--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I look at every business and ask, How…" description: "\"I look at every business and ask, How long can this last? How can I identify the status quo and change it?\" — Sheldon Adelson" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/bcc/sheldon-adelson-26865_business_i-look-at-every-business-and-ask-how-lon_1246876.jpg" --- # I look at every business and ask, How long can this last?… ![“I look at every business and ask, How long can this last? How can I identify the status quo and change it?” quote by Sheldon Adelson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/bcc/sheldon-adelson-26865_business_i-look-at-every-business-and-ask-how-lon_1246876.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/bcc/sheldon-adelson-26865_business_i-look-at-every-business-and-ask-how-lon_1246876.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/bcc/sheldon-adelson-26865_business_i-look-at-every-business-and-ask-how-lon_1246876.jpg) > “I look at every business and ask, How long can this last? How can I identify the status quo and change it?” [Sheldon Adelson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sheldon-adelson/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Encourages evaluating business longevity and challenging the status quo to drive innovation. **In simple terms:** Question business durability. Key Takeaway Seek sustainable change. Themes business strategy innovation critical analysis Mood analytical strategic Type professional philosophical When to use this quote - corporate planning - startup evaluation - market analysis Key Concepts economics disruption leadership Questions to Reflect On - What assumptions underlie your business model? - How can you balance tradition with change? A Different Perspective Overemphasis on disruption can ignore stability. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Ask Long](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ask-long-1061949/) [Business](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/business/) [Business Ask](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/business-ask-467325/) [Identify Status](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/identify-status-3913994/) [Lasts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/lasts/) [Long](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/long/) [Look Business](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/look-business-923170/) [Looks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/looks/) [Status quo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/status-quo/) ## Related quotes > [The first step to success in any business is to ask your customers what they want.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kevin-stirtz/the-first-step-to-success-in-any-business-is-to-ask-your-customers/) [Kevin Stirtz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kevin-stirtz/) > [“Quigley (to Duane): My business is not your business, whether you ask after it in Tainish or interpretive dance.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ashley-cope/quigley-to-duane-my-business-is-not-your-business-whether-you-ask/) [Ashley Cope](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ashley-cope/) > [“Are you in Portland on business?” I ask, and my voice is too high, like I’ve got my finger trapped in a door or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/e-l-james/are-you-in-portland-on-business-i-ask-and-my-voice-is-too-high-like-i/) [E.L. James](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/e-l-james/) > [Learn as much as you can about your proposed business. Ask questions. Join industry associations. Study successful competitors carefully.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-clitheroe/learn-as-much-as-you-can-about-your-proposed-business-ask-questions/) [Paul Clitheroe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-clitheroe/) > [If you want your kid in the business, ask them if that's what they want. Don't be weird about it. There's a lot of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dylan-sprouse/if-you-want-your-kid-in-the-business-ask-them-if-that-s-what-they/) [Dylan Sprouse](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dylan-sprouse/) > [In the movies, you want a good story and characters that are honest, but you are also looking for a good director who can…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ashton-kutcher/in-the-movies-you-want-a-good-story-and-characters-that-are-honest/) [Ashton Kutcher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ashton-kutcher/) > [As a businesswoman you have to be open. I'm always open to listening and learning and considering. However, I don't look at business as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/janelle-monae/as-a-businesswoman-you-have-to-be-open-i-m-always-open-to-listening/) [Janelle Monae](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/janelle-monae/) > [“No matter how big a company is, one has to always look at business basics.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tarun-sharma/no-matter-how-big-a-company-is-one-has-to-always-look-at-business/) [Tarun Sharma](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tarun-sharma/) > [When the government gets involved in pricing, I don't think it's the right way to look at a business.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jamie-dimon/when-the-government-gets-involved-in-pricing-i-don-t-think-it-s-the/) [Jamie Dimon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jamie-dimon/) > [And I trusted someone to look after me on the business side of life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elton-john/and-i-trusted-someone-to-look-after-me-on-the-business-side-of-life/) [Elton John](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elton-john/) > [I'm a writer, but this is a business. You have to look at it in the way you would look at any business.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/janet-evanovich/i-m-a-writer-but-this-is-a-business-you-have-to-look-at-it-in-the-way/) [Janet Evanovich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/janet-evanovich/) > [Look at your business and the activities that you undertake. Then, start to think about not just your economic concerns, but about social and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jerry-greenfield/look-at-your-business-and-the-activities-that-you-undertake-then/) [Jerry Greenfield](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jerry-greenfield/) > [See every crack, every detail. I learned to really see and not just look at my business.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jon-taffer/see-every-crack-every-detail-i-learned-to-really-see-and-not-just/) [Jon Taffer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jon-taffer/) > [Look, I'm in the business of winning baseball games.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kyle-schwarber/look-i-m-in-the-business-of-winning-baseball-games/) [Kyle Schwarber](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kyle-schwarber/) > [A lot of being a woman in this business is about how you look... That's not why we're even in this business; that's not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nikki-glaser/a-lot-of-being-a-woman-in-this-business-is-about-how-you-look-that-s/) [Nikki Glaser](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nikki-glaser/) ## More by Sheldon Adelson > [So Israel won't be a democratic state, so what.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sheldon-adelson/so-israel-won-t-be-a-democratic-state-so-what/) [Sheldon Adelson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sheldon-adelson/) > [I am willing to spend whatever it takes … My moral standard compels me to speak out on this issue because I am the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sheldon-adelson/i-am-willing-to-spend-whatever-it-takes-my-moral-standard-compels-me/) [Sheldon Adelson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sheldon-adelson/) > [I don’t cry when I lose. There’s always a new hand coming up.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sheldon-adelson/i-don-t-cry-when-i-lose-there-s-always-a-new-hand-coming-up/) [Sheldon Adelson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sheldon-adelson/) > [It's unfair that I've been treated unfair - but it doesn't stop me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sheldon-adelson/it-s-unfair-that-i-ve-been-treated-unfair-but-it-doesn-t-stop-me/) [Sheldon Adelson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sheldon-adelson/) > [I'm not in business to make money for the other guy. I'm in business to make money for myself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sheldon-adelson/i-m-not-in-business-to-make-money-for-the-other-guy-i-m-in-business/) [Sheldon Adelson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sheldon-adelson/) > [He's not a bold decision maker like Newt Gingrich is. Every time I talk to him, he says 'well let me think about it.'](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sheldon-adelson/he-s-not-a-bold-decision-maker-like-newt-gingrich-is-every-time-i/) [Sheldon Adelson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sheldon-adelson/) > [I see this as my humanitarian legacy. We're prepared to pay billions.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sheldon-adelson/i-see-this-as-my-humanitarian-legacy-we-re-prepared-to-pay-billions/) [Sheldon Adelson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sheldon-adelson/) > [I've already figured out when I'm going to be No. 2 and No. 1.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sheldon-adelson/i-ve-already-figured-out-when-i-m-going-to-be-no-2-and-no-1/) [Sheldon Adelson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sheldon-adelson/) > [The key factor in my strategy is longevity.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sheldon-adelson/the-key-factor-in-my-strategy-is-longevity/) [Sheldon Adelson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sheldon-adelson/) > [There's never been a real destination resort in Asia, and when we open the Venetian Macao, it will be the first.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sheldon-adelson/there-s-never-been-a-real-destination-resort-in-asia-and-when-we-open/) [Sheldon Adelson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sheldon-adelson/) > [Entrepreneurship is essentially identifying the path that everyone takes; and choosing a different, better way.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sheldon-adelson/entrepreneurship-is-essentially-identifying-the-path-that-everyone/) [Sheldon Adelson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sheldon-adelson/) > [An entrepreneur is born with the mentality to take risks, though there are several important characteristics: courage, faith in yourself, and above all, even…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sheldon-adelson/an-entrepreneur-is-born-with-the-mentality-to-take-risks-though-there/) [Sheldon Adelson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sheldon-adelson/) > [For me, businesses are like buses. You stand on a corner and you don't like where the first bus is going? Wait ten minutes…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sheldon-adelson/for-me-businesses-are-like-buses-you-stand-on-a-corner-and-you-don-t/) [Sheldon Adelson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sheldon-adelson/) > [If I were to retire, I would keep my family's interest in the company the same and say, Don't sell.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sheldon-adelson/if-i-were-to-retire-i-would-keep-my-family-s-interest-in-the-company/) [Sheldon Adelson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sheldon-adelson/) > [Why do I need succession planning? Im very alert, Im very vibrant. I have no intention to retire.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sheldon-adelson/why-do-i-need-succession-planning-im-very-alert-im-very-vibrant-i/) [Sheldon Adelson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sheldon-adelson/) [Explore all 21 Sheldon Adelson quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sheldon-adelson/) ## More Business quotes > [Companies with cultures that celebrate diverse opinions and encourage the exchange of ideas have an advantage when solving difficult problems. A company that doesn't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/doug-mcmillon/companies-with-cultures-that-celebrate-diverse-opinions-and-encourage/) [Doug McMillon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/doug-mcmillon/) > [You can laugh at me, but I understand show business.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ksenia-sobchak/you-can-laugh-at-me-but-i-understand-show-business/) [Ksenia Sobchak](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ksenia-sobchak/) > [“Start a business, not a startup”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/start-a-business-not-a-startup/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“Take some books and read; that’s an immense help; and books are always good company if you have the right sort.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/louisa-may-alcott/take-some-books-and-read-that-s-an-immense-help-and-books-are-always/) [Louisa May Alcott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/louisa-may-alcott/) > [I'm a business first and foremost so whatever my business is, it's separate from my personal. It's like whatever I do business wise, it's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/snoop-dogg/i-m-a-business-first-and-foremost-so-whatever-my-business-is-it-s/) [Snoop Dogg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/snoop-dogg/) > [Many early-stage entrepreneurs make one simple mistake: Describing this 'big picture' in vague concepts and words.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sunil-nagaraj/many-early-stage-entrepreneurs-make-one-simple-mistake-describing/) [Sunil Nagaraj](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sunil-nagaraj/) > [Nobody has a crystal ball, and part of evolving a business plan is to say, 'I might have said we're going left, but I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ryan-kavanaugh/nobody-has-a-crystal-ball-and-part-of-evolving-a-business-plan-is-to/) [Ryan Kavanaugh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ryan-kavanaugh/) > [I think a business guy is different from an artist. They walk different paths. Artists create the best outputs when they're having fun. And…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/g-dragon/i-think-a-business-guy-is-different-from-an-artist-they-walk/) [G-Dragon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/g-dragon/) > [ “\[S\]ometimes, when you are a food person, the possible irrelevance of what you are doing doesn’t cross your mind until it’s too late. (Once,… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nora-ephron/s-ometimes-when-you-are-a-food-person-the-possible-irrelevance-of/) [Nora Ephron](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nora-ephron/) > [If you have a different mindset, you will have a different outcome: if you make different choices from your peers, your life will then…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-ma/if-you-have-a-different-mindset-you-will-have-a-different-outcome-if/) [Jack Ma](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-ma/) > [“Some say the Earth is angry Because he wants no company; I say the Earth is angry Because he lives alone.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/n-k-jemisin/some-say-the-earth-is-angry-because-he-wants-no-company-i-say-the/) [N.K. Jemisin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/n-k-jemisin/) > [ If the State does not acquire supremacy over \[vast private\] enterprises, it becomes their puppet, and they become the real State. ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bertrand-russell/if-the-state-does-not-acquire-supremacy-over-vast-private-enterprises/) [Bertrand Russell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bertrand-russell/) > [It's not just that families can't buy a home or start a business without some savings tucked away.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-cooper/it-s-not-just-that-families-can-t-buy-a-home-or-start-a-business/) [Jim Cooper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-cooper/) > [I'm not into business at all.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/freddie-mercury/i-m-not-into-business-at-all/) [Freddie Mercury](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/freddie-mercury/) > [I've long believed one of the mainsprings of our own liberty has been the widespread ownership of property among our people and the expectation…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ronald-reagan/i-ve-long-believed-one-of-the-mainsprings-of-our-own-liberty-has-been/) [Ronald Reagan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ronald-reagan/) [Browse all 39,016 Business quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/business/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "I look at every business and ask, How long can this last? How can I identify the status quo and change it?", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Sheldon Adelson" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sheldon-adelson/i-look-at-every-business-and-ask-how-long-can-this-last-how-can-i/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Business" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sheldon-adelson/i-look-at-every-business-and-ask-how-long-can-this-last-how-can-i/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/bcc/sheldon-adelson-26865_business_i-look-at-every-business-and-ask-how-lon_1246876.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/bcc/sheldon-adelson-26865_business_i-look-at-every-business-and-ask-how-lon_1246876.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/bcc/sheldon-adelson-26865_business_i-look-at-every-business-and-ask-how-lon_1246876.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“I look at every business and ask, How long can this last? How can I identify the status quo and change it?” — Sheldon Adelson", "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": "Sheldon Adelson", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sheldon-adelson/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "I look at every business and...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sheldon-adelson/i-look-at-every-business-and-ask-how-long-can-this-last-how-can-i/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sheldon-adelson/i-look-at-every-business-and-ask-how-long-can-this-last-how-can-i/#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 } } ] } ```