--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: McDonalds. Apple. Starbucks. They were…" description: "\"McDonalds. Apple. Starbucks. They were all small businesses, owned by entrepreneurs and people with vision.\" — Michael Gerber" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a2b/michael-gerber-3751_apple_mcdonalds-apple-starbucks-they-were-all_1944666.png" --- # McDonalds. Apple. Starbucks. They were all small… ![“McDonalds. Apple. Starbucks. They were all small businesses, owned by entrepreneurs and people with vision.” quote by Michael Gerber](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a2b/michael-gerber-3751_apple_mcdonalds-apple-starbucks-they-were-all_1944666.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a2b/michael-gerber-3751_apple_mcdonalds-apple-starbucks-they-were-all_1944666.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a2b/michael-gerber-3751_apple_mcdonalds-apple-starbucks-they-were-all_1944666.png) > “McDonalds. Apple. Starbucks. They were all small businesses, owned by entrepreneurs and people with vision.” [Michael Gerber](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-gerber/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Entrepreneurial success stems from vision and small‑scale initiative, not just big brands. **In simple terms:** Big ideas start small. Key Takeaway Start with a clear vision. Themes entrepreneurship vision growth Mood motivational practical Type business inspirational When to use this quote - startup founding - small business scaling - brand development Key Concepts business leadership innovation Questions to Reflect On - What small step can you take today toward your vision? - How does scaling affect original values? A Different Perspective Vision without execution fails. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Business](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/business/) [Dreams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/dreams/) [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) [Small businesses](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/small-businesses/) [Vision](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/vision/) ## Related quotes > [I hit her up, I say what up? She says the sky. I say whats good? 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Martin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-r-r-martin/) > [“Most people believe the apple merely represented Knowledge. But we know better. 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I think Steve Jobs has started one of the greatest…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kid-rock/i-m-not-only-a-fan-of-apple-products-i-have-stock-in-the-company-i/) [Kid Rock](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kid-rock/) > [When Apple introduced its game-changing iPhone in 2007, Nokia was caught sleeping on the job. Although it had actually developed an iPhone-style device -…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/noreena-hertz/when-apple-introduced-its-game-changing-iphone-in-2007-nokia-was/) [Noreena Hertz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/noreena-hertz/) > [I like to make pies. That's kind of my new obsession - peach, blueberry, apple, strawberry. I make a really good pumpkin pie with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/morgan-saylor/i-like-to-make-pies-that-s-kind-of-my-new-obsession-peach-blueberry/) [Morgan Saylor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/morgan-saylor/) > [I love to eat an apple after a meal, just to cleanse my teeth - they always look polished afterwards.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/catherine-zeta-jones/i-love-to-eat-an-apple-after-a-meal-just-to-cleanse-my-teeth-they/) [Catherine Zeta-Jones](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/catherine-zeta-jones/) > [Back in my school days, when I would scuttle off with a cheese roll, an apple, a box of Sun-Maid raisins and a Penguin…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rachel-khoo/back-in-my-school-days-when-i-would-scuttle-off-with-a-cheese-roll-an/) [Rachel Khoo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rachel-khoo/) > [As far as Apple goes, it was a different company every few years from the time I joined in 1984.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-kay/as-far-as-apple-goes-it-was-a-different-company-every-few-years-from/) [Alan Kay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-kay/) > [“You are the apple of Love’s eye.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-paul-kirkpatrick/you-are-the-apple-of-love-s-eye/) [David Paul Kirkpatrick](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-paul-kirkpatrick/) > [Like a satellite in orbit, Apple is perpetually falling. It just happens to miss Earth every time.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/horace-dediu/like-a-satellite-in-orbit-apple-is-perpetually-falling-it-just/) Horace Dediu > [Positive thinking is so firmly enshrined in our culture that knocking it is a little like attacking motherhood or apple pie.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/srikumar-rao/positive-thinking-is-so-firmly-enshrined-in-our-culture-that-knocking/) [Srikumar Rao](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/srikumar-rao/) > [To the extent that anyone anywhere does anything interesting, the question is: 'Why isn't Apple doing that; why is Apple behind in that?' We…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/craig-federighi/to-the-extent-that-anyone-anywhere-does-anything-interesting-the/) [Craig Federighi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/craig-federighi/) > [I read the Steve Jobs book, and that kind of changed everything. 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