--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I try getting in front of as many…" description: "\"I try getting in front of as many opportunities as possible, but in the late '90s, I had no idea that I'd end up being CFO of a technology company. I'd..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/703/roelof-botha-37989_being_i-try-getting-in-front-of-as-many-opport_659221.jpg" --- # I try getting in front of as many opportunities as… ![“I try getting in front of as many opportunities as possible, but in the late '90s, I had no idea that I'd end up being CFO of a technology company. I'd no idea what venture capital was.” quote by Roelof Botha](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/703/roelof-botha-37989_being_i-try-getting-in-front-of-as-many-opport_659221.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/703/roelof-botha-37989_being_i-try-getting-in-front-of-as-many-opport_659221.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/703/roelof-botha-37989_being_i-try-getting-in-front-of-as-many-opport_659221.jpg) > “I try getting in front of as many opportunities as possible, but in the late '90s, I had no idea that I'd end up being CFO of a technology company. I'd no idea what venture capital was.” [Roelof Botha](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roelof-botha/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Proactively seeking opportunities can lead to unexpected high‑level roles, even without prior knowledge of the field. **In simple terms:** Seeking chances can bring unexpected success. Key Takeaway Embrace opportunities without over‑planning. Themes career opportunity growth leadership Mood optimistic reflective Type advice career When to use this quote - job search - career pivot - entrepreneurial ventures - skill development Key Concepts networking strategic positioning risk tolerance Questions to Reflect On - What opportunities are you overlooking? - How can you prepare for roles you don’t yet understand? A Different Perspective Success may still require specific expertise later. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Being](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/being/) [Business](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/business/) [Capital](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/capital/) [Company](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/company/) [Idea](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/idea/) [Ideas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ideas/) [Opportunities](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/opportunities/) [Opportunity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/opportunity/) [Technology](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/technology/) [Venture capital](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/venture-capital/) ## Related quotes > [“We have no idea what your venture is or even your industry, so we won’t presume to tell you how to create a business…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-schmidt/we-have-no-idea-what-your-venture-is-or-even-your-industry-so-we-won/) [Eric Schmidt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-schmidt/) > [Because we weren't having success finding a CEO, our investors insisted that we hire these managers a temporary CEO and CFO. That didn't go…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tim-brady/because-we-weren-t-having-success-finding-a-ceo-our-investors/) Tim Brady > [The CEO era gave rise to the CFO (not certified flying object, as you might imagine, but chief financial officer) and, most recently, the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-safire/the-ceo-era-gave-rise-to-the-cfo-not-certified-flying-object-as-you/) [William Safire](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-safire/) > [If your CFO is more important than your CHRO (Chief Human Resource Officer) you're nuts!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-welch/if-your-cfo-is-more-important-than-your-chro-chief-human-resource/) [Jack Welch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-welch/) > [Accounting rules give financial institutions flexibility about when they choose to recognize venture capital profits.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alex-berenson/accounting-rules-give-financial-institutions-flexibility-about-when/) [Alex Berenson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alex-berenson/) > [After Secretary Clinton announced in January 2010 that Internet freedom would be a major pillar of U.S. foreign policy, the State Department decided to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rebecca-mackinnon/after-secretary-clinton-announced-in-january-2010-that-internet/) [Rebecca MacKinnon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rebecca-mackinnon/) > [You know what works in venture capital? A group of incredibly smart, connected people who have the financial wherewithal and risk appetite to make…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-lacy/you-know-what-works-in-venture-capital-a-group-of-incredibly-smart/) [Sarah Lacy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-lacy/) > [There are lots of ways to make money in venture capital, and there are even more ways to be mediocre. The industry has too…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-levitan/there-are-lots-of-ways-to-make-money-in-venture-capital-and-there-are/) [Dan Levitan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dan-levitan/) > [If your business had no risk, you could go get a bank loan and call it a day. VCs like risks - without them,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jose-ferreira/if-your-business-had-no-risk-you-could-go-get-a-bank-loan-and-call-it/) [Jose Ferreira](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jose-ferreira/) > [Hedge funds, private equity and venture capital funds have played an important role in providing liquidity to our financial system and improving the efficiency…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-reed/hedge-funds-private-equity-and-venture-capital-funds-have-played-an/) [Jack Reed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-reed/) > [I don't think a lot of people have been entrepreneurial about venture capital.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/josh-kopelman/i-don-t-think-a-lot-of-people-have-been-entrepreneurial-about-venture/) [Josh Kopelman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/josh-kopelman/) > [I am a partner at CrunchFund, a venture capital firm with investments in many startups around the world. I am also a limited partner…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-arrington/i-am-a-partner-at-crunchfund-a-venture-capital-firm-with-investments/) [Michael Arrington](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-arrington/) > [There's nothing wrong with raising venture capital. Many lean startups are ambitious and are able to deploy large amounts of capital. What differentiates them…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-ries/there-s-nothing-wrong-with-raising-venture-capital-many-lean-startups/) [Eric Ries](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-ries/) > [When people start talking about venture capital and finances and how to create this and do that, a lot of it, I swear, it's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tony-hawk/when-people-start-talking-about-venture-capital-and-finances-and-how/) [Tony Hawk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tony-hawk/) > [Unfortunately, 'climate' has become a dirty word - obviously in politics, but even to some degree in my world, in venture capital. People hesitate…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/evan-williams/unfortunately-climate-has-become-a-dirty-word-obviously-in-politics/) [Evan Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/evan-williams/) ## More by Roelof Botha > [Israel has incredible entrepreneurial spirit and a deep bench of technology talent.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roelof-botha/israel-has-incredible-entrepreneurial-spirit-and-a-deep-bench-of/) [Roelof Botha](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roelof-botha/) > [If you are in Mountain View, you don't resonate with the needs of urban dwellers. Tumblr couldn't have emerged in Sunnyvale.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roelof-botha/if-you-are-in-mountain-view-you-don-t-resonate-with-the-needs-of/) [Roelof Botha](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roelof-botha/) > [Social enables word of mouth at an unprecedented scale. Its most powerful effect, through reviews and recommendations, is to put product quality and value…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roelof-botha/social-enables-word-of-mouth-at-an-unprecedented-scale-its-most/) [Roelof Botha](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roelof-botha/) > [Founders should think of their company as a product and build it and shape it with the same passion and care.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roelof-botha/founders-should-think-of-their-company-as-a-product-and-build-it-and/) [Roelof Botha](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roelof-botha/) > [You don't want to be the site that people should use. You want to be the site they can't stop using.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roelof-botha/you-don-t-want-to-be-the-site-that-people-should-use-you-want-to-be/) [Roelof Botha](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roelof-botha/) > [You have to put yourself in a position to be lucky.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roelof-botha/you-have-to-put-yourself-in-a-position-to-be-lucky/) [Roelof Botha](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roelof-botha/) > [I am sure innovation will blossom around the world, given that the Internet and mobile platforms enable innovators anywhere in the world to reach…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roelof-botha/i-am-sure-innovation-will-blossom-around-the-world-given-that-the/) [Roelof Botha](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roelof-botha/) > [Money was invented for a reason. We've seen people try to use beans, etc. and it doesn't work.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roelof-botha/money-was-invented-for-a-reason-we-ve-seen-people-try-to-use-beans/) [Roelof Botha](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roelof-botha/) > [At Sequoia, we have opened offices in China and India, and we have made a handful of investments in Latin America/Brazil.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roelof-botha/at-sequoia-we-have-opened-offices-in-china-and-india-and-we-have-made/) [Roelof Botha](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roelof-botha/) > [I think of myself as just another consumer.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roelof-botha/i-think-of-myself-as-just-another-consumer/) [Roelof Botha](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roelof-botha/) > [It's important to choose initial investors who are not twitchy and rushing for an exit. Wall Street's quarter-by-quarter lens may make the CEO make…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roelof-botha/it-s-important-to-choose-initial-investors-who-are-not-twitchy-and/) [Roelof Botha](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roelof-botha/) [Explore all 12 Roelof Botha quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roelof-botha/) ## More Being quotes > [Because of the womb being a central phenomenon in the feminine body, the whole psychology of woman differs: she is non-aggressive, non-inquiring, non-questioning, non-doubting,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rajneesh/because-of-the-womb-being-a-central-phenomenon-in-the-feminine-body/) [Rajneesh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rajneesh/) > [Philosopher is a dictator who modifies accepted standards with his thoughts.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ilkin-santak/philosopher-is-a-dictator-who-modifies-accepted-standards-with-his/) [Ilkin Santak](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ilkin-santak/) > [There is something magical about being able to feel somebody. And that is something that has always moved me with music.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maria-brink/there-is-something-magical-about-being-able-to-feel-somebody-and-that/) [Maria Brink](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maria-brink/) > [I love being in Malibu. It's so cool there, and the water is just, it's nice and, and I love the beach. And I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jackie-evancho/i-love-being-in-malibu-it-s-so-cool-there-and-the-water-is-just-it-s/) [Jackie Evancho](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jackie-evancho/) > [I talk to my mates about our kids, being too tired and being worn out.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/holly-willoughby/i-talk-to-my-mates-about-our-kids-being-too-tired-and-being-worn-out/) [Holly Willoughby](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/holly-willoughby/) > [I love to fish. I love the peacefulness of being around the water.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/evonne-goolagong-cawley/i-love-to-fish-i-love-the-peacefulness-of-being-around-the-water/) [Evonne Goolagong Cawley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/evonne-goolagong-cawley/) > [When you're in your twenties and starting out, the problem is that you care about being cool. Being older, I can care less about…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-righton/when-you-re-in-your-twenties-and-starting-out-the-problem-is-that-you/) [James Righton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-righton/) > [I am tired of our characters being so incomplete. When do we ever save the day in a film? When does a Latino actor…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/esai-morales/i-am-tired-of-our-characters-being-so-incomplete-when-do-we-ever-save/) [Esai Morales](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/esai-morales/) > [Being a new mother is a blessing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/phaedra-parks/being-a-new-mother-is-a-blessing/) [Phaedra Parks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/phaedra-parks/) > [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/) > [If we accept being talked to any kind of a way, then we are telling ourselves we are not quite worth the best. And…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maya-angelou/if-we-accept-being-talked-to-any-kind-of-a-way-then-we-are-telling/) [Maya Angelou](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maya-angelou/) > [Having small children and being an investigative reporter would seem like a difficult mix, but it worked well for me. I was often working…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jill-abramson/having-small-children-and-being-an-investigative-reporter-would-seem/) [Jill Abramson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jill-abramson/) > [I am just enjoying the dream of being Milan coach at the age of 40.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gennaro-gattuso/i-am-just-enjoying-the-dream-of-being-milan-coach-at-the-age-of-40/) [Gennaro Gattuso](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gennaro-gattuso/) > [America, you're sending girls a mixed message. On one hand, you're saying to have positive body image and love who we are; on the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adora-svitak/america-you-re-sending-girls-a-mixed-message-on-one-hand-you-re/) [Adora Svitak](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adora-svitak/) > [We should not live in fear, we should all enjoy being able to express our views freely and openly, challenge each other on issues.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tan-cheng-bock/we-should-not-live-in-fear-we-should-all-enjoy-being-able-to-express/) [Tan Cheng Bock](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tan-cheng-bock/) [Browse all 18,139 Being quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/being/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "I try getting in front of as many opportunities as possible, but in the late '90s, I had no idea that I'd end up being CFO of a technology company. 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