--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Don’t reinvent the wheel. Focus on…" description: "\"“Don’t reinvent the wheel. Focus on winning one customer at a time. Be honest and sincere. Do what’s right. There’s nothing magical about this.’ That’s..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7f6/robert-spector-33295_being-honest_don-t-reinvent-the-wheel-focus-on-winnin_1353419.jpg" --- # Don’t reinvent the wheel. Focus on winning one customer at… ![“Don’t reinvent the wheel. Focus on winning one customer at a time. Be honest and sincere. Do what’s right. There’s nothing magical about this.’ That’s been my guiding principle. To make it work, you have to live it every day. Make it your mind-set.” quote by Robert Spector](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7f6/robert-spector-33295_being-honest_don-t-reinvent-the-wheel-focus-on-winnin_1353419.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7f6/robert-spector-33295_being-honest_don-t-reinvent-the-wheel-focus-on-winnin_1353419.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7f6/robert-spector-33295_being-honest_don-t-reinvent-the-wheel-focus-on-winnin_1353419.jpg) > ““Don’t reinvent the wheel. Focus on winning one customer at a time. Be honest and sincere. Do what’s right. There’s nothing magical about this.’ That’s been my guiding principle. To make it work, you have to live it every day. Make it your mind-set.”” [Robert Spector](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-spector/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Prioritize honest, sincere relationships with individual customers rather than chasing broad, vague goals. **In simple terms:** Focus on one customer at a time with honesty. Key Takeaway Build trust through consistent, ethical actions. Themes customer focus integrity mindset relationship building Mood motivational pragmatic Type advice leadership When to use this quote - sales meetings - startup growth - client onboarding - team training Key Concepts customer loyalty ethical business habit formation Questions to Reflect On - How can you balance personal customer care with scaling? - What habits reinforce daily integrity? A Different Perspective May overlook larger market opportunities if too narrow. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Being honest](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/being-honest/) [Focus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/focus/) [Guiding principles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/guiding-principles/) [Honest](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/honest/) [Honest And Sincere](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/honest-and-sincere/) [Mindset](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mindset/) [Principles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/principles/) [Sincere](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sincere/) [Time](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/time/) [Winning](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/winning/) ## Related quotes > [“Don’t Reinvent the Wheel You may feel like you’re discovering new, uncharted territory as you build your business. However, business is not new. There…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/liesha-petrovich/don-t-reinvent-the-wheel-you-may-feel-like-you-re-discovering-new/) [Liesha Petrovich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/liesha-petrovich/) > [It is bad enough to reinvent the wheel. What really hurts is when they reinvent the flat tire.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lee-s-shulman/it-is-bad-enough-to-reinvent-the-wheel-what-really-hurts-is-when-they/) [Lee S Shulman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lee-s-shulman/) > [The greatest thing about form and convention is that it saves you from having to reinvent the wheel. Now, whether you mount the wheel…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-abani/the-greatest-thing-about-form-and-convention-is-that-it-saves-you/) [Chris Abani](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-abani/) > [You don't have to reinvent the wheel, just attach it to a new wagon.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-mccormack/you-don-t-have-to-reinvent-the-wheel-just-attach-it-to-a-new-wagon/) [Mark McCormack](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-mccormack/) > [When I've tried to reinvent the wheel, I get bashed for not doing the familiar things.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/billy-corgan/when-i-ve-tried-to-reinvent-the-wheel-i-get-bashed-for-not-doing-the/) [Billy Corgan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/billy-corgan/) > [Scientists, especially physicists, we're presumptuous and think we can do everything better than everybody else. And one thing that I realized early is, I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barry-barish/scientists-especially-physicists-we-re-presumptuous-and-think-we-can/) [Barry Barish](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barry-barish/) > [So many young decorators are trying to reinvent the wheel, and the results are sometimes very dubious. They're striving to do things that have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-hadley/so-many-young-decorators-are-trying-to-reinvent-the-wheel-and-the/) [Albert Hadley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-hadley/) > [“Rather than trying to reinvent the wheel, build on to that which is already excellent.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oscar-auliq-ice/rather-than-trying-to-reinvent-the-wheel-build-on-to-that-which-is/) [Oscar Auliq-Ice](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oscar-auliq-ice/) > [Art makes you reinvent the wheel with regularity. If you don't, art gets bored and slips away.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walter-darby-bannard/art-makes-you-reinvent-the-wheel-with-regularity-if-you-don-t-art/) [Walter Darby Bannard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walter-darby-bannard/) > [“You don't have to reinvent the wheel... just steal the hubcaps.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-p-naughton/you-don-t-have-to-reinvent-the-wheel-just-steal-the-hubcaps/) [Michael P. Naughton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-p-naughton/) > [The most important thing is setting up these directives for yourself. Like, "I'm only going to use these three colors - go!" That's why…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/annie-e-clark/the-most-important-thing-is-setting-up-these-directives-for-yourself/) [Annie E. Clark](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/annie-e-clark/) > [You don't have to reinvent the wheel every day. Today you will do what you did yesterday, and tomorrow you will do what you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chuck-close/you-don-t-have-to-reinvent-the-wheel-every-day-today-you-will-do-what/) [Chuck Close](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chuck-close/) > [You can't reinvent the wheel. You've got to just take the best from all the other shows and try to make it work, because…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brett-ratner/you-can-t-reinvent-the-wheel-you-ve-got-to-just-take-the-best-from/) [Brett Ratner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brett-ratner/) > [Don't reinvent the wheel, just realign it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anthony-j-d-angelo/don-t-reinvent-the-wheel-just-realign-it/) [Anthony J. D'Angelo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anthony-j-d-angelo/) > [Can't reinvent the wheel. But you can put your own spin on it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lauren-beukes/can-t-reinvent-the-wheel-but-you-can-put-your-own-spin-on-it/) [Lauren Beukes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lauren-beukes/) ## More by Robert Spector > [Recognition is powerful, as long as it's authentic and specific. Whatever their level on the inverted pyramid, employees wants to feel needed and valued.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-spector/recognition-is-powerful-as-long-as-it-s-authentic-and-specific/) [Robert Spector](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-spector/) > [“Mom & pop stores are not about something small; they are about something big. Ninety percent of all U.S. businesses are family owned or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-spector/mom-pop-stores-are-not-about-something-small-they-are-about-something/) [Robert Spector](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-spector/) > [“There are three groups of people with respect to empowerment: Those who get it. Those who really want to get it. Those who probably…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-spector/there-are-three-groups-of-people-with-respect-to-empowerment-those/) [Robert Spector](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-spector/) > [Nordstrom believes that great service begins with showing courtesy to everyone-customers, employees, and vendors.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-spector/nordstrom-believes-that-great-service-begins-with-showing-courtesy-to/) [Robert Spector](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-spector/) > [“These core values include: Creating a customer-first service mentality. Producing an honest and ethical way of doing business. Delivering compelling value. Treating people with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-spector/these-core-values-include-creating-a-customer-first-service-mentality/) [Robert Spector](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-spector/) > [A can-do attitude, a positive personality, and a strong work ethic are still the primary ingredients for success at Nordstrom.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-spector/a-can-do-attitude-a-positive-personality-and-a-strong-work-ethic-are/) [Robert Spector](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-spector/) > [“That was a tremendous learning experience,” said McCarthy. “Never judge a book by its cover; open it up. If you treat a kid who…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-spector/that-was-a-tremendous-learning-experience-said-mccarthy-never-judge-a/) [Robert Spector](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-spector/) > [“Like all shopkeepers, they are deep-down optimists. They have to be, because every morning they unlock the doors to their stores, turn on the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-spector/like-all-shopkeepers-they-are-deep-down-optimists-they-have-to-be/) [Robert Spector](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-spector/) > [“Nordstrom is looking to hire entrepreneurs—empowered self-starters, who seize opportunities to create and build their own businesses; to be franchisees within the larger Nordstrom…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-spector/nordstrom-is-looking-to-hire-entrepreneurs-empowered-self-starters/) [Robert Spector](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-spector/) > [“Our people don’t have one look, one background, one culture,” says Erik. “The common thread is they are themselves. They are genuine.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-spector/our-people-don-t-have-one-look-one-background-one-culture-says-erik/) [Robert Spector](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-spector/) > [People always ask me, how do you teach core values? The answer is, you don't. The goal is not to get people to share…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-spector/people-always-ask-me-how-do-you-teach-core-values-the-answer-is-you/) [Robert Spector](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-spector/) > [“The Nordstrom corollary to that philosophy is hire the smile, train the skill.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-spector/the-nordstrom-corollary-to-that-philosophy-is-hire-the-smile-train/) [Robert Spector](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-spector/) > [“Values define who we are, and if they change we will become something else,” Peter Nordstrom wrote in the employee publication, Loop. He described…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-spector/values-define-who-we-are-and-if-they-change-we-will-become-something/) [Robert Spector](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-spector/) > [It's hard not to fall in love with Seattle on a beautiful summer's day.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-spector/it-s-hard-not-to-fall-in-love-with-seattle-on-a-beautiful-summer-s-day/) [Robert Spector](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-spector/) [Explore all 15 Robert Spector quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-spector/) ## More Being honest quotes > [We have a fear of facing ourselves. That is the obstacle. Experiencing the innermost core of our existence is very embarrassing to a lot…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chogyam-trungpa/we-have-a-fear-of-facing-ourselves-that-is-the-obstacle-experiencing/) [Chogyam Trungpa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chogyam-trungpa/) > [I have often spoken of integrity as the most important of these values, realizing that integrity – and personal integrity, at that – is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/verghese-kurien/i-have-often-spoken-of-integrity-as-the-most-important-of-these/) [Verghese Kurien](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/verghese-kurien/) > [I had never done anything with blue screen before, or prosthetics, or anything like that. Lord of the Rings was like stepping into a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cate-blanchett/i-had-never-done-anything-with-blue-screen-before-or-prosthetics-or/) [Cate Blanchett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cate-blanchett/) > [Let's be honest, if the Democrats didn't support ignoring our nation's immigration laws, there is no way they could win the presidency or a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ted-nugent/let-s-be-honest-if-the-democrats-didn-t-support-ignoring-our-nation-s/) [Ted Nugent](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ted-nugent/) > [I think what saved me is me being honest. I think I somewhow had the courage to do something and say something that I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ellen-degeneres/i-think-what-saved-me-is-me-being-honest-i-think-i-somewhow-had-the/) [Ellen DeGeneres](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ellen-degeneres/) > [An actor has to evaluate his own abilities and be honest with himself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-newman/an-actor-has-to-evaluate-his-own-abilities-and-be-honest-with-himself/) [Paul Newman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-newman/) > [The cultural integration of psychedelics won't happen overnight, and the question of young people is perhaps the most difficult involved. The first step is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rick-doblin/the-cultural-integration-of-psychedelics-won-t-happen-overnight-and/) [Rick Doblin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rick-doblin/) > [I'm a person of change and I must be honest to my artistry and my creativity. That's part of the word 'jazz'... it's an…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maynard-ferguson/i-m-a-person-of-change-and-i-must-be-honest-to-my-artistry-and-my/) Maynard Ferguson > [I'm going to be honest, I would love for Flava Flav to be president. It would bring a lot of excitement to the country.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dj-khaled/i-m-going-to-be-honest-i-would-love-for-flava-flav-to-be-president-it/) [DJ Khaled](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dj-khaled/) > [The buildings that were in question, they said in the same report, which was - actually, it wasn't even a bad story, to be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donald-trump/the-buildings-that-were-in-question-they-said-in-the-same-report/) [Donald Trump](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donald-trump/) > [I guess it has to be healthy, you have to be honest with yourself and I think that's when ego is okay.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sophia-amoruso/i-guess-it-has-to-be-healthy-you-have-to-be-honest-with-yourself-and/) [Sophia Amoruso](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sophia-amoruso/) > [ The opening for solid waste is very small \[in the space ship\]. It's not toilet-bowl size. And aim is critical. To be honest with… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-mullane/the-opening-for-solid-waste-is-very-small-in-the-space-ship-it-s-not/) [Mike Mullane](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-mullane/) > [We had 90 percent rates, but nobody paid them. And so you had all these exemptions, exclusions, shelters, all this kind of stuff. And…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rick-santorum/we-had-90-percent-rates-but-nobody-paid-them-and-so-you-had-all-these/) [Rick Santorum](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rick-santorum/) > [I think, as a filmmaker, it's important to be honest with yourself at all times in terms of what's working and what's not.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adam-wingard/i-think-as-a-filmmaker-it-s-important-to-be-honest-with-yourself-at/) [Adam Wingard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adam-wingard/) > [We live in a world in which the only utopian visions arrive in commercial breaks: magical visions of an impossibly hospitable world, peopled by…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-gaiman/we-live-in-a-world-in-which-the-only-utopian-visions-arrive-in/) [Neil Gaiman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-gaiman/) [Browse all 1,333 Being honest quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/being-honest/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“Don’t reinvent the wheel. 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