--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I learned the value of focus. I learned…" description: "\"I learned the value of focus. I learned it is better to do one product well than two products in a mediocre way.\" — Reed Hastings" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/61c/reed-hastings-10304_focus_i-learned-the-value-of-focus-i-learned-i_1883212.png" --- # I learned the value of focus. I learned it is better to do… ![“I learned the value of focus. I learned it is better to do one product well than two products in a mediocre way.” quote by Reed Hastings](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/61c/reed-hastings-10304_focus_i-learned-the-value-of-focus-i-learned-i_1883212.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/61c/reed-hastings-10304_focus_i-learned-the-value-of-focus-i-learned-i_1883212.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/61c/reed-hastings-10304_focus_i-learned-the-value-of-focus-i-learned-i_1883212.png) > “I learned the value of focus. I learned it is better to do one product well than two products in a mediocre way.” [Reed Hastings](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/reed-hastings/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Prioritizing focus yields higher quality; spreading effort across many projects leads to mediocrity. **In simple terms:** Do one thing well instead of many poorly. Key Takeaway Focus on one product. Themes focus quality productivity Mood strategic pragmatic Type business motivational When to use this quote - startup planning - product development - team management - career decisions Key Concepts business strategy resource allocation Questions to Reflect On - What single project could you improve dramatically? - How do you decide which focus to commit to? A Different Perspective May limit diversification and increase risk if the chosen focus fails. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Focus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/focus/) [Learning](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/learning/) [Values](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/values/) ## Related quotes > [“If I’m asked what the next most important quality is for a novelist, that’s easy too: focus—the ability to concentrate all your limited talents…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/haruki-murakami/if-i-m-asked-what-the-next-most-important-quality-is-for-a-novelist/) [Haruki Murakami](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/haruki-murakami/) > [I play a lot of characters where I don't even speak in my own voice. I learned about focus and I learned to trust…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jenny-slate/i-play-a-lot-of-characters-where-i-don-t-even-speak-in-my-own-voice-i/) [Jenny Slate](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jenny-slate/) > [When I was playing for tips in college, I felt a fire in my soul. I had the same principle of focus that I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kenny-chesney/when-i-was-playing-for-tips-in-college-i-felt-a-fire-in-my-soul-i-had/) [Kenny Chesney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kenny-chesney/) > [“I have learned to value the things others are reluctant to give.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bernard-beckett/i-have-learned-to-value-the-things-others-are-reluctant-to-give/) [Bernard Beckett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bernard-beckett/) > [I learned about M&A and how to value assets and work with investment bankers.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patricia-a-woertz/i-learned-about-m-a-and-how-to-value-assets-and-work-with-investment/) [Patricia A. Woertz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patricia-a-woertz/) > [I think I learned the value of being more patient with myself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kiki-layne/i-think-i-learned-the-value-of-being-more-patient-with-myself/) [KiKi Layne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kiki-layne/) > [As a consultant at McKinsey, I learned the value of data and the ability to shape that information into an answer.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pete-buttigieg/as-a-consultant-at-mckinsey-i-learned-the-value-of-data-and-the/) [Pete Buttigieg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pete-buttigieg/) > [I prize the Depression, for instance, because I learned the value of things in the Depression that a way people who don't have to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shelby-foote/i-prize-the-depression-for-instance-because-i-learned-the-value-of/) [Shelby Foote](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shelby-foote/) > [I've learned the value of just putting my phone down and shutting off the noise.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tayshia-adams/i-ve-learned-the-value-of-just-putting-my-phone-down-and-shutting-off/) [Tayshia Adams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tayshia-adams/) > [“Many years later he looked through one of my books and said, "How did you learn all this, Isaac?" "From you, Pappa", I said.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/isaac-asimov/many-years-later-he-looked-through-one-of-my-books-and-said-how-did/) [Isaac Asimov](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/isaac-asimov/) > [I’ve learned to value failed conversations, missed connections, confusions. What remains is what’s unsaid, what’s underneath. Understanding on another level of being.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anna-kamienska/i-ve-learned-to-value-failed-conversations-missed-connections/) [Anna Kamienska](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anna-kamienska/) > [I learned to value speed in everything I do.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/glenn-kelman/i-learned-to-value-speed-in-everything-i-do/) [Glenn Kelman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/glenn-kelman/) > [We learned the value of research in World War II.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amar-bose/we-learned-the-value-of-research-in-world-war-ii/) [Amar Bose](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amar-bose/) > [“I also learned the value of withholding judgement until I could make a decision based on evidence.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-o-thorp/i-also-learned-the-value-of-withholding-judgement-until-i-could-make/) [Edward O. Thorp](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-o-thorp/) > [I learned the value of hard work by working hard.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/margaret-mead/i-learned-the-value-of-hard-work-by-working-hard/) [Margaret Mead](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/margaret-mead/) ## More by Reed Hastings > [My first company, Pure Software, was exciting and innovative in the first few years and bureaucratic and painful in the last few before it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/reed-hastings/my-first-company-pure-software-was-exciting-and-innovative-in-the/) [Reed Hastings](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/reed-hastings/) > [School districts in the US don't adopt technology very quickly.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/reed-hastings/school-districts-in-the-us-don-t-adopt-technology-very-quickly/) [Reed Hastings](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/reed-hastings/) > [Something will eventually replace the Internet. But it's hard to know what and when it will happen.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/reed-hastings/something-will-eventually-replace-the-internet-but-it-s-hard-to-know/) [Reed Hastings](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/reed-hastings/) > [The Costa Rican government is prioritizing laying fiber optic over paving roads. Costa Rica is trying to become one of the Internet societies. This…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/reed-hastings/the-costa-rican-government-is-prioritizing-laying-fiber-optic-over/) [Reed Hastings](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/reed-hastings/) > [Comparing Apple to Netflix is like comparing apples to oranges, especially if the oranges made so many mistakes that people stopped eating oranges and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/reed-hastings/comparing-apple-to-netflix-is-like-comparing-apples-to-oranges/) [Reed Hastings](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/reed-hastings/) > [I don't know of any Internet service that opens on a regional basis.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/reed-hastings/i-don-t-know-of-any-internet-service-that-opens-on-a-regional-basis/) [Reed Hastings](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/reed-hastings/) > [So much of the downstream revenue is linked to that initial excitement, to how much revenue is produced in the domestic box office. For…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/reed-hastings/so-much-of-the-downstream-revenue-is-linked-to-that-initial/) [Reed Hastings](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/reed-hastings/) > [We are seeing the beginning of things. Web 2.0 is broadband. Web 3.0 is 10 gigabits a second.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/reed-hastings/we-are-seeing-the-beginning-of-things-web-2-0-is-broadband-web-3-0-is/) [Reed Hastings](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/reed-hastings/) > [Great leaders, like Steve Jobs or Jeff Bezos, also focused on the long term.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/reed-hastings/great-leaders-like-steve-jobs-or-jeff-bezos-also-focused-on-the-long/) [Reed Hastings](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/reed-hastings/) > [Do not tolerate brilliant jerks. The cost to teamwork is too high.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/reed-hastings/do-not-tolerate-brilliant-jerks-the-cost-to-teamwork-is-too-high/) [Reed Hastings](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/reed-hastings/) > [Stone Age. Bronze Age. Iron Age. We define entire epics of humanity by the technology they use.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/reed-hastings/stone-age-bronze-age-iron-age-we-define-entire-epics-of-humanity-by/) [Reed Hastings](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/reed-hastings/) > [I think there will be 20 years of evolution from linear broadcast to internet television.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/reed-hastings/i-think-there-will-be-20-years-of-evolution-from-linear-broadcast-to/) [Reed Hastings](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/reed-hastings/) > [Tomorrow when you come to work, if it doesn't make the customer happy, move the business forward, and save us money - don't do…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/reed-hastings/tomorrow-when-you-come-to-work-if-it-doesn-t-make-the-customer-happy/) [Reed Hastings](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/reed-hastings/) > [As an entrepreneur you have to feel like you can jump out of an aeroplane because you're confident that you'll catch a bird flying…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/reed-hastings/as-an-entrepreneur-you-have-to-feel-like-you-can-jump-out-of-an/) [Reed Hastings](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/reed-hastings/) > [I'm on the Facebook board now. Little did they know that I thought Facebook was really stupid when I first heard about it back…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/reed-hastings/i-m-on-the-facebook-board-now-little-did-they-know-that-i-thought/) [Reed Hastings](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/reed-hastings/) [Explore all 66 Reed Hastings quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/reed-hastings/) ## More Focus quotes > [If you take your eye off the ball or lose focus for even a minute you can lose a game against any team.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/felipe-anderson/if-you-take-your-eye-off-the-ball-or-lose-focus-for-even-a-minute-you/) [Felipe Anderson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/felipe-anderson/) > [Music is a job, but I figured out ways to get my mind into a place where I could be creative. I actually discovered…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/flume/music-is-a-job-but-i-figured-out-ways-to-get-my-mind-into-a-place/) [Flume](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/flume/) > [“If you're focused, you can't get bored.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alin-sav/if-you-re-focused-you-can-t-get-bored/) [Alin Sav](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alin-sav/) > [There are more important things to focus on in life than how you look.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arden-cho/there-are-more-important-things-to-focus-on-in-life-than-how-you-look/) [Arden Cho](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arden-cho/) > [Focus on becoming more to achieve more while doing less](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hal-elrod/focus-on-becoming-more-to-achieve-more-while-doing-less/) [Hal Elrod](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hal-elrod/) > [I don't think about the press or the crowds or the other leaders of the race. The focus is only on myself. As soon…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/magdalena-neuner/i-don-t-think-about-the-press-or-the-crowds-or-the-other-leaders-of/) [Magdalena Neuner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/magdalena-neuner/) > [By making conscious choices in our behavior and where we focus our attention, we can transform our experience of our body, decrease our biological…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/deepak-chopra/by-making-conscious-choices-in-our-behavior-and-where-we-focus-our/) [Deepak Chopra](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/deepak-chopra/) > [I think I've had the longest career of strength, focus, and still being able to sell records. I think I'm that guy. I'm still…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nas/i-think-i-ve-had-the-longest-career-of-strength-focus-and-still-being/) [Nas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nas/) > [“This is Galileo,” said Aristotle. “He advocates understanding the world through observation and experiment. He is an unimaginative thinker, but his results demand our…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/liu-cixin/this-is-galileo-said-aristotle-he-advocates-understanding-the-world/) [Liu Cixin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/liu-cixin/) > [Too many times we flitter our energy into too many goals and in the process don't achieve much. Focus is very important in life.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vaishali-kasture/too-many-times-we-flitter-our-energy-into-too-many-goals-and-in-the/) [Vaishali Kasture](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vaishali-kasture/) > [If you ask another competitor, they may tell you they felt very competitive towards me. But I can tell you that my biggest competition…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michelle-kwan/if-you-ask-another-competitor-they-may-tell-you-they-felt-very/) [Michelle Kwan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michelle-kwan/) > [When you approach something to photograph it, first be still with yourself until the object of your attention affirms your presence. Then don't leave…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/minor-white/when-you-approach-something-to-photograph-it-first-be-still-with/) [Minor White](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/minor-white/) > [Enlightened people live in very charged states of attention, with a tremendous power circuiting through them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-lenz/enlightened-people-live-in-very-charged-states-of-attention-with-a/) [Frederick Lenz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-lenz/) > [All I'm focused on is playing my game. Everything else will take care of itself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/grigor-dimitrov/all-i-m-focused-on-is-playing-my-game-everything-else-will-take-care/) [Grigor Dimitrov](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/grigor-dimitrov/) > [Focus on being productive instead of busy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tim-ferriss/focus-on-being-productive-instead-of-busy/) [Tim Ferriss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tim-ferriss/) [Browse all 11,734 Focus quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/focus/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "I learned the value of focus. 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