--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: All great companies have passed through…" description: "\"“All great companies have passed through bad years that forced soul-searching and rethinking of priorities. How we deal with them will be the litmus te..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/eea/howard-schultz-1317_bad-years_all-great-companies-have-passed-through_2326459.png" --- # All great companies have passed through bad years that… ![“All great companies have passed through bad years that forced soul-searching and rethinking of priorities. How we deal with them will be the litmus test.” quote by Howard Schultz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/eea/howard-schultz-1317_bad-years_all-great-companies-have-passed-through_2326459.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/eea/howard-schultz-1317_bad-years_all-great-companies-have-passed-through_2326459.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/eea/howard-schultz-1317_bad-years_all-great-companies-have-passed-through_2326459.png) > ““All great companies have passed through bad years that forced soul-searching and rethinking of priorities. How we deal with them will be the litmus test.”” [Howard Schultz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/howard-schultz/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Companies grow stronger after crises by reflecting and realigning goals. **In simple terms:** Crises force companies to rethink priorities. Key Takeaway Embrace hardship to improve strategy. Themes resilience leadership strategy Mood determined optimistic Type motivational business When to use this quote - corporate turnaround - personal development - team building Key Concepts organizational learning priorities crisis management Questions to Reflect On - How can you turn setbacks into strategic advantage? - What priorities need reevaluation after a crisis? A Different Perspective Bad years can also cause irreversible damage if not addressed. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Bad years](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/bad-years/) [Business](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/business/) ## Related quotes > [While liberals appeared to be safely in power, feminists could perhaps afford the luxury of defining Larry Flynt or Roman Polanski as Enemy Number…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ellen-willis/while-liberals-appeared-to-be-safely-in-power-feminists-could-perhaps/) [Ellen Willis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ellen-willis/) > [“And just as he done for thriteen years, he forced his mind to ignore the hurt”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-sherwood/and-just-as-he-done-for-thriteen-years-he-forced-his-mind-to-ignore/) [Ben Sherwood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ben-sherwood/) > [Great companies are defined by their discipline and their understanding of who they are and who they are not.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/howard-schultz/great-companies-are-defined-by-their-discipline-and-their/) [Howard Schultz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/howard-schultz/) > [“The origins of great companies inevitably start with the ideas and enterprise of great men.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-scott/the-origins-of-great-companies-inevitably-start-with-the-ideas-and/) [Bill Scott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-scott/) > [Companies are bought for their revenue, customer base, technology, or people. A few great companies offer all of these, but any valuable business offers…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/margaret-heffernan/companies-are-bought-for-their-revenue-customer-base-technology-or/) [Margaret Heffernan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/margaret-heffernan/) > [The more entrepreneurs in the world that are getting their ideas financed, the more great companies there are going to be that we can…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fred-wilson/the-more-entrepreneurs-in-the-world-that-are-getting-their-ideas/) [Fred Wilson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fred-wilson/) > [Don't plant your bad days. They grow into weeks. The weeks grow into months. Before you know it, you got yourself a bad year.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-waits/don-t-plant-your-bad-days-they-grow-into-weeks-the-weeks-grow-into/) [Tom Waits](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-waits/) > [I liked working with Republicans. We had five pretty good years after we had that bad year in '95 that culminated in two government…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-j-clinton/i-liked-working-with-republicans-we-had-five-pretty-good-years-after/) [William J. Clinton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-j-clinton/) > [So many businesses get worried about looking like they might make a mistake, they become afraid to take any risk. Companies are set up…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-zuckerberg/so-many-businesses-get-worried-about-looking-like-they-might-make-a-2/) [Mark Zuckerberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-zuckerberg/) > [I had good years when I took steroids, and I had bad years when I took steroids. But no matter what, I shouldn't have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-mcgwire/i-had-good-years-when-i-took-steroids-and-i-had-bad-years-when-i-took/) [Mark McGwire](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-mcgwire/) > [For me, there's a bad year of getting started on something. You write bad stuff and it's awkward to throw it out, and you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/whit-stillman/for-me-there-s-a-bad-year-of-getting-started-on-something-you-write/) [Whit Stillman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/whit-stillman/) > [Great players have bad years.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joey-votto/great-players-have-bad-years/) [Joey Votto](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joey-votto/) > [Martina and I went through a very bad five years. Everything's very good between us now, but it was a long haul.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/billie-jean-king/martina-and-i-went-through-a-very-bad-five-years-everything-s-very/) [Billie Jean King](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/billie-jean-king/) > [You have good games, you have bad games. You have good years, you have bad years. I have always been kind of philosophical about…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-nash/you-have-good-games-you-have-bad-games-you-have-good-years-you-have/) [Steve Nash](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-nash/) > [You flip the switch. Flip the switch and go into work mode. You're a professional, so be a professional. You can take care of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donald-faison/you-flip-the-switch-flip-the-switch-and-go-into-work-mode-you-re-a/) [Donald Faison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donald-faison/) ## More by Howard Schultz > [For Starbucks, there will be no shortage of the highest-quality arabica beans. I suspect that for some others there could potentially be a problem,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/howard-schultz/for-starbucks-there-will-be-no-shortage-of-the-highest-quality/) [Howard Schultz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/howard-schultz/) > [If it Captures Your Imagination, it will captivate others.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/howard-schultz/if-it-captures-your-imagination-it-will-captivate-others/) [Howard Schultz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/howard-schultz/) > [If you look at coffee, tea, food and juice, we think there are inherent opportunities. If you look at health bars or grab-and-go products…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/howard-schultz/if-you-look-at-coffee-tea-food-and-juice-we-think-there-are-inherent/) [Howard Schultz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/howard-schultz/) > [The success of the Starbucks has been based on this balance between profitability and a social conscience. Everywhere we're doing business, were trying to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/howard-schultz/the-success-of-the-starbucks-has-been-based-on-this-balance-between/) [Howard Schultz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/howard-schultz/) > [Companies should not have a singular view of profitability. There needs to be a balance between commerce and social responsibility... The companies that are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/howard-schultz/companies-should-not-have-a-singular-view-of-profitability-there/) [Howard Schultz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/howard-schultz/) > [Success is best when its shared](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/howard-schultz/success-is-best-when-its-shared/) [Howard Schultz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/howard-schultz/) > [While their service is ending, our responsibility is just beginning!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/howard-schultz/while-their-service-is-ending-our-responsibility-is-just-beginning/) [Howard Schultz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/howard-schultz/) > [“Living in the same city as Microsoft, I’m only too aware that, even in low-technology businesses like coffee, the Next Big Thing could knock…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/howard-schultz/living-in-the-same-city-as-microsoft-i-m-only-too-aware-that-even-in/) [Howard Schultz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/howard-schultz/) > [We have a big opportunity in China. We think the number of stores here can rival the number in North America.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/howard-schultz/we-have-a-big-opportunity-in-china-we-think-the-number-of-stores-here/) [Howard Schultz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/howard-schultz/) > [Starbucks is not an advertiser; people think we are a great marketing company, but in fact we spend very little money on marketing and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/howard-schultz/starbucks-is-not-an-advertiser-people-think-we-are-a-great-marketing/) [Howard Schultz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/howard-schultz/) > [We woke up one day, and all the sudden Starbucks was in the middle of this political crossfire between the people who want to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/howard-schultz/we-woke-up-one-day-and-all-the-sudden-starbucks-was-in-the-middle-of/) [Howard Schultz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/howard-schultz/) > [I'm in a different position than most CEO's. I'm a founder. I'm not a hired CEO. Now, I can be fired by the board,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/howard-schultz/i-m-in-a-different-position-than-most-ceo-s-i-m-a-founder-i-m-not-a/) [Howard Schultz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/howard-schultz/) > [Profitability is a shallow goal if it doesn't have a real purpose, and the purpose has to be share the profits with others.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/howard-schultz/profitability-is-a-shallow-goal-if-it-doesn-t-have-a-real-purpose-and/) [Howard Schultz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/howard-schultz/) > [And with the right mentor, don't be afraid to expose your vulnerabilities. Admit you don't know what you don't know. When you acknowledge your…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/howard-schultz/and-with-the-right-mentor-don-t-be-afraid-to-expose-your/) [Howard Schultz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/howard-schultz/) > [People in Washington need to put their feet in the shoes of working Americans.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/howard-schultz/people-in-washington-need-to-put-their-feet-in-the-shoes-of-working/) [Howard Schultz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/howard-schultz/) [Explore all 252 Howard Schultz quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/howard-schultz/) ## More Bad years quotes > [Great players have bad years.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joey-votto/great-players-have-bad-years/) [Joey Votto](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joey-votto/) > [Don't plant your bad days. They grow into weeks. The weeks grow into months. Before you know it, you got yourself a bad year.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-waits/don-t-plant-your-bad-days-they-grow-into-weeks-the-weeks-grow-into/) [Tom Waits](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-waits/) > [You have good games, you have bad games. You have good years, you have bad years. I have always been kind of philosophical about…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-nash/you-have-good-games-you-have-bad-games-you-have-good-years-you-have/) [Steve Nash](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-nash/) > [Martina and I went through a very bad five years. Everything's very good between us now, but it was a long haul.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/billie-jean-king/martina-and-i-went-through-a-very-bad-five-years-everything-s-very/) [Billie Jean King](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/billie-jean-king/) > [You flip the switch. Flip the switch and go into work mode. You're a professional, so be a professional. You can take care of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donald-faison/you-flip-the-switch-flip-the-switch-and-go-into-work-mode-you-re-a/) [Donald Faison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donald-faison/) > [For me, there's a bad year of getting started on something. You write bad stuff and it's awkward to throw it out, and you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/whit-stillman/for-me-there-s-a-bad-year-of-getting-started-on-something-you-write/) [Whit Stillman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/whit-stillman/) > [I had good years when I took steroids, and I had bad years when I took steroids. But no matter what, I shouldn't have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-mcgwire/i-had-good-years-when-i-took-steroids-and-i-had-bad-years-when-i-took/) [Mark McGwire](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-mcgwire/) > [So many businesses get worried about looking like they might make a mistake, they become afraid to take any risk. Companies are set up…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-zuckerberg/so-many-businesses-get-worried-about-looking-like-they-might-make-a-2/) [Mark Zuckerberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-zuckerberg/) > [I liked working with Republicans. We had five pretty good years after we had that bad year in '95 that culminated in two government…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-j-clinton/i-liked-working-with-republicans-we-had-five-pretty-good-years-after/) [William J. Clinton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-j-clinton/) > [ I've had few dull moments \[in my life\] and not too many sad and defeated ones. In saying this I am by no means… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/buster-keaton/i-ve-had-few-dull-moments-in-my-life-and-not-too-many-sad-and/) [Buster Keaton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/buster-keaton/) > [The Republicans have a habit of having three bad years and one good one, and the good one always happens to be election years.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/will-rogers/the-republicans-have-a-habit-of-having-three-bad-years-and-one-good/) [Will Rogers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/will-rogers/) > [Jessica Simpson attended boyfriend Tony Romo's football game. The Cowboys quarterback had the worst game of his career. It's a bad year for the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chelsea-handler/jessica-simpson-attended-boyfriend-tony-romo-s-football-game-the/) [Chelsea Handler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chelsea-handler/) > [I'm just into having fun, because I went through some bad years that really depressed me and made me angry.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sean-young/i-m-just-into-having-fun-because-i-went-through-some-bad-years-that/) [Sean Young](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sean-young/) > [I was a bit of a hothead. But I've changed my ways now. My bad years were probably from 2009 to 2014.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-hus/i-was-a-bit-of-a-hothead-but-i-ve-changed-my-ways-now-my-bad-years/) [J Hus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-hus/) > [One bad day could turn into a bad year if you're not careful. Or, a bad rest of your life if you're not careful.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donald-faison/one-bad-day-could-turn-into-a-bad-year-if-you-re-not-careful-or-a-bad/) [Donald Faison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donald-faison/) [Browse all 22 Bad years quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/bad-years/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“All great companies have passed through bad years that forced soul-searching and rethinking of priorities. 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