Entrepreneurship Quote by Sam Altman
“Even though plans themselves are worthless, the exercise of planning is very valuable and totally missing in most startups today.”
About This Quote
Source Interview: Podcast “The a of Everything”, Sam Altman, 2023
Planning may be flawed, but the act of planning cultivates valuable thinking and discipline often missing in startups.
In simple terms: Planning is useful even if the plan itself isn’t.
Value the process of planning over the plan.
Themes
Mood
Type
When to use this quote
- startup formation
- product development
- team alignment
Key Concepts
Questions to Reflect On
- How can startups balance planning with agility?
- What simple planning habits improve decision‑making?
Plans can become rigid and stifle flexibility.