--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: When the founders retire, it's always…" description: "\"When the founders retire, it's always difficult for the second generation and third generation.\" — Masayoshi Son" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fde/masayoshi-son-4119_always_when-the-founders-retire-it-s-always-dif_2500675.jpg" --- # When the founders retire, it's always difficult for the… ![“When the founders retire, it's always difficult for the second generation and third generation.” quote by Masayoshi Son](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fde/masayoshi-son-4119_always_when-the-founders-retire-it-s-always-dif_2500675.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fde/masayoshi-son-4119_always_when-the-founders-retire-it-s-always-dif_2500675.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fde/masayoshi-son-4119_always_when-the-founders-retire-it-s-always-dif_2500675.jpg) > “When the founders retire, it's always difficult for the second generation and third generation.” [Masayoshi Son](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/masayoshi-son/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Succession in family businesses often faces challenges as later generations lack the founder’s vision and authority. **In simple terms:** Later generations struggle without founder’s guidance. Key Takeaway Plan mentorship and clear governance. Themes family business succession leadership generational change authority Mood reflective concerned Type advisory strategic When to use this quote - family firm transition - leadership development - ownership transfer - strategic planning - conflict resolution Key Concepts inheritance organizational culture strategic continuity Questions to Reflect On - How can founders prepare successors effectively? - What structures support smooth generational handover? A Different Perspective New leaders may resist change or lack credibility. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Founders](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/founders/) [Generation](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/generation/) ## Related quotes > [Once I started to retire, I was telling all of the girls in my generation, 'Wow I feel like an outsider in this locker…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gail-kim/once-i-started-to-retire-i-was-telling-all-of-the-girls-in-my/) [Gail Kim](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gail-kim/) > [I know I should not be a hindrance to SoftBank's future growth and that I need to pass on the baton to the younger…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/masayoshi-son/i-know-i-should-not-be-a-hindrance-to-softbank-s-future-growth-and/) [Masayoshi Son](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/masayoshi-son/) > [In Finland, we learned quite a lot from our own civil war. The wounds were visible when I was a boy, but my generation…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harri-holkeri/in-finland-we-learned-quite-a-lot-from-our-own-civil-war-the-wounds/) [Harri Holkeri](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harri-holkeri/) > [If and when I decide to retire I want to perform. I want to be on the ice. I want to continue contributing to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeremy-abbott/if-and-when-i-decide-to-retire-i-want-to-perform-i-want-to-be-on-the/) [Jeremy Abbott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeremy-abbott/) > [When I retire, I want to step away on a positive note. What you put out into the world comes back to you. You…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lupe-fiasco/when-i-retire-i-want-to-step-away-on-a-positive-note-what-you-put-out/) [Lupe Fiasco](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lupe-fiasco/) > [“All this waiting. Waiting for the rain to stop. Waiting in traffic. Waiting for the bill. Waiting at the airport for an old friend.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kamand-kojouri/all-this-waiting-waiting-for-the-rain-to-stop-waiting-in-traffic/) [Kamand Kojouri](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kamand-kojouri/) > [When I finally retire, I just want to go away so no one has to listen to me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-martin/when-i-finally-retire-i-just-want-to-go-away-so-no-one-has-to-listen/) [Steve Martin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-martin/) > [In 2011, I announced that I was going to retire, and my agent panicked. So she says: 'No, no, no. You have to write…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/isabel-allende/in-2011-i-announced-that-i-was-going-to-retire-and-my-agent-panicked/) [Isabel Allende](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/isabel-allende/) > [I always joke and say I want to invent a comfortable stiletto and then retire.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sara-blakely/i-always-joke-and-say-i-want-to-invent-a-comfortable-stiletto-and/) [Sara Blakely](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sara-blakely/) > [After my time with a certain NFL team, I wanted to retire.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nick-foles/after-my-time-with-a-certain-nfl-team-i-wanted-to-retire/) [Nick Foles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nick-foles/) > [Why do you have to retire at 65? Why can't you start at 70? You know, like wine. Why can't music be that way?…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/herbie-mann/why-do-you-have-to-retire-at-65-why-can-t-you-start-at-70-you-know/) [Herbie Mann](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/herbie-mann/) > [“For their never-ending endeavours to obtain or retain wealth, countries desperately need companies, because they—unlike most human beings—have the means of production, and human…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mokokoma-mokhonoana/for-their-never-ending-endeavours-to-obtain-or-retain-wealth/) [Mokokoma Mokhonoana](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mokokoma-mokhonoana/) > [Really, I don't know what I'd do with myself if I retire. Wash dishes?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/loretta-lynn/really-i-don-t-know-what-i-d-do-with-myself-if-i-retire-wash-dishes/) [Loretta Lynn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/loretta-lynn/) > [I've got no idea when I am going to retire. Whenever they pick me up and take me to the funeral home, I guess.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/colonel-sanders/i-ve-got-no-idea-when-i-am-going-to-retire-whenever-they-pick-me-up/) [Colonel Sanders](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/colonel-sanders/) > [I'll be that guy who's 80 years old and still has a job. There is no 'retire' for me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/big-show/i-ll-be-that-guy-who-s-80-years-old-and-still-has-a-job-there-is-no/) [Big Show](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/big-show/) ## More by Masayoshi Son > [When Gates was active in business, he was the smartest - so focused that no company could surpass Microsoft.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/masayoshi-son/when-gates-was-active-in-business-he-was-the-smartest-so-focused-that/) [Masayoshi Son](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/masayoshi-son/) > [Internet as a service is like culture that you have to understand, and each country has a local culture.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/masayoshi-son/internet-as-a-service-is-like-culture-that-you-have-to-understand-and/) [Masayoshi Son](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/masayoshi-son/) > [In tennis, you strike a ball just after the rebound for the fastest return. It's the same with investment.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/masayoshi-son/in-tennis-you-strike-a-ball-just-after-the-rebound-for-the-fastest/) [Masayoshi Son](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/masayoshi-son/) > [Being educated in the United States gave me a good understanding of American culture. I think I got a lot of influence from the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/masayoshi-son/being-educated-in-the-united-states-gave-me-a-good-understanding-of/) [Masayoshi Son](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/masayoshi-son/) > [If you live in the States, you see the windmill signal on your smartphone all the time. It's like living in Beijing air. 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But it depends on the specific companies.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/masayoshi-son/some-kind-of-correction-will-always-happen-but-it-depends-on-the/) [Masayoshi Son](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/masayoshi-son/) > [I'm a man, and I think every man wants to be No. 1.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/masayoshi-son/i-m-a-man-and-i-think-every-man-wants-to-be-no-1/) [Masayoshi Son](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/masayoshi-son/) > [My philosophy is that the digital revolution will make mankind happier and more productive, and that won't change over the next 300 years. If…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/masayoshi-son/my-philosophy-is-that-the-digital-revolution-will-make-mankind/) [Masayoshi Son](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/masayoshi-son/) > [Our aim is to develop affectionate robots that can make people smile.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/masayoshi-son/our-aim-is-to-develop-affectionate-robots-that-can-make-people-smile/) [Masayoshi Son](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/masayoshi-son/) > [When you negotiate a deal, you clearly know a lot about the other person.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/masayoshi-son/when-you-negotiate-a-deal-you-clearly-know-a-lot-about-the-other/) [Masayoshi Son](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/masayoshi-son/) [Explore all 116 Masayoshi Son quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/masayoshi-son/) ## More Always quotes > [I think performing has pretty much always been a part of me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/isa-briones/i-think-performing-has-pretty-much-always-been-a-part-of-me/) [Isa Briones](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/isa-briones/) > [I always thought if I was born 2000 years earlier, I would be a monk, probably carving a monastery or some giant pantheon buildings.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jenova-chen/i-always-thought-if-i-was-born-2000-years-earlier-i-would-be-a-monk/) [Jenova Chen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jenova-chen/) > [I always like a character who makes me laugh.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rachael-stirling/i-always-like-a-character-who-makes-me-laugh/) [Rachael Stirling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rachael-stirling/) > [It's always great to see old friends, especially those I have not been able to see in 15 months.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-regal/it-s-always-great-to-see-old-friends-especially-those-i-have-not-been/) [William Regal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-regal/) > [When you step out and do a song in a musical, the easier thing to do is make it funny. But when those transitions…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kelli-o-hara/when-you-step-out-and-do-a-song-in-a-musical-the-easier-thing-to-do/) [Kelli O'Hara](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kelli-o-hara/) > [I have really good lateral movement. I've always had quick lateral movement.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/austin-rivers/i-have-really-good-lateral-movement-i-ve-always-had-quick-lateral/) [Austin Rivers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/austin-rivers/) > [There is something magical about being able to feel somebody. And that is something that has always moved me with music.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maria-brink/there-is-something-magical-about-being-able-to-feel-somebody-and-that/) [Maria Brink](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maria-brink/) > [Mythology is something that always has opportunities to explore. 'It' has been on Earth for millions of years. He's been in contact with humans…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andy-muschietti/mythology-is-something-that-always-has-opportunities-to-explore-it/) [Andy Muschietti](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andy-muschietti/) > [It's not writing in the traditional sense, but I've always said that the writing process continues on the set and even into the editing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-b-weide/it-s-not-writing-in-the-traditional-sense-but-i-ve-always-said-that/) [Robert B. Weide](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-b-weide/) > [I always watch my matches back 100 times afterwards because that's how I improve. This is something I've always done, even in NXT.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mandy-rose/i-always-watch-my-matches-back-100-times-afterwards-because-that-s/) [Mandy Rose](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mandy-rose/) > [I've always been of the idea that is doesn't really matter where you are geographically - with 'Lonerism,' we made half the album in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kevin-parker/i-ve-always-been-of-the-idea-that-is-doesn-t-really-matter-where-you/) [Kevin Parker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kevin-parker/) > [It's very easy to fool yourself that you're working, you know, when you're really not working very hard. I mean, I'm very lazy. So…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-caro/it-s-very-easy-to-fool-yourself-that-you-re-working-you-know-when-you/) [Robert Caro](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-caro/) > [Whether it was Little League or playing with your brothers or sisters, that was always a problem. If I would lose - because I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cal-ripken-jr/whether-it-was-little-league-or-playing-with-your-brothers-or-sisters/) [Cal Ripken, Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cal-ripken-jr/) > [I always say if you put someone from a small town into a big city for ten years, then when they go back, they'll…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-colter/i-always-say-if-you-put-someone-from-a-small-town-into-a-big-city-for/) [Mike Colter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-colter/) > [Bayern is always a team that can win the Champions League title in Europe.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lothar-matthaus/bayern-is-always-a-team-that-can-win-the-champions-league-title-in/) [Lothar Matthaus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lothar-matthaus/) Browse all 36,048 Always quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "When the founders retire, it's always difficult for the second generation and third generation.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Masayoshi Son" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/masayoshi-son/when-the-founders-retire-it-s-always-difficult-for-the-second/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Always" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/masayoshi-son/when-the-founders-retire-it-s-always-difficult-for-the-second/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fde/masayoshi-son-4119_always_when-the-founders-retire-it-s-always-dif_2500675.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fde/masayoshi-son-4119_always_when-the-founders-retire-it-s-always-dif_2500675.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fde/masayoshi-son-4119_always_when-the-founders-retire-it-s-always-dif_2500675.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“When the founders retire, it's always difficult for the second generation and third generation.” — Masayoshi Son", "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": "Masayoshi Son", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/masayoshi-son/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "When the founders retire, it's always...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/masayoshi-son/when-the-founders-retire-it-s-always-difficult-for-the-second/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/masayoshi-son/when-the-founders-retire-it-s-always-difficult-for-the-second/#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 } } ] } ```