Amazon Quote by Jeff Bezos
“If everything you do needs to work on a three-year time horizon, then you’re competing against a lot of people, But if you’re willing to invest on a seven-year time horizon, you’re now competing against a fraction of those people, because very few companies are willing to do that. Just by lengthening the time horizon, you can engage in endeavours that you could never otherwise pursue. At Amazon we like things to work in five to seven years. We’re willing to plant seeds, let them grow—and we’re very stubborn. We say we’re stubborn on vision and flexible on details.”
About This Quote
Source Speech: Amazon Annual Shareholder Meeting, 2018
Focusing on longer time horizons allows fewer competitors and enables ambitious, high‑impact projects that short‑term thinking blocks.
In simple terms: Thinking long‑term reduces competition and opens big opportunities.
Key Takeaway
Plan for the long term to outpace rivals.
Themes
vision
patience
competition
Mood
optimistic
strategic
Type
business
motivational
When to use this quote
- startup strategy
- corporate R&D
- personal career planning
- investment decisions
Key Concepts
strategic planning
long‑term investment
innovation
Questions to Reflect On
- What risks do you accept when extending a project’s timeline?
- How can you stay flexible while staying committed to a vision?
A Different Perspective
Long horizons can be riskier and may strain resources if not managed well.
