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Ask yourself Quote by Salim Ismail

“There is a fundamental DNA path dependency here. Are you primarily a community or are you primarily a company? The reason you have to ask yourself this is because sooner or later the two will come in conflict. We [DIY Drones] are primarily a community. Every day, we make decisions that…” quote by Salim Ismail
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““There is a fundamental DNA path dependency here. Are you primarily a community or are you primarily a company? The reason you have to ask yourself this is because sooner or later the two will come in conflict. We [DIY Drones] are primarily a community. Every day, we make decisions that disadvantage the company to bring advantage to the community.””

Salim Ismail

About This Quote

Source Interview: DIY Drones Podcast, 2015

Balancing community interests with corporate goals creates tension; prioritize community to foster long‑term health.

In simple terms: Choosing community over profit can cause conflict with business goals.

Key Takeaway

Prioritize community values.

Themes

community conflict strategy leadership

Mood

reflective strategic

Type

advice philosophical

When to use this quote

  • open‑source projects
  • co‑working spaces
  • non‑profits
  • tech incubators

Key Concepts

DNA path dependency stakeholder theory organizational identity

Questions to Reflect On

  • How do you measure success when community and profit diverge?
  • What mechanisms can align community and company goals?
A Different Perspective

Community focus may limit revenue growth and scalability.

3.3 out of 5 (7 ratings)

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