Skip to content

Business Quote by Malcolm Gladwell

“If you look at the careers of great entrepreneurs and you look at the moment they took their plunge, the plunge is rarely a great financial or material risk, it’s a social risk. At the moment they started their new businesses, everyone around them said ‘you’re an idiot’.” quote by Malcolm Gladwell
Download Open image
“If you look at the careers of great entrepreneurs and you look at the moment they took their plunge, the plunge is rarely a great financial or material risk, it’s a social risk. At the moment they started their new businesses, everyone around them said ‘you’re an idiot’.”

Malcolm Gladwell

About This Quote

Source Book: Outliers by Malcolm Gladwell, 2008

Entrepreneurial leaps are often socially risky, facing ridicule before success.

In simple terms: Risk is often social, not financial.

Key Takeaway

Embrace criticism as part of growth.

Themes

entrepreneurship risk social pressure

Mood

determined optimistic

Type

motivational advice

When to use this quote

  • starting a startup
  • pitching ideas
  • changing careers
  • introducing new products

Key Concepts

social dynamics courage innovation

Questions to Reflect On

  • How will you handle naysayers?
  • What support can you seek?
A Different Perspective

Social risk can be amplified by cultural resistance.

4.1 out of 5 (10 ratings)

More by Malcolm Gladwell

Explore all 647 Malcolm Gladwell quotes

More Business quotes

Browse all 39,016 Business quotes