---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: If you started as a brick-and-mortar…"
description: "\"If you started as a brick-and-mortar company, that's really who you are. And if you started as a digital company, that's really who you are.\" — Michael..."
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/64c/michael-g-rubin-10767_business_if-you-started-as-a-brick-and-mortar-com_1993843.jpg"
---

#  If you started as a brick-and-mortar company, that's…

![“If you started as a brick-and-mortar company, that's really who you are. And if you started as a digital company, that's really who you are.” quote by Michael G. Rubin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/64c/michael-g-rubin-10767_business_if-you-started-as-a-brick-and-mortar-com_1993843.jpg)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/64c/michael-g-rubin-10767_business_if-you-started-as-a-brick-and-mortar-com_1993843.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/64c/michael-g-rubin-10767_business_if-you-started-as-a-brick-and-mortar-com_1993843.jpg)

> “If you started as a brick-and-mortar company, that's really who you are. And if you started as a digital company, that's really who you are.”

[Michael G. Rubin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-g-rubin/)

## About This Quote

This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.

A company's origins shape its identity; embracing that foundation guides strategy and culture.

**In simple terms:** Your start defines who you are.

Key Takeaway

Align actions with your origin.

Themes

identity origin strategy culture

Mood

analytical strategic

Type

inspirational thought‑provoking

When to use this quote

- startup branding
- pivoting business models
- maintaining core values
- communicating heritage
- strategic positioning

Key Concepts

brand heritage digital transformation company evolution

Questions to Reflect On

- How does your origin influence current decisions?
- Can you evolve without losing identity?

A Different Perspective

Focusing only on origin may limit innovation; adapt while honoring roots.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Business](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/business/) [Company](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/company/) [Digital](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/digital/) [Technology](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/technology/)

## Related quotes

> [I love digital books. And I actually started digital-first publishing back in 2005.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sylvia-day/i-love-digital-books-and-i-actually-started-digital-first-publishing/)

[Sylvia Day](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sylvia-day/)

> [We decided to significantly change the nature of the services we are providing to our clients by creating, really, a digital-first company, and digital…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pierre-nanterme/we-decided-to-significantly-change-the-nature-of-the-services-we-are/)

[Pierre Nanterme](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pierre-nanterme/)

> [I started with digital filmmaking. I've pretty much only done digital filmmaking.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ruben-fleischer/i-started-with-digital-filmmaking-i-ve-pretty-much-only-done-digital/)

[Ruben Fleischer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ruben-fleischer/)

> [As someone who started in the digital background, it's an easier, better, faster platform to bounce off of. You already have so much momentum,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kian-lawley/as-someone-who-started-in-the-digital-background-it-s-an-easier/)

[Kian Lawley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kian-lawley/)

> [When I first started in Formula 1, I tried to ignore the fact I was the first black guy ever to race in the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lewis-hamilton/when-i-first-started-in-formula-1-i-tried-to-ignore-the-fact-i-was/)

[Lewis Hamilton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lewis-hamilton/)

> [When I started fundraising like me and leading like me, that's when I really started to shine and find my own rhythm.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/payal-kadakia/when-i-started-fundraising-like-me-and-leading-like-me-that-s-when-i/)

[Payal Kadakia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/payal-kadakia/)

> [Epic was the first company to really believe in me, to work to help me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johnny-paycheck/epic-was-the-first-company-to-really-believe-in-me-to-work-to-help-me/)

[Johnny Paycheck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johnny-paycheck/)

> [I passionately believe that you should start a company that you really believe in. Don't start something that you have no interest in, start…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-jones/i-passionately-believe-that-you-should-start-a-company-that-you/)

[Peter Jones](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-jones/)

> [Connecting everyone is going to be something that no single company can do by themselves. So I'm really glad that they and a lot…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-zuckerberg/connecting-everyone-is-going-to-be-something-that-no-single-company/)

[Mark Zuckerberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-zuckerberg/)

> [I learnt earlier on that If you can run one company.You can really run any company.A company is all about finding the right people…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-branson/i-learnt-earlier-on-that-if-you-can-run-one-company-you-can-really/)

[Richard Branson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-branson/)

> [MPC, Moving Picture Company, they're really excellent, they did the majority of the effects.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ridley-scott/mpc-moving-picture-company-they-re-really-excellent-they-did-the/)

[Ridley Scott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ridley-scott/)

> [It was clear from very early on that I would work in the family company. There was not really ever another option or idea.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/antoine-arnault/it-was-clear-from-very-early-on-that-i-would-work-in-the-family/)

[Antoine Arnault](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/antoine-arnault/)

> [What do you really believe makes a difference in the company? For me it's really clear. It's about customers and employees. Everything else follows.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anne-m-mulcahy/what-do-you-really-believe-makes-a-difference-in-the-company-for-me/)

[Anne M. Mulcahy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anne-m-mulcahy/)

> [I think you should invest in a company that you really enjoy working with and being with.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donovan-mitchell/i-think-you-should-invest-in-a-company-that-you-really-enjoy-working/)

[Donovan Mitchell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donovan-mitchell/)

> [Every phase of building a company is really hard.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tobias-lutke/every-phase-of-building-a-company-is-really-hard/)

[Tobias Lutke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tobias-lutke/)

## More by Michael G. Rubin

> [It's encouraging to watch bipartisan leaders from different states recognize the need for fair and rational legislation focused on creating second chances for those…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-g-rubin/it-s-encouraging-to-watch-bipartisan-leaders-from-different-states/)

[Michael G. Rubin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-g-rubin/)

> [Mobile is going to change e-commerce as much as e-commerce has changed brick and mortar retailers.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-g-rubin/mobile-is-going-to-change-e-commerce-as-much-as-e-commerce-has/)

[Michael G. Rubin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-g-rubin/)

> [Whether I'm involved or indirectly involved, I screw things up all the time.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-g-rubin/whether-i-m-involved-or-indirectly-involved-i-screw-things-up-all-the/)

[Michael G. Rubin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-g-rubin/)

> [I don't even understand what 'retirement' means.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-g-rubin/i-don-t-even-understand-what-retirement-means/)

[Michael G. Rubin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-g-rubin/)

> [One of the things I love doing is putting great people together.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-g-rubin/one-of-the-things-i-love-doing-is-putting-great-people-together/)

[Michael G. Rubin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-g-rubin/)

> [I am not very good at relaxing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-g-rubin/i-am-not-very-good-at-relaxing/)

[Michael G. Rubin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-g-rubin/)

> [The only sport I was good at was skiing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-g-rubin/the-only-sport-i-was-good-at-was-skiing/)

[Michael G. Rubin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-g-rubin/)

> [Robert Kraft and I learn from each other.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-g-rubin/robert-kraft-and-i-learn-from-each-other/)

[Michael G. Rubin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-g-rubin/)

> [Being able to make sure we have exactly what the fan wants at any time, that's what really drives our business. And having a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-g-rubin/being-able-to-make-sure-we-have-exactly-what-the-fan-wants-at-any/)

[Michael G. Rubin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-g-rubin/)

> [I believe in building great companies.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-g-rubin/i-believe-in-building-great-companies/)

[Michael G. Rubin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-g-rubin/)

> [I have been a business builder all of my life and I am thrilled to bring my enthusiasm for business to Kynetic.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-g-rubin/i-have-been-a-business-builder-all-of-my-life-and-i-am-thrilled-to/)

[Michael G. Rubin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-g-rubin/)

> [I'm grateful I got to do some great things.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-g-rubin/i-m-grateful-i-got-to-do-some-great-things/)

[Michael G. Rubin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-g-rubin/)

> [There has to be more pressure on entrepreneurs, when they create great value, to give back. I always bank on an entrepreneur to give…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-g-rubin/there-has-to-be-more-pressure-on-entrepreneurs-when-they-create-great/)

[Michael G. Rubin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-g-rubin/)

> [People always talk about media ratings, but you really consume media in so many different places.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-g-rubin/people-always-talk-about-media-ratings-but-you-really-consume-media/)

[Michael G. Rubin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-g-rubin/)

> [The energy in the online commerce space is unprecedented.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-g-rubin/the-energy-in-the-online-commerce-space-is-unprecedented/)

[Michael G. Rubin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-g-rubin/)

[Explore all 63 Michael G. Rubin quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-g-rubin/)

## More Business quotes

> [Companies with cultures that celebrate diverse opinions and encourage the exchange of ideas have an advantage when solving difficult problems. A company that doesn't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/doug-mcmillon/companies-with-cultures-that-celebrate-diverse-opinions-and-encourage/)

[Doug McMillon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/doug-mcmillon/)

> [You can laugh at me, but I understand show business.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ksenia-sobchak/you-can-laugh-at-me-but-i-understand-show-business/)

[Ksenia Sobchak](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ksenia-sobchak/)

> [“Start a business, not a startup”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/start-a-business-not-a-startup/)

[Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/)

> [“Take some books and read; that’s an immense help; and books are always good company if you have the right sort.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/louisa-may-alcott/take-some-books-and-read-that-s-an-immense-help-and-books-are-always/)

[Louisa May Alcott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/louisa-may-alcott/)

> [I'm a business first and foremost so whatever my business is, it's separate from my personal. 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. (Once,… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nora-ephron/s-ometimes-when-you-are-a-food-person-the-possible-irrelevance-of/)

[Nora Ephron](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nora-ephron/)

> [If you have a different mindset, you will have a different outcome: if you make different choices from your peers, your life will then…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-ma/if-you-have-a-different-mindset-you-will-have-a-different-outcome-if/)

[Jack Ma](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-ma/)

> [“Some say the Earth is angry Because he wants no company; I say the Earth is angry Because he lives alone.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/n-k-jemisin/some-say-the-earth-is-angry-because-he-wants-no-company-i-say-the/)

[N.K. Jemisin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/n-k-jemisin/)

> [ If the State does not acquire supremacy over \[vast private\] enterprises, it becomes their puppet, and they become the real State. ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bertrand-russell/if-the-state-does-not-acquire-supremacy-over-vast-private-enterprises/)

[Bertrand Russell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bertrand-russell/)

> [It's not just that families can't buy a home or start a business without some savings tucked away.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-cooper/it-s-not-just-that-families-can-t-buy-a-home-or-start-a-business/)

[Jim Cooper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-cooper/)

> [I'm not into business at all.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/freddie-mercury/i-m-not-into-business-at-all/)

[Freddie Mercury](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/freddie-mercury/)

> [I've long believed one of the mainsprings of our own liberty has been the widespread ownership of property among our people and the expectation…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ronald-reagan/i-ve-long-believed-one-of-the-mainsprings-of-our-own-liberty-has-been/)

[Ronald Reagan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ronald-reagan/)

[Browse all 39,016 Business quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/business/)

```json
{
    "@context": "https://schema.org",
    "@graph": [
        {
            "@type": "Quotation",
            "text": "If you started as a brick-and-mortar company, that's really who you are. And if you started as a digital company, that's really who you are.",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "Michael G. Rubin"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-g-rubin/if-you-started-as-a-brick-and-mortar-company-that-s-really-who-you/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "Business"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-g-rubin/if-you-started-as-a-brick-and-mortar-company-that-s-really-who-you/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/64c/michael-g-rubin-10767_business_if-you-started-as-a-brick-and-mortar-com_1993843.jpg",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/64c/michael-g-rubin-10767_business_if-you-started-as-a-brick-and-mortar-com_1993843.jpg",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/64c/michael-g-rubin-10767_business_if-you-started-as-a-brick-and-mortar-com_1993843.jpg",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“If you started as a brick-and-mortar company, that's really who you are. And if you started as a digital…” — Michael G. Rubin",
                "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": "Michael G. Rubin",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-g-rubin/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 4,
                    "name": "If you started as a brick-and-mortar...",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-g-rubin/if-you-started-as-a-brick-and-mortar-company-that-s-really-who-you/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-g-rubin/if-you-started-as-a-brick-and-mortar-company-that-s-really-who-you/#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
            }
        }
    ]
}
```
