--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Don't start a company unless it's an…" description: "\"Don't start a company unless it's an obsession and something you love. If you have an exit strategy, it's not an obsession.\" — Mark Cuban" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/cd7/mark-cuban-889_business_don-t-start-a-company-unless-it-s-an-obs_1098306.jpg" --- # Don't start a company unless it's an obsession and… ![“Don't start a company unless it's an obsession and something you love. If you have an exit strategy, it's not an obsession.” quote by Mark Cuban](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/cd7/mark-cuban-889_business_don-t-start-a-company-unless-it-s-an-obs_1098306.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/cd7/mark-cuban-889_business_don-t-start-a-company-unless-it-s-an-obs_1098306.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/cd7/mark-cuban-889_business_don-t-start-a-company-unless-it-s-an-obs_1098306.jpg) > “Don't start a company unless it's an obsession and something you love. If you have an exit strategy, it's not an obsession.” [Mark Cuban](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-cuban/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. True passion drives entrepreneurship; planning an exit shows lack of deep commitment. **In simple terms:** Passion, not profit, fuels startups. Key Takeaway Follow genuine passion. Themes entrepreneurship obsession purpose Mood motivational cautionary Type advice philosophical When to use this quote - startup founding - product development - fundraising Key Concepts mission-driven business founder mindset Questions to Reflect On - Is your idea a passion or a profit plan? - How to test true obsession? A Different Perspective Obsession can blind to market realities. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Business](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/business/) [Company](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/company/) [Customer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/customer/) [Exit Strategy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/exit-strategy/) [Inspirational](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/inspirational/) [Inspiring](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/inspiring/) [Life changing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/life-changing/) [Obsession](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/obsession/) [Something you love](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/something-you-love/) [Strategy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/strategy/) ## Related quotes > [Our mantra has been, 'We will not buy a company unless we think the people that make up the company have a better job…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tobias-lutke/our-mantra-has-been-we-will-not-buy-a-company-unless-we-think-the/) [Tobias Lutke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tobias-lutke/) > [Pocket all your knowledge with your watch, and never pull it out in company unless desired.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lord-chesterfield/pocket-all-your-knowledge-with-your-watch-and-never-pull-it-out-in/) [Lord Chesterfield](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lord-chesterfield/) > [\[To the House of Representatives before casting the only vote against allowing George W. 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The exit strategy is death.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/craig-newmark/i-am-committed-to-doing-customer-service-for-craigslist-for-the-rest/) [Craig Newmark](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/craig-newmark/) > [The entrance strategy is actually more important than the exit strategy,](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-lampert/the-entrance-strategy-is-actually-more-important-than-the-exit/) [Edward Lampert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-lampert/) > [Pentagon records show that at least 8,000 members of the all-volunteer U.S. Army have deserted since the Iraq war began. Hey, at least somebody…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tina-fey/pentagon-records-show-that-at-least-8-000-members-of-the-all/) [Tina Fey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tina-fey/) ## More by Mark Cuban > [At least before my hip replacement, I had a quick first step. I could get by you off the dribble. My business game is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-cuban/at-least-before-my-hip-replacement-i-had-a-quick-first-step-i-could/) [Mark Cuban](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-cuban/) > [Culture is very important to the Mavs… It isn't about who talks the most or the loudest. It is about the demeanor and attitude…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-cuban/culture-is-very-important-to-the-mavs-it-isn-t-about-who-talks-the/) [Mark Cuban](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-cuban/) > [I have always been selling. I always had something going on. That was just my nature.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-cuban/i-have-always-been-selling-i-always-had-something-going-on-that-was/) [Mark Cuban](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-cuban/) > [I can turn an idea into a business before you know it's going to be important. 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They are principled and know that change is never easy, but when it's necessary, they must lead.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-cuban/leaders-are-not-dogmatic-they-are-principled-and-know-that-change-is/) [Mark Cuban](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-cuban/) > [If I see a black kid in a hoodie and it's late at night, I'm walking to the other side of the street. And…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-cuban/if-i-see-a-black-kid-in-a-hoodie-and-it-s-late-at-night-i-m-walking/) [Mark Cuban](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-cuban/) > [Every job in a company is important. Unless you experience a wide range of those jobs, I don't think you are as well prepared…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-cuban/every-job-in-a-company-is-important-unless-you-experience-a-wide/) [Mark Cuban](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-cuban/) > [Go out there and get rich. 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It's like whatever I do business wise, it's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/snoop-dogg/i-m-a-business-first-and-foremost-so-whatever-my-business-is-it-s/) [Snoop Dogg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/snoop-dogg/) > [Many early-stage entrepreneurs make one simple mistake: Describing this 'big picture' in vague concepts and words.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sunil-nagaraj/many-early-stage-entrepreneurs-make-one-simple-mistake-describing/) [Sunil Nagaraj](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sunil-nagaraj/) > [Nobody has a crystal ball, and part of evolving a business plan is to say, 'I might have said we're going left, but I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ryan-kavanaugh/nobody-has-a-crystal-ball-and-part-of-evolving-a-business-plan-is-to/) [Ryan Kavanaugh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ryan-kavanaugh/) > [I think a business guy is different from an artist. They walk different paths. Artists create the best outputs when they're having fun. And…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/g-dragon/i-think-a-business-guy-is-different-from-an-artist-they-walk/) [G-Dragon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/g-dragon/) > [ “\[S\]ometimes, when you are a food person, the possible irrelevance of what you are doing doesn’t cross your mind until it’s too late. 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