--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I don't need a $100 million mistake. Try…" description: "\"I don't need a $100 million mistake. Try to make a $5 million mistake if you have to make one.\" — Lee Iacocca" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/953/lee-iacocca-3170_failure_i-don-t-need-a-100-million-mistake-try-t_3138985.png" --- # I don't need a $100 million mistake. Try to make a $5… ![“I don't need a $100 million mistake. Try to make a $5 million mistake if you have to make one.” quote by Lee Iacocca](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/953/lee-iacocca-3170_failure_i-don-t-need-a-100-million-mistake-try-t_3138985.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/953/lee-iacocca-3170_failure_i-don-t-need-a-100-million-mistake-try-t_3138985.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/953/lee-iacocca-3170_failure_i-don-t-need-a-100-million-mistake-try-t_3138985.png) > “I don't need a $100 million mistake. Try to make a $5 million mistake if you have to make one.” [Lee Iacocca](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lee-iacocca/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Advocates taking smaller, manageable risks instead of massive, potentially ruinous ones. **In simple terms:** Prefer smaller mistakes over huge ones. Key Takeaway Embrace calculated, limited risks. Themes risk management learning growth Mood cautious pragmatic Type advisory motivational When to use this quote - entrepreneurship - investment decisions - career moves - personal finance Key Concepts Opportunity cost risk tolerance Questions to Reflect On - What risk can you reduce in size? - How do you evaluate acceptable loss? A Different Perspective Even small mistakes can have outsized consequences if not managed. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Failure](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/failure/) [Ifs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ifs/) [Make Million](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/make-million/) [Million Mistake](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/million-mistake-5584658/) [Millions](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/millions/) [Mistake](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mistake/) [Mistake Make](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mistake-make/) [Mistake Try](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mistake-try-399391/) [Money](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/money/) [Needs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/needs/) [Rich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/rich/) [Trying](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/trying/) ## Related quotes > [If I am not able to execute my plans, then I feel I am not up to the mark and there has been a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jasprit-bumrah/if-i-am-not-able-to-execute-my-plans-then-i-feel-i-am-not-up-to-the/) [Jasprit Bumrah](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jasprit-bumrah/) > [ Maybe I'll just write books. I'd like to make another movie, but I don't want to go back and \[do\] what they want you… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-waters/maybe-i-ll-just-write-books-i-d-like-to-make-another-movie-but-i-don/) [John Waters](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-waters/) > [“Well, I like to know where I'm going before I try to get there. It's a mistake to try to execute a plan before…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/max-barry/well-i-like-to-know-where-i-m-going-before-i-try-to-get-there-it-s-a/) [Max Barry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/max-barry/) > [“You'll never avoid every mistake. All you can do is try to do your best and live with the consequences.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/k-martin-beckner/you-ll-never-avoid-every-mistake-all-you-can-do-is-try-to-do-your/) [K. Martin Beckner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/k-martin-beckner/) > [When you get in situations where you cannot afford to make a mistake, it's very hard to do the right thing. So if you're…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ward-cunningham/when-you-get-in-situations-where-you-cannot-afford-to-make-a-mistake/) [Ward Cunningham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ward-cunningham/) > [When you make a mistake, try not to make that mistake again and keep moving forward. Keep getting better each day.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sony-michel/when-you-make-a-mistake-try-not-to-make-that-mistake-again-and-keep/) [Sony Michel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sony-michel/) > [When you have it, you spend it. The mistake is to try to spend it when you haven't got it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charlie-mccreevy/when-you-have-it-you-spend-it-the-mistake-is-to-try-to-spend-it-when/) [Charlie McCreevy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charlie-mccreevy/) > [Into the flood again, same old trip it was back then, so I made a big mistake, try to see it once my way…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/into-the-flood-again-same-old-trip-it-was-back-then-so-i-made-a-big/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [If you get hurt over and over again, it's not the end. Just realize that you may be making the same mistake and try…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/if-you-get-hurt-over-and-over-again-it-s-not-the-end-just-realize/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Never ever try to make a mistake..try to be perfect](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/melchor-lim/never-ever-try-to-make-a-mistake-try-to-be-perfect/) [Melchor Lim](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/melchor-lim/) > [CNN stands to make a hundred million dollars more than it's expected lift for the election cycle, due to the phenomenon that is Donald…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-folkenflik/cnn-stands-to-make-a-hundred-million-dollars-more-than-it-s-expected/) [David Folkenflik](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-folkenflik/) > [How to make a million dollars: First, get a million dollars](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/how-to-make-a-million-dollars-first-get-a-million-dollars/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [ People think \[baseball players\] make $3 million and $4 million a year. They don't realize that most of us only make $500,000. ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pete-incaviglia/people-think-baseball-players-make-3-million-and-4-million-a-year/) [Pete Incaviglia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pete-incaviglia/) > [I make $7 million per year. I'm not going to be mad at a guy making $10 million. We're still millionaires.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jae-crowder/i-make-7-million-per-year-i-m-not-going-to-be-mad-at-a-guy-making-10/) [Jae Crowder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jae-crowder/) > [Money comes and goes. I may make a million dollars, then get a divorce and damn near lose all of it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rashad-evans/money-comes-and-goes-i-may-make-a-million-dollars-then-get-a-divorce/) [Rashad Evans](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rashad-evans/) ## More by Lee Iacocca > [The right decision is the wrong decision if it's made too late.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lee-iacocca/the-right-decision-is-the-wrong-decision-if-it-s-made-too-late/) [Lee Iacocca](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lee-iacocca/) > [“Apply yourself. Get all the education you can, but then...do something. Don't just stand there, make it happen.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lee-iacocca/apply-yourself-get-all-the-education-you-can-but-then-do-something/) [Lee Iacocca](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lee-iacocca/) > [The ability to concentrate and to use time well is everything.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lee-iacocca/the-ability-to-concentrate-and-to-use-time-well-is-everything/) [Lee Iacocca](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lee-iacocca/) > [There are times in everyone's life when something constructive is born out of adversity... when things seem so bad that you've got to grab…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lee-iacocca/there-are-times-in-everyone-s-life-when-something-constructive-is/) [Lee Iacocca](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lee-iacocca/) > [In a completely rational society, the best of us would be teachers and the rest of us would have to settle for something else.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lee-iacocca/in-a-completely-rational-society-the-best-of-us-would-be-teachers-and/) [Lee Iacocca](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lee-iacocca/) > [It was emotional when Chrysler sold out to the Germans.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lee-iacocca/it-was-emotional-when-chrysler-sold-out-to-the-germans/) [Lee Iacocca](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lee-iacocca/) > [We are continually faced by great opportunities brilliantly disguised as insoluble problems.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lee-iacocca/we-are-continually-faced-by-great-opportunities-brilliantly-disguised/) [Lee Iacocca](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lee-iacocca/) > [The greatest discovery of my generation is that human beings can alter their lives by altering their attitudes of mind.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lee-iacocca/the-greatest-discovery-of-my-generation-is-that-human-beings-can/) [Lee Iacocca](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lee-iacocca/) > [No matter what you've done for yourself or for humanity, if you can't look back on having given love and attention to your own…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lee-iacocca/no-matter-what-you-ve-done-for-yourself-or-for-humanity-if-you-can-t/) [Lee Iacocca](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lee-iacocca/) > [Be creative. Use unconventional thinking. And have the guts to carry it out.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lee-iacocca/be-creative-use-unconventional-thinking-and-have-the-guts-to-carry-it/) [Lee Iacocca](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lee-iacocca/) > [ They're on you day and night. Their oversight is just too extreme \[. . .\] That's why our 10-year loan, we paid it back… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lee-iacocca/they-re-on-you-day-and-night-their-oversight-is-just-too-extreme-that/) [Lee Iacocca](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lee-iacocca/) > [I hire people brighter than me and then I get out of their way.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lee-iacocca/i-hire-people-brighter-than-me-and-then-i-get-out-of-their-way/) [Lee Iacocca](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lee-iacocca/) > [I have found that being honest is the best technique I can use. Right up front, tell people what you're trying to accomplish and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lee-iacocca/i-have-found-that-being-honest-is-the-best-technique-i-can-use-right/) [Lee Iacocca](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lee-iacocca/) > [Your legacy should be that you made it better than it was when you got it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lee-iacocca/your-legacy-should-be-that-you-made-it-better-than-it-was-when-you/) [Lee Iacocca](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lee-iacocca/) > [Never rest on your oars as a boss. If you do, the whole company starts sinking.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lee-iacocca/never-rest-on-your-oars-as-a-boss-if-you-do-the-whole-company-starts/) [Lee Iacocca](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lee-iacocca/) [Explore all 138 Lee Iacocca quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lee-iacocca/) ## More Failure quotes > [When you do things they're absolutely right at that time for you and it can always teach you something about yourself. You can take…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kym-marsh/when-you-do-things-they-re-absolutely-right-at-that-time-for-you-and/) [Kym Marsh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kym-marsh/) > [Failures happen. You can't cry over them. You just take it in your stride because you know that you have done your best... Sometimes,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/divya-dutta/failures-happen-you-can-t-cry-over-them-you-just-take-it-in-your/) [Divya Dutta](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/divya-dutta/) > [No one is completely unhappy at the failure of his best friend.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/groucho-marx/no-one-is-completely-unhappy-at-the-failure-of-his-best-friend/) [Groucho Marx](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/groucho-marx/) > [“Rhiannon's Law #28: If you're going to fuck up, be sure to fuck up good and proper. Nothing makes failure acceptable, so you might…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/rhiannon-s-law-28-if-you-re-going-to-fuck-up-be-sure-to-fuck-up-good/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Failure is a part of life and you have to learn to deal with it. Failure is something that is part of life's cycle…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/colin-powell/failure-is-a-part-of-life-and-you-have-to-learn-to-deal-with-it/) [Colin Powell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/colin-powell/) > [If my child had prejudice in his head, I'd be ashamed. I would see it as my failure as a parent.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/salman-rushdie/if-my-child-had-prejudice-in-his-head-i-d-be-ashamed-i-would-see-it/) [Salman Rushdie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/salman-rushdie/) > [First action was a mistake. What about the second? third? fourth and fifth?...Mehn you are bad...](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/first-action-was-a-mistake-what-about-the-second-third-fourth-and/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [God's love never fail :)](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/god-s-love-never-fail/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Don’t you just hate nights like that, when you think over every mistake you’ve made, every hurt you’ve received, every bit of meanness you’ve…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charlaine-harris/don-t-you-just-hate-nights-like-that-when-you-think-over-every/) [Charlaine Harris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charlaine-harris/) > [“Our failure to understand another being's inner reality doesn't make that reality any less real, or any less valuable to that being. (p.255)”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kathryn-schulz/our-failure-to-understand-another-being-s-inner-reality-doesn-t-make/) [Kathryn Schulz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kathryn-schulz/) > [I hope that the Palestinians don't make the mistake of unleashing a new intifada. They've tried it twice before, and the consequences were bad…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-segev/i-hope-that-the-palestinians-don-t-make-the-mistake-of-unleashing-a/) [Tom Segev](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-segev/) > [Don't take too much comfort in the fact that you're successful today because tomorrow could bring failure. There's no surety in life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-savage/don-t-take-too-much-comfort-in-the-fact-that-you-re-successful-today/) [Michael Savage](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-savage/) > [“It took me years to learn to sit at my desk for more than two minutes at a time, to put up with the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erica-jong/it-took-me-years-to-learn-to-sit-at-my-desk-for-more-than-two-minutes/) [Erica Jong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erica-jong/) > [failure in the theater is more public, more brilliant, more unreal than in any other field.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lillian-hellman/failure-in-the-theater-is-more-public-more-brilliant-more-unreal-than/) [Lillian Hellman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lillian-hellman/) > [As we are coming to the end of the year, I want you to forget about the past, the failure, the negative thoughts or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/as-we-are-coming-to-the-end-of-the-year-i-want-you-to-forget-about/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) [Browse all 27,498 Failure quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/failure/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "I don't need a $100 million mistake. Try to make a $5 million mistake if you have to make one.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Lee Iacocca" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lee-iacocca/i-don-t-need-a-100-million-mistake-try-to-make-a-5-million-mistake-if/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Failure" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lee-iacocca/i-don-t-need-a-100-million-mistake-try-to-make-a-5-million-mistake-if/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/953/lee-iacocca-3170_failure_i-don-t-need-a-100-million-mistake-try-t_3138985.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/953/lee-iacocca-3170_failure_i-don-t-need-a-100-million-mistake-try-t_3138985.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/953/lee-iacocca-3170_failure_i-don-t-need-a-100-million-mistake-try-t_3138985.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“I don't need a $100 million mistake. Try to make a $5 million mistake if you have to make one.” — Lee Iacocca", "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": "Lee Iacocca", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lee-iacocca/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "I don't need a $100 million...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lee-iacocca/i-don-t-need-a-100-million-mistake-try-to-make-a-5-million-mistake-if/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lee-iacocca/i-don-t-need-a-100-million-mistake-try-to-make-a-5-million-mistake-if/#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 } } ] } ```