--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: For the most ambitious young people, the…" description: "\"For the most ambitious young people, the corporate ladder is obsolete.\" — Paul Graham" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/332/paul-graham-7010_ambitious_for-the-most-ambitious-young-people-the_909988.jpg" --- # For the most ambitious young people, the corporate ladder… ![“For the most ambitious young people, the corporate ladder is obsolete.” quote by Paul Graham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/332/paul-graham-7010_ambitious_for-the-most-ambitious-young-people-the_909988.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/332/paul-graham-7010_ambitious_for-the-most-ambitious-young-people-the_909988.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/332/paul-graham-7010_ambitious_for-the-most-ambitious-young-people-the_909988.jpg) > “For the most ambitious young people, the corporate ladder is obsolete.” [Paul Graham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-graham/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Traditional corporate hierarchies no longer suit highly driven innovators. **In simple terms:** Corporate ladder is outdated for ambitious youth. Key Takeaway Seek alternative career paths. Themes career innovation youth disruption Mood critical inquisitive Type analytical strategic When to use this quote - startups - freelancing - remote work - social entrepreneurship Key Concepts economics organizational theory Questions to Reflect On - What structures support ambitious young talent? - How can organizations adapt? A Different Perspective Not all fields have viable non‑hierarchical structures. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Ambitious](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ambitious/) [Corporate](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/corporate/) [Ladder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ladder/) [Obsolete](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/obsolete/) [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) [Young people](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/young-people/) ## Related quotes > [“You are in the hands of experts who have researched and perfected a system of corporate ladder climbing that, until recently, no one has…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-fossum/you-are-in-the-hands-of-experts-who-have-researched-and-perfected-a/) [Martin Fossum](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-fossum/) > [The further you get up the corporate ladder, the farther you get from the actual filmmaking process.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marc-platt/the-further-you-get-up-the-corporate-ladder-the-farther-you-get-from/) [Marc Platt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marc-platt/) > [I don't like being told what to do and kissing you-know-what to get up the corporate ladder.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-kiyosaki/i-don-t-like-being-told-what-to-do-and-kissing-you-know-what-to-get/) [Robert Kiyosaki](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-kiyosaki/) > [I was a very ambitious, young actor, grateful and getting out there, working hard. I was single-minded in pursuit of my career. I am…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lachanze/i-was-a-very-ambitious-young-actor-grateful-and-getting-out-there/) [LaChanze](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lachanze/) > [ \[ Marco Rubio\] overly ambitious, too young, and I have better hair than he does. ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeb-bush/marco-rubio-overly-ambitious-too-young-and-i-have-better-hair-than-he/) [Jeb Bush](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeb-bush/) > [It takes people a long time to learn the difference between talent and genius, especially ambitious young men and women.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/louisa-may-alcott/it-takes-people-a-long-time-to-learn-the-difference-between-talent/) [Louisa May Alcott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/louisa-may-alcott/) > [I think when I was on the corporate ladder, it was very difficult to maintain the hours. It's a little easier when you have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tory-burch/i-think-when-i-was-on-the-corporate-ladder-it-was-very-difficult-to/) [Tory Burch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tory-burch/) > [Being reliable and accountable is what keeps you there and keeps you moving up that corporate ladder.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/being-reliable-and-accountable-is-what-keeps-you-there-and-keeps-you/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [The younger me was motivated by a need to please others, by the pressure to climb the corporate ladder and make money, and by…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bonnie-hammer/the-younger-me-was-motivated-by-a-need-to-please-others-by-the/) [Bonnie Hammer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bonnie-hammer/) > [“I wish I could climb the corporate ladder like I could climb a tree, but I can’t, because I’m afraid of heights. And bark.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jarod-kintz/i-wish-i-could-climb-the-corporate-ladder-like-i-could-climb-a-tree/) [Jarod Kintz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jarod-kintz/) > [“Don't just climb the corporate ladder, master it! And if anyone tries to push you off, show them who's boss and climb even higher.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shubham-shukla/don-t-just-climb-the-corporate-ladder-master-it-and-if-anyone-tries/) [Shubham Shukla](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shubham-shukla/) > [It's easy to mindlessly ascend a corporate ladder without considering the impact each wrung will have on your potential. It's also easier to become…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/todd-duncan/it-s-easy-to-mindlessly-ascend-a-corporate-ladder-without-considering/) [Todd Duncan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/todd-duncan/) > [I started at Pillsbury as a manager in one of their analysis functions, then worked my way up the corporate ladder to become vice…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/herman-cain/i-started-at-pillsbury-as-a-manager-in-one-of-their-analysis/) [Herman Cain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/herman-cain/) > [“Why climb the corporate ladder when you can build an elevator in your own building?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joshua-e-leyenhorst/why-climb-the-corporate-ladder-when-you-can-build-an-elevator-in-your/) Joshua E. Leyenhorst > [When you are going up the corporate ladder or the government ladder, you have to take some risk.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/condoleezza-rice/when-you-are-going-up-the-corporate-ladder-or-the-government-ladder/) [Condoleezza Rice](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/condoleezza-rice/) ## More by Paul Graham > [“I'm not saying there's no such thing as genius. But if you're trying to choose between two theories and one gives you an excuse…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-graham/i-m-not-saying-there-s-no-such-thing-as-genius-but-if-you-re-trying/) [Paul Graham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-graham/) > [“This is a good plan for life in general. If you have two choices, choose the harder. If you're trying to decide whether to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-graham/this-is-a-good-plan-for-life-in-general-if-you-have-two-choices/) [Paul Graham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-graham/) > [“When I was a kid I was constantly being told to look at things from someone else’s point of view. What this always meant…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-graham/when-i-was-a-kid-i-was-constantly-being-told-to-look-at-things-from/) [Paul Graham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-graham/) > [You know your business model is broken when you're suing your customers.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-graham/you-know-your-business-model-is-broken-when-you-re-suing-your/) [Paul Graham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-graham/) > [“Hackers are unruly. That is the essence of hacking. And it is also the essence of Americanness. It is no accident that Silicon Valley…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-graham/hackers-are-unruly-that-is-the-essence-of-hacking-and-it-is-also-the/) [Paul Graham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-graham/) > [“We often like to think of World War II as a triumph of freedom over totalitarianism. We conveniently forget that the Soviet Union was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-graham/we-often-like-to-think-of-world-war-ii-as-a-triumph-of-freedom-over/) [Paul Graham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-graham/) > [It's hard to say exactly what it is about face-to-face contact that makes deals happen, but whatever it is, it hasn't yet been duplicated…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-graham/it-s-hard-to-say-exactly-what-it-is-about-face-to-face-contact-that/) [Paul Graham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-graham/) > [One startup I dream of funding is the one that kills the record companies.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-graham/one-startup-i-dream-of-funding-is-the-one-that-kills-the-record/) [Paul Graham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-graham/) > [“It’s easier to get people to fight for an idea. And whichever side wins, their ideas will also be considered to have triumphed, as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-graham/it-s-easier-to-get-people-to-fight-for-an-idea-and-whichever-side/) [Paul Graham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-graham/) > [“Could civil liberties really be a cause, rather than just an effect? I think so. I think a society in which people can do…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-graham/could-civil-liberties-really-be-a-cause-rather-than-just-an-effect-i/) [Paul Graham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-graham/) > [“A great programmer, on a roll, could create a million dollars worth of wealth in a couple weeks. A mediocre programmer over the same…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-graham/a-great-programmer-on-a-roll-could-create-a-million-dollars-worth-of/) [Paul Graham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-graham/) > [We don't have to go that far to sell our beer because our immediate accounts sell so much. Places that sold 10 cases before,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-graham/we-don-t-have-to-go-that-far-to-sell-our-beer-because-our-immediate/) [Paul Graham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-graham/) > [I get a lot of criticism for telling founders to focus first on making something great, instead of worrying about how to make money.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-graham/i-get-a-lot-of-criticism-for-telling-founders-to-focus-first-on/) [Paul Graham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-graham/) > [“So the optimal plan, if you can manage it, is to have a few trusted friends you can speak openly to. This is not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-graham/so-the-optimal-plan-if-you-can-manage-it-is-to-have-a-few-trusted/) [Paul Graham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-graham/) > [“Public school teachers are in much the same position as prison wardens.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-graham/public-school-teachers-are-in-much-the-same-position-as-prison-wardens/) [Paul Graham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-graham/) [Explore all 94 Paul Graham quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-graham/) ## More Ambitious quotes > [I'm hungry and ambitious.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julen-lopetegui/i-m-hungry-and-ambitious/) [Julen Lopetegui](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julen-lopetegui/) > [I want my squad to be confident, ambitious. They have to believe in big things and we have to set targets internally.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eddie-howe/i-want-my-squad-to-be-confident-ambitious-they-have-to-believe-in-big/) [Eddie Howe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eddie-howe/) > [I almost never have a plan for myself... I'm not ambitious in that way.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martha-plimpton/i-almost-never-have-a-plan-for-myself-i-m-not-ambitious-in-that-way/) [Martha Plimpton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martha-plimpton/) > [“Getting rich is easy, staying rich is impressive.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/don-trip/getting-rich-is-easy-staying-rich-is-impressive/) [Don Trip](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/don-trip/) > [Trying to be perfect may be inevitable for people who are smart and ambitious and interested in the world and its good opinion...What is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anna-quindlen/trying-to-be-perfect-may-be-inevitable-for-people-who-are-smart-and/) [Anna Quindlen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anna-quindlen/) > [Business is always a struggle. There are always obstacles and competitors. There is never an open road, except the wide road that leads to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-kirubi/business-is-always-a-struggle-there-are-always-obstacles-and/) Chris Kirubi > [I am ambitious to do more than what has been offered me. I want to be the best in whatever career I choose and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/uday-chopra/i-am-ambitious-to-do-more-than-what-has-been-offered-me-i-want-to-be/) [Uday Chopra](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/uday-chopra/) > [There are four varieties in society — the lovers, the ambitious, observers, and fools. The fools are the happiest.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hippolyte-taine/there-are-four-varieties-in-society-the-lovers-the-ambitious/) [Hippolyte Taine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hippolyte-taine/) > [People who are ambitious - politicians who crave power - think that they're in control of it, but at some point, the movement that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ken-liu/people-who-are-ambitious-politicians-who-crave-power-think-that-they/) [Ken Liu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ken-liu/) > [I'm not ambitious. Not a bit.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/indira-gandhi/i-m-not-ambitious-not-a-bit/) [Indira Gandhi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/indira-gandhi/) > [Aggressive and hard-charging women violate unwritten rules about acceptable social conduct. Men are continually applauded for being ambitious and powerful and successful, but women…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sheryl-sandberg/aggressive-and-hard-charging-women-violate-unwritten-rules-about/) [Sheryl Sandberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sheryl-sandberg/) > [I understood early on that I was not the best-looking girl in the room. But I knew my advantage was a hard work ethic…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erin-o-connor/i-understood-early-on-that-i-was-not-the-best-looking-girl-in-the/) [Erin O'Connor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erin-o-connor/) > [It is ordained that to the ambitious, who derive no satisfaction from the gifts of life and the beauty of the world, life shall…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leonardo-da-vinci/it-is-ordained-that-to-the-ambitious-who-derive-no-satisfaction-from/) [Leonardo da Vinci](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leonardo-da-vinci/) > [If Reagan and John Paul II were linked by anything, it was a grand, ambitious, and generous idea of Western political civilization, one in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anne-applebaum/if-reagan-and-john-paul-ii-were-linked-by-anything-it-was-a-grand/) [Anne Applebaum](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anne-applebaum/) > [To talk only about national security, national defense, means to be selfish, ambitious. It is discrimination, isolation. "It is just me. What do I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/evo-morales/to-talk-only-about-national-security-national-defense-means-to-be/) [Evo Morales](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/evo-morales/) [Browse all 1,269 Ambitious quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ambitious/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "For the most ambitious young people, the corporate ladder is obsolete.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Paul Graham" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-graham/for-the-most-ambitious-young-people-the-corporate-ladder-is-obsolete/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Ambitious" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-graham/for-the-most-ambitious-young-people-the-corporate-ladder-is-obsolete/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/332/paul-graham-7010_ambitious_for-the-most-ambitious-young-people-the_909988.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/332/paul-graham-7010_ambitious_for-the-most-ambitious-young-people-the_909988.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/332/paul-graham-7010_ambitious_for-the-most-ambitious-young-people-the_909988.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“For the most ambitious young people, the corporate ladder is obsolete.” — Paul Graham", "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 Graham", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-graham/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "For the most ambitious young people,...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-graham/for-the-most-ambitious-young-people-the-corporate-ladder-is-obsolete/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-graham/for-the-most-ambitious-young-people-the-corporate-ladder-is-obsolete/#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 } } ] } ```