--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Because so few people make an actual long…" description: "\"Because so few people make an actual long term commitment to what they're building, the ones that do have a huge advantage.\" — Sam Altman" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/845/sam-altman-1494_advantage_because-so-few-people-make-an-actual-lon_2339046.png" --- # Because so few people make an actual long term commitment… ![“Because so few people make an actual long term commitment to what they're building, the ones that do have a huge advantage.” quote by Sam Altman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/845/sam-altman-1494_advantage_because-so-few-people-make-an-actual-lon_2339046.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/845/sam-altman-1494_advantage_because-so-few-people-make-an-actual-lon_2339046.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/845/sam-altman-1494_advantage_because-so-few-people-make-an-actual-lon_2339046.png) > “Because so few people make an actual long term commitment to what they're building, the ones that do have a huge advantage.” [Sam Altman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sam-altman/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Long‑term commitment creates a competitive edge because few sustain effort over time. **In simple terms:** Commitment gives advantage. Key Takeaway Invest in lasting dedication. Themes commitment advantage strategy Mood determined optimistic Type strategic motivational When to use this quote - building a startup - career planning - long‑term projects - investing - product development Key Concepts network effects first‑mover advantage Questions to Reflect On - How can you balance commitment with flexibility? - What risks do you accept by staying the course? A Different Perspective Sustaining commitment can be costly and risky. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Advantage](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/advantage/) [Commitment](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/commitment/) [Long term](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/long-term/) [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) ## Related quotes > [Adversity is a huge advantage - as long as you think of it as an advantage - because it helps you do things you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philip-anschutz/adversity-is-a-huge-advantage-as-long-as-you-think-of-it-as-an/) [Philip Anschutz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philip-anschutz/) > [With my jump shot, once I get that consistent, I feel like that is going to be a huge advantage for me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anthony-bennett/with-my-jump-shot-once-i-get-that-consistent-i-feel-like-that-is/) [Anthony Bennett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anthony-bennett/) > [That's one of the nice things. I mean, part of the beauty of me is that I'm very rich. So if I need $600…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donald-trump/that-s-one-of-the-nice-things-i-mean-part-of-the-beauty-of-me-is-that/) [Donald Trump](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donald-trump/) > [The glory of the big catch is applied more at wide receiver, and tight end would be an even match at my size. It's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/devon-cajuste/the-glory-of-the-big-catch-is-applied-more-at-wide-receiver-and-tight/) [Devon Cajuste](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/devon-cajuste/) > [Any time you're in front of a camera and have them yell 'Cut, re-shoot the scene,' are you kidding me? That's a huge advantage.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-goldberg/any-time-you-re-in-front-of-a-camera-and-have-them-yell-cut-re-shoot/) [Bill Goldberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-goldberg/) > [Having a mentor gives someone a huge advantage in life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/b-j-armstrong/having-a-mentor-gives-someone-a-huge-advantage-in-life/) [B. J. Armstrong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/b-j-armstrong/) > [I think when you have big-time businesses around that want to be part of the sports community and the athletic community it's a huge…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/travis-kelce/i-think-when-you-have-big-time-businesses-around-that-want-to-be-part/) [Travis Kelce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/travis-kelce/) > [When you're in business, if you have some sort of gimmick it's a huge advantage.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barbara-corcoran/when-you-re-in-business-if-you-have-some-sort-of-gimmick-it-s-a-huge/) [Barbara Corcoran](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barbara-corcoran/) > [I continue to be a believer in a standard-based industry, where your lean cost structure is a huge advantage.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rajeev-suri/i-continue-to-be-a-believer-in-a-standard-based-industry-where-your/) [Rajeev Suri](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rajeev-suri/) > [I think it's a huge advantage to get out of the pocket and run.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/justin-herbert/i-think-it-s-a-huge-advantage-to-get-out-of-the-pocket-and-run/) [Justin Herbert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/justin-herbert/) > [I think that in figure skating, and in sports in general, that when you're young, it's considered a huge advantage because you're fearless, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adam-rippon/i-think-that-in-figure-skating-and-in-sports-in-general-that-when-you/) [Adam Rippon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adam-rippon/) > [The Lakers fanbase is enormous. Getting the fans on our side is a huge advantage for us.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/d-angelo-russell/the-lakers-fanbase-is-enormous-getting-the-fans-on-our-side-is-a-huge/) [D'Angelo Russell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/d-angelo-russell/) > [You get a team that goes out there and they find a little bit of something that advantage is going to seem larger then…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chad-knaus/you-get-a-team-that-goes-out-there-and-they-find-a-little-bit-of/) [Chad Knaus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chad-knaus/) > [I vigorously train in my jui jitsu and my wrestling, but my stand-up game gives me a huge advantage in defending take-downs.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-whittaker/i-vigorously-train-in-my-jui-jitsu-and-my-wrestling-but-my-stand-up/) [Robert Whittaker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-whittaker/) > [Anyone who has been on 'The Ultimate Fighter' has had a huge advantage in exposure, that's for sure.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jon-fitch/anyone-who-has-been-on-the-ultimate-fighter-has-had-a-huge-advantage/) [Jon Fitch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jon-fitch/) ## More by Sam Altman > [The best people know that they should join a rocketship.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sam-altman/the-best-people-know-that-they-should-join-a-rocketship/) [Sam Altman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sam-altman/) > [You really want to know your cofounders for a while, ideally years.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sam-altman/you-really-want-to-know-your-cofounders-for-a-while-ideally-years/) [Sam Altman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sam-altman/) > [Employees will only add more value over time.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sam-altman/employees-will-only-add-more-value-over-time/) [Sam Altman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sam-altman/) > [One thing I tell startups all the time is that the best way to grow is to make their product better.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sam-altman/one-thing-i-tell-startups-all-the-time-is-that-the-best-way-to-grow/) [Sam Altman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sam-altman/) > [A winning team feels good and keeps winning. A team that hasn't won in a while gets demotivated and keeps losing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sam-altman/a-winning-team-feels-good-and-keeps-winning-a-team-that-hasn-t-won-in/) [Sam Altman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sam-altman/) > [You're either not hiring at all or it's probably your single biggest block of time.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sam-altman/you-re-either-not-hiring-at-all-or-it-s-probably-your-single-biggest/) [Sam Altman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sam-altman/) > [The thing that kills startups at some level, is the founders giving up.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sam-altman/the-thing-that-kills-startups-at-some-level-is-the-founders-giving-up/) [Sam Altman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sam-altman/) > [Execution gets divided into two key questions: 1) can you figure out what to do and 2) can you get it done.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sam-altman/execution-gets-divided-into-two-key-questions-1-can-you-figure-out/) [Sam Altman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sam-altman/) > [If you want something in a deal, just ask for it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sam-altman/if-you-want-something-in-a-deal-just-ask-for-it/) [Sam Altman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sam-altman/) > [Most things are not as risky as they seem.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sam-altman/most-things-are-not-as-risky-as-they-seem/) [Sam Altman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sam-altman/) > [I prefer to invest in a company that's going after a small but rapidly growing market than a big but slow growing one.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sam-altman/i-prefer-to-invest-in-a-company-that-s-going-after-a-small-but/) [Sam Altman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sam-altman/) > [Startups are not the best choice for work-life balance, and that's sort of just the sad reality.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sam-altman/startups-are-not-the-best-choice-for-work-life-balance-and-that-s/) [Sam Altman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sam-altman/) > [One of the biggest advantages that start ups have is execution speed and you have to have this relentless operating rhythm.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sam-altman/one-of-the-biggest-advantages-that-start-ups-have-is-execution-speed/) [Sam Altman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sam-altman/) > [One of the keys to focus, and why I said cofounders that aren't friends really struggle, is that you can't be focused without good…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sam-altman/one-of-the-keys-to-focus-and-why-i-said-cofounders-that-aren-t/) [Sam Altman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sam-altman/) > [Startups are very hard no matter what you do; you may as well go after a big opportunity.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sam-altman/startups-are-very-hard-no-matter-what-you-do-you-may-as-well-go-after/) [Sam Altman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sam-altman/) [Explore all 235 Sam Altman quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sam-altman/) ## More Advantage quotes > [Dogmatists have one advantage: they are poor listeners.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frans-de-waal/dogmatists-have-one-advantage-they-are-poor-listeners/) [Frans de Waal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frans-de-waal/) > [ Next came the Patent laws. These began in England in 1624; and, in this country, with the adoption of our constitution. Before then \[these?\],… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abraham-lincoln/next-came-the-patent-laws-these-began-in-england-in-1624-and-in-this/) [Abraham Lincoln](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abraham-lincoln/) > [Talented people can predict with great accuracy what's about to happen just a tiny bit ahead of their competitors. It might be two seconds…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kevin-maney/talented-people-can-predict-with-great-accuracy-what-s-about-to/) [Kevin Maney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kevin-maney/) > [All I ever wanted was an unfair advantage](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/garrison-wynn/all-i-ever-wanted-was-an-unfair-advantage/) [Garrison Wynn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/garrison-wynn/) > [Part of the advantage, and part of the result of trying to be a producer and director, are the practical things, you find. 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I think it's just ingrained in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kelly-blatz/for-some-reason-when-i-decide-to-pursue-something-i-never-have-any/) [Kelly Blatz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kelly-blatz/) > [I think I have good hands, so I try to use them to my advantage.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bianca-andreescu/i-think-i-have-good-hands-so-i-try-to-use-them-to-my-advantage/) [Bianca Andreescu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bianca-andreescu/) > [My influences are jazz, blues, European classical music; they are rock music and pop music. So many kinds of music. World music from different…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rokia-traore/my-influences-are-jazz-blues-european-classical-music-they-are-rock/) [Rokia Traore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rokia-traore/) > [Baseball needs to put the steroids era behind it by having and enforcing tough rules against all kinds of artificial advantages, so that spring…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marvin-olasky/baseball-needs-to-put-the-steroids-era-behind-it-by-having-and/) [Marvin Olasky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marvin-olasky/) > [Daily contact with some teachers is itself all-sided ethical education for the child without a spoken precept. Here, too, the real advantage of male…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/g-stanley-hall/daily-contact-with-some-teachers-is-itself-all-sided-ethical/) [G. Stanley Hall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/g-stanley-hall/) > [ If \[Donald\] Trump throws 20 million off of health care, that's going to be - if he handles this badly - and it's very… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/van-jones/if-donald-trump-throws-20-million-off-of-health-care-that-s-going-to/) [Van Jones](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/van-jones/) > [Live in the world you inhabit. Look upon things as they are. Take them as you find them. Make the best of them. Turn…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-e-lee/live-in-the-world-you-inhabit-look-upon-things-as-they-are-take-them/) [Robert E. 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