--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Startups alternate between nostalgia for…" description: "\"Startups alternate between nostalgia for the garage and millennial longing for a lucrative exit. But what I always keep in mind is how disconnected and..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7a9/glenn-kelman-6951_entrepreneurship_startups-alternate-between-nostalgia-for_1681291.jpg" --- # Startups alternate between nostalgia for the garage and… ![“Startups alternate between nostalgia for the garage and millennial longing for a lucrative exit. But what I always keep in mind is how disconnected and purposeless I felt before Redfin or my earlier startup, Plumtree. All I ever wanted was to get into a situation where I could win. Everybody has…” quote by Glenn Kelman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7a9/glenn-kelman-6951_entrepreneurship_startups-alternate-between-nostalgia-for_1681291.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7a9/glenn-kelman-6951_entrepreneurship_startups-alternate-between-nostalgia-for_1681291.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7a9/glenn-kelman-6951_entrepreneurship_startups-alternate-between-nostalgia-for_1681291.jpg) > “Startups alternate between nostalgia for the garage and millennial longing for a lucrative exit. But what I always keep in mind is how disconnected and purposeless I felt before Redfin or my earlier startup, Plumtree. All I ever wanted was to get into a situation where I could win. Everybody has that dream.” [Glenn Kelman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/glenn-kelman/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Highlights the tension between nostalgic startup culture and the drive for profitable exits, noting prior aimlessness. **In simple terms:** Startup culture mixes nostalgia with profit goals. Key Takeaway Balance vision with realistic goals. Themes entrepreneurship nostalgia profit motive Mood motivational realistic Type inspirational pragmatic When to use this quote - business planning - career coaching - venture capital pitches - networking events Key Concepts startup culture career motivation risk Questions to Reflect On - What drives your entrepreneurial purpose? - How can nostalgia be leveraged productively? A Different Perspective Nostalgia may cloud objective decision‑making. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Earlier Startup](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/earlier-startup-961550/) [Entrepreneurship](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/entrepreneurship/) [Longing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/longing/) [Mind](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mind/) [Nostalgia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/nostalgia/) [Situation](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/situation/) [Startup](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/startup/) [Startup Plumtree](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/startup-plumtree-961548/) [Startups](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/startups/) [Startups Alternate](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/startups-alternate-961549/) [Win](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/win/) ## Related quotes > [I'm probably most proud of the fact that we are bootstrapped and that we are able to do not just the typical Silicon Valley…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-schaaf/i-m-probably-most-proud-of-the-fact-that-we-are-bootstrapped-and-that/) [Alan Schaaf](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-schaaf/) > [“As you move from job seeker to job creator, you move from wages to wealth.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amit-kalantri/as-you-move-from-job-seeker-to-job-creator-you-move-from-wages-to/) [Amit Kalantri](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amit-kalantri/) > [“Yesterday is a pile of rubble. 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Startups…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/clay-clark/in-the-startup-work-environment-you-get-to-have-a-relationship-with/) [Clay Clark](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/clay-clark/) > [“When the going gets tough, people bail. When the going gets easy, people get lazy. Honest, smart, hard work is the way to get…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richie-norton/when-the-going-gets-tough-people-bail-when-the-going-gets-easy-people/) [Richie Norton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richie-norton/) ## More by Glenn Kelman > [If your values don't alienate anyone, it is just platitude.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/glenn-kelman/if-your-values-don-t-alienate-anyone-it-is-just-platitude/) [Glenn Kelman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/glenn-kelman/) > [Employers are as sensitive to housing costs as their employees, which is why, when we build more houses, we create more jobs.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/glenn-kelman/employers-are-as-sensitive-to-housing-costs-as-their-employees-which/) [Glenn Kelman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/glenn-kelman/) > [When my brother and I were 11, our father designed a 17-foot boat for sailing around the world. 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The reason you have comic strips like 'Dilbert' and sitcoms like 'The Office' is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/glenn-kelman/i-think-the-corporate-world-is-pretty-starved-for-personality-the/) [Glenn Kelman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/glenn-kelman/) > [It's easy to grow 300% in your first year or two, when you're starting with nothing and people first hear about your service. What…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/glenn-kelman/it-s-easy-to-grow-300-in-your-first-year-or-two-when-you-re-starting/) [Glenn Kelman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/glenn-kelman/) > [Most of the tech CEOs I know used to think that moving to the Midwest or the South was beneath us, a good tactic…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/glenn-kelman/most-of-the-tech-ceos-i-know-used-to-think-that-moving-to-the-midwest/) [Glenn Kelman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/glenn-kelman/) > [I really admire the fact that whenever Marc Singer gets a call from someone running late, he says he's running late, too. 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