--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Swim upstream. Go the other way. Ignore…" description: "\"Swim upstream. Go the other way. Ignore the conventional wisdom. If everybody else is doing it one way, there's a good chance you can find your niche b..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4d8/sam-walton-4376_be-prepared_swim-upstream-go-the-other-way-ignore-th_3153768.jpg" --- # Swim upstream. Go the other way. Ignore the conventional… ![“Swim upstream. Go the other way. Ignore the conventional wisdom. If everybody else is doing it one way, there's a good chance you can find your niche by going in exactly the opposite direction. But be prepared for a lot of folks to wave you down and tell you you're headed the wrong way. I guess in…” quote by Sam Walton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4d8/sam-walton-4376_be-prepared_swim-upstream-go-the-other-way-ignore-th_3153768.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4d8/sam-walton-4376_be-prepared_swim-upstream-go-the-other-way-ignore-th_3153768.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4d8/sam-walton-4376_be-prepared_swim-upstream-go-the-other-way-ignore-th_3153768.jpg) > “Swim upstream. Go the other way. Ignore the conventional wisdom. If everybody else is doing it one way, there's a good chance you can find your niche by going in exactly the opposite direction. But be prepared for a lot of folks to wave you down and tell you you're headed the wrong way. I guess in all my years, what I heard more often than anything was: a town of less than 50,000 population cannot support a discount store for very long.” [Sam Walton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sam-walton/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Encourages contrarian thinking to discover unique opportunities, warning of social resistance. **In simple terms:** Think opposite to find niche, expect criticism. Key Takeaway Explore unconventional paths despite pushback. Themes innovation contrarianism risk entrepreneurship Mood determined challenging optimistic Type motivational strategic When to use this quote - startup founding - product development - career change - creative problem solving Key Concepts market disruption niche strategy social pressure Questions to Reflect On - What niche could you create by doing the opposite? - How will you handle criticism? A Different Perspective Opposite actions may not always succeed; market realities matter. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Be prepared](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/be-prepared/) [Chance](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/chance/) [Chance Niche](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/chance-niche-2263944/) [Conventional](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/conventional/) [Conventional wisdom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/conventional-wisdom/) [Discount Store](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/discount-store-5673682/) [Discounts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/discounts/) [Down and](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/down-and/) [Folks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/folks/) [Good chance](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/good-chance/) [Heard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/heard/) [Ifs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ifs/) [Long](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/long/) [Niche](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/niche/) [Niche Going](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/niche-going-2263942/) [One way](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/one-way/) [Opposite direction](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/opposite-direction/) [Opposites](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/opposites/) [Population](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/population/) [Prepared](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/prepared/) [Stores](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/stores/) [Support](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/support/) [Swim](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/swim/) [Swim Upstream](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/swim-upstream-1820635/) [Towns](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/towns/) [Upstream Way](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/upstream-way-4394374/) [Wave](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wave/) [Way](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/way/) [Wisdom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wisdom/) [Wrong way](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wrong-way/) [Years](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/years/) ## Related quotes > [Swim upstream. Go the other way. Ignore the conventional wisdom.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sam-walton/swim-upstream-go-the-other-way-ignore-the-conventional-wisdom/) [Sam Walton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sam-walton/) > [Ignore the conventional wisdom. If everybody else is doing it one way, there’s a good chance you can find your niche by going in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sam-walton/ignore-the-conventional-wisdom-if-everybody-else-is-doing-it-one-way/) [Sam Walton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sam-walton/) > [If everybody is doing it one way, there's a good chance you can find your niche by going exactly in the opposite direction.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sam-walton/if-everybody-is-doing-it-one-way-there-s-a-good-chance-you-can-find/) [Sam Walton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sam-walton/) > [I guess in all my years, what I heard more than anything else was: a mere town cannot support a discount store for very…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sam-walton/i-guess-in-all-my-years-what-i-heard-more-than-anything-else-was-a/) [Sam Walton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sam-walton/) > [I'm creating my niche. My niche is going to be "shirtless guy."](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dave-bautista/i-m-creating-my-niche-my-niche-is-going-to-be-shirtless-guy/) [Dave Bautista](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dave-bautista/) > [Hollywood... that's not going to be my niche at all. If anyone is going wants to work with me, I would think it's going…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lesley-manville/hollywood-that-s-not-going-to-be-my-niche-at-all-if-anyone-is-going/) [Lesley Manville](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lesley-manville/) > [“Some fish love to swim upstream. Some people love to overcome challenges.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amit-ray/some-fish-love-to-swim-upstream-some-people-love-to-overcome/) [Amit Ray](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amit-ray/) > [Your background it ain't squeaky clean shit. Sometimes we all got to swim upstream.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jill-scott/your-background-it-ain-t-squeaky-clean-shit-sometimes-we-all-got-to/) [Jill Scott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jill-scott/) > [Remember, a dead fish can float downstream, but it takes a live one to swim upstream.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/w-c-fields/remember-a-dead-fish-can-float-downstream-but-it-takes-a-live-one-to/) [W. C. Fields](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/w-c-fields/) > [“One can never swim upstream to a prosper future if they continue to drown in their past.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/timothy-pina/one-can-never-swim-upstream-to-a-prosper-future-if-they-continue-to/) [Timothy Pina](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/timothy-pina/) > [Remember this, and remember this well: when someone is telling the TRUTH and exposing information that is meant to be hidden from the masses,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/suzy-kassem/remember-this-and-remember-this-well-when-someone-is-telling-the/) [Suzy Kassem](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/suzy-kassem/) > [Never discount a country by their size or resources. What may not be useful to yours, could be greatly beneficial to other lands in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/suzy-kassem/never-discount-a-country-by-their-size-or-resources-what-may-not-be/) [Suzy Kassem](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/suzy-kassem/) > [If writing with a goal - whether it be evangelistic, apologetic, or didactic - implies propaganda, then all recorded history is propaganda. . .…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-copan/if-writing-with-a-goal-whether-it-be-evangelistic-apologetic-or/) [Paul Copan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-copan/) > [I worked at a Sport Chek in Vancouver, only so I could get the discount off snowboard gear. But I hated the job so…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/missy-peregrym/i-worked-at-a-sport-chek-in-vancouver-only-so-i-could-get-the/) [Missy Peregrym](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/missy-peregrym/) > [Tis e'er the wont of simple folk to prize the deed and o'erlook the motive, and of learned folk to discount the deed and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-barth/tis-e-er-the-wont-of-simple-folk-to-prize-the-deed-and-o-erlook-the/) [John Barth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-barth/) ## More by Sam Walton > [It is unhealthy to marinate in your own press clippings.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sam-walton/it-is-unhealthy-to-marinate-in-your-own-press-clippings/) [Sam Walton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sam-walton/) > [Loosen up, and everybody around you will loosen up.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sam-walton/loosen-up-and-everybody-around-you-will-loosen-up/) [Sam Walton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sam-walton/) > [All of us profit from being corrected - if we're corrected in a positive way.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sam-walton/all-of-us-profit-from-being-corrected-if-we-re-corrected-in-a/) [Sam Walton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sam-walton/) > [The secret of successful retailing is to give your customers what they want](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sam-walton/the-secret-of-successful-retailing-is-to-give-your-customers-what/) [Sam Walton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sam-walton/) > [If I had to single out one element in my life that has made a difference for me, it would be a passion to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sam-walton/if-i-had-to-single-out-one-element-in-my-life-that-has-made-a/) [Sam Walton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sam-walton/) > [We're all working together; that's the secret. And we'll lower the cost of living for everyone, not just in America, but we'll give the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sam-walton/we-re-all-working-together-that-s-the-secret-and-we-ll-lower-the-cost/) [Sam Walton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sam-walton/) > [The key to success is to get out into the store and listen to what the associates have to say. It's terribly important for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sam-walton/the-key-to-success-is-to-get-out-into-the-store-and-listen-to-what/) [Sam Walton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sam-walton/) > [I think my constant fiddling and meddling with the status quo may have been one of my biggest contributions to the later success of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sam-walton/i-think-my-constant-fiddling-and-meddling-with-the-status-quo-may/) [Sam Walton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sam-walton/) > [High expectations is the key to everything.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sam-walton/high-expectations-is-the-key-to-everything/) [Sam Walton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sam-walton/) > [Exceed your customer's expectations. If you do, they'll come back over and over. Give them what they want - and a little more.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sam-walton/exceed-your-customer-s-expectations-if-you-do-they-ll-come-back-over/) [Sam Walton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sam-walton/) > [Nothing else can quite substitute for a few well-chosen, well-timed, sincere words of praise. They're absolutely free and worth a fortune](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sam-walton/nothing-else-can-quite-substitute-for-a-few-well-chosen-well-timed/) [Sam Walton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sam-walton/) > [I was asked what I thought about the recession. I thought about it and decided not to take part.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sam-walton/i-was-asked-what-i-thought-about-the-recession-i-thought-about-it-and/) [Sam Walton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sam-walton/) > [Capital isn't hard to find; intuition, yes.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sam-walton/capital-isn-t-hard-to-find-intuition-yes/) [Sam Walton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sam-walton/) > [Commit to your business. Believe in it more than anybody else.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sam-walton/commit-to-your-business-believe-in-it-more-than-anybody-else/) [Sam Walton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sam-walton/) > [Our best ideas come from clerks and stockboys.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sam-walton/our-best-ideas-come-from-clerks-and-stockboys/) [Sam Walton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sam-walton/) [Explore all 112 Sam Walton quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sam-walton/) ## More Be prepared quotes > [“In your goals to go the extra mile, prepare to pay an extra cost. Excellence is to be exceptional, surpassing, more competent and a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/israelmore-ayivor/in-your-goals-to-go-the-extra-mile-prepare-to-pay-an-extra-cost/) [Israelmore Ayivor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/israelmore-ayivor/) > [I have learned so much from my dad. Perhaps the biggest thing I've learned from my dad is how to be prepared at all…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jay-sekulow/i-have-learned-so-much-from-my-dad-perhaps-the-biggest-thing-i-ve/) [Jay Sekulow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jay-sekulow/) > [Wherever you escape, the truth will find you! Always be prepared to meet with it!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mehmet-murat-ildan/wherever-you-escape-the-truth-will-find-you-always-be-prepared-to/) [Mehmet Murat Ildan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mehmet-murat-ildan/) > [The thing about writing or making art is that I'm not thinking about that stuff while I'm doing it. Like the driver's ed kid,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chelsea-martin/the-thing-about-writing-or-making-art-is-that-i-m-not-thinking-about/) [Chelsea Martin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chelsea-martin/) > [You must have goals in your life, or otherwise be prepared to be used by those who do have them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/herb-brooks/you-must-have-goals-in-your-life-or-otherwise-be-prepared-to-be-used/) [Herb Brooks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/herb-brooks/) > [I never minded giving my opinions. They are just opinions, and I had studied music and I had strong feelings. I was happy for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wynton-marsalis/i-never-minded-giving-my-opinions-they-are-just-opinions-and-i-had/) [Wynton Marsalis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wynton-marsalis/) > [To me, man means awareness of death. I am not saying become afraid of death; that is not awareness. Just be aware of the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rajneesh/to-me-man-means-awareness-of-death-i-am-not-saying-become-afraid-of/) [Rajneesh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rajneesh/) > [Don't yield to that alluring witch, laziness, or else be prepared to surrender all that you have won in your better moments.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/horace/don-t-yield-to-that-alluring-witch-laziness-or-else-be-prepared-to/) [Horace](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/horace/) > [Another mistake a director can make is not to be prepared, so you get there on the day to shoot the scene, and they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-h-macy/another-mistake-a-director-can-make-is-not-to-be-prepared-so-you-get/) [William H. Macy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-h-macy/) > [Old Flossie settle down on the other side of What-the-Dickens and dragged some handiwork out of a sack. She armed herself with two thorns…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gregory-maguire/old-flossie-settle-down-on-the-other-side-of-what-the-dickens-and/) [Gregory Maguire](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gregory-maguire/) > [Good preparation is key for me. Nowadays everyone is an actor slash writer, slash this, slash that, its cool; and you can only go…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jaime-zevallos/good-preparation-is-key-for-me-nowadays-everyone-is-an-actor-slash/) [Jaime Zevallos](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jaime-zevallos/) > [Cruel and paradoxical though it undoubtedly is, the record shows that yje most succesful 20th century monarchs have been those who were not actually…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-cannadine/cruel-and-paradoxical-though-it-undoubtedly-is-the-record-shows-that/) [David Cannadine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-cannadine/) > [One can understand the politics of that at this moment. It's an effort to buy time for a constituency of workers who have really…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/judy-woodruff/one-can-understand-the-politics-of-that-at-this-moment-it-s-an-effort/) [Judy Woodruff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/judy-woodruff/) > [We are all better than we know. If only we can be brought to realise this, we may never be prepared to settle for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kurt-hahn/we-are-all-better-than-we-know-if-only-we-can-be-brought-to-realise/) [Kurt Hahn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kurt-hahn/) > [I have spoken about what we can do as citizens, what we can do as a responsive citizenry, and this is where we have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-tempest-williams/i-have-spoken-about-what-we-can-do-as-citizens-what-we-can-do-as-a/) [Terry Tempest Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terry-tempest-williams/) [Browse all 692 Be prepared quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/be-prepared/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Swim upstream. Go the other way. Ignore the conventional wisdom. If everybody else is doing it one way, there's a good chance you can find your niche by going in exactly the opposite direction. 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