---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Once you start thinking more about where…"
description: "\"Once you start thinking more about where you want to be than about making the best product, you're screwed.\" — Linus Torvalds"
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/87a/linus-torvalds-1512_best_once-you-start-thinking-more-about-where_351173.jpg"
---

#  Once you start thinking more about where you want to be…

![“Once you start thinking more about where you want to be than about making the best product, you're screwed.” quote by Linus Torvalds](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/87a/linus-torvalds-1512_best_once-you-start-thinking-more-about-where_351173.jpg)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/87a/linus-torvalds-1512_best_once-you-start-thinking-more-about-where_351173.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/87a/linus-torvalds-1512_best_once-you-start-thinking-more-about-where_351173.jpg)

> “Once you start thinking more about where you want to be than about making the best product, you're screwed.”

[Linus Torvalds](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/linus-torvalds/)

## About This Quote

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

Prioritizing personal ambition over product excellence leads to failure.

**In simple terms:** Focusing on self over product harms success.

Key Takeaway

Align goals with product quality.

Themes

focus product success

Mood

cautious reflective

Type

advice warning

When to use this quote

- startup leadership
- product development
- career planning
- personal ambition

Key Concepts

strategic alignment risk management

Questions to Reflect On

- Do you prioritize vision over execution?
- How can you balance personal goals with product excellence?

A Different Perspective

Neglecting product quality can still cause market failure.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Thinking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thinking/)

## Related quotes

> [I want young women when they're 14 to start thinking about what they want over the course of their lives.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/camille-paglia/i-want-young-women-when-they-re-14-to-start-thinking-about-what-they/)

[Camille Paglia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/camille-paglia/)

> [When I get to first base, I start thinking about third.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jose-reyes/when-i-get-to-first-base-i-start-thinking-about-third/)

[Jose Reyes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jose-reyes/)

> [We need to start thinking more progressively as a country.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/akshara-haasan/we-need-to-start-thinking-more-progressively-as-a-country/)

[Akshara Haasan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/akshara-haasan/)

> [I want to keep making cool projects and just keep being a part of just making cool art.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/angus-cloud/i-want-to-keep-making-cool-projects-and-just-keep-being-a-part-of/)

[Angus Cloud](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/angus-cloud/)

> [I just want to keep making cool stuff with cool people.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ayo-edebiri/i-just-want-to-keep-making-cool-stuff-with-cool-people/)

[Ayo Edebiri](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ayo-edebiri/)

> [I just want to keep making stuff.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cord-jefferson/i-just-want-to-keep-making-stuff/)

[Cord Jefferson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cord-jefferson/)

> [I want to keep making more stuff that I want to see in the world that doesn't exist yet.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-wilson/i-want-to-keep-making-more-stuff-that-i-want-to-see-in-the-world-that/)

[John Wilson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-wilson/)

> [When I'm recording my album, I want to be acting, or when I'm on set, I want to be making music. I guess we'll…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sabrina-carpenter/when-i-m-recording-my-album-i-want-to-be-acting-or-when-i-m-on-set-i/)

[Sabrina Carpenter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sabrina-carpenter/)

> [I just want to keep making movies that hopefully makes some kids smile.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nicolas-cage/i-just-want-to-keep-making-movies-that-hopefully-makes-some-kids-smile/)

[Nicolas Cage](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nicolas-cage/)

> [I would love the opportunity to create my own program. I feel like a TV show with a format of monologue with lots of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hari-kondabolu/i-would-love-the-opportunity-to-create-my-own-program-i-feel-like-a/)

[Hari Kondabolu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hari-kondabolu/)

> [I just want to keep making music, recording and trying different things. I don't want to do the same thing all the time.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/norah-jones/i-just-want-to-keep-making-music-recording-and-trying-different/)

[Norah Jones](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/norah-jones/)

> [I want to go back to making music for myself or a drawing just for me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sophie-thatcher/i-want-to-go-back-to-making-music-for-myself-or-a-drawing-just-for-me/)

[Sophie Thatcher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sophie-thatcher/)

> [I just want to keep making music and see where everything goes.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/post-malone/i-just-want-to-keep-making-music-and-see-where-everything-goes/)

[Post Malone](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/post-malone/)

> [I always want to be taking big swings. I want to keep making things that are entertaining and challenging at the same time.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fred-hechinger/i-always-want-to-be-taking-big-swings-i-want-to-keep-making-things/)

[Fred Hechinger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fred-hechinger/)

> [Show interest in all people, not just those from whom you want something. Making people feel important and good about themselves is just the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bo-bennett/show-interest-in-all-people-not-just-those-from-whom-you-want/)

[Bo Bennett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bo-bennett/)

## More by Linus Torvalds

> [Once you realize that documentation should be laughed at, peed upon, put on fire, and just ridiculed in general, then, and only then, have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/linus-torvalds/once-you-realize-that-documentation-should-be-laughed-at-peed-upon/)

[Linus Torvalds](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/linus-torvalds/)

> [I think, fundamentally, open source does tend to be more stable software. It's the right way to do things.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/linus-torvalds/i-think-fundamentally-open-source-does-tend-to-be-more-stable/)

[Linus Torvalds](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/linus-torvalds/)

> [I used to be interested in Windows NT, but the more I see it, the more it looks like traditional Windows with a stabler…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/linus-torvalds/i-used-to-be-interested-in-windows-nt-but-the-more-i-see-it-the-more/)

[Linus Torvalds](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/linus-torvalds/)

> [I think that freely available software can not only keep up with the evolution of commercial software, but often exceed what you can do…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/linus-torvalds/i-think-that-freely-available-software-can-not-only-keep-up-with-the/)

[Linus Torvalds](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/linus-torvalds/)

> [Programmers are in the enviable position of not only getting to do what they want to, but because the end result is so important…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/linus-torvalds/programmers-are-in-the-enviable-position-of-not-only-getting-to-do/)

[Linus Torvalds](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/linus-torvalds/)

> [The NIH syndrome (Not Invented Here) is a disease.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/linus-torvalds/the-nih-syndrome-not-invented-here-is-a-disease/)

[Linus Torvalds](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/linus-torvalds/)

> [The correct form factor for a laptop is obviously 12" and 2 lbs, and I don't understand why everybody gets that wrong.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/linus-torvalds/the-correct-form-factor-for-a-laptop-is-obviously-12-and-2-lbs-and-i/)

[Linus Torvalds](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/linus-torvalds/)

> [Hmmm, completely a-religious - atheist. I find that people seem to think religion brings morals and appreciation of nature. I actually think it detracts…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/linus-torvalds/hmmm-completely-a-religious-atheist-i-find-that-people-seem-to-think/)

[Linus Torvalds](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/linus-torvalds/)

> [People will realize that software is not a product; you use it to build a product.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/linus-torvalds/people-will-realize-that-software-is-not-a-product-you-use-it-to/)

[Linus Torvalds](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/linus-torvalds/)

> [I claim that Mach people (and apparently FreeBSD) are incompetent idiots.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/linus-torvalds/i-claim-that-mach-people-and-apparently-freebsd-are-incompetent-idiots/)

[Linus Torvalds](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/linus-torvalds/)

> [There are "extremists" in the free software world, but that's one major reason why I don't call what I do "free software" any more.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/linus-torvalds/there-are-extremists-in-the-free-software-world-but-that-s-one-major/)

[Linus Torvalds](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/linus-torvalds/)

> [Real quality means making sure that people are proud of the code they write, that they're involved and taking it personally.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/linus-torvalds/real-quality-means-making-sure-that-people-are-proud-of-the-code-they/)

[Linus Torvalds](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/linus-torvalds/)

> [I have one very basic rule when it comes to "good ideas". A good idea is not an idea that solves a problem cleanly.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/linus-torvalds/i-have-one-very-basic-rule-when-it-comes-to-good-ideas-a-good-idea-is/)

[Linus Torvalds](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/linus-torvalds/)

> [I've never regretted not making Linux shareware: I really don't like the pay for use binary shareware programs.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/linus-torvalds/i-ve-never-regretted-not-making-linux-shareware-i-really-don-t-like/)

[Linus Torvalds](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/linus-torvalds/)

> [Modern PCs are horrible. ACPI is a complete design disaster in every way. But we're kind of stuck with it. If any Intel people…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/linus-torvalds/modern-pcs-are-horrible-acpi-is-a-complete-design-disaster-in-every/)

[Linus Torvalds](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/linus-torvalds/)

[Explore all 233 Linus Torvalds quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/linus-torvalds/)

## More Best quotes

> [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/)

> [Scepticism and cynicism about politics is so great that one of the best counters to it is what you can do at a local…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ed-miliband/scepticism-and-cynicism-about-politics-is-so-great-that-one-of-the/)

[Ed Miliband](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ed-miliband/)

> [Amongst the financial Twitterati, the term 'muppets' has come to describe any client used and abused by some financial predator. I've adopted the term…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barry-ritholtz/amongst-the-financial-twitterati-the-term-muppets-has-come-to/)

[Barry Ritholtz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barry-ritholtz/)

> [It's no wonder Pep is one of the best coaches in the world. When I knew I could work with him I was very…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ederson/it-s-no-wonder-pep-is-one-of-the-best-coaches-in-the-world-when-i/)

[Ederson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ederson/)

> [“Before you were my enemy, you were my best friend.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kresley-cole/before-you-were-my-enemy-you-were-my-best-friend/)

[Kresley Cole](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kresley-cole/)

> [If we accept being talked to any kind of a way, then we are telling ourselves we are not quite worth the best. And…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maya-angelou/if-we-accept-being-talked-to-any-kind-of-a-way-then-we-are-telling/)

[Maya Angelou](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maya-angelou/)

> [I want to be perceived as a guy who played his best in all facets, not just scoring. A guy who loved challenges.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-jordan/i-want-to-be-perceived-as-a-guy-who-played-his-best-in-all-facets-not/)

[Michael Jordan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-jordan/)

> [I feel like I'm the best, but you're not going to get me to say that.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jerry-rice/i-feel-like-i-m-the-best-but-you-re-not-going-to-get-me-to-say-that/)

[Jerry Rice](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jerry-rice/)

> [Life is where you love people and use things not use people and love things.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/babloo/life-is-where-you-love-people-and-use-things-not-use-people-and-love/)

[Babloo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/babloo/)

> [With every product, the delta between the brand and the reality determines its power over the minds of consumers, and with Trump, that delta…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rick-wilson/with-every-product-the-delta-between-the-brand-and-the-reality/)

[Rick Wilson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rick-wilson/)

> [The human element should be the two players on the court, not the officials. The best officials are the ones you never notice. The…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gene-scott/the-human-element-should-be-the-two-players-on-the-court-not-the/)

Gene Scott

> [I'm looking to fight the best guys in the world.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/yair-rodriguez/i-m-looking-to-fight-the-best-guys-in-the-world/)

[Yair Rodriguez](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/yair-rodriguez/)

> [Batley and Spen has a high proportion of people working in manufacturing, and we can boast the full range of industries, including high-skilled, precision…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jo-cox/batley-and-spen-has-a-high-proportion-of-people-working-in/)

[Jo Cox](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jo-cox/)

> [It is no secret that I have read 'The Da Vinci Code' several times. I genuinely believe that 'The Da Vinci Code' and 'Angels…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ashwin-sanghi/it-is-no-secret-that-i-have-read-the-da-vinci-code-several-times-i/)

[Ashwin Sanghi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ashwin-sanghi/)

> [Any position I was going to be in, I was going to make the best of it. I always do.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-bledsoe/any-position-i-was-going-to-be-in-i-was-going-to-make-the-best-of-it/)

[Eric Bledsoe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-bledsoe/)

Browse all 21,674 Best quotes

```json
{
    "@context": "https://schema.org",
    "@graph": [
        {
            "@type": "Quotation",
            "text": "Once you start thinking more about where you want to be than about making the best product, you're screwed.",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "Linus Torvalds"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/linus-torvalds/once-you-start-thinking-more-about-where-you-want-to-be-than-about/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "Best"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/linus-torvalds/once-you-start-thinking-more-about-where-you-want-to-be-than-about/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/87a/linus-torvalds-1512_best_once-you-start-thinking-more-about-where_351173.jpg",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/87a/linus-torvalds-1512_best_once-you-start-thinking-more-about-where_351173.jpg",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/87a/linus-torvalds-1512_best_once-you-start-thinking-more-about-where_351173.jpg",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“Once you start thinking more about where you want to be than about making the best product, you're screwed.” — Linus Torvalds",
                "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": "Linus Torvalds",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/linus-torvalds/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 4,
                    "name": "Once you start thinking more about...",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/linus-torvalds/once-you-start-thinking-more-about-where-you-want-to-be-than-about/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/linus-torvalds/once-you-start-thinking-more-about-where-you-want-to-be-than-about/#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
            }
        }
    ]
}
```
