---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Successful people are the ones who are…"
description: "\"Successful people are the ones who are breaking the rules.\" — Seth Godin"
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/37b/seth-godin-152_breaking_successful-people-are-the-ones-who-are-b_2102861.png"
---

#  Successful people are the ones who are breaking the rules.

![“Successful people are the ones who are breaking the rules.” quote by Seth Godin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/37b/seth-godin-152_breaking_successful-people-are-the-ones-who-are-b_2102861.png)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/37b/seth-godin-152_breaking_successful-people-are-the-ones-who-are-b_2102861.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/37b/seth-godin-152_breaking_successful-people-are-the-ones-who-are-b_2102861.png)

> “Successful people are the ones who are breaking the rules.”

[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.

Innovation often requires breaking conventional rules to succeed.

**In simple terms:** Breaking rules can lead to success.

Key Takeaway

Challenge norms creatively.

Themes

innovation rules success

Mood

inspirational provocative

Type

philosophical motivational

When to use this quote

- startup culture
- product design
- marketing campaigns
- organizational change

Key Concepts

creativity disruption leadership

Questions to Reflect On

- When is breaking a rule justified?
- How do you manage fallout from disruption?

A Different Perspective

Rule-breaking can cause conflict or instability.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Breaking rules](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/breaking-rules/) [Breaking the rules](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/breaking-the-rules/) [Business](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/business/) [Businessman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/businessman/) [Entrepreneur](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/entrepreneur/) [Mediocrity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mediocrity/) [Motivation](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/motivation/) [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) [Status quo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/status-quo/) [Success](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/success/) [Successful](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/successful/) [Successful people](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/successful-people/)

## Related quotes

> [I want to remind people of a different kind of glamour, a different look, and breaking the rules of fashion. I wanna break the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dita-von-teese/i-want-to-remind-people-of-a-different-kind-of-glamour-a-different/)

[Dita Von Teese](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dita-von-teese/)

> [“Breaking the rules is addictive, too.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abigail-roux/breaking-the-rules-is-addictive-too/)

[Abigail Roux](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abigail-roux/)

> [In effect we are, bending and breaking the rules of the language. And if someone were to ask why we do it, the answer…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-crystal/in-effect-we-are-bending-and-breaking-the-rules-of-the-language-and/)

[David Crystal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-crystal/)

> [Once you have your basics down, you can start breaking the rules.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-colicchio/once-you-have-your-basics-down-you-can-start-breaking-the-rules/)

[Tom Colicchio](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-colicchio/)

> [Sometimes breaking the rules is extending the rules.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-oliver/sometimes-breaking-the-rules-is-extending-the-rules/)

[Mary Oliver](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-oliver/)

> [I always say that it's about breaking the rules. But the secret of breaking rules in a way that works is understanding what the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rick-wakeman/i-always-say-that-it-s-about-breaking-the-rules-but-the-secret-of/)

[Rick Wakeman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rick-wakeman/)

> [“Life is a game with breaking the rules.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tamerlan-kuzgov/life-is-a-game-with-breaking-the-rules/)

[Tamerlan Kuzgov](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tamerlan-kuzgov/)

> [Man breaking the rules of the world like it just a mere mudwall..](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/yonem-elo/man-breaking-the-rules-of-the-world-like-it-just-a-mere-mudwall/)

[Yonem Elo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/yonem-elo/)

> [The people who look the happiest are the ones breaking down inside.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/the-people-who-look-the-happiest-are-the-ones-breaking-down-inside/)

[Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/)

> [“I'm taking the chance, walking away, breaking the rules nobody here can tell me what to do.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kiki/i-m-taking-the-chance-walking-away-breaking-the-rules-nobody-here-can/)

[kiki](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kiki/)

> [“While you're sitting there wondering why you've kept all the rules and you still haven't achieved everything you've been promised, someone else has been…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-pearce/while-you-re-sitting-there-wondering-why-you-ve-kept-all-the-rules/)

[Dan Pearce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dan-pearce/)

> [“I had artistic classical training, and when you learn the classics for so many years, you might gain audacity, power and confidence to subvert…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nuno-roque/i-had-artistic-classical-training-and-when-you-learn-the-classics-for/)

Nuno Roque

> [“The greatest crimes in the world are not committed by people breaking the rules, but by people following the rules.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/the-greatest-crimes-in-the-world-are-not-committed-by-people-breaking/)

[Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/)

> [Creativity comes by breaking the rules, by saying that you're in love with the anarchist.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anita-roddick/creativity-comes-by-breaking-the-rules-by-saying-that-you-re-in-love/)

[Anita Roddick](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anita-roddick/)

> [“Three Things to Remember As long as you’re dancing, you can break the rules. Sometimes breaking the rules is just extending the rules. Sometimes…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-oliver/three-things-to-remember-as-long-as-you-re-dancing-you-can-break-the/)

[Mary Oliver](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-oliver/)

## 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 Breaking quotes

> [Your pain is the breaking of the shell that encloses your understanding. Even as the stone of the fruit must break, that its heart…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/khalil-gibran/your-pain-is-the-breaking-of-the-shell-that-encloses-your/)

[Khalil Gibran](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/khalil-gibran/)

> [“A man's life is about keeping rules, breaking them, and making new ones.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ogwo-david-emenike/a-man-s-life-is-about-keeping-rules-breaking-them-and-making-new-ones/)

[Ogwo David Emenike](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ogwo-david-emenike/)

> [“Even the most loyal person had their breaking point”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vi-keeland/even-the-most-loyal-person-had-their-breaking-point/)

[Vi Keeland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vi-keeland/)

> [“I don't want to break my memories with you.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arzum-uzun/i-don-t-want-to-break-my-memories-with-you/)

[Arzum Uzun](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arzum-uzun/)

> [Sometimes you never notice when somebody is breaking your heart, until they are through.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-mark/sometimes-you-never-notice-when-somebody-is-breaking-your-heart-until/)

[Terry Mark](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terry-mark/)

> [I want to remind people of a different kind of glamour, a different look, and breaking the rules of fashion. I wanna break the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dita-von-teese/i-want-to-remind-people-of-a-different-kind-of-glamour-a-different/)

[Dita Von Teese](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dita-von-teese/)

> [I'm a very, very impatient person when it comes to breaking news.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donovan-mitchell/i-m-a-very-very-impatient-person-when-it-comes-to-breaking-news/)

[Donovan Mitchell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donovan-mitchell/)

> [If the many allegations made to this date are true, then the burglars who broke into the headquarters of the Democratic National Committee at…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sam-ervin/if-the-many-allegations-made-to-this-date-are-true-then-the-burglars/)

[Sam Ervin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sam-ervin/)

> [It was very hard breaking into the film industry in Britain. I had been to art school, and I was painting and doing commercials.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tony-scott/it-was-very-hard-breaking-into-the-film-industry-in-britain-i-had/)

[Tony Scott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tony-scott/)

> [“Turns out there’s a way to give in without losing. You got to find some slack in you. Just this side of your breaking…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/margaret-wrinkle/turns-out-there-s-a-way-to-give-in-without-losing-you-got-to-find/)

[Margaret Wrinkle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/margaret-wrinkle/)

> [I just realized early on when I was breaking out a lot, my skin was super oily and it was confused and I was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alex-cooper/i-just-realized-early-on-when-i-was-breaking-out-a-lot-my-skin-was/)

[Alex Cooper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alex-cooper/)

> [I believe that the dissolution of a marriage comes about by the breaking down of self-esteem.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dixie-carter/i-believe-that-the-dissolution-of-a-marriage-comes-about-by-the/)

[Dixie Carter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dixie-carter/)

> [I may have the 'Twilight: Breaking Dawn' soundtrack, which I've been told is embarrassing, but come on, there are some good songs on there.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/floriana-lima/i-may-have-the-twilight-breaking-dawn-soundtrack-which-i-ve-been-told/)

Floriana Lima

> [Me breaking up with my Ex is a another girls come up!!!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kevin-mccarty/me-breaking-up-with-my-ex-is-a-another-girls-come-up/)

[Kevin McCarty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kevin-mccarty/)

> [My home is different from my mother's, because hers is filled with beautiful objects that I was always afraid of breaking. My home is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cybill-shepherd/my-home-is-different-from-my-mother-s-because-hers-is-filled-with/)

[Cybill Shepherd](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cybill-shepherd/)

Browse all 751 Breaking quotes

```json
{
    "@context": "https://schema.org",
    "@graph": [
        {
            "@type": "Quotation",
            "text": "Successful people are the ones who are breaking the rules.",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "Seth Godin"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/seth-godin/successful-people-are-the-ones-who-are-breaking-the-rules/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "Breaking"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/seth-godin/successful-people-are-the-ones-who-are-breaking-the-rules/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/37b/seth-godin-152_breaking_successful-people-are-the-ones-who-are-b_2102861.png",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/37b/seth-godin-152_breaking_successful-people-are-the-ones-who-are-b_2102861.png",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/37b/seth-godin-152_breaking_successful-people-are-the-ones-who-are-b_2102861.png",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“Successful people are the ones who are breaking the rules.” — Seth Godin",
                "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": "Seth Godin",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/seth-godin/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 4,
                    "name": "Successful people are the ones who...",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/seth-godin/successful-people-are-the-ones-who-are-breaking-the-rules/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/seth-godin/successful-people-are-the-ones-who-are-breaking-the-rules/#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
            }
        }
    ]
}
```
