--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Don't protect your past. Don't protect…" description: "\"Don't protect your past. Don't protect your products.\" — Ginni Rometty" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c49/ginni-rometty-4640_past_don-t-protect-your-past-don-t-protect-yo_1947119.png" --- # Don't protect your past. Don't protect your products. ![“Don't protect your past. Don't protect your products.” quote by Ginni Rometty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c49/ginni-rometty-4640_past_don-t-protect-your-past-don-t-protect-yo_1947119.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c49/ginni-rometty-4640_past_don-t-protect-your-past-don-t-protect-yo_1947119.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c49/ginni-rometty-4640_past_don-t-protect-your-past-don-t-protect-yo_1947119.png) > “Don't protect your past. Don't protect your products.” [Ginni Rometty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ginni-rometty/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Letting go of past successes and outdated products frees innovation and growth. **In simple terms:** Release old baggage to move forward. Key Takeaway Embrace change, discard legacy constraints. Themes innovation growth change Mood determined forward‑looking Type strategic motivational When to use this quote - startup pivots - product redesign - career transitions - market disruption Key Concepts legacy product development organizational culture Questions to Reflect On - What past habit holds you back? - How can you refresh your offerings? A Different Perspective New ideas may still be tied to old mindsets, limiting impact. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Don Protect](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/don-protect-3136788/) [Past](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/past/) [Products](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/products/) [Protect](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/protect/) [Protect Past](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/protect-past-770870/) [Protect Products](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/protect-products-3136787/) [Time](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/time/) [Your](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/your/) ## Related quotes > [You don't have to protect these people, Cassel." I am these people.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/holly-black/you-don-t-have-to-protect-these-people-cassel-i-am-these-people/) [Holly Black](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/holly-black/) > [As I say to our own team: 'Never protect your past, never define yourself by a single product, and always continue to steward for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ginni-rometty/as-i-say-to-our-own-team-never-protect-your-past-never-define/) [Ginni Rometty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ginni-rometty/) > [“Getting to the future is always held up by those trying to protect the past.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ziad-k-abdelnour/getting-to-the-future-is-always-held-up-by-those-trying-to-protect/) [Ziad K. Abdelnour](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ziad-k-abdelnour/) > [Many people, companies, and organizations are trying to protect the past at any cost. We see this regularly in business as the incumbent vs.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brad-feld/many-people-companies-and-organizations-are-trying-to-protect-the/) [Brad Feld](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brad-feld/) > [“We protect the past. And the way I see it, that means we need to understand it.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/victoria-schwab/we-protect-the-past-and-the-way-i-see-it-that-means-we-need-to/) [Victoria Schwab](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/victoria-schwab/) > [“I’d spent years saving for a future that was never coming to protect myself from a past that had already happened.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/geneen-roth/i-d-spent-years-saving-for-a-future-that-was-never-coming-to-protect/) [Geneen Roth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/geneen-roth/) > ['To all of those young brave soldiers who have sacrificed their lives to protect us all in the past,...](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/latisha/to-all-of-those-young-brave-soldiers-who-have-sacrificed-their-lives/) [Latisha](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/latisha/) > [The tattoo is the mark of the soul, it can act as a window we can see in or it can be our shield…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/the-tattoo-is-the-mark-of-the-soul-it-can-act-as-a-window-we-can-see/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [When we think we have been hurt by someone in the past, we build up defenses to protect ourselves from being hurt in the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/when-we-think-we-have-been-hurt-by-someone-in-the-past-we-build-up/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [To protect our country's economic future and the health and well being of all Americans, we must find a way to rein in out-of-control…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-bennet/to-protect-our-country-s-economic-future-and-the-health-and-well/) [Michael Bennet](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-bennet/) > [This is true; virtually all edible substances, and many automotive products, are now marketed as being low-fat or fat-free. Americans are obsessed with fat…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dave-barry/this-is-true-virtually-all-edible-substances-and-many-automotive/) [Dave Barry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dave-barry/) > [Subsequent to the original Quicken, the whole idea that we, as a consumer products company, could actually make business products, that was a whole…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/subsequent-to-the-original-quicken-the-whole-idea-that-we-as-a/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [The reason that Apple is able to create products like iPad is because we always try to be at the intersection of technology and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-jobs/the-reason-that-apple-is-able-to-create-products-like-ipad-is-because/) [Steve Jobs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-jobs/) > [Plenty of white space and generous line spacing,and don't make the type size too miserly. Then you will be assured of a product fit…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/giambattista-bodoni/plenty-of-white-space-and-generous-line-spacing-and-don-t-make-the/) [Giambattista Bodoni](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/giambattista-bodoni/) > [“She kneeled down, opened the wine fridge, and scanned the shelves, filled with a variety of white wines. Sam began to pull each bottle…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/viola-shipman/she-kneeled-down-opened-the-wine-fridge-and-scanned-the-shelves/) [Viola Shipman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/viola-shipman/) ## More by Ginni Rometty > [I make time to exercise. It's not being indulgent. I think it's got a lot to do with your ability to manage properly and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ginni-rometty/i-make-time-to-exercise-it-s-not-being-indulgent-i-think-it-s-got-a/) [Ginni Rometty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ginni-rometty/) > [You need to have a great support around you, people that empathise, understand and yet support, because these CEO jobs are all-consuming.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ginni-rometty/you-need-to-have-a-great-support-around-you-people-that-empathise/) [Ginni Rometty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ginni-rometty/) > [I was always surrounded by people that wanted to mentor you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ginni-rometty/i-was-always-surrounded-by-people-that-wanted-to-mentor-you/) [Ginni Rometty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ginni-rometty/) > [Never love something so much that you can't let go of it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ginni-rometty/never-love-something-so-much-that-you-can-t-let-go-of-it/) [Ginni Rometty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ginni-rometty/) > [It will not be a world of man versus machine. It will be a world of man plus machines.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ginni-rometty/it-will-not-be-a-world-of-man-versus-machine-it-will-be-a-world-of/) [Ginni Rometty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ginni-rometty/) > [Clients say, 'What's your strategy,' and I say, 'Ask me what I believe first.' That's a far more enduring answer.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ginni-rometty/clients-say-what-s-your-strategy-and-i-say-ask-me-what-i-believe/) [Ginni Rometty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ginni-rometty/) > [I'm the ninth CEO of IBM. Every one of my predecessors has steered through a technological shift, and every one left the company in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ginni-rometty/i-m-the-ninth-ceo-of-ibm-every-one-of-my-predecessors-has-steered/) [Ginni Rometty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ginni-rometty/) > [Every part of your business will change based on what I consider predictive analytics of the future.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ginni-rometty/every-part-of-your-business-will-change-based-on-what-i-consider/) [Ginni Rometty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ginni-rometty/) > [If you ask me, 'So what is your business model?' Our business model's always about shifting to higher value opportunities.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ginni-rometty/if-you-ask-me-so-what-is-your-business-model-our-business-model-s/) [Ginni Rometty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ginni-rometty/) > [And so when I moved to IBM, I moved because I thought I could apply technology. I didn't actually have to do my engineer…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ginni-rometty/and-so-when-i-moved-to-ibm-i-moved-because-i-thought-i-could-apply/) [Ginni Rometty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ginni-rometty/) > [You can engineer change.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ginni-rometty/you-can-engineer-change/) [Ginni Rometty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ginni-rometty/) > [This century, the 21st century, will be the Indian century - and I really believe that.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ginni-rometty/this-century-the-21st-century-will-be-the-indian-century-and-i-really/) [Ginni Rometty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ginni-rometty/) > [So what it means is when you don't believe in the inevitable, it means you don't expect that that's how things have to turn…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ginni-rometty/so-what-it-means-is-when-you-don-t-believe-in-the-inevitable-it-means/) [Ginni Rometty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ginni-rometty/) > [Growth and comfort do not coexist.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ginni-rometty/growth-and-comfort-do-not-coexist/) [Ginni Rometty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ginni-rometty/) > [Artificial intelligence is one of 50 things that Watson does. There is also machine learning, text-to-speech, speech-to-text, and different analytical engines - they're like…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ginni-rometty/artificial-intelligence-is-one-of-50-things-that-watson-does-there-is/) [Ginni Rometty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ginni-rometty/) [Explore all 108 Ginni Rometty quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ginni-rometty/) ## More Past quotes > [Because after you've crossed some lines, you just keep crossing them. And there's no escaping from constant escape. Distracting ourselves. Avoiding confrontation. Getting past…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chuck-palahniuk/because-after-you-ve-crossed-some-lines-you-just-keep-crossing-them/) [Chuck Palahniuk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chuck-palahniuk/) > [You can think about it, wonder what went wrong, over analyze the situation but the fact remains... it's the past, just let it go.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rashida-rowe/you-can-think-about-it-wonder-what-went-wrong-over-analyze-the/) [Rashida Rowe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rashida-rowe/) > [The Iranian people have a proud past. They merit a great future.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/condoleezza-rice/the-iranian-people-have-a-proud-past-they-merit-a-great-future/) [Condoleezza Rice](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/condoleezza-rice/) > [I used to fight with hate. There's been a lot of aggression in my past growing up and stuff. That's because I was hurt…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rose-namajunas/i-used-to-fight-with-hate-there-s-been-a-lot-of-aggression-in-my-past/) [Rose Namajunas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rose-namajunas/) > [In the past 40 years, the United States lost more than a million farmers and ranchers. Many of our farmers are aging. Today, only…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-vilsack/in-the-past-40-years-the-united-states-lost-more-than-a-million/) [Tom Vilsack](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-vilsack/) > [Nostalgia keeps dissolving the ironic narratives in which I have contained my past.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mason-cooley/nostalgia-keeps-dissolving-the-ironic-narratives-in-which-i-have/) [Mason Cooley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mason-cooley/) > [Above Coblentz almost every mountain has a ruin and a legend. One feels everywhere the spirit of the past, and its stirring recollections come…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bayard-taylor/above-coblentz-almost-every-mountain-has-a-ruin-and-a-legend-one/) [Bayard Taylor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bayard-taylor/) > [Time is painted with a lock before, and bald behind, signifying thereby that we must take time by the forelock; for, when it is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-swift/time-is-painted-with-a-lock-before-and-bald-behind-signifying-thereby/) [Jonathan Swift](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-swift/) > [I am attracted to looking at the different things language can mean even in one sometimes quite ordinary utterance. Writing is partly about listening…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rae-armantrout/i-am-attracted-to-looking-at-the-different-things-language-can-mean/) [Rae Armantrout](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rae-armantrout/) > [Right before the pandemic, 'Past Lives' came across to me as something to read and possibly put myself on tape for.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-faist/right-before-the-pandemic-past-lives-came-across-to-me-as-something/) [Mike Faist](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-faist/) > [I nibbled my lower lip. "If you could see into my past just by touching my back, you'd have a hard time resisting the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/becca-fitzpatrick/i-nibbled-my-lower-lip-if-you-could-see-into-my-past-just-by-touching/) [Becca Fitzpatrick](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/becca-fitzpatrick/) > [Liberalism is the philosophy for our time, because it does not try to conserve every tradition of the past, because it does not apply…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pierre-trudeau/liberalism-is-the-philosophy-for-our-time-because-it-does-not-try-to/) [Pierre Trudeau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pierre-trudeau/) > [I have a way to photograph. You work with space, you have a camera, you have a frame, and then a fraction of a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sebastiao-salgado/i-have-a-way-to-photograph-you-work-with-space-you-have-a-camera-you/) [Sebastiao Salgado](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sebastiao-salgado/) > [At no time in the past century has public distrust of the government been so broadly distributed across the political spectrum, as it is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/phil-zimmermann/at-no-time-in-the-past-century-has-public-distrust-of-the-government/) [Phil Zimmermann](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/phil-zimmermann/) > [Voting Labour in the past hasn't protected Scotland against Tory governments.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nicola-sturgeon/voting-labour-in-the-past-hasn-t-protected-scotland-against-tory/) [Nicola Sturgeon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nicola-sturgeon/) [Browse all 19,844 Past quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/past/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Don't protect your past. Don't protect your products.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Ginni Rometty" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ginni-rometty/don-t-protect-your-past-don-t-protect-your-products/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Past" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ginni-rometty/don-t-protect-your-past-don-t-protect-your-products/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c49/ginni-rometty-4640_past_don-t-protect-your-past-don-t-protect-yo_1947119.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c49/ginni-rometty-4640_past_don-t-protect-your-past-don-t-protect-yo_1947119.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c49/ginni-rometty-4640_past_don-t-protect-your-past-don-t-protect-yo_1947119.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Don't protect your past. Don't protect your products.” — Ginni Rometty", "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": "Ginni Rometty", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ginni-rometty/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "Don't protect your past. Don't protect...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ginni-rometty/don-t-protect-your-past-don-t-protect-your-products/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ginni-rometty/don-t-protect-your-past-don-t-protect-your-products/#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 } } ] } ```