--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Who's more likely to succeed - someone…" description: "\"Who's more likely to succeed - someone with high skill and no ambition, or no skill and high ambition? If you're an entrepreneur, you can hire as many ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/809/max-mckeown-13226_ambition_who-s-more-likely-to-succeed-someone-wit_2137118.png" --- # Who's more likely to succeed - someone with high skill and… ![“Who's more likely to succeed - someone with high skill and no ambition, or no skill and high ambition? If you're an entrepreneur, you can hire as many skilled people for your business as you want.” quote by Max McKeown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/809/max-mckeown-13226_ambition_who-s-more-likely-to-succeed-someone-wit_2137118.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/809/max-mckeown-13226_ambition_who-s-more-likely-to-succeed-someone-wit_2137118.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/809/max-mckeown-13226_ambition_who-s-more-likely-to-succeed-someone-wit_2137118.png) > “Who's more likely to succeed - someone with high skill and no ambition, or no skill and high ambition? If you're an entrepreneur, you can hire as many skilled people for your business as you want.” [Max McKeown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/max-mckeown/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Success depends more on ambition than skill; drive can compensate for lack of ability, while skill without desire often stalls. **In simple terms:** Ambition outweighs skill for success. Key Takeaway Cultivate drive and seek skilled partners. Themes ambition skill entrepreneurship Mood determined pragmatic Type advice motivational When to use this quote - startup founding - team building - career planning Key Concepts motivation human capital leadership Questions to Reflect On - Can ambition replace expertise? - How to balance hiring with personal drive? A Different Perspective Ambition alone may not overcome severe skill gaps. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Ambition](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ambition/) [Ambition Entrepreneur](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ambition-entrepreneur-4433275/) [Ambition Skill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ambition-skill-4433277/) [Business](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/business/) [Entrepreneur](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/entrepreneur/) [High](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/high/) [High ambition](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/high-ambition/) [Hire](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hire/) [Hire Skilled](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hire-skilled-4108777/) [Likely](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/likely/) [Many](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/many/) [More](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/more/) [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) [Skill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/skill/) [Skill Ambition](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/skill-ambition-4433276/) [Skilled](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/skilled/) [Skilled People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/skilled-people-920640/) [Someone](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/someone/) [Succeed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/succeed/) [Want](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/want/) [You](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/you/) [Your](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/your/) ## Related quotes > [“Great companies don't hire skilled people and motivate them, they hire already motivated people and inspire them.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/simon-sinek/great-companies-don-t-hire-skilled-people-and-motivate-them-they-hire/) [Simon Sinek](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/simon-sinek/) > [There are good reasons why we don't want everyone to learn nuclear physics, medicine or how financial markets work. Our entire modern project has…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/evgeny-morozov/there-are-good-reasons-why-we-don-t-want-everyone-to-learn-nuclear/) [Evgeny Morozov](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/evgeny-morozov/) > [Most high-income people in our country do not realize that their incomes are being subsidized by their protection from competition from highly skilled people…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-greenspan/most-high-income-people-in-our-country-do-not-realize-that-their/) [Alan Greenspan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-greenspan/) > [A green economy begins to replace some of the clunking and chugging of ugly machines with the wise effort of beautiful, skilled people. That…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/van-jones/a-green-economy-begins-to-replace-some-of-the-clunking-and-chugging/) [Van Jones](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/van-jones/) > [A modern economy and society requires skilled people, so you need to train them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thabo-mbeki/a-modern-economy-and-society-requires-skilled-people-so-you-need-to/) [Thabo Mbeki](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thabo-mbeki/) > [“Leadership. When you attract more skilled people than you.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alin-sav/leadership-when-you-attract-more-skilled-people-than-you/) [Alin Sav](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alin-sav/) > [It's a big problem in South Africa up to this day: many people want to open factories, they want to invest, but then they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thabo-mbeki/it-s-a-big-problem-in-south-africa-up-to-this-day-many-people-want-to/) [Thabo Mbeki](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thabo-mbeki/) > [I went into musical theatre, which I'm not really cut out for - I'm not as skilled at it as other people.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-armitage/i-went-into-musical-theatre-which-i-m-not-really-cut-out-for-i-m-not/) [Richard Armitage](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-armitage/) > [I know a lot of incredibly, profoundly talented, skilled people that aren't given certain opportunities or any opportunities, and that aren't working.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johnny-galecki/i-know-a-lot-of-incredibly-profoundly-talented-skilled-people-that/) [Johnny Galecki](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johnny-galecki/) > [We often say that someone has exceptional political or social savvy, but what specific cognitive skills allow these people to handle interpersonal situations so…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/justin-menkes/we-often-say-that-someone-has-exceptional-political-or-social-savvy/) [Justin Menkes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/justin-menkes/) > [I've always had high ambitions and aspirations.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-dashner/i-ve-always-had-high-ambitions-and-aspirations/) [James Dashner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-dashner/) > [Nothing is too high for the daring of mortals: we storm heaven itself in our folly.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/horace/nothing-is-too-high-for-the-daring-of-mortals-we-storm-heaven-itself/) [Horace](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/horace/) > [Oh that I were seated as high as my ambition, I'd place my naked foot on the necks of monarchs.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/horace-walpole/oh-that-i-were-seated-as-high-as-my-ambition-i-d-place-my-naked-foot/) [Horace Walpole](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/horace-walpole/) > [Science in England is not a profession: its cultivators are scarcely recognised even as a class. Our language itself contains no single term by…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-babbage/science-in-england-is-not-a-profession-its-cultivators-are-scarcely/) [Charles Babbage](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-babbage/) > [In a certain reign there was a lady not of the first rank whom the emperor loved more than any of the others. The…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/murasaki-shikibu/in-a-certain-reign-there-was-a-lady-not-of-the-first-rank-whom-the/) [Murasaki Shikibu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/murasaki-shikibu/) ## More by Max McKeown > [Strategy is not a solo sport, even if you're the CEO.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/max-mckeown/strategy-is-not-a-solo-sport-even-if-you-re-the-ceo/) [Max McKeown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/max-mckeown/) > [Change is not overcoming inertia as much as it is redirecting, guiding, tweaking what already is and what has already happened. We must believe…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/max-mckeown/change-is-not-overcoming-inertia-as-much-as-it-is-redirecting-guiding/) [Max McKeown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/max-mckeown/) > [Change is inevitable, progress is not.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/max-mckeown/change-is-inevitable-progress-is-not/) [Max McKeown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/max-mckeown/) > [“Only the right pain gets the right gain.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/max-mckeown/only-the-right-pain-gets-the-right-gain/) [Max McKeown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/max-mckeown/) > [“You get told to look before you leap. But if you are too careful you may end up just looking.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/max-mckeown/you-get-told-to-look-before-you-leap-but-if-you-are-too-careful-you/) [Max McKeown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/max-mckeown/) > [Whenever a maker and a thinker get together, really cool stuff happens.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/max-mckeown/whenever-a-maker-and-a-thinker-get-together-really-cool-stuff-happens/) [Max McKeown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/max-mckeown/) > [Corporate strategy is usually only useful if you get people engaged with helping you to make it work.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/max-mckeown/corporate-strategy-is-usually-only-useful-if-you-get-people-engaged/) [Max McKeown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/max-mckeown/) > [With a clever strategy, each action is self-reinforcing. Each action creates more options that are mutually beneficial. Each victory is not just for today…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/max-mckeown/with-a-clever-strategy-each-action-is-self-reinforcing-each-action/) [Max McKeown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/max-mckeown/) > [There are immense numbers of potential entrepreneurs who can start their own businesses among the people who are working in large organisations.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/max-mckeown/there-are-immense-numbers-of-potential-entrepreneurs-who-can-start/) [Max McKeown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/max-mckeown/) > [Becoming a strategic thinker is about opening your mind to possibilities. It’s about seeing the bigger picture. It’s about understanding the various parts of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/max-mckeown/becoming-a-strategic-thinker-is-about-opening-your-mind-to/) [Max McKeown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/max-mckeown/) > [The smart strategist allows strategy to be shaped by events. Good reactions can make great strategy. Strategy involves competition of goals, and the risk…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/max-mckeown/the-smart-strategist-allows-strategy-to-be-shaped-by-events-good/) [Max McKeown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/max-mckeown/) > [Innovation is new stuff that is made useful.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/max-mckeown/innovation-is-new-stuff-that-is-made-useful/) [Max McKeown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/max-mckeown/) > [“Embrace the perpetual joy of moving perpetually forward.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/max-mckeown/embrace-the-perpetual-joy-of-moving-perpetually-forward/) [Max McKeown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/max-mckeown/) > [“Your life is what happens when you're busy trying to become unbusy.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/max-mckeown/your-life-is-what-happens-when-you-re-busy-trying-to-become-unbusy/) [Max McKeown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/max-mckeown/) > [“Nowists get off on getting on, so they run when they could walk, jump when they could sit and dance when they could sit…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/max-mckeown/nowists-get-off-on-getting-on-so-they-run-when-they-could-walk-jump/) [Max McKeown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/max-mckeown/) [Explore all 51 Max McKeown quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/max-mckeown/) ## More Ambition quotes > [Ambition drives you on, ability certainly helps, but the fickle finger of fate and luck are great things.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fergus-henderson/ambition-drives-you-on-ability-certainly-helps-but-the-fickle-finger/) [Fergus Henderson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fergus-henderson/) > [One needs more than ambition and talent to make a success of anything, really. There must be love and a vocation.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jessye-norman/one-needs-more-than-ambition-and-talent-to-make-a-success-of-anything/) [Jessye Norman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jessye-norman/) > [I just think my own ambition would not allow me to sit on the gifts that my creator had given me. And so that's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/janelle-monae/i-just-think-my-own-ambition-would-not-allow-me-to-sit-on-the-gifts/) [Janelle Monae](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/janelle-monae/) > [A man's worth is no greater than the worth of his ambitions](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/a-man-s-worth-is-no-greater-than-the-worth-of-his-ambitions/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I'm hungry and ambitious.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julen-lopetegui/i-m-hungry-and-ambitious/) [Julen Lopetegui](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julen-lopetegui/) > [“I was ambitious and desperate to direct my first film, so I capitulated and blew it. Never again. Never fucking again.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/craig-ferguson/i-was-ambitious-and-desperate-to-direct-my-first-film-so-i/) [Craig Ferguson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/craig-ferguson/) > [I was always attracted most to joining City, and I am pleased to be at such a good club with such a big ambition…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edin-dzeko/i-was-always-attracted-most-to-joining-city-and-i-am-pleased-to-be-at/) [Edin Dzeko](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edin-dzeko/) > [Work towards your goal and dont watch the post size,its either they hate,or like you.there is no room for both sides.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/isaac-buabeng/work-towards-your-goal-and-dont-watch-the-post-size-its-either-they/) [Isaac Buabeng](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/isaac-buabeng/) > [“But young men have not only this frivolous ambition of being thought masters of execution, inciting them on the one hand, but also their…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/but-young-men-have-not-only-this-frivolous-ambition-of-being-thought/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I almost never have a plan for myself... I'm not ambitious in that way.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martha-plimpton/i-almost-never-have-a-plan-for-myself-i-m-not-ambitious-in-that-way/) [Martha Plimpton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martha-plimpton/) > [I play for high stakes and given an audience - there is no act too daring or too noble.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/winston-churchill/i-play-for-high-stakes-and-given-an-audience-there-is-no-act-too/) [Winston Churchill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/winston-churchill/) > [There's nothing worse than a leader who lacks ambition.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/there-s-nothing-worse-than-a-leader-who-lacks-ambition/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [If i can't even protect my captain's dream, then whatever ambition i have is nothing but talk..](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zoro/if-i-can-t-even-protect-my-captain-s-dream-then-whatever-ambition-i/) [Zoro](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zoro/) > [It may seem unattainable but if you put actions, your heart and your mind into it, you will prevail.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/london-mond/it-may-seem-unattainable-but-if-you-put-actions-your-heart-and-your/) [London Mond](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/london-mond/) > [Obligation is what's leading us to toward successful, and what keeps us moving towards the future.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wazim-shaw/obligation-is-what-s-leading-us-to-toward-successful-and-what-keeps/) [Wazim Shaw](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wazim-shaw/) [Browse all 4,601 Ambition quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ambition/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Who's more likely to succeed - someone with high skill and no ambition, or no skill and high ambition? 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