---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: You don't have to start from scratch to…"
description: "\"You don't have to start from scratch to do something interesting. You don't have to start from scratch to have a massive impact on the world. You have ..."
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0e4/jack-dorsey-10448_convince_you-don-t-have-to-start-from-scratch-to_1896816.png"
---

#  You don't have to start from scratch to do something…

![“You don't have to start from scratch to do something interesting. You don't have to start from scratch to have a massive impact on the world. You have to have a good idea. You have to convince other people of those good ideas. And you have to push as quickly as possible.” quote by Jack Dorsey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0e4/jack-dorsey-10448_convince_you-don-t-have-to-start-from-scratch-to_1896816.png)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0e4/jack-dorsey-10448_convince_you-don-t-have-to-start-from-scratch-to_1896816.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0e4/jack-dorsey-10448_convince_you-don-t-have-to-start-from-scratch-to_1896816.png)

> “You don't have to start from scratch to do something interesting. You don't have to start from scratch to have a massive impact on the world. You have to have a good idea. You have to convince other people of those good ideas. And you have to push as quickly as possible.”

[Jack Dorsey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-dorsey/)

## About This Quote

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

Impactful ideas arise from building on existing work, persuading others, and moving quickly, not necessarily starting from scratch.

**In simple terms:** Great ideas build on existing work and need fast execution.

Key Takeaway

Focus on idea development and rapid execution.

Themes

innovation collaboration speed

Mood

motivational strategic

Type

business inspirational

When to use this quote

- startup launch
- product development
- team alignment

Key Concepts

entrepreneurship idea generation

Questions to Reflect On

- How can you balance speed with thoroughness?
- What strategies ensure ideas are well‑validated?

A Different Perspective

Rapid execution can sacrifice depth or quality.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Good ideas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/good-ideas/) [Ideas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ideas/) [Impact](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/impact/) [Impact on the world](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/impact-on-the-world/) [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) [World](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/world/)

## Related quotes

> [For actors, the idea is that you convince people you're someone you're not.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-bateman/for-actors-the-idea-is-that-you-convince-people-you-re-someone-you-re/)

[Tom Bateman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-bateman/)

> [To hold an idea and convince ourselves we arrived at it rationally, we go in search of evidence to support our view.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-greene/to-hold-an-idea-and-convince-ourselves-we-arrived-at-it-rationally-we/)

[Robert Greene](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-greene/)

> [I think to try to make new music and new ideas, you have to push the boundaries of existing music.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ludwig-goransson/i-think-to-try-to-make-new-music-and-new-ideas-you-have-to-push-the/)

[Ludwig Goransson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ludwig-goransson/)

> [Don't listen to the prevailing majority points of view. If you have new ideas, push them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leroy-hood/don-t-listen-to-the-prevailing-majority-points-of-view-if-you-have/)

[Leroy Hood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leroy-hood/)

> [You don't have to start from scratch to have a massive impact on the world.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-dorsey/you-don-t-have-to-start-from-scratch-to-have-a-massive-impact-on-the/)

[Jack Dorsey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-dorsey/)

> [Many times when you're a tourist you can just stay on the surface and not really experience the place you're visiting, which will probably…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/diego-luna/many-times-when-you-re-a-tourist-you-can-just-stay-on-the-surface-and/)

[Diego Luna](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/diego-luna/)

> [Your impact on the world is significant whether or not you are aware of it, and even whether or not you desire it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gary-zukav/your-impact-on-the-world-is-significant-whether-or-not-you-are-aware/)

[Gary Zukav](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gary-zukav/)

> [Any kind of food you eat is going to have an impact on the world. If you switch to tofu and get off meat,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-pollan/any-kind-of-food-you-eat-is-going-to-have-an-impact-on-the-world-if/)

[Michael Pollan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-pollan/)

> [My motivation for all my companies has been to be involved in something that I thought would have a significant impact on the world.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elon-musk/my-motivation-for-all-my-companies-has-been-to-be-involved-in/)

[Elon Musk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elon-musk/)

> [I tend to think having an impact on the world is a lot more complicated than government.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-gordon-levitt/i-tend-to-think-having-an-impact-on-the-world-is-a-lot-more/)

[Joseph Gordon-Levitt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-gordon-levitt/)

> [If you want to change the world, start with yourself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mahatma-gandhi/if-you-want-to-change-the-world-start-with-yourself/)

[Mahatma Gandhi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mahatma-gandhi/)

> [If you want to change the world, help the women.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nelson-mandela/if-you-want-to-change-the-world-help-the-women/)

[Nelson Mandela](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nelson-mandela/)

> [If you want to have world peace - peace in your family, peace in your town and peace in your own bedroom - you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christiane-northrup/if-you-want-to-have-world-peace-peace-in-your-family-peace-in-your/)

[Christiane Northrup](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christiane-northrup/)

> [If you want to change the world, make something beautiful.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charlie-peacock/if-you-want-to-change-the-world-make-something-beautiful/)

[Charlie Peacock](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charlie-peacock/)

> [We can learn that reward comes in creation and re-creation, no just in the consumption of the world around us. Active participation in the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tim-brown/we-can-learn-that-reward-comes-in-creation-and-re-creation-no-just-in/)

[Tim Brown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tim-brown/)

## More by Jack Dorsey

> [My mom cares that I tweeted a picture of my breakfast. She's knows I'm eating and I'm safe.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-dorsey/my-mom-cares-that-i-tweeted-a-picture-of-my-breakfast-she-s-knows-i-m/)

[Jack Dorsey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-dorsey/)

> [I was fascinated with jeans, because you can impress your life upon the jeans you wear. The way you sit imprints on the jeans.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-dorsey/i-was-fascinated-with-jeans-because-you-can-impress-your-life-upon/)

[Jack Dorsey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-dorsey/)

> [Great companies don't just have one founding moment. They have many founding moments.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-dorsey/great-companies-don-t-just-have-one-founding-moment-they-have-many/)

[Jack Dorsey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-dorsey/)

> [Twitter was around communication and visualizing what was happening in the world in real-time. Square was allowing everyone to accept the form of payment…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-dorsey/twitter-was-around-communication-and-visualizing-what-was-happening/)

[Jack Dorsey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-dorsey/)

> [Pick a movement, pick a revolution and join it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-dorsey/pick-a-movement-pick-a-revolution-and-join-it/)

[Jack Dorsey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-dorsey/)

> [Build what you want to see in the world.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-dorsey/build-what-you-want-to-see-in-the-world/)

[Jack Dorsey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-dorsey/)

> [I loved couriers. You had this transfer of physical information happening throughout the city and the world. Someone picking up the package, putting it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-dorsey/i-loved-couriers-you-had-this-transfer-of-physical-information/)

[Jack Dorsey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-dorsey/)

> [I said a long time ago that Foursquare can make cities better. You have these augmented realities like Foursquare and Twitter and Facebook that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-dorsey/i-said-a-long-time-ago-that-foursquare-can-make-cities-better-you/)

[Jack Dorsey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-dorsey/)

> [I fell in love with flora of all types, especially ferns. Loved the sparse structure and repetition of shape - almost fractal.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-dorsey/i-fell-in-love-with-flora-of-all-types-especially-ferns-loved-the/)

[Jack Dorsey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-dorsey/)

> [I think Twitter is the future of communications and Square will be the payment network.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-dorsey/i-think-twitter-is-the-future-of-communications-and-square-will-be/)

[Jack Dorsey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-dorsey/)

> [The idea of Twitter started with me working in dispatch since I was 15 years old, where taxi cabs or firetrucks would broadcast where…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-dorsey/the-idea-of-twitter-started-with-me-working-in-dispatch-since-i-was/)

[Jack Dorsey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-dorsey/)

> [Constraints inspire us in how we approach the press, how we approach business relationships, how we do everything.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-dorsey/constraints-inspire-us-in-how-we-approach-the-press-how-we-approach/)

[Jack Dorsey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-dorsey/)

> [A number of people in the United States, almost everyone, is using plastic cards to pay for things, but it's extremely difficult to accept…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-dorsey/a-number-of-people-in-the-united-states-almost-everyone-is-using/)

[Jack Dorsey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-dorsey/)

> [The first complaint we hear from everyone is: 'Why would I want to join this stupid useless thing and know what my brother's eating…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-dorsey/the-first-complaint-we-hear-from-everyone-is-why-would-i-want-to-join/)

[Jack Dorsey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-dorsey/)

> [I spend 90% of my time with people who don't report to me, which also allows for serendipity, since I'm walking around the office…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-dorsey/i-spend-90-of-my-time-with-people-who-don-t-report-to-me-which-also/)

[Jack Dorsey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-dorsey/)

[Explore all 65 Jack Dorsey quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-dorsey/)

## More Convince quotes

> [“Sometimes we want something to be true so badly that we convince ourselves that it is true.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wally-lamb/sometimes-we-want-something-to-be-true-so-badly-that-we-convince/)

[Wally Lamb](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wally-lamb/)

> [The privilege of prayer to me is one of the most cherished possessions, because faith and experience alike convince me that God himself sees…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wilfred-grenfell/the-privilege-of-prayer-to-me-is-one-of-the-most-cherished/)

[Wilfred Grenfell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wilfred-grenfell/)

> [Jesus never met a disease he could not cure, a birth defect he could not reverse, a demon he could not exorcise. But he…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philip-yancey/jesus-never-met-a-disease-he-could-not-cure-a-birth-defect-he-could/)

[Philip Yancey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philip-yancey/)

> [The first duty of a wise advocate is to convince his opponents that he understands their arguments, and sympathies with their just feelings.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-taylor-coleridge/the-first-duty-of-a-wise-advocate-is-to-convince-his-opponents-that/)

[Samuel Taylor Coleridge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-taylor-coleridge/)

> [Once you convince people that they're victims, you really own them because you've just told them that whatever problems they have in life, it's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rush-limbaugh/once-you-convince-people-that-they-re-victims-you-really-own-them/)

[Rush Limbaugh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rush-limbaugh/)

> [The people on the QVC shopping channel convince me that life is worth living. They see the good in everything. People who go to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johnny-vegas/the-people-on-the-qvc-shopping-channel-convince-me-that-life-is-worth/)

[Johnny Vegas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johnny-vegas/)

> [“What can I say to convince you the Houses of Parliament dissolve night after night to become the fluid dream of the Thames? I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lisel-mueller/what-can-i-say-to-convince-you-the-houses-of-parliament-dissolve/)

[Lisel Mueller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lisel-mueller/)

> [Human beings have the incredible capacity for denial. I think they do. And although it's really hard to believe, I have my doubts. But…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-byrne/human-beings-have-the-incredible-capacity-for-denial-i-think-they-do/)

[David Byrne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-byrne/)

> [“If you can convince yourself, you can convince the other fellow,”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tim-sanders/if-you-can-convince-yourself-you-can-convince-the-other-fellow/)

[Tim Sanders](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tim-sanders/)

> [Don't lie to yourself about what you can't or can achieve. Convince yourself on a realistic level that you can do it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/don-t-lie-to-yourself-about-what-you-can-t-or-can-achieve-convince/)

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

> [“Don't ever let anyone convince you that your imagination is wrong.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/giuseppe-bianco/don-t-ever-let-anyone-convince-you-that-your-imagination-is-wrong/)

[Giuseppe Bianco](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/giuseppe-bianco/)

> [It's hard to convince your agents and managers to do theater, because it's not as financially rewarding and it takes up a lot of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/simon-helberg/it-s-hard-to-convince-your-agents-and-managers-to-do-theater-because/)

[Simon Helberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/simon-helberg/)

> [I guess that is the strange part of the human brain that people have studied for eons - is hatred and self-hatred. You can…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/trevor-noah/i-guess-that-is-the-strange-part-of-the-human-brain-that-people-have/)

[Trevor Noah](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/trevor-noah/)

> [I knew I shouldn't like him cause I know it's not working, and everybody tells me that, and I convince myself I don't... and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bernajoy-vaal/i-knew-i-shouldn-t-like-him-cause-i-know-it-s-not-working-and/)

[Bernajoy Vaal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bernajoy-vaal/)

> [The statesmen will invent cheap lies, putting the blame upon the nation that is attacked, and every man will be glad of those conscience-soothing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-twain/the-statesmen-will-invent-cheap-lies-putting-the-blame-upon-the/)

[Mark Twain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-twain/)

Browse all 1,431 Convince quotes

```json
{
    "@context": "https://schema.org",
    "@graph": [
        {
            "@type": "Quotation",
            "text": "You don't have to start from scratch to do something interesting. You don't have to start from scratch to have a massive impact on the world. You have to have a good idea. You have to convince other people of those good ideas. And you have to push as quickly as possible.",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "Jack Dorsey"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-dorsey/you-don-t-have-to-start-from-scratch-to-do-something-interesting-you/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "Convince"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-dorsey/you-don-t-have-to-start-from-scratch-to-do-something-interesting-you/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0e4/jack-dorsey-10448_convince_you-don-t-have-to-start-from-scratch-to_1896816.png",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0e4/jack-dorsey-10448_convince_you-don-t-have-to-start-from-scratch-to_1896816.png",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0e4/jack-dorsey-10448_convince_you-don-t-have-to-start-from-scratch-to_1896816.png",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“You don't have to start from scratch to do something interesting. You don't have to start from scratch to…” — Jack Dorsey",
                "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": "Jack Dorsey",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-dorsey/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 4,
                    "name": "You don't have to start from...",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-dorsey/you-don-t-have-to-start-from-scratch-to-do-something-interesting-you/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-dorsey/you-don-t-have-to-start-from-scratch-to-do-something-interesting-you/#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
            }
        }
    ]
}
```
