--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: In addition to relentlessly resourceful…" description: "\"In addition to relentlessly resourceful, you want a tough and a calm cofounder.\" — Sam Altman" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/44c/sam-altman-1494_calm_in-addition-to-relentlessly-resourceful_420511.png" --- # In addition to relentlessly resourceful, you want a tough… ![“In addition to relentlessly resourceful, you want a tough and a calm cofounder.” quote by Sam Altman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/44c/sam-altman-1494_calm_in-addition-to-relentlessly-resourceful_420511.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/44c/sam-altman-1494_calm_in-addition-to-relentlessly-resourceful_420511.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/44c/sam-altman-1494_calm_in-addition-to-relentlessly-resourceful_420511.png) > “In addition to relentlessly resourceful, you want a tough and a calm cofounder.” [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. Successful startups need cofounders who are resourceful, resilient, and composed under pressure. **In simple terms:** Cofounders should be clever, tough, and calm. Key Takeaway Choose partners with complementary strengths. Themes leadership team dynamics startup success Mood determined analytical optimistic Type advice business leadership When to use this quote - founding a tech startup - securing seed funding - navigating crisis - building product roadmap Key Concepts resilience resourcefulness emotional regulation Questions to Reflect On - How will you evaluate calmness under stress? - Can resourcefulness compensate for lack of toughness? A Different Perspective Such traits may be hard to assess early and can mask deeper incompatibilities. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Calm](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/calm/) [Customer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/customer/) [Team](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/team/) ## Related quotes > [At YC we have this public phrase, and it's relentlessly resourceful.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sam-altman/at-yc-we-have-this-public-phrase-and-it-s-relentlessly-resourceful/) [Sam Altman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sam-altman/) > [In YC's case, the number one cause of early death for startups is cofounder blowups.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sam-altman/in-yc-s-case-the-number-one-cause-of-early-death-for-startups-is/) [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/) > [If you're not in college and you don't know a cofounder, the next best thing I think is to go work at an interesting…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sam-altman/if-you-re-not-in-college-and-you-don-t-know-a-cofounder-the-next-best/) [Sam Altman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sam-altman/) > [Cofounder relationships are among the most important in the entire company.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sam-altman/cofounder-relationships-are-among-the-most-important-in-the-entire/) [Sam Altman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sam-altman/) > [A lot of people treat choosing their cofounder with even less importance than they put on hiring. Don't do this.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sam-altman/a-lot-of-people-treat-choosing-their-cofounder-with-even-less/) [Sam Altman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sam-altman/) > [I'm half of the band Pomplamoose and cofounder & CEO at Patreon.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-conte/i-m-half-of-the-band-pomplamoose-and-cofounder-ceo-at-patreon/) [Jack Conte](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-conte/) > [I'm the cofounder of Keep a Child Alive. We provide medicine for families affected by HIV and AIDS in places like Africa and India.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alicia-keys/i-m-the-cofounder-of-keep-a-child-alive-we-provide-medicine-for/) [Alicia Keys](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alicia-keys/) > [If you have a cofounder, one of the benefits is you'll get from point A to point B two times faster.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julia-hartz/if-you-have-a-cofounder-one-of-the-benefits-is-you-ll-get-from-point/) [Julia Hartz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julia-hartz/) > [Finding a technical cofounder would have been difficult for me. I was an English major and didn't know any computer programmers.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jessica-livingston/finding-a-technical-cofounder-would-have-been-difficult-for-me-i-was/) [Jessica Livingston](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jessica-livingston/) > [One of the top causes of startup death - right after cofounder problems - is building something no one wants.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kathryn-minshew/one-of-the-top-causes-of-startup-death-right-after-cofounder-problems/) [Kathryn Minshew](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kathryn-minshew/) > [ “Phil Libin, the cofounder of Evernote, has a quote I like to share with clients: “People \[who are\] thinking about things other than making… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ryan-holiday/phil-libin-the-cofounder-of-evernote-has-a-quote-i-like-to-share-with/) [Ryan Holiday](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ryan-holiday/) > [As far as funding and building a team, you being romantically involved with your cofounder really shouldn't play a factor in how you run…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julia-hartz/as-far-as-funding-and-building-a-team-you-being-romantically-involved/) [Julia Hartz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julia-hartz/) > [I want to be the Tough Justice Secretary.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-grayling/i-want-to-be-the-tough-justice-secretary/) [Chris Grayling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-grayling/) > [“You know you can be as sweet as you want, or as tough as you want, or both at the same time.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/art-hochberg/you-know-you-can-be-as-sweet-as-you-want-or-as-tough-as-you-want-or/) [Art Hochberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/art-hochberg/) ## 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 Calm quotes > [Grandma, please. It’s okay. Dad’s doing a great job. I give him kudos for at least being calm and rational, and not losing his…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sherrilyn-kenyon/grandma-please-it-s-okay-dad-s-doing-a-great-job-i-give-him-kudos-for/) [Sherrilyn Kenyon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sherrilyn-kenyon/) > [You practice mindfulness, on the one hand, to be calm and peaceful. On the other hand, as you practice mindfulness and live a life…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/you-practice-mindfulness-on-the-one-hand-to-be-calm-and-peaceful-on/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“After the storm, reigns the calm.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/simdi-onuora/after-the-storm-reigns-the-calm/) Simdi Onuora > [So mightiest powers buy deepest calms are fed, And sleep, how oft, in things that gentlest be!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bryan-procter/so-mightiest-powers-buy-deepest-calms-are-fed-and-sleep-how-oft-in/) [Bryan Procter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bryan-procter/) > [KEEP CALM and HAVE A SUGAR CUBE](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/suzanne-collins/keep-calm-and-have-a-sugar-cube/) [Suzanne Collins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/suzanne-collins/) > [To practice Aikido fully you must calm the spirit and go back to the origin.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/morihei-ueshiba/to-practice-aikido-fully-you-must-calm-the-spirit-and-go-back-to-the/) [Morihei Ueshiba](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/morihei-ueshiba/) > [You imagine that I look back on my life's work with calm satisfaction. But from nearby it looks quite different. There is not a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-einstein/you-imagine-that-i-look-back-on-my-life-s-work-with-calm-satisfaction/) [Albert Einstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-einstein/) > [Don't get divorced after your first argument! I have a lot of friends that have one fight and that's it, they get divorced. I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kelly-ripa/don-t-get-divorced-after-your-first-argument-i-have-a-lot-of-friends/) [Kelly Ripa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kelly-ripa/) > [The goal of the operation is to send Gaza back to the Middle Ages, only then will Israel be calm for the next 40 years.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-ben-ari/the-goal-of-the-operation-is-to-send-gaza-back-to-the-middle-ages/) Michael Ben-Ari > [No physiologist who calmly considers the question in connection with the general truths of his science, can long resist the conviction that different parts…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/herbert-spencer/no-physiologist-who-calmly-considers-the-question-in-connection-with/) [Herbert Spencer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/herbert-spencer/) > [When I was a child I truly loved: Unthinking love as calm and deep As the North Sea. But I have lived, And now…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-gardner/when-i-was-a-child-i-truly-loved-unthinking-love-as-calm-and-deep-as/) [John Gardner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-gardner/) > [~Keep Calm and Swagger On~](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/im-nothing/keep-calm-and-swagger-on/) Im Nothing > [Ride your horse calm, forward and then make him straight.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walter-zettl/ride-your-horse-calm-forward-and-then-make-him-straight/) [Walter Zettl](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walter-zettl/) > [Life appears to me too short to be spent in nursing animosity, or registering wrongs. With this creed, revenge never worries my heart, degradation…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charlotte-bronte/life-appears-to-me-too-short-to-be-spent-in-nursing-animosity-or/) [Charlotte Bronte](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charlotte-bronte/) > [Religious work is one of the best ways to keep from facing your reality if you are Christian, if you are using it to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/keith-miller/religious-work-is-one-of-the-best-ways-to-keep-from-facing-your/) [Keith Miller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/keith-miller/) [Browse all 3,074 Calm quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/calm/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "In addition to relentlessly resourceful, you want a tough and a calm cofounder.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Sam Altman" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sam-altman/in-addition-to-relentlessly-resourceful-you-want-a-tough-and-a-calm/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Calm" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sam-altman/in-addition-to-relentlessly-resourceful-you-want-a-tough-and-a-calm/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/44c/sam-altman-1494_calm_in-addition-to-relentlessly-resourceful_420511.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/44c/sam-altman-1494_calm_in-addition-to-relentlessly-resourceful_420511.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/44c/sam-altman-1494_calm_in-addition-to-relentlessly-resourceful_420511.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“In addition to relentlessly resourceful, you want a tough and a calm cofounder.” — 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": "In addition to relentlessly resourceful, you...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sam-altman/in-addition-to-relentlessly-resourceful-you-want-a-tough-and-a-calm/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sam-altman/in-addition-to-relentlessly-resourceful-you-want-a-tough-and-a-calm/#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 } } ] } ```