--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Every first time founder waits too long…" description: "\"Every first time founder waits too long, everyone hopes that an employee will turn around. But the right answer is to fire fast.\" — Sam Altman" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f4e/sam-altman-1494_answers_every-first-time-founder-waits-too-long_2650843.png" --- # Every first time founder waits too long, everyone hopes… ![“Every first time founder waits too long, everyone hopes that an employee will turn around. But the right answer is to fire fast.” quote by Sam Altman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f4e/sam-altman-1494_answers_every-first-time-founder-waits-too-long_2650843.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f4e/sam-altman-1494_answers_every-first-time-founder-waits-too-long_2650843.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f4e/sam-altman-1494_answers_every-first-time-founder-waits-too-long_2650843.png) > “Every first time founder waits too long, everyone hopes that an employee will turn around. But the right answer is to fire fast.” [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. Delaying decisive action lets problems fester; the best response is to act swiftly and, if needed, remove underperforming staff. **In simple terms:** Act fast, fire slow. Key Takeaway Make quick, decisive choices. Themes leadership decision-making speed performance Mood direct pragmatic Type business advice When to use this quote - company growth - team restructuring - product pivots - crisis response Key Concepts organizational behavior human resources risk management Questions to Reflect On - When is it appropriate to fire versus coach? - How can you balance speed with fairness? A Different Perspective Rapid firing can damage morale and culture. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Answer Fast](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/answer-fast-2347827/) [Answers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/answers/) [Employee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/employee/) [Employee Turn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/employee-turn-2347826/) [Entrepreneurship](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/entrepreneurship/) [Fast](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fast/) [Fire](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fire/) [First time](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/first-time/) [Firsts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/firsts/) [Founder Waits](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/founder-waits-2347825/) [Founders](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/founders/) [Long](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/long/) [Right answers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/right-answers/) [Team](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/team/) [Time](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/time/) [Time Founder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/time-founder-2105440/) [Too long](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/too-long/) [Turns](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/turns/) [Waiting](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/waiting/) ## Related quotes > [One of the most brilliant parts of being a first-time founder is that you experience everything for the first time. It never gets old.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julia-hartz/one-of-the-most-brilliant-parts-of-being-a-first-time-founder-is-that/) [Julia Hartz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julia-hartz/) > [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/) > [Mediocre founders spend a lot of time talking about grand plans, but they never quite make a decision.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sam-altman/mediocre-founders-spend-a-lot-of-time-talking-about-grand-plans-but/) [Sam Altman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sam-altman/) > [More important than starting any startup, is getting to know a lot of potential co-founders.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sam-altman/more-important-than-starting-any-startup-is-getting-to-know-a-lot-of/) [Sam Altman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sam-altman/) > [Founders need to figure out what the message of the company is going to be.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sam-altman/founders-need-to-figure-out-what-the-message-of-the-company-is-going/) [Sam Altman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sam-altman/) > [In the early days of a startup, people's compensation is whatever you negotiate with a founder and it's all over the place.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sam-altman/in-the-early-days-of-a-startup-people-s-compensation-is-whatever-you/) [Sam Altman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sam-altman/) > [We pretty much won't fund a company now where the founders don't have vested equity because it's just that hard to do.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sam-altman/we-pretty-much-won-t-fund-a-company-now-where-the-founders-don-t-have/) [Sam Altman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sam-altman/) > [You're saying no ninety-seven times out of a hundred, and most founders find they have to make a very conscious effort to do this.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sam-altman/you-re-saying-no-ninety-seven-times-out-of-a-hundred-and-most/) [Sam Altman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sam-altman/) > [Founders are usually very stingy with equity to employees and very generous with equity to investors. I think this is totally backwards.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sam-altman/founders-are-usually-very-stingy-with-equity-to-employees-and-very/) [Sam Altman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sam-altman/) > [1 of the hardest parts about being a founder, is that there are a 100 important things competing for your attention each day.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sam-altman/1-of-the-hardest-parts-about-being-a-founder-is-that-there-are-a-100/) [Sam Altman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sam-altman/) > [The track record for founders that don't already know each other is really bad.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sam-altman/the-track-record-for-founders-that-don-t-already-know-each-other-is/) [Sam Altman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sam-altman/) > [We hear again and again from founders, that they wish they had waited to start a startup until they came up with an idea…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sam-altman/we-hear-again-and-again-from-founders-that-they-wish-they-had-waited/) [Sam Altman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sam-altman/) > [Whatever the founder cares about, whatever the founders think are the key goals, that's going to be what the whole company focusses on.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sam-altman/whatever-the-founder-cares-about-whatever-the-founders-think-are-the/) [Sam Altman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sam-altman/) > [It's better to have no cofounder than to have a bad cofounder, but it's still bad to be a solo founder.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sam-altman/it-s-better-to-have-no-cofounder-than-to-have-a-bad-cofounder-but-it/) [Sam Altman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sam-altman/) > [One thing that founders always underestimate is how hard it is to recruit.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sam-altman/one-thing-that-founders-always-underestimate-is-how-hard-it-is-to/) [Sam Altman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sam-altman/) ## 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 Answers quotes > [The one thing that I keep learning over and over again is that I don't know nothing. I mean, that's my life lesson.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dwayne-johnson/the-one-thing-that-i-keep-learning-over-and-over-again-is-that-i-don/) [Dwayne Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dwayne-johnson/) > [Sometimes a question can hurt more than an answer.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-dessen/sometimes-a-question-can-hurt-more-than-an-answer/) [Sarah Dessen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-dessen/) > [You feed yourself. Make sure you have all the information, whether it's aesthetic, scientific, mathematical, I don't care what it is. Then you walk…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ray-bradbury/you-feed-yourself-make-sure-you-have-all-the-information-whether-it-s/) [Ray Bradbury](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ray-bradbury/) > [I have long felt that the way to keep children out of trouble is to keep them interested in things. Lecturing to children is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walt-disney/i-have-long-felt-that-the-way-to-keep-children-out-of-trouble-is-to/) [Walt Disney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walt-disney/) > [Let me tell you that atheism has never painted a masterpiece. Atheism has never dispelled fear. Atheism has never healed a disease; faith in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-hagee/let-me-tell-you-that-atheism-has-never-painted-a-masterpiece-atheism/) [John Hagee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-hagee/) > [“As long as you keep searching,the answers will come.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mitch-kynock/as-long-as-you-keep-searching-the-answers-will-come/) [Mitch Kynock](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mitch-kynock/) > [The answer to deep anxiety is the deep adoration of God.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ann-voskamp/the-answer-to-deep-anxiety-is-the-deep-adoration-of-god/) [Ann Voskamp](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ann-voskamp/) > [A dialogue is very important. It is a form of communication in which question and answer continue till a question is left without an…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jiddu-krishnamurti/a-dialogue-is-very-important-it-is-a-form-of-communication-in-which/) [Jiddu Krishnamurti](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jiddu-krishnamurti/) > [There is a comfort in rituals, and rituals provide a framework for stability when you are trying to find answers.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/deborah-norville/there-is-a-comfort-in-rituals-and-rituals-provide-a-framework-for/) [Deborah Norville](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/deborah-norville/) > [A religious person answers to God, not to the elected or non-elected official.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elie-wiesel/a-religious-person-answers-to-god-not-to-the-elected-or-non-elected/) [Elie Wiesel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elie-wiesel/) > [Let us remember that every worldview-not just Christianity's-must give an explanation or an answer for evil and suffering...this is not just a problem distinctive…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ravi-zacharias/let-us-remember-that-every-worldview-not-just-christianity-s-must/) [Ravi Zacharias](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ravi-zacharias/) > [Instead of asking a girl how she feels, try looking through her recently listened to songs. The lyrics are the answer to all your…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/instead-of-asking-a-girl-how-she-feels-try-looking-through-her/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [For someone to ask 'Who did you play for' and to be able to answer a single name 'Liverpool' that would be brilliant...I don't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jamie-carragher/for-someone-to-ask-who-did-you-play-for-and-to-be-able-to-answer-a/) [Jamie Carragher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jamie-carragher/) > [When the first Superman movie came out I was frequently asked "What is a hero?" ...My answer was that a hero is someone who…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-reeve/when-the-first-superman-movie-came-out-i-was-frequently-asked-what-is/) [Christopher Reeve](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-reeve/) > [Enjoying life isn't about finding the answers, but living the questions.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sue-margolis/enjoying-life-isn-t-about-finding-the-answers-but-living-the-questions/) [Sue Margolis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sue-margolis/) [Browse all 7,843 Answers quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/answers/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Every first time founder waits too long, everyone hopes that an employee will turn around. 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