--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: If you have several ideas that all seem…" description: "\"If you have several ideas that all seem pretty good, work on the one that you think about, when you're not trying to think about work.\" — Sam Altman" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d68/sam-altman-1494_good-work_if-you-have-several-ideas-that-all-seem_2687125.png" --- # If you have several ideas that all seem pretty good, work… ![“If you have several ideas that all seem pretty good, work on the one that you think about, when you're not trying to think about work.” quote by Sam Altman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d68/sam-altman-1494_good-work_if-you-have-several-ideas-that-all-seem_2687125.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d68/sam-altman-1494_good-work_if-you-have-several-ideas-that-all-seem_2687125.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d68/sam-altman-1494_good-work_if-you-have-several-ideas-that-all-seem_2687125.png) > “If you have several ideas that all seem pretty good, work on the one that you think about, when you're not trying to think about work.” [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. When ideas compete, focus on the one that naturally occupies your mind during downtime, indicating true passion. **In simple terms:** Work on ideas that linger when you’re not thinking about work. Key Takeaway Follow the idea that naturally resurfaces. Themes focus passion productivity Mood thoughtful strategic Type philosophical practical When to use this quote - startup development - personal projects - research priorities Key Concepts idea selection creative process Questions to Reflect On - What makes an idea truly compelling? - How do you test an idea’s viability? A Different Perspective May overlook practical feasibility. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Good work](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/good-work/) [Ideas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ideas/) [Ifs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ifs/) [Pretty good](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/pretty-good/) [Seems](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/seems/) [Think](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/think/) [Think Trying](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/think-trying/) [Think Work](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/think-work/) [Thinking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thinking/) [Trying](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/trying/) [Trying Think](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/trying-think/) [Work](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/work/) [Work Think](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/work-think/) ## Related quotes > [“When people think you're trying, they think you're looking for something. And I'm looking for nothing. When”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/danielle-pearl/when-people-think-you-re-trying-they-think-you-re-looking-for/) [Danielle Pearl](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/danielle-pearl/) > [Do not falter or shrink; But just think out your work, And just work out your think.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nixon-waterman/do-not-falter-or-shrink-but-just-think-out-your-work-and-just-work/) [Nixon Waterman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nixon-waterman/) > [I'm not against work, I think work is great, I work a lot; but if you want to play, the consequences must not be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/keith-johnstone/i-m-not-against-work-i-think-work-is-great-i-work-a-lot-but-if-you/) [Keith Johnstone](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/keith-johnstone/) > [I don't just work! I think about my work, reflect on my work and think of what changes can I make, how can I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-thomas/i-don-t-just-work-i-think-about-my-work-reflect-on-my-work-and-think/) [Eric Thomas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-thomas/) > [I hope I'm building a record of being a good team player and not just standing for my principles but being willing to work…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aaron-schock/i-hope-i-m-building-a-record-of-being-a-good-team-player-and-not-just/) [Aaron Schock](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aaron-schock/) > [When we think of work, we think of work as an act of service. We think of it as an act of love for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/justin-rosenstein/when-we-think-of-work-we-think-of-work-as-an-act-of-service-we-think/) [Justin Rosenstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/justin-rosenstein/) > [I work. And I think about work, and I freak out about work, and I think about how much I think about work, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ned-vizzini/i-work-and-i-think-about-work-and-i-freak-out-about-work-and-i-think/) [Ned Vizzini](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ned-vizzini/) > [At work, you think of the children you have left at home. At home, you think of the work you've left unfinished. Such a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/golda-meir/at-work-you-think-of-the-children-you-have-left-at-home-at-home-you/) [Golda Meir](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/golda-meir/) > [I'm probably the least flexible athlete you'll find. When it comes to yoga, I can't get in the positions and I can't hold them.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-blake/i-m-probably-the-least-flexible-athlete-you-ll-find-when-it-comes-to/) [Steve Blake](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-blake/) > [The cast gets along pretty well, it's a good work environment. I hang out a lot with Brett Claywell, he plays Tim Smith on…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-lafferty/the-cast-gets-along-pretty-well-it-s-a-good-work-environment-i-hang/) [James Lafferty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-lafferty/) > [“To try to pray is to pray. You can't fail at it. It's the only human endeavor I can think of where trying is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rick-hamlin/to-try-to-pray-is-to-pray-you-can-t-fail-at-it-it-s-the-only-human/) [Rick Hamlin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rick-hamlin/) > [I think that's something that I'm trying to push towards for everybody else: 'Be you.'](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jordan-poole/i-think-that-s-something-that-i-m-trying-to-push-towards-for/) [Jordan Poole](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jordan-poole/) > [People think that I'm trying to go up there and just hit homers. That's not the case. That's the last thing I'm doing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kyle-schwarber/people-think-that-i-m-trying-to-go-up-there-and-just-hit-homers-that/) [Kyle Schwarber](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kyle-schwarber/) > [“As long as one is in pursuit of something or the other, it is an endless process. As long as we are getting identified…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sadhguru/as-long-as-one-is-in-pursuit-of-something-or-the-other-it-is-an/) [Sadhguru](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sadhguru/) > [I think we're always trying to push ourselves to do new things.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jaime-preciado/i-think-we-re-always-trying-to-push-ourselves-to-do-new-things/) [Jaime Preciado](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jaime-preciado/) ## 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 Good work quotes > [I think I am against stereotype. Generally, Asian guys are more quiet - they study and have a good work ethic. Generally, I have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bobby-lee/i-think-i-am-against-stereotype-generally-asian-guys-are-more-quiet/) [Bobby Lee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bobby-lee/) > [Right now I'm doing four shows at a time, trying to read four outlines every week, four scripts every week, and watching four rough…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aaron-spelling/right-now-i-m-doing-four-shows-at-a-time-trying-to-read-four-outlines/) [Aaron Spelling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aaron-spelling/) > [ Girded with faith and the performance of good works, let us follow in his \[Jesus\] paths by the guidance of the Gospel. ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benedict-of-nursia/girded-with-faith-and-the-performance-of-good-works-let-us-follow-in/) [Benedict of Nursia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benedict-of-nursia/) > [Sometimes I am a collector of data, and only a collector, and am likely to be gross and miserly, piling up notes, pleased with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-fort/sometimes-i-am-a-collector-of-data-and-only-a-collector-and-am-likely/) [Charles Fort](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-fort/) > [You just have to keep trying to do good work, and hope that it leads to more good work. I want to look back…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jon-stewart/you-just-have-to-keep-trying-to-do-good-work-and-hope-that-it-leads/) [Jon Stewart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jon-stewart/) > [NGOs have a complicated space in neoliberal politics. They are supposed to mop up the anger. Even when they are doing good work, they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arundhati-roy/ngos-have-a-complicated-space-in-neoliberal-politics-they-are/) [Arundhati Roy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arundhati-roy/) > [A Christian should always remember that the value of his good works is not based on their number and excellence, but on the love…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-of-the-cross/a-christian-should-always-remember-that-the-value-of-his-good-works/) [John of the Cross](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-of-the-cross/) > [“Living in the middle of beauty like this, we've no call to have puny ideas about God. Why do you suppose His world is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/catherine-marshall/living-in-the-middle-of-beauty-like-this-we-ve-no-call-to-have-puny/) [Catherine Marshall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/catherine-marshall/) > [Religion is the fear of God, and its demonstration good works; and faith is the root of both: For without faith we cannot please…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-penn/religion-is-the-fear-of-god-and-its-demonstration-good-works-and/) [William Penn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-penn/) > [The debut show, “Second Lives: Remixing the Ordinary,” is supposed to be about how artists reuse humble or unusual materials. There’s good work here,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jerry-saltz/the-debut-show-second-lives-remixing-the-ordinary-is-supposed-to-be/) [Jerry Saltz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jerry-saltz/) > [We always want to live in an environment where there's no artificial block to good work.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chiwetel-ejiofor/we-always-want-to-live-in-an-environment-where-there-s-no-artificial/) [Chiwetel Ejiofor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chiwetel-ejiofor/) > [I produced some very good work at 'New York' magazine.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-wolf/i-produced-some-very-good-work-at-new-york-magazine/) [Michael Wolf](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-wolf/) > [French wines may be said but to pickle meat in the stomach, but this is the wine that digests, and doth not only breed…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-howell/french-wines-may-be-said-but-to-pickle-meat-in-the-stomach-but-this/) [James Howell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-howell/) > [It's good work that keeps you alive and going.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brenda-fricker/it-s-good-work-that-keeps-you-alive-and-going/) [Brenda Fricker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brenda-fricker/) > [Because knowledge is not for showing off. If I do good work, people should notice me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chetan-bhagat/because-knowledge-is-not-for-showing-off-if-i-do-good-work-people/) [Chetan Bhagat](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chetan-bhagat/) [Browse all 861 Good work quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/good-work/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "If you have several ideas that all seem pretty good, work on the one that you think about, when you're not trying to think about work.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Sam Altman" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sam-altman/if-you-have-several-ideas-that-all-seem-pretty-good-work-on-the-one/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Good work" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sam-altman/if-you-have-several-ideas-that-all-seem-pretty-good-work-on-the-one/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d68/sam-altman-1494_good-work_if-you-have-several-ideas-that-all-seem_2687125.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d68/sam-altman-1494_good-work_if-you-have-several-ideas-that-all-seem_2687125.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d68/sam-altman-1494_good-work_if-you-have-several-ideas-that-all-seem_2687125.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“If you have several ideas that all seem pretty good, work on the one that you think about, when you're not…” — Sam Altman", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Sam Altman", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sam-altman/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "If you have several ideas that...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sam-altman/if-you-have-several-ideas-that-all-seem-pretty-good-work-on-the-one/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sam-altman/if-you-have-several-ideas-that-all-seem-pretty-good-work-on-the-one/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```