--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I hate it when people call themselves…" description: "\"I hate it when people call themselves 'entrepreneurs' when what they're really trying to do is launch a startup and then sell of go public, so they can..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/14b/steve-jobs-307_business_i-hate-it-when-people-call-themselves-en_2462549.jpg" --- # I hate it when people call themselves 'entrepreneurs' when… ![“I hate it when people call themselves 'entrepreneurs' when what they're really trying to do is launch a startup and then sell of go public, so they can cash in and move on. They're unwilling to do the work it takes to build a real company, which is the hardest work in business.” quote by Steve Jobs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/14b/steve-jobs-307_business_i-hate-it-when-people-call-themselves-en_2462549.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/14b/steve-jobs-307_business_i-hate-it-when-people-call-themselves-en_2462549.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/14b/steve-jobs-307_business_i-hate-it-when-people-call-themselves-en_2462549.jpg) > “I hate it when people call themselves 'entrepreneurs' when what they're really trying to do is launch a startup and then sell of go public, so they can cash in and move on. They're unwilling to do the work it takes to build a real company, which is the hardest work in business.” [Steve Jobs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-jobs/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. He criticizes people who label themselves entrepreneurs but only aim to profit from a quick exit without building lasting value. **In simple terms:** Entrepreneurs should build lasting companies, not just cash out. Key Takeaway Focus on building, not just exiting. Themes entrepreneurship integrity business ethics Mood critical skeptical Type advice commentary When to use this quote - Startup founding - venture capital - company growth - exit strategies Key Concepts Capitalism short‑termism value creation Questions to Reflect On - What defines a true entrepreneur? - How can we encourage lasting value creation? A Different Perspective Short‑term profit focus can undermine long‑term sustainability. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Business](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/business/) [Cash](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/cash/) [Company](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/company/) [Customer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/customer/) [Entrepreneur](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/entrepreneur/) [Entrepreneurs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/entrepreneurs/) [Entrepreneurs Really](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/entrepreneurs-really-672717/) [Entrepreneurship](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/entrepreneurship/) [Hardest](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hardest/) [Hate](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hate/) [I hate](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/i-hate/) [Moving](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/moving/) [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) [People Entrepreneurs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people-entrepreneurs-342951/) [Real](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/real/) [Sells](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sells/) [Startup](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/startup/) [Startup Sell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/startup-sell-672718/) [Trying](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/trying/) [Unwilling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/unwilling/) [Working it](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/working-it/) ## Related quotes > [On Startups: "I hate it when people call themselves "entrepreneurs" when what they're really trying to do is launch a startup and then sell…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walter-isaacson/on-startups-i-hate-it-when-people-call-themselves-entrepreneurs-when/) [Walter Isaacson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walter-isaacson/) > [I love helping entrepreneurs. It's something I really have fun doing. It's like planting a little seed and watching it grow. Any time I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-cuban/i-love-helping-entrepreneurs-it-s-something-i-really-have-fun-doing-2/) [Mark Cuban](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-cuban/) > [I love helping entrepreneurs. It's something I really have fun doing. It's like planting a little seed and watching it grow.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-cuban/i-love-helping-entrepreneurs-it-s-something-i-really-have-fun-doing/) [Mark Cuban](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-cuban/) > [The entrepreneurs that really make it are the ones that start with an idea but are ready to change it at a moment's notice.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeremy-stoppelman/the-entrepreneurs-that-really-make-it-are-the-ones-that-start-with-an/) [Jeremy Stoppelman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeremy-stoppelman/) > [My best friend Jerry started a boat-washing business, and it was one of the most critical experiences of my life. I got to meet…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-rancic/my-best-friend-jerry-started-a-boat-washing-business-and-it-was-one/) [Bill Rancic](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-rancic/) > [I like to encourage people who are entrepreneurs-in-waiting.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/phil-bredesen/i-like-to-encourage-people-who-are-entrepreneurs-in-waiting/) [Phil Bredesen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/phil-bredesen/) > [What is entrepreneurship, after all? Bigness is not the issue. Poor people are the ones who take challenges every day. The guy who sells…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/muhammad-yunus/what-is-entrepreneurship-after-all-bigness-is-not-the-issue-poor/) [Muhammad Yunus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/muhammad-yunus/) > [I want people to be entrepreneurs, but I want them to do it for the right reasons, because they think they can change the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pierre-omidyar/i-want-people-to-be-entrepreneurs-but-i-want-them-to-do-it-for-the/) [Pierre Omidyar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pierre-omidyar/) > [All people are entrepreneurs, but many don't have the opportunity to find that out.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/muhammad-yunus/all-people-are-entrepreneurs-but-many-don-t-have-the-opportunity-to/) [Muhammad Yunus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/muhammad-yunus/) > [I think entrepreneurs really appreciate directness and honesty, coupled with empathy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-cohen/i-think-entrepreneurs-really-appreciate-directness-and-honesty/) [David Cohen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-cohen/) > [Aspiring entrepreneurs are often advised to work at a startup for a couple of years first, to understand what's involved. But often, each company's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-cohen/aspiring-entrepreneurs-are-often-advised-to-work-at-a-startup-for-a/) [David Cohen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-cohen/) > [Every weekend I would take a train to Delhi and sneak into startup events. I really enjoyed meeting entrepreneurs who were solving big problems.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ritesh-agarwal/every-weekend-i-would-take-a-train-to-delhi-and-sneak-into-startup/) [Ritesh Agarwal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ritesh-agarwal/) > [“Entrepreneurs don’t ask for permission. They act per a mission.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ryan-lilly/entrepreneurs-don-t-ask-for-permission-they-act-per-a-mission/) [Ryan Lilly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ryan-lilly/) > [“Once true passion hits you, you can recognize all the times in your life you were chasing the wrong dream. And after you've experienced…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/biz-stone/once-true-passion-hits-you-you-can-recognize-all-the-times-in-your/) [Biz Stone](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/biz-stone/) > [A startup for entrepreneurs is like a baby, and I have five babies so far - experienced father.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-ma/a-startup-for-entrepreneurs-is-like-a-baby-and-i-have-five-babies-so/) [Jack Ma](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-ma/) ## More by Steve Jobs > [Who wants a stylus. You have to get em and put em away, and you lose em. Yuck. Nobody wants a stylus.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-jobs/who-wants-a-stylus-you-have-to-get-em-and-put-em-away-and-you-lose-em/) [Steve Jobs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-jobs/) > [The reason that Apple is able to create products like iPad is because we always try to be at the intersection of technology and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-jobs/the-reason-that-apple-is-able-to-create-products-like-ipad-is-because/) [Steve Jobs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-jobs/) > [I admire Mark Zuckerberg... for not selling out, for wanting to make a company. I admire that a lot.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-jobs/i-admire-mark-zuckerberg-for-not-selling-out-for-wanting-to-make-a/) [Steve Jobs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-jobs/) > [If you want to hire great people and have them stay, you have to be run by ideas, not hierarchy. The best ideas have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-jobs/if-you-want-to-hire-great-people-and-have-them-stay-you-have-to-be/) [Steve Jobs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-jobs/) > [Everything around you that you call life was made up by people that were no smarter than you and you can change it, you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-jobs/everything-around-you-that-you-call-life-was-made-up-by-people-that/) [Steve Jobs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-jobs/) > [“Innovation is not about saying yes to everything. It's about saying NO to all but the most crucial features.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-jobs/innovation-is-not-about-saying-yes-to-everything-it-s-about-saying-no/) [Steve Jobs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-jobs/) > [I have always said if there ever came a day when I could no longer meet my duties and expectations as Apple's CEO, I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-jobs/i-have-always-said-if-there-ever-came-a-day-when-i-could-no-longer/) [Steve Jobs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-jobs/) > [When you first start off trying to solve a problem, the first solutions you come up with are very complex, and most people stop…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-jobs/when-you-first-start-off-trying-to-solve-a-problem-the-first/) [Steve Jobs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-jobs/) > [I'm not dismissing the value of higher education; I'm simply saying it comes at the expense of experience.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-jobs/i-m-not-dismissing-the-value-of-higher-education-i-m-simply-saying-it/) [Steve Jobs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-jobs/) > [“To YoYo Ma: "You playing is the best argument I've ever heard for the existence of God, because I don't really believe a human…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-jobs/to-yoyo-ma-you-playing-is-the-best-argument-i-ve-ever-heard-for-the/) [Steve Jobs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-jobs/) > [The most important thing is a person. A person who incites your curiosity and feeds your curiosity; and machines cannot do that in the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-jobs/the-most-important-thing-is-a-person-a-person-who-incites-your/) [Steve Jobs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-jobs/) > [The tragedy is that Dell didn't win it - we lost it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-jobs/the-tragedy-is-that-dell-didn-t-win-it-we-lost-it/) [Steve Jobs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-jobs/) > [“I think great artists and great engineers are similar, in that they both have a desire to express themselves. In fact some of the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-jobs/i-think-great-artists-and-great-engineers-are-similar-in-that-they/) [Steve Jobs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-jobs/) > [It's rare that you see an artist in his 30s or 40s able to really contribute something amazing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-jobs/it-s-rare-that-you-see-an-artist-in-his-30s-or-40s-able-to-really/) [Steve Jobs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-jobs/) > [We're going to be able to ask our computers to monitor things for us, and when certain conditions happen, are triggered, the computers will…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-jobs/we-re-going-to-be-able-to-ask-our-computers-to-monitor-things-for-us/) [Steve Jobs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-jobs/) [Explore all 695 Steve Jobs quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-jobs/) ## 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 hate it when people call themselves 'entrepreneurs' when what they're really trying to do is launch a startup and then sell of go public, so they can cash in and move on. They're unwilling to do the work it takes to build a real company, which is the hardest work in business.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Steve Jobs" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-jobs/i-hate-it-when-people-call-themselves-entrepreneurs-when-what-they-re/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Business" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-jobs/i-hate-it-when-people-call-themselves-entrepreneurs-when-what-they-re/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/14b/steve-jobs-307_business_i-hate-it-when-people-call-themselves-en_2462549.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/14b/steve-jobs-307_business_i-hate-it-when-people-call-themselves-en_2462549.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/14b/steve-jobs-307_business_i-hate-it-when-people-call-themselves-en_2462549.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“I hate it when people call themselves 'entrepreneurs' when what they're really trying to do is launch a…” — Steve Jobs", "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": "Steve Jobs", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-jobs/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "I hate it when people call...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-jobs/i-hate-it-when-people-call-themselves-entrepreneurs-when-what-they-re/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-jobs/i-hate-it-when-people-call-themselves-entrepreneurs-when-what-they-re/#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 } } ] } ```