--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: It's funny that some ideas start with a…" description: "\"It's funny that some ideas start with a little \"What if?\" and then suddenly you're spending a million dollars to shoot the scene and hoping that it wor..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/622/steve-martin-593_dollars_it-s-funny-that-some-ideas-start-with-a_1552346.jpg" --- # It's funny that some ideas start with a little "What if?"… ![“It's funny that some ideas start with a little "What if?" and then suddenly you're spending a million dollars to shoot the scene and hoping that it works.” quote by Steve Martin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/622/steve-martin-593_dollars_it-s-funny-that-some-ideas-start-with-a_1552346.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/622/steve-martin-593_dollars_it-s-funny-that-some-ideas-start-with-a_1552346.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/622/steve-martin-593_dollars_it-s-funny-that-some-ideas-start-with-a_1552346.jpg) > “It's funny that some ideas start with a little "What if?" and then suddenly you're spending a million dollars to shoot the scene and hoping that it works.” [Steve Martin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-martin/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The quote points out that a simple "what if?" can balloon into huge, costly productions with uncertain outcomes. **In simple terms:** Small ideas can become massive, risky projects. Key Takeaway Beware of scope creep from initial curiosity. Themes creativity risk management budgeting Mood cautious pragmatic Type creative business When to use this quote - startup pitching - film production - product development - R&D budgeting Key Concepts idea incubation project planning financial risk Questions to Reflect On - When is it worth investing heavily in an uncertain idea? - How can teams test concepts before full-scale spending? A Different Perspective It may discourage bold experimentation. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Dollars](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/dollars/) [Dollars Shoot](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/dollars-shoot-5804485/) [Ideas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ideas/) [Ideas Start](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ideas-start-296840/) [Ifs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ifs/) [Ifs and](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ifs-and/) [Littles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/littles/) [Million dollars](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/million-dollars/) [Millions](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/millions/) [Scene](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/scene/) [Scene Hoping](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/scene-hoping-5804483/) [Spending](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/spending/) [Spending Million](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/spending-million-5804484/) [What if](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/what-if/) ## Related quotes > [In my own life, I found that whenever I wasn't sure what to do next, I would go and learn a lot, read a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-ng/in-my-own-life-i-found-that-whenever-i-wasn-t-sure-what-to-do-next-i/) [Andrew Ng](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-ng/) > [I turn on the machines and start to think about ideas and take it from there, it usually begins if it's a beat, a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mick-harris/i-turn-on-the-machines-and-start-to-think-about-ideas-and-take-it/) [Mick Harris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mick-harris/) > [I don't like to talk about big ideas until I start formally working on it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-wilson/i-don-t-like-to-talk-about-big-ideas-until-i-start-formally-working/) [John Wilson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-wilson/) > [The best ideas start as conversations.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-ive/the-best-ideas-start-as-conversations/) [Jonathan Ive](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-ive/) > [Very often, if I know the orchestra doesn't know a piece or it's a new piece, I have main ideas about it. 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