--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Probably the biggest mistake that I made…" description: "\"Probably the biggest mistake that I made personally is I knew early on that I wanted to go into start-ups and creating kind of software that could help..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a8b/reid-hoffman-1342_advice_probably-the-biggest-mistake-that-i-made_493510.png" --- # Probably the biggest mistake that I made personally is I… ![“Probably the biggest mistake that I made personally is I knew early on that I wanted to go into start-ups and creating kind of software that could help change the lives of millions of people. And basically what I did is I kind of went, okay, well, I need a set of titles and I need a checklist of…” quote by Reid Hoffman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a8b/reid-hoffman-1342_advice_probably-the-biggest-mistake-that-i-made_493510.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a8b/reid-hoffman-1342_advice_probably-the-biggest-mistake-that-i-made_493510.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a8b/reid-hoffman-1342_advice_probably-the-biggest-mistake-that-i-made_493510.png) > “Probably the biggest mistake that I made personally is I knew early on that I wanted to go into start-ups and creating kind of software that could help change the lives of millions of people. And basically what I did is I kind of went, okay, well, I need a set of titles and I need a checklist of skills, and I ran through all that, and that wasn't a useless thing, but what I didn't realize, and, you know, and no one gave me the right advice for doing this, is that actually your network, in essentially, is your career.” [Reid Hoffman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/reid-hoffman/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Career success hinges on building a strong network, not just skills or titles. **In simple terms:** Your network is the key to career growth. Key Takeaway Invest in relationships, not just checklists. Themes career networking entrepreneurship Mood inspirational strategic Type advice motivational When to use this quote - startup founding - job hunting - fundraising - career transitions Key Concepts Social capital human resources strategic relationships Questions to Reflect On - How can you expand your network authentically? - What role does mentorship play? A Different Perspective Network quality can be uneven; not everyone has equal access. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Advice](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/advice/) [Biggest mistake](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/biggest-mistake/) [Creating](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/creating/) [Failure](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/failure/) [Mistake](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mistake/) [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) [Programming](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/programming/) [Skills](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/skills/) [Software](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/software/) ## Related quotes > [I don't know if I'll ever be a master at anything, but I think that's a mistake for me personally. I don't know how…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/demetri-martin/i-don-t-know-if-i-ll-ever-be-a-master-at-anything-but-i-think-that-s/) [Demetri Martin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/demetri-martin/) > [I'd been taught from an early age that I was in the 'other' category on the standardized tests. You know, I had to go…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jordan-peele/i-d-been-taught-from-an-early-age-that-i-was-in-the-other-category-on/) [Jordan Peele](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jordan-peele/) > [Checklists are really helpful ways to remind people around how to manage complicated tasks.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scott-d-anthony/checklists-are-really-helpful-ways-to-remind-people-around-how-to/) [Scott D. Anthony](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scott-d-anthony/) > [My dad, I still think, had the most beautiful, simple checklist for what you should do in life: Do something you really love that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/diane-sawyer/my-dad-i-still-think-had-the-most-beautiful-simple-checklist-for-what/) [Diane Sawyer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/diane-sawyer/) > [In my work as an emergency physician, I know that checklists can be helpful. They ensure complex procedures are done thoroughly and provide an…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leana-s-wen/in-my-work-as-an-emergency-physician-i-know-that-checklists-can-be/) [Leana S. Wen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leana-s-wen/) > [Live. How many of us need to be reminded that living has nothing to do with trying to be as good as someone else,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/suzanne-selfors/live-how-many-of-us-need-to-be-reminded-that-living-has-nothing-to-do/) [Suzanne Selfors](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/suzanne-selfors/) > [It’s all too easy to turn the fight of faith into sanctification-by-checklist. Take care of a few bad habits, develop a couple good ones,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kevin-deyoung/it-s-all-too-easy-to-turn-the-fight-of-faith-into-sanctification-by/) [Kevin DeYoung](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kevin-deyoung/) > [Checklists turn out...to be among the basic tools of the quality and productivity revolution in aviation, engineering, construction - in virtually every field combining…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/atul-gawande/checklists-turn-out-to-be-among-the-basic-tools-of-the-quality-and/) [Atul Gawande](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/atul-gawande/) > [I was applying to the art school, but there was a checklist that said I had to do either production design or stage management…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-pearse-connelly/i-was-applying-to-the-art-school-but-there-was-a-checklist-that-said/) [James Pearse Connelly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-pearse-connelly/) > [I've got a checklist of things I want - including a Brit, a Grammy, an Oscar and a white poodle. Sometimes it gets lonely,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joss-stone/i-ve-got-a-checklist-of-things-i-want-including-a-brit-a-grammy-an/) [Joss Stone](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joss-stone/) > [Good checklists, on the other hand are precise. They are efficient, to the point, and easy to use even in the most difficult situations.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/atul-gawande/good-checklists-on-the-other-hand-are-precise-they-are-efficient-to/) [Atul Gawande](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/atul-gawande/) > [To be a photographer, one must photograph. No amount of book learning, no checklist of seminars attended, can substitute for the simple act of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harry-callahan/to-be-a-photographer-one-must-photograph-no-amount-of-book-learning/) [Harry Callahan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harry-callahan/) > [When I started Cove, I spoke to three immigration lawyers who gave me a long checklist of things to do before my company could…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ruchi-sanghvi/when-i-started-cove-i-spoke-to-three-immigration-lawyers-who-gave-me/) [Ruchi Sanghvi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ruchi-sanghvi/) > [I know for a fact that Ted Cruz every day uses two checklists - to guide him through his personal and professional life -…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rick-perry/i-know-for-a-fact-that-ted-cruz-every-day-uses-two-checklists-to/) [Rick Perry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rick-perry/) > [Personal happiness lies in knowing that life is not a checklist of acquisition. Your qualifications are not your life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/personal-happiness-lies-in-knowing-that-life-is-not-a-checklist-of/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) ## More by Reid Hoffman > [As an entrepreneur and investor, I prioritize construction and collaboration. Whether it's a five-person start-up or a global giant, the companies that are most…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/reid-hoffman/as-an-entrepreneur-and-investor-i-prioritize-construction-and/) [Reid Hoffman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/reid-hoffman/) > [In software speed to market, speed to learning is really key. In hardware if you screw it up you are dead. So accuracy really…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/reid-hoffman/in-software-speed-to-market-speed-to-learning-is-really-key-in/) [Reid Hoffman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/reid-hoffman/) > [“Stockpiling facts won’t get you anywhere. What will get you somewhere is being able to access the information you need, when you need it.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/reid-hoffman/stockpiling-facts-won-t-get-you-anywhere-what-will-get-you-somewhere/) [Reid Hoffman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/reid-hoffman/) > [I think the randomness by Donald Trump's governing, by tweeting, sloganeering, attacking, will create great chaos in the entire market. I think people will…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/reid-hoffman/i-think-the-randomness-by-donald-trump-s-governing-by-tweeting/) [Reid Hoffman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/reid-hoffman/) > [Democracy is always frustrating.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/reid-hoffman/democracy-is-always-frustrating/) [Reid Hoffman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/reid-hoffman/) > [One of the ways they run forward is by viewing the thing they’re doing as something that’s going to be the whole world.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/reid-hoffman/one-of-the-ways-they-run-forward-is-by-viewing-the-thing-they-re/) [Reid Hoffman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/reid-hoffman/) > [If you could train an AI to be a Buddhist, it would probably be pretty good.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/reid-hoffman/if-you-could-train-an-ai-to-be-a-buddhist-it-would-probably-be-pretty/) [Reid Hoffman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/reid-hoffman/) > [It’s actually pretty easy to be contrarian. It’s hard to be contrarian and right.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/reid-hoffman/it-s-actually-pretty-easy-to-be-contrarian-it-s-hard-to-be-contrarian/) [Reid Hoffman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/reid-hoffman/) > [Giving birth to something that could possibly change the lives of millions of people for possibly decades, hundreds of years, whatever the length of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/reid-hoffman/giving-birth-to-something-that-could-possibly-change-the-lives-of/) [Reid Hoffman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/reid-hoffman/) > [The entrepreneurial journey starts with jumping off a cliff and assembling an airplane on the way down.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/reid-hoffman/the-entrepreneurial-journey-starts-with-jumping-off-a-cliff-and/) [Reid Hoffman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/reid-hoffman/) > [Be persistent, and hang on to your vision. And at the same time, be flexible.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/reid-hoffman/be-persistent-and-hang-on-to-your-vision-and-at-the-same-time-be/) [Reid Hoffman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/reid-hoffman/) > [First mover Advantage doesn't go to the company that starts up, it goes to the company that scales up](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/reid-hoffman/first-mover-advantage-doesn-t-go-to-the-company-that-starts-up-it/) [Reid Hoffman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/reid-hoffman/) > [Before dreaming about the future or marking plans, you need to articulate what you already have going for you - as entrepreneurs do.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/reid-hoffman/before-dreaming-about-the-future-or-marking-plans-you-need-to/) [Reid Hoffman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/reid-hoffman/) > [The metaphor that I frequently use for entrepreneurship is jumping off a cliff and assembling an airplane plane on the way down.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/reid-hoffman/the-metaphor-that-i-frequently-use-for-entrepreneurship-is-jumping/) [Reid Hoffman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/reid-hoffman/) > [ I think most of \[people\] are not very well educated themselves to understand the Winston Churchill line - democracy is the worst of all… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/reid-hoffman/i-think-most-of-people-are-not-very-well-educated-themselves-to/) [Reid Hoffman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/reid-hoffman/) [Explore all 253 Reid Hoffman quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/reid-hoffman/) ## More Advice quotes > [The sensible person is always serious about sensible advice.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mak-786/the-sensible-person-is-always-serious-about-sensible-advice/) Mak\_786 > [I ask for tips, for advice. What I have also learnt is that I need to do things that are good for me. In…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matthijs-de-ligt/i-ask-for-tips-for-advice-what-i-have-also-learnt-is-that-i-need-to/) [Matthijs de Ligt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matthijs-de-ligt/) > [Don't get too attached to someone you know you can't be together with.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anurag-prakash-ray/don-t-get-too-attached-to-someone-you-know-you-can-t-be-together-with/) [Anurag Prakash Ray](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anurag-prakash-ray/) > [A low-minded person should not be given good advice.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chanakya/a-low-minded-person-should-not-be-given-good-advice/) [Chanakya](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chanakya/) > [The worst advice? 'Don't listen to the critics.' I think that you really ought to listen to the critics, because sometimes they're telling you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-king/the-worst-advice-don-t-listen-to-the-critics-i-think-that-you-really/) [Stephen King](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-king/) > [When I was in my twenties and just so sexually prolific, the first time I went to Machu Picchu, this guy, a spiritual teacher,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/woody-harrelson/when-i-was-in-my-twenties-and-just-so-sexually-prolific-the-first/) [Woody Harrelson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/woody-harrelson/) > [The best way to succeed in this world is to act on the advice you give to others.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/napoleon-hill/the-best-way-to-succeed-in-this-world-is-to-act-on-the-advice-you/) [Napoleon Hill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/napoleon-hill/) > [Time is priceless. You have it, but you don't own it. You spend it, but you can't keep it. And once it's gone, there's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/time-is-priceless-you-have-it-but-you-don-t-own-it-you-spend-it-but/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [You don't need to take a persons advice to make him feel good, just ask him for it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laurence-j-peter/you-don-t-need-to-take-a-persons-advice-to-make-him-feel-good-just/) [Laurence J. Peter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laurence-j-peter/) > [Some of the things that we hold onto the most, are the things that we need to let go of.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ryaj-ablando-catayas/some-of-the-things-that-we-hold-onto-the-most-are-the-things-that-we/) [Ryaj Ablando Catayas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ryaj-ablando-catayas/) > [“If your clothes are enough to drive would-be friends away, they're not the kind of friends you want." Typical mother advice. Sweet, honest, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aprilynne-pike/if-your-clothes-are-enough-to-drive-would-be-friends-away-they-re-not/) [Aprilynne Pike](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aprilynne-pike/) > [“My kingdom not for a horse, but for a good piece of advice!”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mehmet-murat-ildan/my-kingdom-not-for-a-horse-but-for-a-good-piece-of-advice/) [Mehmet Murat ildan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mehmet-murat-ildan/) > [I always advise people not to act upon the advice that I give them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vikrant-parsai/i-always-advise-people-not-to-act-upon-the-advice-that-i-give-them/) [Vikrant Parsai](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vikrant-parsai/) > [ \[A\]s you partake of the world's bill of fare, that's darned good advice to follow. Do a lot of spitting out the hot air.… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dr-seuss/a-s-you-partake-of-the-world-s-bill-of-fare-that-s-darned-good-advice/) [Dr. Seuss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dr-seuss/) > [My relationship with Ibrahimovic was completely neutral. He is not the type of player to approach the younger players and give them advice. He…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kingsley-coman/my-relationship-with-ibrahimovic-was-completely-neutral-he-is-not-the/) [Kingsley Coman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kingsley-coman/) [Browse all 8,535 Advice quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/advice/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Probably the biggest mistake that I made personally is I knew early on that I wanted to go into start-ups and creating kind of software that could help change the lives of millions of people. And basically what I did is I kind of went, okay, well, I need a set of titles and I need a checklist of skills, and I ran through all that, and that wasn't a useless thing, but what I didn't realize, and, you know, and no one gave me the right advice for doing this, is that actually your network, in essentially, is your career.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Reid Hoffman" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/reid-hoffman/probably-the-biggest-mistake-that-i-made-personally-is-i-knew-early/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Advice" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/reid-hoffman/probably-the-biggest-mistake-that-i-made-personally-is-i-knew-early/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a8b/reid-hoffman-1342_advice_probably-the-biggest-mistake-that-i-made_493510.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a8b/reid-hoffman-1342_advice_probably-the-biggest-mistake-that-i-made_493510.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a8b/reid-hoffman-1342_advice_probably-the-biggest-mistake-that-i-made_493510.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Probably the biggest mistake that I made personally is I knew early on that I wanted to go into start-ups…” — Reid Hoffman", "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": "Reid Hoffman", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/reid-hoffman/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "Probably the biggest mistake that I...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/reid-hoffman/probably-the-biggest-mistake-that-i-made-personally-is-i-knew-early/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/reid-hoffman/probably-the-biggest-mistake-that-i-made-personally-is-i-knew-early/#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 } } ] } ```