--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The key thing for all businesses, and…" description: "\"The key thing for all businesses, and especially of course technology businesses or businesses that employ technology as a key kind of strategic advant..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6a4/reid-hoffman-1342_advantage_the-key-thing-for-all-businesses-and-esp_469012.png" --- # The key thing for all businesses, and especially of course… ![“The key thing for all businesses, and especially of course technology businesses or businesses that employ technology as a key kind of strategic advantage, is you always have to be investing in the future.” quote by Reid Hoffman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6a4/reid-hoffman-1342_advantage_the-key-thing-for-all-businesses-and-esp_469012.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6a4/reid-hoffman-1342_advantage_the-key-thing-for-all-businesses-and-esp_469012.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6a4/reid-hoffman-1342_advantage_the-key-thing-for-all-businesses-and-esp_469012.png) > “The key thing for all businesses, and especially of course technology businesses or businesses that employ technology as a key kind of strategic advantage, is you always have to be investing in the future.” [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. Businesses must continuously allocate resources to future-oriented initiatives to stay competitive. **In simple terms:** Invest in future growth. Key Takeaway Prioritize forward‑looking investment. Themes strategy innovation technology growth Mood optimistic strategic Type advice business When to use this quote - product development - market research - talent acquisition - technology upgrades Key Concepts Strategic foresight R&D disruptive tech Questions to Reflect On - How do you balance present needs with future bets? - What metrics guide your long‑term spending? A Different Perspective Future investment may strain current cash flow and risk overextension. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Advantage](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/advantage/) [Business](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/business/) [Courses](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/courses/) [Employ Technology](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/employ-technology-4058552/) [Investing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/investing/) [Investing Future](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/investing-future-348955/) [Investing in the future](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/investing-in-the-future/) [Key things](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/key-things/) [Keys](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/keys/) [Kind](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/kind/) [Strategic](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/strategic/) [Strategic Advantage](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/strategic-advantage-2174488/) [Technology](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/technology/) [Technology Businesses](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/technology-businesses-517206/) [Technology Key](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/technology-key-4058553/) [Time](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/time/) ## Related quotes > [Economic tough times are great times to be investing in the future.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/reid-hoffman/economic-tough-times-are-great-times-to-be-investing-in-the-future/) [Reid Hoffman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/reid-hoffman/) > [You have to be constantly reinventing yourself and investing in the future.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/reid-hoffman/you-have-to-be-constantly-reinventing-yourself-and-investing-in-the/) [Reid Hoffman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/reid-hoffman/) > [It seems like for the last 10 years, I've just been investing in the future.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tao-lin/it-seems-like-for-the-last-10-years-i-ve-just-been-investing-in-the/) [Tao Lin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tao-lin/) > [I just keep investing in the future, and I haven't reached the point where I'm not doing that.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tao-lin/i-just-keep-investing-in-the-future-and-i-haven-t-reached-the-point/) [Tao Lin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tao-lin/) > [There is a science to managing high tech businesses, and it needs to be respected. One of them is that in technology businesses, leadership…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-schmidt/there-is-a-science-to-managing-high-tech-businesses-and-it-needs-to/) [Eric Schmidt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-schmidt/) > [The perfect example of Darwinism is what technology has done to businesses.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charlie-munger/the-perfect-example-of-darwinism-is-what-technology-has-done-to/) [Charlie Munger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charlie-munger/) > [“This is not checkers; this is motherfuckin’ chess. Technology businesses tend to be extremely complex. The underlying technology moves, the competition moves, the market…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-horowitz/this-is-not-checkers-this-is-motherfuckin-chess-technology-businesses/) [Ben Horowitz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ben-horowitz/) > [I think we're living in a time when size is not a strategic advantage, necessarily.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-hyatt/i-think-we-re-living-in-a-time-when-size-is-not-a-strategic-advantage/) [Michael Hyatt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-hyatt/) > [When politics becomes a profession, money becomes the strategic advantage.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tasneem-hameed/when-politics-becomes-a-profession-money-becomes-the-strategic/) [Tasneem Hameed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tasneem-hameed/) > [I am probably not the best creative person in the industry. I am probably not the best business person in the industry. But by…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kenneth-cole/i-am-probably-not-the-best-creative-person-in-the-industry-i-am/) [Kenneth Cole](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kenneth-cole/) > [Our ability to create that one-on-one engagement with a customer is a point of differentiation and a strategic advantage for us.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mindy-grossman/our-ability-to-create-that-one-on-one-engagement-with-a-customer-is-a/) [Mindy Grossman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mindy-grossman/) > [It's very hard for students not to be in debt unless they've got big scholarships or rich parents. And it's called investing in your…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/margaret-atwood/it-s-very-hard-for-students-not-to-be-in-debt-unless-they-ve-got-big/) [Margaret Atwood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/margaret-atwood/) > [Let's stop bankrupting the country and start investing in our future.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/seth-moulton/let-s-stop-bankrupting-the-country-and-start-investing-in-our-future/) [Seth Moulton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/seth-moulton/) > [Yes, your jewelry choices make a difference. When you invest in ethical, heirloom-quality jewelry, you're also investing in the future. Your purchase supports a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zoe-helene/yes-your-jewelry-choices-make-a-difference-when-you-invest-in-ethical/) [Zoe Helene](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zoe-helene/) > [“And spend they did. Money circulated faster and spread wider through its communities of use than at any other time in economic history.8 Workers…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/douglas-rushkoff/and-spend-they-did-money-circulated-faster-and-spread-wider-through/) [Douglas Rushkoff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/douglas-rushkoff/) ## 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 Advantage quotes > [Dogmatists have one advantage: they are poor listeners.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frans-de-waal/dogmatists-have-one-advantage-they-are-poor-listeners/) [Frans de Waal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frans-de-waal/) > [ Next came the Patent laws. These began in England in 1624; and, in this country, with the adoption of our constitution. Before then \[these?\],… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abraham-lincoln/next-came-the-patent-laws-these-began-in-england-in-1624-and-in-this/) [Abraham Lincoln](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abraham-lincoln/) > [Talented people can predict with great accuracy what's about to happen just a tiny bit ahead of their competitors. It might be two seconds…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kevin-maney/talented-people-can-predict-with-great-accuracy-what-s-about-to/) [Kevin Maney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kevin-maney/) > [All I ever wanted was an unfair advantage](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/garrison-wynn/all-i-ever-wanted-was-an-unfair-advantage/) [Garrison Wynn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/garrison-wynn/) > [Part of the advantage, and part of the result of trying to be a producer and director, are the practical things, you find. It's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/campbell-scott/part-of-the-advantage-and-part-of-the-result-of-trying-to-be-a/) [Campbell Scott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/campbell-scott/) > [I was born with a silver microphone in my mouth, and that was an advantage. My father wrote books and was also a great…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-dimbleby/i-was-born-with-a-silver-microphone-in-my-mouth-and-that-was-an/) [Jonathan Dimbleby](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-dimbleby/) > [Like funny men, skilled diners are apparently perceived to have an evolutionary advantage.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dana-goodyear/like-funny-men-skilled-diners-are-apparently-perceived-to-have-an/) [Dana Goodyear](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dana-goodyear/) > [For some reason when I decide to pursue something, I never have any fear that it won't happen. I think it's just ingrained in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kelly-blatz/for-some-reason-when-i-decide-to-pursue-something-i-never-have-any/) [Kelly Blatz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kelly-blatz/) > [I think I have good hands, so I try to use them to my advantage.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bianca-andreescu/i-think-i-have-good-hands-so-i-try-to-use-them-to-my-advantage/) [Bianca Andreescu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bianca-andreescu/) > [My influences are jazz, blues, European classical music; they are rock music and pop music. So many kinds of music. World music from different…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rokia-traore/my-influences-are-jazz-blues-european-classical-music-they-are-rock/) [Rokia Traore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rokia-traore/) > [Baseball needs to put the steroids era behind it by having and enforcing tough rules against all kinds of artificial advantages, so that spring…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marvin-olasky/baseball-needs-to-put-the-steroids-era-behind-it-by-having-and/) [Marvin Olasky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marvin-olasky/) > [Daily contact with some teachers is itself all-sided ethical education for the child without a spoken precept. Here, too, the real advantage of male…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/g-stanley-hall/daily-contact-with-some-teachers-is-itself-all-sided-ethical/) [G. Stanley Hall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/g-stanley-hall/) > [ If \[Donald\] Trump throws 20 million off of health care, that's going to be - if he handles this badly - and it's very… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/van-jones/if-donald-trump-throws-20-million-off-of-health-care-that-s-going-to/) [Van Jones](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/van-jones/) > [Live in the world you inhabit. Look upon things as they are. Take them as you find them. Make the best of them. Turn…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-e-lee/live-in-the-world-you-inhabit-look-upon-things-as-they-are-take-them/) [Robert E. Lee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-e-lee/) > [I always tell women that the fact that you're different and that you're noticed, because there are few of us in the tech industry,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/padmasree-warrior/i-always-tell-women-that-the-fact-that-you-re-different-and-that-you/) [Padmasree Warrior](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/padmasree-warrior/) [Browse all 3,503 Advantage quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/advantage/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "The key thing for all businesses, and especially of course technology businesses or businesses that employ technology as a key kind of strategic advantage, is you always have to be investing in the future.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Reid Hoffman" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/reid-hoffman/the-key-thing-for-all-businesses-and-especially-of-course-technology/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Advantage" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/reid-hoffman/the-key-thing-for-all-businesses-and-especially-of-course-technology/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6a4/reid-hoffman-1342_advantage_the-key-thing-for-all-businesses-and-esp_469012.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6a4/reid-hoffman-1342_advantage_the-key-thing-for-all-businesses-and-esp_469012.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6a4/reid-hoffman-1342_advantage_the-key-thing-for-all-businesses-and-esp_469012.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“The key thing for all businesses, and especially of course technology businesses or businesses that employ…” — 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": "The key thing for all businesses,...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/reid-hoffman/the-key-thing-for-all-businesses-and-especially-of-course-technology/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/reid-hoffman/the-key-thing-for-all-businesses-and-especially-of-course-technology/#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 } } ] } ```