--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: At least at first, the new thing is…" description: "\"At least at first, the new thing is rarely as good as the old thing was. If you need the alternative to be better than the status quo from the very s..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/714/seth-godin-152_alternative_at-least-at-first-the-new-thing-is-rarel_2295125.png" --- # At least at first, the new thing is rarely as good as the… ![“At least at first, the new thing is rarely as good as the old thing was. If you need the alternative to be better than the status quo from the very start, you'll never begin.” quote by Seth Godin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/714/seth-godin-152_alternative_at-least-at-first-the-new-thing-is-rarel_2295125.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/714/seth-godin-152_alternative_at-least-at-first-the-new-thing-is-rarel_2295125.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/714/seth-godin-152_alternative_at-least-at-first-the-new-thing-is-rarel_2295125.png) > “At least at first, the new thing is rarely as good as the old thing was. If you need the alternative to be better than the status quo from the very start, you'll never begin.” [Seth Godin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/seth-godin/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. New ideas often seem inferior to familiar ones; expecting immediate superiority prevents starting. **In simple terms:** New ideas feel worse at first; don’t demand instant perfection. Key Takeaway Embrace early imperfections. Themes innovation patience expectations Mood reflective encouraging Type advice motivational When to use this quote - product launch - creative brainstorming - skill learning - business startup Key Concepts growth mindset incremental improvement risk tolerance Questions to Reflect On - What can you accept as good enough to start? - How do you handle early setbacks? A Different Perspective Perfectionism can stall progress. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [New things](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/new-things/) [Old things](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/old-things/) [Status quo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/status-quo/) ## Related quotes > [Caring too much could be dangerous; I saw that now. But the alternative was no better.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ann-aguirre/caring-too-much-could-be-dangerous-i-saw-that-now-but-the-alternative/) [Ann Aguirre](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ann-aguirre/) > [My aim is to project that the BJP is not only an alternative but a better alternative to the Congress.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sushma-swaraj/my-aim-is-to-project-that-the-bjp-is-not-only-an-alternative-but-a/) [Sushma Swaraj](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sushma-swaraj/) > [I think it depends on the individual. It also depends on what's available. There may be a better alternative, then there may not. If…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donald-trump/i-think-it-depends-on-the-individual-it-also-depends-on-what-s/) [Donald Trump](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donald-trump/) > [“It is as simple as that. Birds fly because they have wings and so when you can’t grow the wings, you can’t be called…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/israelmore-ayivor/it-is-as-simple-as-that-birds-fly-because-they-have-wings-and-so-when/) [Israelmore Ayivor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/israelmore-ayivor/) > [We rarely have good alternatives to offer to prison - that's our default.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-forman-jr/we-rarely-have-good-alternatives-to-offer-to-prison-that-s-our-default/) [James Forman, Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-forman-jr/) > [Surrender is rarely good strategy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-manski/surrender-is-rarely-good-strategy/) [Ben Manski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ben-manski/) > ["You have a habit of turning up in unexpected places, Potter, and you are very rarely there for no good reason.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/severus-snape/you-have-a-habit-of-turning-up-in-unexpected-places-potter-and-you/) [Severus Snape](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/severus-snape/) > [Coming to terms with my feelings of worthlessness isn't always a bad time, but it's rarely a good one.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dov-davidoff/coming-to-terms-with-my-feelings-of-worthlessness-isn-t-always-a-bad/) [Dov Davidoff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dov-davidoff/) > [Doing funny scary is something that is rarely good and rarely works, and it's also something that's incredibly hard to market.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kevin-bacon/doing-funny-scary-is-something-that-is-rarely-good-and-rarely-works/) [Kevin Bacon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kevin-bacon/) > [Sequels are very rarely a good idea, and in any case, the success of the book changed my relationship with the club in some…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nick-hornby/sequels-are-very-rarely-a-good-idea-and-in-any-case-the-success-of/) [Nick Hornby](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nick-hornby/) > [Good women are rarely clever and clever women are rarely good.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adah-isaacs-menken/good-women-are-rarely-clever-and-clever-women-are-rarely-good/) Adah Isaacs Menken > [“I'm rarely good, Merit. But I'm often spectacular.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chloe-neill/i-m-rarely-good-merit-but-i-m-often-spectacular/) [Chloe Neill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chloe-neill/) > [“Divisiveness leads to a lot of things. Rarely are any of them good.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/germany-kent/divisiveness-leads-to-a-lot-of-things-rarely-are-any-of-them-good/) [Germany Kent](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/germany-kent/) > [It's very rarely a good career move to have a conscience.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anthony-bourdain/it-s-very-rarely-a-good-career-move-to-have-a-conscience/) [Anthony Bourdain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anthony-bourdain/) > [Self-delusion is rarely a good strategy for effective management.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eva-moskowitz/self-delusion-is-rarely-a-good-strategy-for-effective-management/) [Eva Moskowitz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eva-moskowitz/) ## More by Seth Godin > [“You weren't born to be a cog in the giant industrial machine. You were trained to become a cog. There's an alternative available to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/seth-godin/you-weren-t-born-to-be-a-cog-in-the-giant-industrial-machine-you-were/) [Seth Godin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/seth-godin/) > [Forgive yourself for not being the richest, the thinnest, the tallest, the one with the best hair. Forgive yourself for not being the most…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/seth-godin/forgive-yourself-for-not-being-the-richest-the-thinnest-the-tallest/) [Seth Godin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/seth-godin/) > [The easier it is to quantify, the less it's worth.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/seth-godin/the-easier-it-is-to-quantify-the-less-it-s-worth/) [Seth Godin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/seth-godin/) > [Developing expertise or assets that are not easily copied is essential; otherwise you're just a middleman.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/seth-godin/developing-expertise-or-assets-that-are-not-easily-copied-is/) [Seth Godin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/seth-godin/) > [Leadership is a choice. It's the choice not to do nothing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/seth-godin/leadership-is-a-choice-it-s-the-choice-not-to-do-nothing/) [Seth Godin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/seth-godin/) > [The next thing you do today will be the most important thing on your agenda, because, after all, you're doing it next. Well, perhaps…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/seth-godin/the-next-thing-you-do-today-will-be-the-most-important-thing-on-your/) [Seth Godin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/seth-godin/) > [I look at Starbucks, Howard Schultz has made many brilliant decisions, and one of the things that they did was they invented the third…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/seth-godin/i-look-at-starbucks-howard-schultz-has-made-many-brilliant-decisions/) [Seth Godin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/seth-godin/) > [Be relentlessly generous, without focusing on when it will come back to you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/seth-godin/be-relentlessly-generous-without-focusing-on-when-it-will-come-back/) [Seth Godin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/seth-godin/) > [The public square is more public than ever, but minds are rarely changed in 140 character bursts and by selfies.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/seth-godin/the-public-square-is-more-public-than-ever-but-minds-are-rarely/) [Seth Godin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/seth-godin/) > [Making an average pitch to average people, or having an average gala for average people isn't going to scale anymore. You've got to find…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/seth-godin/making-an-average-pitch-to-average-people-or-having-an-average-gala/) [Seth Godin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/seth-godin/) > [Our job is to make change. Our job is to connect to people, to interact with them in a way that leaves them better…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/seth-godin/our-job-is-to-make-change-our-job-is-to-connect-to-people-to-interact/) [Seth Godin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/seth-godin/) > [“Life is actually far better than it is in the movies. And it takes longer.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/seth-godin/life-is-actually-far-better-than-it-is-in-the-movies-and-it-takes/) [Seth Godin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/seth-godin/) > [I don't think there's a shortage of remarkable ideas. I think your business has plenty of great opportunities to do great things. Nope, what's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/seth-godin/i-don-t-think-there-s-a-shortage-of-remarkable-ideas-i-think-your/) [Seth Godin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/seth-godin/) > [The mirror we hold up to the person next to us is one of the most important pictures she will ever see.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/seth-godin/the-mirror-we-hold-up-to-the-person-next-to-us-is-one-of-the-most/) [Seth Godin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/seth-godin/) > [If you're a marketer who doesn't know how to invent, design, influence, adapt, and ultimately discard products, then you're no longer a marketer. You're…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/seth-godin/if-you-re-a-marketer-who-doesn-t-know-how-to-invent-design-influence/) [Seth Godin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/seth-godin/) [Explore all 1,110 Seth Godin quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/seth-godin/) ## More Alternative quotes > [The alternative comedy scene is actually pretty small, I guess.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/casey-wilson/the-alternative-comedy-scene-is-actually-pretty-small-i-guess/) [Casey Wilson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/casey-wilson/) > [In my book I specifically discussed the structural nature of injustice and offered Nine Touchstones of Goddess ethics as an alternative to the Ten…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carol-p-christ/in-my-book-i-specifically-discussed-the-structural-nature-of/) [Carol P. Christ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carol-p-christ/) > [As the future is never known with certainty, the evaluation of the prospective benefits requires the formation of expectations. An acceptable house, partner or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dale-t-mortensen/as-the-future-is-never-known-with-certainty-the-evaluation-of-the/) [Dale T. Mortensen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dale-t-mortensen/) > [Maximise the alternative forms in which a user might receive a service, and the alternative sources of supply.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/don-chipp/maximise-the-alternative-forms-in-which-a-user-might-receive-a/) Don Chipp > [In January 2012, Google Plus started to roll out support for nicknames and pseudonyms, but those registering with a name other than their real-life…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rebecca-mackinnon/in-january-2012-google-plus-started-to-roll-out-support-for-nicknames/) [Rebecca MacKinnon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rebecca-mackinnon/) > [It's American Alternative radio stations that bug me. We're considered Alternative, but don't expect us to be played next to Blink 182 and Offspring.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thurston-moore/it-s-american-alternative-radio-stations-that-bug-me-we-re-considered/) [Thurston Moore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thurston-moore/) > [There are some fantastic, brilliant alternative doctors out there.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hayley-mills/there-are-some-fantastic-brilliant-alternative-doctors-out-there/) [Hayley Mills](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hayley-mills/) > [The alternative to the market process is government control, and we know where that principle leads.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sheldon-richman/the-alternative-to-the-market-process-is-government-control-and-we/) [Sheldon Richman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sheldon-richman/) > [Alternative services would mean that there would be services available to compete with Google, Facebook, Amazon, Dropbox, Skype, etc., and they would be run…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mikko-hypponen/alternative-services-would-mean-that-there-would-be-services/) [Mikko Hypponen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mikko-hypponen/) > [I liked a lot of alternative and I like punk stuff.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martie-maguire/i-liked-a-lot-of-alternative-and-i-like-punk-stuff/) [Martie Maguire](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martie-maguire/) > [I've thought about what is an alternative word to feminism. There isn't one. It's a perfectly good word. And it can't be changed.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/annie-lennox/i-ve-thought-about-what-is-an-alternative-word-to-feminism-there-isn/) [Annie Lennox](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/annie-lennox/) > [The Voice has always been an alternative paper. They have always understood that that was part of their role.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sydney-schanberg/the-voice-has-always-been-an-alternative-paper-they-have-always/) [Sydney Schanberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sydney-schanberg/) > [Please don't eat less, eat right, don't hold it in, its okay to cry, do not hurt yourself there is always an alternative.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/please-don-t-eat-less-eat-right-don-t-hold-it-in-its-okay-to-cry-do/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [The Gospel is not an alternative, it’s an ultimatum.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/reinhard-bonnke/the-gospel-is-not-an-alternative-it-s-an-ultimatum/) [Reinhard Bonnke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/reinhard-bonnke/) > [Alternative medicine plays into this exaggerated notion that you can prevent disease simply by doing the right thing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcia-angell/alternative-medicine-plays-into-this-exaggerated-notion-that-you-can/) [Marcia Angell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcia-angell/) Browse all 400 Alternative quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "At least at first, the new thing is rarely as good as the old thing was. 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