---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The secret to staying competitive is not…"
description: "\"“The secret to staying competitive is not necessarily in growing your business in the traditional sense, but in using technology to innovate.”\" — Fast ..."
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2e7/fast-company-32982_business_the-secret-to-staying-competitive-is-not_2327783.jpg"
---

#  The secret to staying competitive is not necessarily in…

![“The secret to staying competitive is not necessarily in growing your business in the traditional sense, but in using technology to innovate.” quote by Fast Company](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2e7/fast-company-32982_business_the-secret-to-staying-competitive-is-not_2327783.jpg)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2e7/fast-company-32982_business_the-secret-to-staying-competitive-is-not_2327783.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2e7/fast-company-32982_business_the-secret-to-staying-competitive-is-not_2327783.jpg)

> ““The secret to staying competitive is not necessarily in growing your business in the traditional sense, but in using technology to innovate.””

Fast Company

## About This Quote

This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.

Competitive edge comes from leveraging technology for innovation rather than traditional growth.

**In simple terms:** Use tech to innovate, not just expand.

Key Takeaway

Prioritize tech-driven innovation.

Themes

competition technology innovation

Mood

optimistic strategic

Type

advice business

When to use this quote

- business expansion
- product development
- market positioning
- R&amp;D investment

Key Concepts

Disruptive strategy digital transformation

Questions to Reflect On

- How can firms balance tech adoption with market demand?
- What risks arise from over‑reliance on tech?

A Different Perspective

Innovation can be costly and may outpace market readiness.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Business](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/business/) [Growing business](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/growing-business/) [Innovation](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/innovation/) [Technology](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/technology/)

## Related quotes

> [I've always wanted to have my own business, but not in the traditional sense... I always found that quite off-putting. I just wanted to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pat-mcgrath/i-ve-always-wanted-to-have-my-own-business-but-not-in-the-traditional/)

[Pat McGrath](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pat-mcgrath/)

> [If you put on your business hat, you can't maintain competitiveness by staying at a competitive disadvantage. I mean, you just can't. The odds…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/heather-bresch/if-you-put-on-your-business-hat-you-can-t-maintain-competitiveness-by/)

[Heather Bresch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/heather-bresch/)

> [“Core competence, as it is used by many managers, is a dangerously inward-looking notion. Competitiveness is far more about doing what customers value than…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/clayton-m-christensen/core-competence-as-it-is-used-by-many-managers-is-a-dangerously/)

[Clayton M. Christensen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/clayton-m-christensen/)

> [It's always about staying competitive with myself... Popularity is something that may happen from time to time, and I don't trust it and I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ezra-furman/it-s-always-about-staying-competitive-with-myself-popularity-is/)

[Ezra Furman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ezra-furman/)

> [Continuous productivity manifests itself as an environment where the evolving tools and culture make it possible to innovate more and faster than ever, with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-sinofsky/continuous-productivity-manifests-itself-as-an-environment-where-the/)

[Steven Sinofsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-sinofsky/)

> [“It is as simple as that. Birds fly because they have wings and so when you can’t grow the wings, you can’t be called…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/israelmore-ayivor/it-is-as-simple-as-that-birds-fly-because-they-have-wings-and-so-when/)

[Israelmore Ayivor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/israelmore-ayivor/)

> [“Discussing ideas can potentially increase the kinetic energy of ideas to a point where ideas turn into innovation.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sukant-ratnakar/discussing-ideas-can-potentially-increase-the-kinetic-energy-of-ideas/)

[Sukant Ratnakar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sukant-ratnakar/)

> [If you truly want to innovate, there will be some failures, and this can be difficult for some organizations - especially public companies managing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lynne-doughtie/if-you-truly-want-to-innovate-there-will-be-some-failures-and-this/)

[Lynne Doughtie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lynne-doughtie/)

> [Here's the problem with phones - they are a ready-made diversion from the considerably harder work of growing a business.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-gerber/here-s-the-problem-with-phones-they-are-a-ready-made-diversion-from/)

[Michael Gerber](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-gerber/)

> [I learned from growing a business that it's important to listen to everyone how we can do better.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-braun/i-learned-from-growing-a-business-that-it-s-important-to-listen-to/)

[Mike Braun](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-braun/)

> [“Knowing more people is not important in growing your business. However, more people knowing you is the key to wealth. Be a magnet, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jarod-kintz/knowing-more-people-is-not-important-in-growing-your-business-however/)

[Jarod Kintz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jarod-kintz/)

> [Though it has plenty of competitors, Slack claims to be the 'fastest growing business application in history'.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walt-mossberg/though-it-has-plenty-of-competitors-slack-claims-to-be-the-fastest/)

[Walt Mossberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walt-mossberg/)

> [With every obstacle that has happened to me in my life, my brain immediately says, ‘Where is the hidden blessing?’ In starting a business…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sara-blakely/with-every-obstacle-that-has-happened-to-me-in-my-life-my-brain/)

[Sara Blakely](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sara-blakely/)

> [Madame Walker selected Indianapolis as the headquarters for her growing business more than a century ago in 1910 because of its central location and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/a-lelia-bundles/madame-walker-selected-indianapolis-as-the-headquarters-for-her/)

[A'Lelia Bundles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/a-lelia-bundles/)

> [Growing your own business is great. Watching your ideas come to life, taking care of new customers and watching them become repeat customers, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-gerber/growing-your-own-business-is-great-watching-your-ideas-come-to-life/)

[Michael Gerber](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-gerber/)

## More by Fast Company

> [“If you want to create a scalable business, you have to understand just how crucial it is to build brand equity. The emotional attachment…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fast-company/if-you-want-to-create-a-scalable-business-you-have-to-understand-just/)

Fast Company

> [“The emotional attachment that links customers to your product, as opposed to any other, translates into sustainable growth. Here are some basic rules to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fast-company/the-emotional-attachment-that-links-customers-to-your-product-as/)

Fast Company

> [“The most important element is that you have a great product or service. If you have this, everything else is easy. But here are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fast-company/the-most-important-element-is-that-you-have-a-great-product-or/)

Fast Company

> [“Nothing will teach you more about perceived value than taking something with literally no value and selling it in the auction format. It teaches…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fast-company/nothing-will-teach-you-more-about-perceived-value-than-taking/)

Fast Company

> [“1. TIMING IS EVERYTHING The timing of your product or service must be right in the marketplace. Mackey bit on the organic and natural…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fast-company/1-timing-is-everything-the-timing-of-your-product-or-service-must-be/)

Fast Company

> [“If you want to grow your business without the headache and stress of growing your payroll, first talk to your clients to find out…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fast-company/if-you-want-to-grow-your-business-without-the-headache-and-stress-of/)

Fast Company

> [“When you focus on building value first, you compromise the culture and vision of an organization, losing purpose and meaning.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fast-company/when-you-focus-on-building-value-first-you-compromise-the-culture-and/)

Fast Company

> [“Starbucks considers a product’s success not only in terms of consumer acceptance but also in terms of employee”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fast-company/starbucks-considers-a-product-s-success-not-only-in-terms-of-consumer/)

Fast Company

> [“Managing creative people—not so easy,” she says. “A lot of emotion, a lot of stroking. Some people need tough love. Some people need a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fast-company/managing-creative-people-not-so-easy-she-says-a-lot-of-emotion-a-lot/)

Fast Company

> [“Vision is what pulls at our emotions and creates desire to challenge the status quo.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fast-company/vision-is-what-pulls-at-our-emotions-and-creates-desire-to-challenge/)

Fast Company

> [“Mackey created a repeatable process of selling high-quality natural and organic products in communities with the right appetite for a brand that relies on…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fast-company/mackey-created-a-repeatable-process-of-selling-high-quality-natural/)

Fast Company

> [“When he was just 23, Houston took a four-hour bus ride from Boston to New York, planning to use the time to work on…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fast-company/when-he-was-just-23-houston-took-a-four-hour-bus-ride-from-boston-to/)

Fast Company

> [“I’ve updated the value of what I sell, rather than the quantity.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fast-company/i-ve-updated-the-value-of-what-i-sell-rather-than-the-quantity/)

Fast Company

> [“For many small businesses, growing in size is a distraction. Because I value my free time and wanted balance in my life, I chose…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fast-company/for-many-small-businesses-growing-in-size-is-a-distraction-because-i/)

Fast Company

Explore all 15 Fast Company quotes

## More Business quotes

> [Companies with cultures that celebrate diverse opinions and encourage the exchange of ideas have an advantage when solving difficult problems. A company that doesn't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/doug-mcmillon/companies-with-cultures-that-celebrate-diverse-opinions-and-encourage/)

[Doug McMillon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/doug-mcmillon/)

> [You can laugh at me, but I understand show business.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ksenia-sobchak/you-can-laugh-at-me-but-i-understand-show-business/)

[Ksenia Sobchak](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ksenia-sobchak/)

> [“Start a business, not a startup”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/start-a-business-not-a-startup/)

[Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/)

> [“Take some books and read; that’s an immense help; and books are always good company if you have the right sort.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/louisa-may-alcott/take-some-books-and-read-that-s-an-immense-help-and-books-are-always/)

[Louisa May Alcott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/louisa-may-alcott/)

> [I'm a business first and foremost so whatever my business is, it's separate from my personal. 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": "“The secret to staying competitive is not necessarily in growing your business in the traditional sense, but in using technology to innovate.”",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "Fast Company"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fast-company/the-secret-to-staying-competitive-is-not-necessarily-in-growing-your/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "Business"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fast-company/the-secret-to-staying-competitive-is-not-necessarily-in-growing-your/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2e7/fast-company-32982_business_the-secret-to-staying-competitive-is-not_2327783.jpg",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2e7/fast-company-32982_business_the-secret-to-staying-competitive-is-not_2327783.jpg",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2e7/fast-company-32982_business_the-secret-to-staying-competitive-is-not_2327783.jpg",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“The secret to staying competitive is not necessarily in growing your business in the traditional sense, but…” — Fast Company",
                "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": "Fast Company",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fast-company/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 4,
                    "name": "“The secret to staying competitive is...",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fast-company/the-secret-to-staying-competitive-is-not-necessarily-in-growing-your/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fast-company/the-secret-to-staying-competitive-is-not-necessarily-in-growing-your/#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
            }
        }
    ]
}
```
