - hardware upgrades - feature rollouts - service updates Key Concepts lean methodology continuous improvement Questions to Reflect On - How can you balance innovation with stability? - What processes ensure updates add value? A Different Perspective Rapid changes may ignore underlying design flaws. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Company](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/company/) [Disaster](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/disaster/) [Updating](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/updating/) ## Related quotes > [And it's very hard to do this stuff too because there are so many effects movies being done, so many companies busy doing this…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dennis-muren/and-it-s-very-hard-to-do-this-stuff-too-because-there-are-so-many/) [Dennis Muren](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dennis-muren/) > [It's not accidental that products get worse over time; it's because companies stop paying attention to them. They stop caring as much about maintaining…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aaron-levie/it-s-not-accidental-that-products-get-worse-over-time-it-s-because/) [Aaron Levie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aaron-levie/) > [You Are A Liar When You Update A Status And Say Your Not On Facebook For Likes And Comment. Then Why Are You Updating?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sabelo-lan-mashabela/you-are-a-liar-when-you-update-a-status-and-say-your-not-on-facebook/) [Sabelo Lan Mashabela](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sabelo-lan-mashabela/) > [I'm not good at updating gear.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/max-cavalera/i-m-not-good-at-updating-gear/) [Max Cavalera](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/max-cavalera/) > [Facebook keep updating but why they dont add a 'dislike' button.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author-name/facebook-keep-updating-but-why-they-dont-add-a-dislike-button/) Author Name > [I'd like to keep updating myself. That's the only way to make life interesting. And because I am a performer, I like to do…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kamal-haasan/i-d-like-to-keep-updating-myself-that-s-the-only-way-to-make-life/) [Kamal Haasan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kamal-haasan/) > [“Ever thought of updating yourself instead of updating your mobile”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/yash-gupta/ever-thought-of-updating-yourself-instead-of-updating-your-mobile/) [Yash Gupta](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/yash-gupta/) > [Why the hell do I have to keep updating my apps on my iPhone all the time and why you don't fix that?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-mccain/why-the-hell-do-i-have-to-keep-updating-my-apps-on-my-iphone-all-the/) [John McCain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-mccain/) > [Is updating his status to let you know his status is not about you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/is-updating-his-status-to-let-you-know-his-status-is-not-about-you/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I will try to keep updating on my Blog. But other than that. I am done here1](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jade/i-will-try-to-keep-updating-on-my-blog-but-other-than-that-i-am-done/) [Jade](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jade/) > [My web site is so fresh. The paint is still wet, but stay tuned, because I have lots of personal things, specifically about what…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-hasselhoff/my-web-site-is-so-fresh-the-paint-is-still-wet-but-stay-tuned-because/) [David Hasselhoff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-hasselhoff/) > [I have the Internet, but the first that happens with it is my machine will crash. I get by when it's operating. What would…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/angus-young/i-have-the-internet-but-the-first-that-happens-with-it-is-my-machine/) [Angus Young](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/angus-young/) > [One of the undervalued contributors to Trump's stunning 2016 victory was the masterful performance Pence had in his debate against Hillary Clinton running mate…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mollie-hemingway/one-of-the-undervalued-contributors-to-trump-s-stunning-2016-victory/) [Mollie Hemingway](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mollie-hemingway/) > [Real people speak in my books about the main events of the age, such as the war, the Chernobyl disaster, and the downfall of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/svetlana-alexievich/real-people-speak-in-my-books-about-the-main-events-of-the-age-such/) [Svetlana Alexievich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/svetlana-alexievich/) > [Public infrastructure around the world is facing unprecedented stress, with hurricanes, cyclones, floods and forest fires all increasing in frequency and intensity. It's easy…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/naomi-klein/public-infrastructure-around-the-world-is-facing-unprecedented-stress/) [Naomi Klein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/naomi-klein/) ## 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 Busy quotes > [Success doesn't have a downside for me. I'm busy, but I've always been busy whatever job I've had. My very first job working in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/victoria-derbyshire/success-doesn-t-have-a-downside-for-me-i-m-busy-but-i-ve-always-been/) Victoria Derbyshire > [I remember till 997th film, but after that I got so busy with multiple projects; I'm not sure which one released as my 1,000th…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brahmanandam/i-remember-till-997th-film-but-after-that-i-got-so-busy-with-multiple/) [Brahmanandam](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brahmanandam/) > [I love to work in football, so for me it's not work. I'm not here first in the morning and last in the evening…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-farke/i-love-to-work-in-football-so-for-me-it-s-not-work-i-m-not-here-first/) [Daniel Farke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-farke/) > [We all have time away from football to get our head down. At the same time it is a very busy schedule.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/reece-james/we-all-have-time-away-from-football-to-get-our-head-down-at-the-same/) [Reece James](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/reece-james/) > [I am on sabbatical as of right now, been too busy to think of about my OWN needs as of late.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-diamond/i-am-on-sabbatical-as-of-right-now-been-too-busy-to-think-of-about-my/) [Jim Diamond](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-diamond/) > [“I don't envy "busy." Busy means having a schedule, not living life. What I really covet is leisure and peace of mind. Those who…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donna-lynn-hope/i-don-t-envy-busy-busy-means-having-a-schedule-not-living-life-what-i/) [Donna Lynn Hope](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donna-lynn-hope/) > [Focus on being productive instead of busy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tim-ferriss/focus-on-being-productive-instead-of-busy/) [Tim Ferriss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tim-ferriss/) > [I do spend a lot of weekends on the road. I have to pace myself. It can be pretty busy, but I'm not out…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gary-sinise/i-do-spend-a-lot-of-weekends-on-the-road-i-have-to-pace-myself-it-can/) [Gary Sinise](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gary-sinise/) > [Our civilization, bequeathed to us by fierce adventurers, eaters of meat and hunters, is so full of hurry and combat, so busy about many…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-joyce/our-civilization-bequeathed-to-us-by-fierce-adventurers-eaters-of/) [James Joyce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-joyce/) > [I have no social life. There is no time for one. Once in a while I may go to dinner with a friend but…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/liz-halliday/i-have-no-social-life-there-is-no-time-for-one-once-in-a-while-i-may/) [Liz Halliday](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/liz-halliday/) > [I like acting too much and it's too, I'm just too busy doing that and I'm too hungry for it, to get behind the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rachel-weisz/i-like-acting-too-much-and-it-s-too-i-m-just-too-busy-doing-that-and/) [Rachel Weisz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rachel-weisz/) > [The hollow horn plays wasted words, proves to warn that he not busy being born is busy dying.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bob-dylan/the-hollow-horn-plays-wasted-words-proves-to-warn-that-he-not-busy/) [Bob Dylan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bob-dylan/) > [Films are tricky because for years you're getting told you're about to make it and you're about to be busy for four or six…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-mills/films-are-tricky-because-for-years-you-re-getting-told-you-re-about/) [Mike Mills](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-mills/) > [Never be too busy for the people you love. Never allow pursuits or possessions to become bigger priorities than your relationships. Love is what…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dave-willis/never-be-too-busy-for-the-people-you-love-never-allow-pursuits-or/) [Dave Willis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dave-willis/) > [“Get busy live'n, or get busy die'n”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/the-shawshank-redemption/get-busy-live-n-or-get-busy-die-n/) The Shawshank Redemption Browse all 3,372 Busy quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Most companies are busy making their products worse, not better. Updating is almost always a disaster.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Eric Ries" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-ries/most-companies-are-busy-making-their-products-worse-not-better/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Busy" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-ries/most-companies-are-busy-making-their-products-worse-not-better/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c42/eric-ries-2911_busy_most-companies-are-busy-making-their-pro_2097959.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c42/eric-ries-2911_busy_most-companies-are-busy-making-their-pro_2097959.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c42/eric-ries-2911_busy_most-companies-are-busy-making-their-pro_2097959.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Most companies are busy making their products worse, not better. Updating is almost always a disaster.” — Eric Ries", "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": "Eric Ries", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-ries/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "Most companies are busy making their...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-ries/most-companies-are-busy-making-their-products-worse-not-better/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-ries/most-companies-are-busy-making-their-products-worse-not-better/#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 } } ] } ```