--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: One of the things I benefited from when I…" description: "\"One of the things I benefited from when I started this business was that I didn't know anything. I was just instinct with no preconceived notions. This..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/486/michael-dell-6511_bigger_one-of-the-things-i-benefited-from-when_832347.png" --- # One of the things I benefited from when I started this… ![“One of the things I benefited from when I started this business was that I didn't know anything. I was just instinct with no preconceived notions. This enabled me to learn and change quickly without having to worry about maintaining any kind of status quo, like some of my bigger competitors.” quote by Michael Dell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/486/michael-dell-6511_bigger_one-of-the-things-i-benefited-from-when_832347.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/486/michael-dell-6511_bigger_one-of-the-things-i-benefited-from-when_832347.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/486/michael-dell-6511_bigger_one-of-the-things-i-benefited-from-when_832347.png) > “One of the things I benefited from when I started this business was that I didn't know anything. I was just instinct with no preconceived notions. This enabled me to learn and change quickly without having to worry about maintaining any kind of status quo, like some of my bigger competitors.” [Michael Dell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-dell/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Starting with no knowledge freed him from bias, allowing rapid learning and adaptation against established rivals. **In simple terms:** Ignorance can be an advantage for learning. Key Takeaway Embrace a beginner mindset. Themes learning adaptability competition Mood inquisitive determined Type advice philosophical When to use this quote - startup launch - industry pivot - skill acquisition Key Concepts growth mindset disruption Questions to Reflect On - What assumptions are holding you back? - How can you stay curious? A Different Perspective Lack of expertise can lead to costly mistakes. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Business](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/business/) [Instinct](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/instinct/) [Preconceived notions](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/preconceived-notions/) [Status quo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/status-quo/) [Worry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/worry/) ## Related quotes > [Read more learn more, change the globe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nas/read-more-learn-more-change-the-globe/) [Nas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nas/) > [“It seems that human nature is such that we balk at changing until things get really bad and we’re so uncomfortable that we can…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-dispenza/it-seems-that-human-nature-is-such-that-we-balk-at-changing-until/) [Joe Dispenza](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-dispenza/) > [To learn is to change.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-leonard/to-learn-is-to-change/) [George Leonard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-leonard/) > [To learn is to change how you think.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-merzenich/to-learn-is-to-change-how-you-think/) [Michael Merzenich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-merzenich/) > [No matter how you travel, how 'successful' your tour, or foreshortened, you always learn something and learn to change your thoughts.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-kerouac/no-matter-how-you-travel-how-successful-your-tour-or-foreshortened/) [Jack Kerouac](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-kerouac/) > [“Yet this book is to prove that no matter how you travel, how 'successful' your tour, or foreshortened, you always learn something and learn…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-kerouac/yet-this-book-is-to-prove-that-no-matter-how-you-travel-how/) [Jack Kerouac](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-kerouac/) > [As we learn we always change, and so our perception. This changed perception then becomes a new Teacher inside each of us.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hyemeyohsts-storm/as-we-learn-we-always-change-and-so-our-perception-this-changed/) [Hyemeyohsts Storm](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hyemeyohsts-storm/) > [After a while you also learn you can't change everyone's mind. That's on them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ariana-debose/after-a-while-you-also-learn-you-can-t-change-everyone-s-mind-that-s/) [Ariana DeBose](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ariana-debose/) > [To take in a new idea you must destroy the old, let go of old opinions, to observe and conceive new thoughts. To learn…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/b-j-palmer/to-take-in-a-new-idea-you-must-destroy-the-old-let-go-of-old-opinions/) [B. J. 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It may inspire…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-cain/when-we-only-learn-something-once-we-don-t-really-learn-it-at-least/) David Cain > [We can't cross our fingers and hope that President Donald Trump can 'learn and change.'](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kevin-de-leon/we-can-t-cross-our-fingers-and-hope-that-president-donald-trump-can/) [Kevin de Leon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kevin-de-leon/) > [That's where you have to start, is to find common ground and understand people's differences, but leave room for people to learn and change…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/trevor-lawrence/that-s-where-you-have-to-start-is-to-find-common-ground-and/) [Trevor Lawrence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/trevor-lawrence/) ## More by Michael Dell > [By questioning all the aspects of our business, we continuously inject improvement and innovation into our culture.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-dell/by-questioning-all-the-aspects-of-our-business-we-continuously-inject/) [Michael Dell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-dell/) > [When we acquired Secureworks, if we had taken it and made all the salespeople into Dell salespeople, we would have totally destroyed Secureworks. Instead,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-dell/when-we-acquired-secureworks-if-we-had-taken-it-and-made-all-the/) [Michael Dell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-dell/) > [Anything that can be measured can be improved](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-dell/anything-that-can-be-measured-can-be-improved/) [Michael Dell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-dell/) > [If you have to go through life being unhappy to conform to society around you, that's not a very good deal.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-dell/if-you-have-to-go-through-life-being-unhappy-to-conform-to-society/) [Michael Dell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-dell/) > [“Sometimes it's better not to ask-or to listen-when tell you something can't be done. I didn't ask for permission or approval. I just went…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-dell/sometimes-it-s-better-not-to-ask-or-to-listen-when-tell-you-something/) [Michael Dell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-dell/) > [Computing shows up in many different ways. You have computing that you wear, computing that you carry. What you think of as the traditional…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-dell/computing-shows-up-in-many-different-ways-you-have-computing-that-you/) [Michael Dell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-dell/) > [The IT organization can't drive or lead a digital transformation. It has to come from the business and the business strategy, because they're fundamental…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-dell/the-it-organization-can-t-drive-or-lead-a-digital-transformation-it/) [Michael Dell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-dell/) > [With the understanding that you will face tough times and amazing experiences, you must also commit to the adventure. Just have faith in the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-dell/with-the-understanding-that-you-will-face-tough-times-and-amazing/) [Michael Dell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-dell/) > [“I started the business with a simple question: How can we make the process of buying a computer better? The answer was: Sell computers…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-dell/i-started-the-business-with-a-simple-question-how-can-we-make-the/) [Michael Dell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-dell/) > [The key is to listen to your heart and let it carry you in the direction of your dreams. I've learned that it's possible…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-dell/the-key-is-to-listen-to-your-heart-and-let-it-carry-you-in-the/) [Michael Dell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-dell/) > [The world got enamored with smartphones and tablets, but what's interesting is those devices don't do everything that needs to be done. 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You could use flimsy materials if you wanted to,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jami-attenberg/i-just-think-structure-can-make-a-book-feel-so-much-bigger-it-s-the/) [Jami Attenberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jami-attenberg/) > [I've always thought that the most extraordinary special effect you could do is to buy a child at the moment of its birth, sit…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/clive-barker/i-ve-always-thought-that-the-most-extraordinary-special-effect-you/) [Clive Barker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/clive-barker/) > [Max—you have a bigger mission than finding the flock's parents. Focus on helping the whole world, not just your friends. I held my wings…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-patterson/max-you-have-a-bigger-mission-than-finding-the-flock-s-parents-focus/) [James Patterson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-patterson/) > [Sometimes people can write really great scenes and even a great episode, but they can't see the bigger picture.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/m-night-shyamalan/sometimes-people-can-write-really-great-scenes-and-even-a-great/) [M. Night Shyamalan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/m-night-shyamalan/) > [Never be too busy for the people you love. Never allow pursuits or possessions to become bigger priorities than your relationships. Love is what…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dave-willis/never-be-too-busy-for-the-people-you-love-never-allow-pursuits-or/) [Dave Willis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dave-willis/) > [If you consider yourself a part of the culture, then finances can't allow you to be bigger than the actual art form.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/curtis-jackson/if-you-consider-yourself-a-part-of-the-culture-then-finances-can-t/) [Curtis Jackson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/curtis-jackson/) > [If we get better our customers will demand we get bigger.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/s-truett-cathy/if-we-get-better-our-customers-will-demand-we-get-bigger/) [S. Truett Cathy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/s-truett-cathy/) > [ Their \[the U.S.’s\] defense budget in absolute figures is almost 25 times bigger than Russia’s. 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And they are being encouraged - sometimes even incentivized, as we recently learned…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/naveen-jain/athletes-at-all-ages-are-bigger-and-stronger-than-ever-before-and/) [Naveen Jain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/naveen-jain/) Browse all 3,614 Bigger quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "One of the things I benefited from when I started this business was that I didn't know anything. I was just instinct with no preconceived notions. 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