--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Back to Microsoft days, I'm always…" description: "\"Back to Microsoft days, I'm always looking for, 'OK, that's great, but what can go wrong?'\" — Paul Allen" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e81/paul-allen-2295_always_back-to-microsoft-days-i-m-always-lookin_2575113.png" --- # Back to Microsoft days, I'm always looking for, 'OK… ![“Back to Microsoft days, I'm always looking for, 'OK, that's great, but what can go wrong?'” quote by Paul Allen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e81/paul-allen-2295_always_back-to-microsoft-days-i-m-always-lookin_2575113.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e81/paul-allen-2295_always_back-to-microsoft-days-i-m-always-lookin_2575113.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e81/paul-allen-2295_always_back-to-microsoft-days-i-m-always-lookin_2575113.png) > “Back to Microsoft days, I'm always looking for, 'OK, that's great, but what can go wrong?'” [Paul Allen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-allen/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. He habitizes anticipating problems, reflecting a cautious, risk‑aware mindset. **In simple terms:** Always ask what could go wrong. Key Takeaway Adopt proactive risk assessment. Themes caution risk innovation Mood analytical pragmatic Type business philosophical When to use this quote - project management - technology - leadership Key Concepts analysis prevention Questions to Reflect On - How do you balance caution and action? - What risks are worth taking? A Different Perspective Excessive worry can stifle creativity. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Always](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/always/) [Days](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/days/) [Days Looking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/days-looking-1727634/) [Go](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/go/) [Great](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/great/) [Great Wrong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/great-wrong-1727632/) [Looking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/looking/) [Microsoft Days](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/microsoft-days-1727630/) ## Related quotes > [If I'm in L.A. for longer than 20 days, I'm looking for work, because I don't do vacations.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-rollins/if-i-m-in-l-a-for-longer-than-20-days-i-m-looking-for-work-because-i/) [Henry Rollins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-rollins/) > [If I have to go around telling everyone how great I am, then there's something wrong with my act.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/les-paul/if-i-have-to-go-around-telling-everyone-how-great-i-am-then-there-s/) [Les Paul](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/les-paul/) > [Whoever says Americas best days are behind it are looking the wrong direction.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-h-w-bush/whoever-says-americas-best-days-are-behind-it-are-looking-the-wrong/) [George H. W. Bush](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-h-w-bush/) > [I have spent weeks in the desert, forgetting to look at the moon, he says, as a married man may spend days never looking…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-ondaatje/i-have-spent-weeks-in-the-desert-forgetting-to-look-at-the-moon-he/) [Michael Ondaatje](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-ondaatje/) > [“I spend my days looking into the last room in the house, the one we keep barred and hidden even from ourselves. The one…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/louise-penny/i-spend-my-days-looking-into-the-last-room-in-the-house-the-one-we/) [Louise Penny](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/louise-penny/) > [“We, who live in the cities, see but a little farther than across the street. We spend our days looking at the work of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harold-bell-wright/we-who-live-in-the-cities-see-but-a-little-farther-than-across-the/) [Harold Bell Wright](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harold-bell-wright/) > [“Some guys spend days looking for something they lost. I never seem to have anything that if I lost it I'd care too much.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-d-salinger-2/some-guys-spend-days-looking-for-something-they-lost-i-never-seem-to/) [J. D. Salinger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-d-salinger-2/) > [“It's not that we spend five days looking forward to just two. It's that most people do what they enjoy most on those two…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-a-murphy/it-s-not-that-we-spend-five-days-looking-forward-to-just-two-it-s/) [James A. Murphy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-a-murphy/) > [A lot of people these days are looking for a relationship that lasts. But we shouldn't be looking for that we should be looking…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tyler/a-lot-of-people-these-days-are-looking-for-a-relationship-that-lasts/) [Tyler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tyler/) > [All right, then, her first rule for the rest of her days: no more looking outside for definitions. She might not have any clue…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-r-ward/all-right-then-her-first-rule-for-the-rest-of-her-days-no-more/) [J.R. Ward](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-r-ward/) > [We spend our days, each one of us, in looking for the secret of life. Well, the secret of life is in Art.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oscar-wilde/we-spend-our-days-each-one-of-us-in-looking-for-the-secret-of-life/) [Oscar Wilde](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oscar-wilde/) > [Days are long when you're filming, so I catch up on sleep during breaks to avoid looking tired.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tamzin-merchant/days-are-long-when-you-re-filming-so-i-catch-up-on-sleep-during/) [Tamzin Merchant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tamzin-merchant/) > [Looking back now, thinking about that moment in the lights, with my heart pounding, Oscar in my hand, all I can say is I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marlee-matlin/looking-back-now-thinking-about-that-moment-in-the-lights-with-my/) [Marlee Matlin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marlee-matlin/) > [I didn't want to go to college. I went to Oregon two days to visit. And they were two sunny days. But me in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cody-bellinger/i-didn-t-want-to-go-to-college-i-went-to-oregon-two-days-to-visit-and/) [Cody Bellinger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cody-bellinger/) > [It's very important to me that I look good when I go out publicly. I like looking at my clothes rack in the morning…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anna-wintour/it-s-very-important-to-me-that-i-look-good-when-i-go-out-publicly-i/) [Anna Wintour](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anna-wintour/) ## More by Paul Allen > [I just try to find things that either need to be done, should be done, or where I can make a difference in a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-allen/i-just-try-to-find-things-that-either-need-to-be-done-should-be-done/) [Paul Allen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-allen/) > [I'm not a video-game player at all.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-allen/i-m-not-a-video-game-player-at-all/) [Paul Allen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-allen/) > [AI2 was born from a desire to create a system that could truly reason about knowledge, rather than just offer up what had been…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-allen/ai2-was-born-from-a-desire-to-create-a-system-that-could-truly-reason/) [Paul Allen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-allen/) > [Some people can vent their anger, take a breath, and let it go, but I wasn't one of them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-allen/some-people-can-vent-their-anger-take-a-breath-and-let-it-go-but-i/) [Paul Allen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-allen/) > [Any time you get to compete for the championship in a professional spot, it's just a magic thing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-allen/any-time-you-get-to-compete-for-the-championship-in-a-professional/) [Paul Allen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-allen/) > [Art fairs bring attention to up and coming artists and some amazing new works. They are a way to connect everyone with what's happening…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-allen/art-fairs-bring-attention-to-up-and-coming-artists-and-some-amazing/) [Paul Allen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-allen/) > [Human beings are fragile things, and for the period of time it takes to get them to Mars and back, you have dangerous radiation…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-allen/human-beings-are-fragile-things-and-for-the-period-of-time-it-takes/) [Paul Allen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-allen/) > [With documentary-film projects, you hope you highlight an area of concern people haven't thought about before. A lot of times, I'm asking myself -…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-allen/with-documentary-film-projects-you-hope-you-highlight-an-area-of/) [Paul Allen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-allen/) > [In my own work, I've tried to anticipate what's coming over the horizon, to hasten its arrival, and to apply it to people's lives…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-allen/in-my-own-work-i-ve-tried-to-anticipate-what-s-coming-over-the/) [Paul Allen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-allen/) > [The NBA is intense, but the NFL is a whole 'nother level of intensity and dramatic, game-changing plays.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-allen/the-nba-is-intense-but-the-nfl-is-a-whole-nother-level-of-intensity/) [Paul Allen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-allen/) > [Sometimes it's very difficult to find fresh fruit on the road.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-allen/sometimes-it-s-very-difficult-to-find-fresh-fruit-on-the-road/) [Paul Allen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-allen/) > [Computers are really, basically, computing elements and a lot of memory. They are pretty easy to understand, as compared to the brain, which was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-allen/computers-are-really-basically-computing-elements-and-a-lot-of-memory/) [Paul Allen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-allen/) > [As quickly as it started, our business model evaporated. But while Traf-O-Data was technically a business failure, the understanding of microprocessors we absorbed was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-allen/as-quickly-as-it-started-our-business-model-evaporated-but-while-traf/) [Paul Allen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-allen/) > [In an ideal world, everybody would find it easy to talk to the press... but not everybody is so excited.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-allen/in-an-ideal-world-everybody-would-find-it-easy-to-talk-to-the-press/) [Paul Allen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-allen/) > [Those fortunate to achieve great wealth should put it to work for the good of humanity.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-allen/those-fortunate-to-achieve-great-wealth-should-put-it-to-work-for-the/) [Paul Allen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-allen/) [Explore all 173 Paul Allen quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-allen/) ## More Always quotes > [I think performing has pretty much always been a part of me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/isa-briones/i-think-performing-has-pretty-much-always-been-a-part-of-me/) [Isa Briones](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/isa-briones/) > [I always thought if I was born 2000 years earlier, I would be a monk, probably carving a monastery or some giant pantheon buildings.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jenova-chen/i-always-thought-if-i-was-born-2000-years-earlier-i-would-be-a-monk/) [Jenova Chen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jenova-chen/) > [I always like a character who makes me laugh.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rachael-stirling/i-always-like-a-character-who-makes-me-laugh/) [Rachael Stirling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rachael-stirling/) > [It's always great to see old friends, especially those I have not been able to see in 15 months.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-regal/it-s-always-great-to-see-old-friends-especially-those-i-have-not-been/) [William Regal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-regal/) > [When you step out and do a song in a musical, the easier thing to do is make it funny. But when those transitions…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kelli-o-hara/when-you-step-out-and-do-a-song-in-a-musical-the-easier-thing-to-do/) [Kelli O'Hara](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kelli-o-hara/) > [I have really good lateral movement. I've always had quick lateral movement.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/austin-rivers/i-have-really-good-lateral-movement-i-ve-always-had-quick-lateral/) [Austin Rivers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/austin-rivers/) > [There is something magical about being able to feel somebody. And that is something that has always moved me with music.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maria-brink/there-is-something-magical-about-being-able-to-feel-somebody-and-that/) [Maria Brink](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maria-brink/) > [Mythology is something that always has opportunities to explore. 'It' has been on Earth for millions of years. He's been in contact with humans…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andy-muschietti/mythology-is-something-that-always-has-opportunities-to-explore-it/) [Andy Muschietti](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andy-muschietti/) > [It's not writing in the traditional sense, but I've always said that the writing process continues on the set and even into the editing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-b-weide/it-s-not-writing-in-the-traditional-sense-but-i-ve-always-said-that/) [Robert B. Weide](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-b-weide/) > [I always watch my matches back 100 times afterwards because that's how I improve. This is something I've always done, even in NXT.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mandy-rose/i-always-watch-my-matches-back-100-times-afterwards-because-that-s/) [Mandy Rose](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mandy-rose/) > [I've always been of the idea that is doesn't really matter where you are geographically - with 'Lonerism,' we made half the album in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kevin-parker/i-ve-always-been-of-the-idea-that-is-doesn-t-really-matter-where-you/) [Kevin Parker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kevin-parker/) > [It's very easy to fool yourself that you're working, you know, when you're really not working very hard. I mean, I'm very lazy. So…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-caro/it-s-very-easy-to-fool-yourself-that-you-re-working-you-know-when-you/) [Robert Caro](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-caro/) > [Whether it was Little League or playing with your brothers or sisters, that was always a problem. If I would lose - because I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cal-ripken-jr/whether-it-was-little-league-or-playing-with-your-brothers-or-sisters/) [Cal Ripken, Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cal-ripken-jr/) > [I always say if you put someone from a small town into a big city for ten years, then when they go back, they'll…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-colter/i-always-say-if-you-put-someone-from-a-small-town-into-a-big-city-for/) [Mike Colter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-colter/) > [Bayern is always a team that can win the Champions League title in Europe.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lothar-matthaus/bayern-is-always-a-team-that-can-win-the-champions-league-title-in/) [Lothar Matthaus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lothar-matthaus/) [Browse all 36,048 Always quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/always/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Back to Microsoft days, I'm always looking for, 'OK, that's great, but what can go wrong?'", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Paul Allen" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-allen/back-to-microsoft-days-i-m-always-looking-for-ok-that-s-great-but/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Always" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-allen/back-to-microsoft-days-i-m-always-looking-for-ok-that-s-great-but/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e81/paul-allen-2295_always_back-to-microsoft-days-i-m-always-lookin_2575113.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e81/paul-allen-2295_always_back-to-microsoft-days-i-m-always-lookin_2575113.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e81/paul-allen-2295_always_back-to-microsoft-days-i-m-always-lookin_2575113.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Back to Microsoft days, I'm always looking for, 'OK, that's great, but what can go wrong?'” — Paul Allen", "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": "Paul Allen", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-allen/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "Back to Microsoft days, I'm always...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-allen/back-to-microsoft-days-i-m-always-looking-for-ok-that-s-great-but/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-allen/back-to-microsoft-days-i-m-always-looking-for-ok-that-s-great-but/#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 } } ] } ```