--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: At most large companies, what is locally…" description: "\"At most large companies, what is locally optimal for you is very frequently not what is globally optimal for the company.\" — Patrick Collison" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/cb3/patrick-collison-16144_business_at-most-large-companies-what-is-locally_68868.jpg" --- # At most large companies, what is locally optimal for you… ![“At most large companies, what is locally optimal for you is very frequently not what is globally optimal for the company.” quote by Patrick Collison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/cb3/patrick-collison-16144_business_at-most-large-companies-what-is-locally_68868.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/cb3/patrick-collison-16144_business_at-most-large-companies-what-is-locally_68868.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/cb3/patrick-collison-16144_business_at-most-large-companies-what-is-locally_68868.jpg) > “At most large companies, what is locally optimal for you is very frequently not what is globally optimal for the company.” [Patrick Collison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patrick-collison/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Local decisions that benefit an individual or team can clash with the overall best outcome for the organization. **In simple terms:** Local vs. global optimum Key Takeaway Align incentives with company goals Themes Decision-making Organizational strategy Incentive alignment Systems thinking Mood Thoughtful Analytical Type Observation Advice When to use this quote - Team performance reviews - Project prioritization - Resource allocation Key Concepts Optimization Trade-offs Practical Applications - Strategic planning - Performance management Questions to Reflect On - How can we ensure personal incentives support the company's mission? - What mechanisms detect misaligned local choices? ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Business](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/business/) [Company](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/company/) [Customer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/customer/) [Large companies](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/large-companies/) ## Related quotes > [Large companies are very good at solving extremely complex problems in a globally optimal way.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-pogge/large-companies-are-very-good-at-solving-extremely-complex-problems/) [Thomas Pogge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-pogge/) > [By using locally manufactured products, you will be able to help the small entrepreneurs in your area to a great extent.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ram-nath-kovind/by-using-locally-manufactured-products-you-will-be-able-to-help-the/) [Ram Nath Kovind](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ram-nath-kovind/) > [I've always said we need to build resilience locally.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-garcetti/i-ve-always-said-we-need-to-build-resilience-locally/) [Eric Garcetti](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-garcetti/) > [You need to be locally relevant, globally consistent.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/keith-hernandez/you-need-to-be-locally-relevant-globally-consistent/) [Keith Hernandez](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/keith-hernandez/) > [The powers of government exercised locally derive from a federal law authorizing government by consent in local affairs only, unless those affairs are otherwise…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dick-thornburgh/the-powers-of-government-exercised-locally-derive-from-a-federal-law/) [Dick Thornburgh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dick-thornburgh/) > [Most problems in poor countries are locally generated even though international factors do play a role.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-mwenda/most-problems-in-poor-countries-are-locally-generated-even-though/) Andrew Mwenda > [Silicon Valley isn't the only game in town. Tech is increasingly decentralized. Around the world, new tech centers with younger companies are able to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ryan-holmes/silicon-valley-isn-t-the-only-game-in-town-tech-is-increasingly/) [Ryan Holmes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ryan-holmes/) > [Phoenix and Las Vegas have grim long-term prospects. On top of oil-and-gas problems, they will have terrible problems with water and the ability to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-howard-kunstler/phoenix-and-las-vegas-have-grim-long-term-prospects-on-top-of-oil-and/) [James Howard Kunstler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-howard-kunstler/) > [I'm super supportive of locally grown foods and farmers. Here in L.A., I know all of my farmers markets and go there weekly.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anna-getty/i-m-super-supportive-of-locally-grown-foods-and-farmers-here-in-l-a-i/) [Anna Getty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anna-getty/) > [I find a lot of people say, "Oh organic and local's expensive and I just don't have time." And I'm like, well how much…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ellen-page/i-find-a-lot-of-people-say-oh-organic-and-local-s-expensive-and-i/) [Ellen Page](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ellen-page/) > [I think a lot of things could be handled locally.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rand-paul/i-think-a-lot-of-things-could-be-handled-locally/) [Rand Paul](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rand-paul/) > [Expanded outdoor dining has created a vibrancy in many of our neighborhoods in ways that we haven't seen before, all while supporting locally owned,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ned-lamont/expanded-outdoor-dining-has-created-a-vibrancy-in-many-of-our/) [Ned Lamont](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ned-lamont/) > [I have ice cream every week. Maybe twice. I live for ice cream, but not just any ice cream. It has to be locally…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abigail-spencer/i-have-ice-cream-every-week-maybe-twice-i-live-for-ice-cream-but-not/) [Abigail Spencer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abigail-spencer/) > [“Unlike exotic fruit or fancy cars, democracy is best if it is grown locally. It may take root in the common desire of the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anna-porter/unlike-exotic-fruit-or-fancy-cars-democracy-is-best-if-it-is-grown/) Anna Porter > [Egypt is the largest wheat importer in the world. In some part, this is due to irrigation issues and inhospitable climes. Egypt's dependence on…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcus-samuelsson/egypt-is-the-largest-wheat-importer-in-the-world-in-some-part-this-is/) [Marcus Samuelsson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcus-samuelsson/) ## More by Patrick Collison > [Silicon Valley does not breed great technology. Instead, the smartest people from around the world tend to move to Silicon Valley.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patrick-collison/silicon-valley-does-not-breed-great-technology-instead-the-smartest/) [Patrick Collison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patrick-collison/) > [I think in general technology always sort of makes some jobs less relevant, or perhaps, even obsolete, but I will say that the idea…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patrick-collison/i-think-in-general-technology-always-sort-of-makes-some-jobs-less/) [Patrick Collison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patrick-collison/) > [I think that Stripe generally is comprised of the kind of people who believe in technology or are kind of optimistic about its effect…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patrick-collison/i-think-that-stripe-generally-is-comprised-of-the-kind-of-people-who/) [Patrick Collison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patrick-collison/) > [We don't always endorse what businesses sell through Stripe, but we do think it's critical that we and our peers don't act as gatekeepers…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patrick-collison/we-don-t-always-endorse-what-businesses-sell-through-stripe-but-we-do/) [Patrick Collison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patrick-collison/) > [I started Stripe with my brother John Collison while we were in school together. 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If I had infinite time, I would watch it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patrick-collison/it-s-not-that-i-don-t-enjoy-tv-if-i-had-infinite-time-i-would-watch-it/) [Patrick Collison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patrick-collison/) > [When you talk to people who are old, some wish they had enjoyed themselves more, but not many wish they had wasted more time.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patrick-collison/when-you-talk-to-people-who-are-old-some-wish-they-had-enjoyed/) [Patrick Collison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patrick-collison/) > [I watch virtually no TV. All my screen time is computer time for me. When I'm not doing that I'm reading or talking to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patrick-collison/i-watch-virtually-no-tv-all-my-screen-time-is-computer-time-for-me/) [Patrick Collison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patrick-collison/) > [One of the first major programming projects that I worked on when I was growing up in Ireland, back just coding by myself, was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patrick-collison/one-of-the-first-major-programming-projects-that-i-worked-on-when-i/) [Patrick Collison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patrick-collison/) [Explore all 40 Patrick Collison quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patrick-collison/) ## More Business quotes > [Companies with cultures that celebrate diverse opinions and encourage the exchange of ideas have an advantage when solving difficult problems. 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