--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The great thing is the start - to see an…" description: "\"The great thing is the start - to see an opportunity for service, and to start doing it, even though in the beginning you serve but a single customer -..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/173/robert-collier-7407_customer_the-great-thing-is-the-start-to-see-an-o_373647.jpg" --- # The great thing is the start - to see an opportunity for… ![“The great thing is the start - to see an opportunity for service, and to start doing it, even though in the beginning you serve but a single customer - and him for nothing.” quote by Robert Collier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/173/robert-collier-7407_customer_the-great-thing-is-the-start-to-see-an-o_373647.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/173/robert-collier-7407_customer_the-great-thing-is-the-start-to-see-an-o_373647.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/173/robert-collier-7407_customer_the-great-thing-is-the-start-to-see-an-o_373647.jpg) > “The great thing is the start - to see an opportunity for service, and to start doing it, even though in the beginning you serve but a single customer - and him for nothing.” [Robert Collier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-collier/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Starting service with even a single client builds experience and reputation, leading to broader opportunities. **In simple terms:** Begin small, serve well, then grow. Key Takeaway Start serving, even one customer at a time. Themes service entrepreneurship growth Mood inspirational practical Type business philosophical When to use this quote - freelance work - startup launch - community volunteering - client outreach Key Concepts customer focus value creation incremental scaling Questions to Reflect On - How can you measure success beyond immediate revenue? - What motivates you to serve without immediate reward? A Different Perspective Early efforts may not yield immediate profit, risking discouragement. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Customer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/customer/) [Great things](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/great-things/) [Inertia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/inertia/) [Inspirational](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/inspirational/) [Love](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/love/) [Opportunity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/opportunity/) [Service](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/service/) ## Related quotes > [Start where you are. Distant fields always look greener, but opportunity lies right where you are. Take advantage of every opportunity of service.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-collier/start-where-you-are-distant-fields-always-look-greener-but/) [Robert Collier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-collier/) > [Really, even in this whole Obama initiative, and everything that's going on with the economy, the only way to jump start it is we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/doug-e-fresh/really-even-in-this-whole-obama-initiative-and-everything-that-s/) [Doug E. Fresh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/doug-e-fresh/) > [Every start is an opportunity to get better and to learn how your body is feeling and what you need to do moving forward.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gerrit-cole/every-start-is-an-opportunity-to-get-better-and-to-learn-how-your/) [Gerrit Cole](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gerrit-cole/) > [You start where you can get an opportunity, you take everything that you can do to gain entrance. You do the little work and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jon-voight/you-start-where-you-can-get-an-opportunity-you-take-everything-that/) [Jon Voight](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jon-voight/) > [Everyone can help, everyone can do one thing. Start by your heart: what you want.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/somaly-mam/everyone-can-help-everyone-can-do-one-thing-start-by-your-heart-what/) [Somaly Mam](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/somaly-mam/) > [“But whatever you decide, the important thing is to start.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ryan-levesque/but-whatever-you-decide-the-important-thing-is-to-start/) [Ryan Levesque](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ryan-levesque/) > [It is a great thing to start life with a small number of really good books which are your very own.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arthur-conan-doyle/it-is-a-great-thing-to-start-life-with-a-small-number-of-really-good/) [Arthur Conan Doyle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arthur-conan-doyle/) > [“It's easier to do the right thing from the start so there's nothing to apologize for”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jennifer-niven/it-s-easier-to-do-the-right-thing-from-the-start-so-there-s-nothing/) [Jennifer Niven](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jennifer-niven/) > [The first thing I do when I start a role is I look to see where we're similar. What do you get for nothing,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-majors/the-first-thing-i-do-when-i-start-a-role-is-i-look-to-see-where-we-re/) [Jonathan Majors](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-majors/) > [The worst thing you can do is start slow, or con yourself into thinking that you can take your time getting into a match.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-kramer/the-worst-thing-you-can-do-is-start-slow-or-con-yourself-into/) Jack Kramer > [I think the most important thing is to start with something that fits perfectly. Don't worry about having it in five colors.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-white/i-think-the-most-important-thing-is-to-start-with-something-that-fits/) [Jack White](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-white/) > [The first thing I had to start with was, you know, we don't have a war. We don't have a depression, we don't have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-j-clinton/the-first-thing-i-had-to-start-with-was-you-know-we-don-t-have-a-war/) [William J. Clinton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-j-clinton/) > [“One thing at a time. Most important thing first. Start now.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/caroline-webb/one-thing-at-a-time-most-important-thing-first-start-now/) [Caroline Webb](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/caroline-webb/) > [It's a beautiful thing, to start over.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-fallon/it-s-a-beautiful-thing-to-start-over/) [Brian Fallon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-fallon/) > [“But I know that in order to get to the end of a thing, one must start at the beginning.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michelle-zink/but-i-know-that-in-order-to-get-to-the-end-of-a-thing-one-must-start/) [Michelle Zink](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michelle-zink/) ## More by Robert Collier > [All of us have bad luck and good luck. The man who persists through the bad luck - who keeps right on going -…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-collier/all-of-us-have-bad-luck-and-good-luck-the-man-who-persists-through/) [Robert Collier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-collier/) > [It is only when you despair of all ordinary means, it is only when you convince it that it must help you or you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-collier/it-is-only-when-you-despair-of-all-ordinary-means-it-is-only-when-you/) [Robert Collier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-collier/) > [Your belief that you can do the thing gives your thought forces their power](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-collier/your-belief-that-you-can-do-the-thing-gives-your-thought-forces-their/) [Robert Collier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-collier/) > [It is your work to clear away the mass of encumbering material of thoughts, so that you may bring into plain view the precious…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-collier/it-is-your-work-to-clear-away-the-mass-of-encumbering-material-of/) [Robert Collier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-collier/) > [Supply always comes on the heels of demand.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-collier/supply-always-comes-on-the-heels-of-demand/) [Robert Collier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-collier/) > [Make every thought, every fact, that comes into your mind pay you a profit. Make it work and produce for you. Think of things…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-collier/make-every-thought-every-fact-that-comes-into-your-mind-pay-you-a/) [Robert Collier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-collier/) > [See the things you want as already yours. Think of them as yours, as belonging to you, as already in your possession.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-collier/see-the-things-you-want-as-already-yours-think-of-them-as-yours-as/) [Robert Collier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-collier/) > [Your chances of success in any undertaking can always be measured by your belief in yourself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-collier/your-chances-of-success-in-any-undertaking-can-always-be-measured-by/) [Robert Collier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-collier/) > [Mind is all that counts.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-collier/mind-is-all-that-counts/) [Robert Collier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-collier/) > [People blame their environment. There is only one person to blame - and only one - themselves.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-collier/people-blame-their-environment-there-is-only-one-person-to-blame-and/) [Robert Collier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-collier/) > [All riches have their origin in mind. Wealth is in ideas - not money.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-collier/all-riches-have-their-origin-in-mind-wealth-is-in-ideas-not-money/) [Robert Collier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-collier/) > [Everything in God's store is on the bottom shelf...you have to get on your knees to get it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-collier/everything-in-god-s-store-is-on-the-bottom-shelf-you-have-to-get-on/) [Robert Collier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-collier/) > [Decide the effect you want to produce in your reader.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-collier/decide-the-effect-you-want-to-produce-in-your-reader/) [Robert Collier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-collier/) > [Make your mold. The best flux in the world will not make a usable shape unless you have a mold to pour it in.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-collier/make-your-mold-the-best-flux-in-the-world-will-not-make-a-usable/) [Robert Collier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-collier/) > [Visualize this thing you want. See it, feel it, believe in it. Make your mental blueprint and begin.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-collier/visualize-this-thing-you-want-see-it-feel-it-believe-in-it-make-your/) [Robert Collier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-collier/) [Explore all 91 Robert Collier quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-collier/) ## More Customer quotes > [“Start a business, not a startup”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/start-a-business-not-a-startup/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Amongst the financial Twitterati, the term 'muppets' has come to describe any client used and abused by some financial predator. I've adopted the term…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barry-ritholtz/amongst-the-financial-twitterati-the-term-muppets-has-come-to/) [Barry Ritholtz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barry-ritholtz/) > [Many early-stage entrepreneurs make one simple mistake: Describing this 'big picture' in vague concepts and words.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sunil-nagaraj/many-early-stage-entrepreneurs-make-one-simple-mistake-describing/) [Sunil Nagaraj](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sunil-nagaraj/) > [The purpose of this book is to supply, in the form suitable for laymen, guidance in the adoption and execution of an investment policy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-graham/the-purpose-of-this-book-is-to-supply-in-the-form-suitable-for-laymen/) [Benjamin Graham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-graham/) > [Don't think OF the market. Think AS the market.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-fishman/don-t-think-of-the-market-think-as-the-market/) Michael Fishman > [If Wall Street crashes, does Main Street follow? Not necessarily.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-bernanke/if-wall-street-crashes-does-main-street-follow-not-necessarily/) [Ben Bernanke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ben-bernanke/) > [The exact details of how you practice value investing will vary investor to investor, but the fundamental principle of scouring the world, looking for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/whitney-tilson/the-exact-details-of-how-you-practice-value-investing-will-vary/) [Whitney Tilson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/whitney-tilson/) > [The best way to hold customers is to constantly figure out how to give them more for less.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philip-kotler/the-best-way-to-hold-customers-is-to-constantly-figure-out-how-to/) [Philip Kotler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philip-kotler/) > [Perhaps the most important reason to be skeptical of government inflation numbers is that the government, like a fox campaigning to guard a hen…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-schiff/perhaps-the-most-important-reason-to-be-skeptical-of-government/) [Peter Schiff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-schiff/) > [When the dollar collapses, it's not doing it in a vacuum. If the dollar loses value, it's doing so relative to some other currency.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-schiff/when-the-dollar-collapses-it-s-not-doing-it-in-a-vacuum-if-the-dollar/) [Peter Schiff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-schiff/) > [Corporations invest in sophisticated CRM, or Customer Relationship Management, programs to effectively oversee their relationship with their customers at every point during the buying…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marc-ostrofsky/corporations-invest-in-sophisticated-crm-or-customer-relationship/) [Marc Ostrofsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marc-ostrofsky/) > [I believe confusion is good. Worldwide market leaders gain when there is confusion in the market.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/subhash-chandra/i-believe-confusion-is-good-worldwide-market-leaders-gain-when-there/) [Subhash Chandra](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/subhash-chandra/) > [Damn inflation, full speed ahead,' Greenspan has said in both action and word. I think an investor should believe him and invest accordingly.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-gross/damn-inflation-full-speed-ahead-greenspan-has-said-in-both-action-and/) [Bill Gross](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-gross/) > [“When companies get big, they devote most of their care and feeding to the business that got them big. This is as it should…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-schmidt/when-companies-get-big-they-devote-most-of-their-care-and-feeding-to/) [Eric Schmidt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-schmidt/) > [“Salesmanship is usually the art of making it the prospect’s problem, the salesperson’s need or desire to earn money.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mokokoma-mokhonoana/salesmanship-is-usually-the-art-of-making-it-the-prospect-s-problem/) [Mokokoma Mokhonoana](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mokokoma-mokhonoana/) [Browse all 9,257 Customer quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/customer/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "The great thing is the start - to see an opportunity for service, and to start doing it, even though in the beginning you serve but a single customer - and him for nothing.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Robert Collier" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-collier/the-great-thing-is-the-start-to-see-an-opportunity-for-service-and-to/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Customer" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-collier/the-great-thing-is-the-start-to-see-an-opportunity-for-service-and-to/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/173/robert-collier-7407_customer_the-great-thing-is-the-start-to-see-an-o_373647.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/173/robert-collier-7407_customer_the-great-thing-is-the-start-to-see-an-o_373647.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/173/robert-collier-7407_customer_the-great-thing-is-the-start-to-see-an-o_373647.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“The great thing is the start - to see an opportunity for service, and to start doing it, even though in the…” — Robert Collier", "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": "Robert Collier", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-collier/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "The great thing is the start...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-collier/the-great-thing-is-the-start-to-see-an-opportunity-for-service-and-to/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-collier/the-great-thing-is-the-start-to-see-an-opportunity-for-service-and-to/#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 } } ] } ```