--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The one thing that I think separates…" description: "\"The one thing that I think separates Microsoft from a lot of other people is we make bold bets. We're persistent about them, but we make them. A lot of..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/09d/steve-ballmer-3273_bets_the-one-thing-that-i-think-separates-mic_335525.jpg" --- # The one thing that I think separates Microsoft from a lot… ![“The one thing that I think separates Microsoft from a lot of other people is we make bold bets. We're persistent about them, but we make them. A lot of people won't make a bold bet. A bold bet doesn't assure you of winning, but if you make no bold bets you can't continue to succeed. Our industry…” quote by Steve Ballmer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/09d/steve-ballmer-3273_bets_the-one-thing-that-i-think-separates-mic_335525.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/09d/steve-ballmer-3273_bets_the-one-thing-that-i-think-separates-mic_335525.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/09d/steve-ballmer-3273_bets_the-one-thing-that-i-think-separates-mic_335525.jpg) > “The one thing that I think separates Microsoft from a lot of other people is we make bold bets. We're persistent about them, but we make them. A lot of people won't make a bold bet. A bold bet doesn't assure you of winning, but if you make no bold bets you can't continue to succeed. Our industry doesn't allow you to rest on your laurels forever. I mean, you can milk any great idea. Any idea that turns out to be truly great can be harvested for tens of years. On the other hand, if you want to continue to be great, you've got to bet on new things, big, bold bets.” [Steve Ballmer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-ballmer/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Success requires taking large, risky initiatives rather than relying on past achievements; bold bets drive continued innovation and growth. **In simple terms:** Take big risks to stay ahead. Key Takeaway Embrace bold, risky projects. Themes innovation risk leadership growth strategy Mood determined optimistic strategic Type motivational business. When to use this quote - product development - career advancement - company pivots - investment decisions Key Concepts entrepreneurship strategic planning market disruption Questions to Reflect On - What bold bet could you make today? - How do you balance risk and reward? A Different Perspective Bold bets can fail and waste resources if not carefully evaluated. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Great idea](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/great-idea/) [Ideas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ideas/) [Industry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/industry/) [Laurels](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/laurels/) [New things](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/new-things/) [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) [Persistent](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/persistent/) [Thinking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thinking/) [Winning](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/winning/) ## Related quotes > [Any idea that turns out to be truly great can be harvested for tens of years. On the other hand, if you want to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-ballmer/any-idea-that-turns-out-to-be-truly-great-can-be-harvested-for-tens/) [Steve Ballmer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-ballmer/) > [If there's ever an example of the importance of making bold bets and focusing on what you love, it's Twitter.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dick-costolo/if-there-s-ever-an-example-of-the-importance-of-making-bold-bets-and/) [Dick Costolo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dick-costolo/) > [Throughout our history, Microsoft has won by making big, bold bets. I believe that now is not the time to scale back the scope…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-ballmer/throughout-our-history-microsoft-has-won-by-making-big-bold-bets-i/) [Steve Ballmer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-ballmer/) > [There are just four kinds of bets. There are good bets, bad bets, bets that you win, and bets that you lose. Winning a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/larry-hite/there-are-just-four-kinds-of-bets-there-are-good-bets-bad-bets-bets/) [Larry Hite](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/larry-hite/) > [“He does not depend on insider tips, crooked referees, or other sorts of hustles to make his bets. Nor does he have a “system”…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nate-silver/he-does-not-depend-on-insider-tips-crooked-referees-or-other-sorts-of/) [Nate Silver](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nate-silver/) > [It is quite amazing how hard the subconscious works when it is made to understand that this life is not a rehearsal, there is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-burdett/it-is-quite-amazing-how-hard-the-subconscious-works-when-it-is-made/) [John Burdett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-burdett/) > [I guess, what I'm saying is that when I've been this surprised by my own characters and world, all bets are off.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laurell-k-hamilton/i-guess-what-i-m-saying-is-that-when-i-ve-been-this-surprised-by-my/) [Laurell K. Hamilton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laurell-k-hamilton/) > [Mars still remains the astrobiology community's number one choice for 'nearest rock with life,' but there are many researchers who argue that the moons…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/seth-shostak/mars-still-remains-the-astrobiology-community-s-number-one-choice-for/) [Seth Shostak](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/seth-shostak/) > [I live in New York and got a call from my agent saying there was this new role on 'Mad Men,' it might be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cara-buono/i-live-in-new-york-and-got-a-call-from-my-agent-saying-there-was-this/) [Cara Buono](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cara-buono/) > [The trading rules I live by are: 1. Cut losses. 2. Ride winners. 3. Keep bets small. 4. Follow the rules without question. 5.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ed-seykota/the-trading-rules-i-live-by-are-1-cut-losses-2-ride-winners-3-keep/) [Ed Seykota](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ed-seykota/) > [Are you placing enough interesting, freakish, long shot, weirdo bets?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-peters/are-you-placing-enough-interesting-freakish-long-shot-weirdo-bets/) [Tom Peters](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-peters/) > [This is a perverse thing, personally, but I would rather be in the cycle where people are underestimating us. It gives us latitude to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-zuckerberg/this-is-a-perverse-thing-personally-but-i-would-rather-be-in-the/) [Mark Zuckerberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-zuckerberg/) > [When we got married, nobody gave it more than two weeks. There were bets all over the country, with astronomical odds against us.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/desi-arnaz/when-we-got-married-nobody-gave-it-more-than-two-weeks-there-were/) [Desi Arnaz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/desi-arnaz/) > [If I had to lay bets, my bet would be that everything is going to go to hell, but, you know, what else have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-rorty/if-i-had-to-lay-bets-my-bet-would-be-that-everything-is-going-to-go/) [Richard Rorty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-rorty/) > [“Edward: I don't know whether to put my fingers in my ears and go la-la-la or find more of your guards so we can…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laurell-k-hamilton/edward-i-don-t-know-whether-to-put-my-fingers-in-my-ears-and-go-la-la/) [Laurell K. Hamilton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laurell-k-hamilton/) ## More by Steve Ballmer > [I think PCs are going to continue to shift in form factor. The real question is: What's a PC?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-ballmer/i-think-pcs-are-going-to-continue-to-shift-in-form-factor-the-real/) [Steve Ballmer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-ballmer/) > [There's a lot of Google fascination out there and we share it, and we're going to compete, we're going to compete very, very hard.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-ballmer/there-s-a-lot-of-google-fascination-out-there-and-we-share-it-and-we/) [Steve Ballmer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-ballmer/) > [I’d like to own Microsoft shares until I either give something to charity or I die.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-ballmer/i-d-like-to-own-microsoft-shares-until-i-either-give-something-to/) [Steve Ballmer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-ballmer/) > [Every NBA arena has six cameras in the ceiling. The question is what does the software do with video feeds? How to surface that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-ballmer/every-nba-arena-has-six-cameras-in-the-ceiling-the-question-is-what/) [Steve Ballmer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-ballmer/) > [I think there are lots of opportunities to improve the product. When you read the press, people say, "Oh, the product needs improvement." I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-ballmer/i-think-there-are-lots-of-opportunities-to-improve-the-product-when/) [Steve Ballmer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-ballmer/) > [The way I do things I usually always prefer to have a very clear strategy and be very focused. At the same time to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-ballmer/the-way-i-do-things-i-usually-always-prefer-to-have-a-very-clear/) [Steve Ballmer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-ballmer/) > [Accessible design is good design.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-ballmer/accessible-design-is-good-design/) [Steve Ballmer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-ballmer/) > [At Microsoft I had many years of experience and history and seeing connections. With my direct reports, the job at Microsoft was to delegate…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-ballmer/at-microsoft-i-had-many-years-of-experience-and-history-and-seeing/) [Steve Ballmer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-ballmer/) > [ \[Apple and RIM\] are probably restricted, in some sense, to a certain maximum. ... If you want to reach more people than that, you… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-ballmer/apple-and-rim-are-probably-restricted-in-some-sense-to-a-certain/) [Steve Ballmer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-ballmer/) > [This is all about having great leaders who can drive agile innovation and agile decision-making.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-ballmer/this-is-all-about-having-great-leaders-who-can-drive-agile-innovation/) [Steve Ballmer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-ballmer/) > [I think the biggest mistake most people make when they pick their first job is they don't worry enough about whether they'll love the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-ballmer/i-think-the-biggest-mistake-most-people-make-when-they-pick-their/) [Steve Ballmer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-ballmer/) > [ I don't think there is one size that fits all \[\] I've been to too many meetings with journalists who spent the first 10… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-ballmer/i-don-t-think-there-is-one-size-that-fits-all-i-ve-been-to-too-many/) [Steve Ballmer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-ballmer/) > [In many ways I think the company's doing quite a good job. If you look at the transition to Office 365 we started when…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-ballmer/in-many-ways-i-think-the-company-s-doing-quite-a-good-job-if-you-look/) [Steve Ballmer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-ballmer/) > [The lifeblood of our business is that R&D spend. There's nothing that flows through a pipe or down a wire or anything else. We…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-ballmer/the-lifeblood-of-our-business-is-that-r-d-spend-there-s-nothing-that/) [Steve Ballmer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-ballmer/) > [Certainly, we continue to bring in new people. We'll hire, net new, over 4,000 people this year, and attract great people into the company.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-ballmer/certainly-we-continue-to-bring-in-new-people-we-ll-hire-net-new-over/) [Steve Ballmer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-ballmer/) [Explore all 134 Steve Ballmer quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-ballmer/) ## More Bets quotes > [“Edward: I don't know whether to put my fingers in my ears and go la-la-la or find more of your guards so we can…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laurell-k-hamilton/edward-i-don-t-know-whether-to-put-my-fingers-in-my-ears-and-go-la-la/) [Laurell K. Hamilton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laurell-k-hamilton/) > [If I had to lay bets, my bet would be that everything is going to go to hell, but, you know, what else have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-rorty/if-i-had-to-lay-bets-my-bet-would-be-that-everything-is-going-to-go/) [Richard Rorty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-rorty/) > [When we got married, nobody gave it more than two weeks. There were bets all over the country, with astronomical odds against us.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/desi-arnaz/when-we-got-married-nobody-gave-it-more-than-two-weeks-there-were/) [Desi Arnaz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/desi-arnaz/) > [This is a perverse thing, personally, but I would rather be in the cycle where people are underestimating us. It gives us latitude to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-zuckerberg/this-is-a-perverse-thing-personally-but-i-would-rather-be-in-the/) [Mark Zuckerberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-zuckerberg/) > [Are you placing enough interesting, freakish, long shot, weirdo bets?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-peters/are-you-placing-enough-interesting-freakish-long-shot-weirdo-bets/) [Tom Peters](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-peters/) > [The trading rules I live by are: 1. Cut losses. 2. Ride winners. 3. Keep bets small. 4. Follow the rules without question. 5.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ed-seykota/the-trading-rules-i-live-by-are-1-cut-losses-2-ride-winners-3-keep/) [Ed Seykota](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ed-seykota/) > [I live in New York and got a call from my agent saying there was this new role on 'Mad Men,' it might be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cara-buono/i-live-in-new-york-and-got-a-call-from-my-agent-saying-there-was-this/) [Cara Buono](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cara-buono/) > [Mars still remains the astrobiology community's number one choice for 'nearest rock with life,' but there are many researchers who argue that the moons…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/seth-shostak/mars-still-remains-the-astrobiology-community-s-number-one-choice-for/) [Seth Shostak](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/seth-shostak/) > [I guess, what I'm saying is that when I've been this surprised by my own characters and world, all bets are off.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laurell-k-hamilton/i-guess-what-i-m-saying-is-that-when-i-ve-been-this-surprised-by-my/) [Laurell K. Hamilton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laurell-k-hamilton/) > [It is quite amazing how hard the subconscious works when it is made to understand that this life is not a rehearsal, there is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-burdett/it-is-quite-amazing-how-hard-the-subconscious-works-when-it-is-made/) [John Burdett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-burdett/) > [“He does not depend on insider tips, crooked referees, or other sorts of hustles to make his bets. Nor does he have a “system”…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nate-silver/he-does-not-depend-on-insider-tips-crooked-referees-or-other-sorts-of/) [Nate Silver](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nate-silver/) > [There are just four kinds of bets. There are good bets, bad bets, bets that you win, and bets that you lose. Winning a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/larry-hite/there-are-just-four-kinds-of-bets-there-are-good-bets-bad-bets-bets/) [Larry Hite](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/larry-hite/) > [In investing, we intuitively think we should make a number of small bets. A blockbuster strategy is the opposite. It means making fewer huge…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anita-elberse/in-investing-we-intuitively-think-we-should-make-a-number-of-small/) [Anita Elberse](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anita-elberse/) > [In 21st-century storytelling all bets are off: anybody can do anything. We're all storytellers.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lenny-henry/in-21st-century-storytelling-all-bets-are-off-anybody-can-do-anything/) [Lenny Henry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lenny-henry/) > [In poker, you've got to start at the bottom level and work your way up. This advice applies to the limits that you play…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-negreanu/in-poker-you-ve-got-to-start-at-the-bottom-level-and-work-your-way-up/) [Daniel Negreanu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-negreanu/) Browse all 71 Bets quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "The one thing that I think separates Microsoft from a lot of other people is we make bold bets. We're persistent about them, but we make them. A lot of people won't make a bold bet. A bold bet doesn't assure you of winning, but if you make no bold bets you can't continue to succeed. Our industry doesn't allow you to rest on your laurels forever. I mean, you can milk any great idea. Any idea that turns out to be truly great can be harvested for tens of years. On the other hand, if you want to continue to be great, you've got to bet on new things, big, bold bets.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Steve Ballmer" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-ballmer/the-one-thing-that-i-think-separates-microsoft-from-a-lot-of-other/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Bets" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-ballmer/the-one-thing-that-i-think-separates-microsoft-from-a-lot-of-other/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/09d/steve-ballmer-3273_bets_the-one-thing-that-i-think-separates-mic_335525.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/09d/steve-ballmer-3273_bets_the-one-thing-that-i-think-separates-mic_335525.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/09d/steve-ballmer-3273_bets_the-one-thing-that-i-think-separates-mic_335525.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“The one thing that I think separates Microsoft from a lot of other people is we make bold bets. 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