--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The biggest mistake I've seen people make…" description: "\"The biggest mistake I've seen people make with their careers is, when they're good, after two or three years - and they happen to be smart - they annou..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0d5/stephen-a-schwarzman-6794_biggest-mistake_the-biggest-mistake-i-ve-seen-people-mak_46753.jpg" --- # The biggest mistake I've seen people make with their… ![“The biggest mistake I've seen people make with their careers is, when they're good, after two or three years - and they happen to be smart - they announce that they're going out to start their own firm.” quote by Stephen A. Schwarzman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0d5/stephen-a-schwarzman-6794_biggest-mistake_the-biggest-mistake-i-ve-seen-people-mak_46753.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0d5/stephen-a-schwarzman-6794_biggest-mistake_the-biggest-mistake-i-ve-seen-people-mak_46753.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0d5/stephen-a-schwarzman-6794_biggest-mistake_the-biggest-mistake-i-ve-seen-people-mak_46753.jpg) > “The biggest mistake I've seen people make with their careers is, when they're good, after two or three years - and they happen to be smart - they announce that they're going out to start their own firm.” [Stephen A. Schwarzman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-a-schwarzman/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. People often abandon a stable, growing career too early, assuming early success guarantees entrepreneurial success, which can lead to premature failure. **In simple terms:** Premature departure from a promising career Key Takeaway Timing matters more than talent alone Themes career strategy risk assessment entrepreneurship growth mindset decision timing Mood cautious reflective analytical Type advice observation cautionary When to use this quote - mid‑career professionals considering a startup - high‑performers feeling restless - employees with early promotions - people overestimating their readiness Key Concepts career progression entrepreneurial risk skill development Practical Applications - career counseling - entrepreneurial readiness programs Questions to Reflect On - What indicators should signal readiness for a venture? - How can one balance ambition with realistic self‑assessment? ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Biggest mistake](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/biggest-mistake/) [Career](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/career/) [Careers Good](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/careers-good-681137/) [Failure](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/failure/) [Good](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/good/) [Make Careers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/make-careers-681139/) [Mistake](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mistake/) [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) [Smart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/smart/) [Start](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/start/) [Start Firm](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/start-firm-681138/) [Three years](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/three-years/) [Years Happen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/years-happen-681140/) ## Related quotes > [People shouldn't choose their careers on whether it's cool or not. They should choose their careers on, 'Are they good at it, do they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/deborah-meaden/people-shouldn-t-choose-their-careers-on-whether-it-s-cool-or-not/) [Deborah Meaden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/deborah-meaden/) > [Our attitude has always been that if you hire good people and provide good wages and good jobs and more than that - if…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-sinegal/our-attitude-has-always-been-that-if-you-hire-good-people-and-provide/) [James Sinegal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-sinegal/) > [“Now you can do as I do, stand outside and criticize, bring pressure if you can, write and argue about it. All of this…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-k-greenleaf/now-you-can-do-as-i-do-stand-outside-and-criticize-bring-pressure-if/) [Robert K. Greenleaf](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-k-greenleaf/) > [People make careers off of Instagram. So in that sense, it's really good, and you can put yourself out there and be open.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ella-mai/people-make-careers-off-of-instagram-so-in-that-sense-it-s-really/) [Ella Mai](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ella-mai/) > [The celebrity mill is so active these days that actors can make careers out of being themselves, and I don't know that I want…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/liev-schreiber/the-celebrity-mill-is-so-active-these-days-that-actors-can-make/) [Liev Schreiber](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/liev-schreiber/) > [Changes that used to take place in 50 years now happen in a handful of years . . . or even months. And how…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-zane-pilzer/changes-that-used-to-take-place-in-50-years-now-happen-in-a-handful/) [Paul Zane Pilzer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-zane-pilzer/) > [When I left Africa in 1966 it seemed to me to be a place that was developing, going in a particular direction, and I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-theroux/when-i-left-africa-in-1966-it-seemed-to-me-to-be-a-place-that-was/) [Paul Theroux](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-theroux/) > [Geological change usually takes thousands of years to happen but we are seeing the climate changing not just in our lifetimes but also year…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-lovelock/geological-change-usually-takes-thousands-of-years-to-happen-but-we/) [James Lovelock](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-lovelock/) > [“It didn't matter. Carson wasn’t the one for me. He wasn’t even the one for right now. My life would hopefully have its great…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tara-altebrando/it-didn-t-matter-carson-wasn-t-the-one-for-me-he-wasn-t-even-the-one/) [Tara Altebrando](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tara-altebrando/) > [You write a book like that that you're fond of over the years, then you see that happen to it, it's like pissing in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ernest-hemingway/you-write-a-book-like-that-that-you-re-fond-of-over-the-years-then/) [Ernest Hemingway](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ernest-hemingway/) > [The biggest mistake I see with people who are new to CrossFit is trying to advance too quickly. Just because you can do a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mat-fraser/the-biggest-mistake-i-see-with-people-who-are-new-to-crossfit-is/) [Mat Fraser](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mat-fraser/) > [If you leave the one you love angry,without saying I Love You, or Goodbye, It could be the most biggest mistake of your life.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joy-stewart/if-you-leave-the-one-you-love-angry-without-saying-i-love-you-or/) [Joy Stewart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joy-stewart/) > [My biggest mistake is love you and take you for granted. I'll regret it forever.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/my-biggest-mistake-is-love-you-and-take-you-for-granted-i-ll-regret/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“The biggest mistake people make when trying to be authentic is just that: they try. They see these role models of what an "authentic"…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vironika-tugaleva/the-biggest-mistake-people-make-when-trying-to-be-authentic-is-just/) [Vironika Tugaleva](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vironika-tugaleva/) > [The biggest mistake girls make is thinking the guy who hurt them once wont do it again.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/the-biggest-mistake-girls-make-is-thinking-the-guy-who-hurt-them-once/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) ## More by Stephen A. Schwarzman > [It's important that we educate Americans about how hedge funds and private equity play completely different roles.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-a-schwarzman/it-s-important-that-we-educate-americans-about-how-hedge-funds-and/) [Stephen A. Schwarzman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-a-schwarzman/) > [The best investments are the easiest ones to approve.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-a-schwarzman/the-best-investments-are-the-easiest-ones-to-approve/) [Stephen A. Schwarzman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-a-schwarzman/) > [The language skill in the U.S. for the most part has been awful. Many Americans don't learn any foreign language.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-a-schwarzman/the-language-skill-in-the-u-s-for-the-most-part-has-been-awful-many/) [Stephen A. Schwarzman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-a-schwarzman/) > [Always, always make good on what you say.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-a-schwarzman/always-always-make-good-on-what-you-say/) [Stephen A. Schwarzman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-a-schwarzman/) > [I chose to start Schwarzman Scholars because I saw the potential for the world to become focused and unhappy with China, in large part…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-a-schwarzman/i-chose-to-start-schwarzman-scholars-because-i-saw-the-potential-for/) [Stephen A. Schwarzman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-a-schwarzman/) > [Education around entrepreneurship should start early, at secondary level, and be very robust by college level.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-a-schwarzman/education-around-entrepreneurship-should-start-early-at-secondary/) [Stephen A. Schwarzman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-a-schwarzman/) > [This country, of course, needs fundamental reform of our financial regulatory system, as I, and many other financial institution executives, have publicly advocated for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-a-schwarzman/this-country-of-course-needs-fundamental-reform-of-our-financial/) [Stephen A. Schwarzman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-a-schwarzman/) > [When I was much younger, I realized that when I was handling something very large, and I was on my own doing that, that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-a-schwarzman/when-i-was-much-younger-i-realized-that-when-i-was-handling-something/) [Stephen A. Schwarzman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-a-schwarzman/) > [I love things that cost nothing that have great results.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-a-schwarzman/i-love-things-that-cost-nothing-that-have-great-results/) [Stephen A. Schwarzman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-a-schwarzman/) > [In the Catholic schools, they spend much less money than the public schools, and they get amazing results. Private schools spend much more money…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-a-schwarzman/in-the-catholic-schools-they-spend-much-less-money-than-the-public/) [Stephen A. Schwarzman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-a-schwarzman/) > [I can't micromanage what anybody pays or doesn't pay. But the concept that half of the public isn't involved with the income-tax system is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-a-schwarzman/i-can-t-micromanage-what-anybody-pays-or-doesn-t-pay-but-the-concept/) [Stephen A. Schwarzman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-a-schwarzman/) > [Ironically, when a bunch of very smart people are sitting around a table for hours trying to figure out whether they should do something,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-a-schwarzman/ironically-when-a-bunch-of-very-smart-people-are-sitting-around-a/) [Stephen A. Schwarzman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-a-schwarzman/) > [Every day should be a good day. People fool themselves that they'll be here forever.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-a-schwarzman/every-day-should-be-a-good-day-people-fool-themselves-that-they-ll-be/) [Stephen A. Schwarzman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-a-schwarzman/) > [In a financial crisis, only the Fed, as the lender of last resort, might stand between our economy and financial catastrophe. We must leave…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-a-schwarzman/in-a-financial-crisis-only-the-fed-as-the-lender-of-last-resort-might/) [Stephen A. Schwarzman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-a-schwarzman/) > [As you have more resources in life, it's your obligation to deploy those for the benefit of others.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-a-schwarzman/as-you-have-more-resources-in-life-it-s-your-obligation-to-deploy/) [Stephen A. Schwarzman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-a-schwarzman/) [Explore all 97 Stephen A. Schwarzman quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-a-schwarzman/) ## More Biggest mistake quotes > [The biggest mistake girls make is thinking the guy who hurt them once wont do it again.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/the-biggest-mistake-girls-make-is-thinking-the-guy-who-hurt-them-once/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [The biggest mistake I see with people who are new to CrossFit is trying to advance too quickly. Just because you can do a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mat-fraser/the-biggest-mistake-i-see-with-people-who-are-new-to-crossfit-is/) [Mat Fraser](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mat-fraser/) > [If you leave the one you love angry,without saying I Love You, or Goodbye, It could be the most biggest mistake of your life.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joy-stewart/if-you-leave-the-one-you-love-angry-without-saying-i-love-you-or/) [Joy Stewart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joy-stewart/) > [My biggest mistake is love you and take you for granted. I'll regret it forever.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/my-biggest-mistake-is-love-you-and-take-you-for-granted-i-ll-regret/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“The biggest mistake people make when trying to be authentic is just that: they try. They see these role models of what an "authentic"…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vironika-tugaleva/the-biggest-mistake-people-make-when-trying-to-be-authentic-is-just/) [Vironika Tugaleva](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vironika-tugaleva/) > [I had a couple of agents, but then I went on my own. I thought I could negotiate my own deals and it was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bruce-grobbelaar/i-had-a-couple-of-agents-but-then-i-went-on-my-own-i-thought-i-could/) [Bruce Grobbelaar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bruce-grobbelaar/) > [The press keep asking me, 'What was your biggest mistake?' But if I had made a big mistake, they'd all be writing about it,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ken-livingstone/the-press-keep-asking-me-what-was-your-biggest-mistake-but-if-i-had/) [Ken Livingstone](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ken-livingstone/) > [The galleries are full of critics. They play no ball, they fight no fights. They make no mistakes because they attempt nothing. Down in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-m-shoup/the-galleries-are-full-of-critics-they-play-no-ball-they-fight-no/) [David M. Shoup](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-m-shoup/) > [“I’m sorry, babe. I’m sorry I hurt you. I was stupid. I fucked up. I thought I was doing you a favor by keeping…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/e-m-abel/i-m-sorry-babe-i-m-sorry-i-hurt-you-i-was-stupid-i-fucked-up-i/) [E.M. Abel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/e-m-abel/) > [“The biggest mistake we commit in life is to think that others will get affected by our action and we shall leave some effect…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/himmilicious/the-biggest-mistake-we-commit-in-life-is-to-think-that-others-will/) [Himmilicious](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/himmilicious/) > [“At the beginning of the semester, when you asked who I loved the most, an image of my mother popped in my head. When…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-brianne/at-the-beginning-of-the-semester-when-you-asked-who-i-loved-the-most/) [Sarah Brianne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-brianne/) > [“Truly Falling In Love With you is not one of the greatest mistake of my Life but Trusting you madly is one of the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kashi-khan/truly-falling-in-love-with-you-is-not-one-of-the-greatest-mistake-of/) [Kashi khan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kashi-khan/) > [I thought doing reality TV would be the greatest success of my life or the biggest mistake.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bethenny-frankel/i-thought-doing-reality-tv-would-be-the-greatest-success-of-my-life/) [Bethenny Frankel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bethenny-frankel/) > [Is that your ex? No, that's the biggest mistake of my life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brandon-martin/is-that-your-ex-no-that-s-the-biggest-mistake-of-my-life/) [Brandon Martin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brandon-martin/) > [The biggest mistake you can make is falling for someone harder than they fell for you. They'll be able to get up but you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/the-biggest-mistake-you-can-make-is-falling-for-someone-harder-than/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) [Browse all 337 Biggest mistake quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/biggest-mistake/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "The biggest mistake I've seen people make with their careers is, when they're good, after two or three years - and they happen to be smart - they announce that they're going out to start their own firm.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Stephen A. Schwarzman" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-a-schwarzman/the-biggest-mistake-i-ve-seen-people-make-with-their-careers-is-when/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Biggest mistake" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-a-schwarzman/the-biggest-mistake-i-ve-seen-people-make-with-their-careers-is-when/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0d5/stephen-a-schwarzman-6794_biggest-mistake_the-biggest-mistake-i-ve-seen-people-mak_46753.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0d5/stephen-a-schwarzman-6794_biggest-mistake_the-biggest-mistake-i-ve-seen-people-mak_46753.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0d5/stephen-a-schwarzman-6794_biggest-mistake_the-biggest-mistake-i-ve-seen-people-mak_46753.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“The biggest mistake I've seen people make with their careers is, when they're good, after two or three years…” — Stephen A. Schwarzman", "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": "Stephen A. Schwarzman", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-a-schwarzman/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "The biggest mistake I've seen people...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-a-schwarzman/the-biggest-mistake-i-ve-seen-people-make-with-their-careers-is-when/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-a-schwarzman/the-biggest-mistake-i-ve-seen-people-make-with-their-careers-is-when/#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 } } ] } ```