--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: When Mike Hammond and I started Gateway…" description: "\"When Mike Hammond and I started Gateway 12 years ago on my father's cattle farm, we knew it could be big. We talked big. But there's no way we could ha..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/26b/ted-waitt-9480_big_when-mike-hammond-and-i-started-gateway_2768948.jpg" --- # When Mike Hammond and I started Gateway 12 years ago on my… ![“When Mike Hammond and I started Gateway 12 years ago on my father's cattle farm, we knew it could be big. We talked big. But there's no way we could have been prepared to go from less than $300 million in revenues to $5 billion in six years. You can't so much prepare for that kind of growth as…” quote by Ted Waitt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/26b/ted-waitt-9480_big_when-mike-hammond-and-i-started-gateway_2768948.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/26b/ted-waitt-9480_big_when-mike-hammond-and-i-started-gateway_2768948.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/26b/ted-waitt-9480_big_when-mike-hammond-and-i-started-gateway_2768948.jpg) > “When Mike Hammond and I started Gateway 12 years ago on my father's cattle farm, we knew it could be big. We talked big. But there's no way we could have been prepared to go from less than $300 million in revenues to $5 billion in six years. You can't so much prepare for that kind of growth as sort of ride it and try to manage it.” [Ted Waitt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ted-waitt/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Rapid scaling from modest to massive revenue is unpredictable; leaders must adapt on the fly rather than over‑plan. **In simple terms:** Big growth is chaotic and needs flexibility. Key Takeaway Embrace adaptability during rapid growth. Themes business growth leadership Mood pragmatic inspirational Type business leadership When to use this quote - startup scaling - market expansion - resource allocation - team building Key Concepts scale management strategic agility Questions to Reflect On - What can you do to stay agile? - How do you balance planning with flexibility? A Different Perspective Planning cannot anticipate all challenges. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Father](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/father/) [Growth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/growth/) [Parenting](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/parenting/) [Revenues](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/revenues/) ## Related quotes > [In 1992, we did $1.1 billion in revenues. In the first nine months of 1993, we did just under $1.2 billion.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ted-waitt/in-1992-we-did-1-1-billion-in-revenues-in-the-first-nine-months-of/) [Ted Waitt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ted-waitt/) > [I mean, you don't get a chance to buy a company like Gateway, you know, at or near book value very often.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ted-waitt/i-mean-you-don-t-get-a-chance-to-buy-a-company-like-gateway-you-know/) [Ted Waitt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ted-waitt/) > [People confuse me with Gateway.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ted-waitt/people-confuse-me-with-gateway/) [Ted Waitt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ted-waitt/) > [I love Gateway, and I'm going to do everything in my power to make sure the company can grow and prosper in this challenging…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ted-waitt/i-love-gateway-and-i-m-going-to-do-everything-in-my-power-to-make/) [Ted Waitt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ted-waitt/) > [We want a Gateway to be the last computer our clients will ever buy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ted-waitt/we-want-a-gateway-to-be-the-last-computer-our-clients-will-ever-buy/) [Ted Waitt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ted-waitt/) > [We never put any limitations on what Gateway could be. We had big dreams, big goals.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ted-waitt/we-never-put-any-limitations-on-what-gateway-could-be-we-had-big/) [Ted Waitt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ted-waitt/) > [Both Gateway and I are products of Sioux City.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ted-waitt/both-gateway-and-i-are-products-of-sioux-city/) [Ted Waitt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ted-waitt/) > [“The public revenues are a portion that each subject gives of his property, in order to secure or enjoy the remainder.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/montesquieu/the-public-revenues-are-a-portion-that-each-subject-gives-of-his/) [Montesquieu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/montesquieu/) > [I'm much more interested in raising revenues for businesses than for the government.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dave-camp/i-m-much-more-interested-in-raising-revenues-for-businesses-than-for/) Dave Camp > [FINANCE, n. The art or science of managing revenues and resources for the best advantage of the manager. The pronunciation of this word with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ambrose-bierce/finance-n-the-art-or-science-of-managing-revenues-and-resources-for/) [Ambrose Bierce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ambrose-bierce/) > [“their revenues on”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/yuval-noah-harari/their-revenues-on/) [Yuval Noah Harari](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/yuval-noah-harari/) > [“Spiraling healthcare costs are the expected result because greater revenues are built into the basic principles that drive the system. The”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-davis/spiraling-healthcare-costs-are-the-expected-result-because-greater/) [William Davis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-davis/) > [“Millions of business people are each constantly forced to choose between their desire to not be a bad person and their desire to be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mokokoma-mokhonoana/millions-of-business-people-are-each-constantly-forced-to-choose/) [Mokokoma Mokhonoana](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mokokoma-mokhonoana/) > [Anyone will tell you if you want to run a business, you need to monitor costs and revenues. In the same manner, if you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/esther-dyson/anyone-will-tell-you-if-you-want-to-run-a-business-you-need-to/) [Esther Dyson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/esther-dyson/) > [When you already have $150 billion a year in revenues from the iPhone, it's very hard to come up with any new vertical that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-thiel/when-you-already-have-150-billion-a-year-in-revenues-from-the-iphone/) [Peter Thiel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-thiel/) ## More by Ted Waitt > [The complexity increases exponentially when you try and combine two companies that both need to be restructured in their own right.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ted-waitt/the-complexity-increases-exponentially-when-you-try-and-combine-two/) [Ted Waitt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ted-waitt/) > [I kind of became apolitical.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ted-waitt/i-kind-of-became-apolitical/) [Ted Waitt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ted-waitt/) > [PCs will go the cell-phone subsidy route.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ted-waitt/pcs-will-go-the-cell-phone-subsidy-route/) [Ted Waitt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ted-waitt/) > [Intel's a great company, and Microsoft is a great company. Everybody seems to do a lot better when there is competition.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ted-waitt/intel-s-a-great-company-and-microsoft-is-a-great-company-everybody/) [Ted Waitt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ted-waitt/) > [We think the right categorization for digital devices is something you hold in your hand, a mobile-type product, and something you sit two feet…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ted-waitt/we-think-the-right-categorization-for-digital-devices-is-something/) [Ted Waitt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ted-waitt/) > [We have to have a successful box business if we are going to go beyond the box.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ted-waitt/we-have-to-have-a-successful-box-business-if-we-are-going-to-go/) [Ted Waitt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ted-waitt/) > [Our biggest risk is ourselves.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ted-waitt/our-biggest-risk-is-ourselves/) [Ted Waitt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ted-waitt/) > [If you buy a CD and want to put your favorite songs on one CD, you should be able to do that.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ted-waitt/if-you-buy-a-cd-and-want-to-put-your-favorite-songs-on-one-cd-you/) [Ted Waitt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ted-waitt/) > [Being a smaller, nimbler company is better for our customers, employees and shareholders.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ted-waitt/being-a-smaller-nimbler-company-is-better-for-our-customers-employees/) [Ted Waitt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ted-waitt/) > [We hope to be a leader in the convergence of consumer electronics and communications.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ted-waitt/we-hope-to-be-a-leader-in-the-convergence-of-consumer-electronics-and/) [Ted Waitt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ted-waitt/) > [We want a Gateway to be the last computer our clients will ever buy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ted-waitt/we-want-a-gateway-to-be-the-last-computer-our-clients-will-ever-buy/) [Ted Waitt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ted-waitt/) > [You don't know the impact of Windows XP. You don't know what the economic impact is going to be.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ted-waitt/you-don-t-know-the-impact-of-windows-xp-you-don-t-know-what-the/) [Ted Waitt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ted-waitt/) > [The entertainment industry always chooses to fight things out through the courts and legislation. Technology people always think there's a business solution.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ted-waitt/the-entertainment-industry-always-chooses-to-fight-things-out-through/) [Ted Waitt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ted-waitt/) > [I was fascinated to see that if you knew what you were doing, you could sell a $3,000 computer system over the phone.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ted-waitt/i-was-fascinated-to-see-that-if-you-knew-what-you-were-doing-you/) [Ted Waitt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ted-waitt/) > [I'd be lying to you if I said I had not done some soul searching.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ted-waitt/i-d-be-lying-to-you-if-i-said-i-had-not-done-some-soul-searching/) [Ted Waitt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ted-waitt/) [Explore all 72 Ted Waitt quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ted-waitt/) ## More Big quotes > [I'm a true believer in prayer, a big believer in prayer.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/janet-jackson/i-m-a-true-believer-in-prayer-a-big-believer-in-prayer/) [Janet Jackson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/janet-jackson/) > [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/) > [I always say if you put someone from a small town into a big city for ten years, then when they go back, they'll…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-colter/i-always-say-if-you-put-someone-from-a-small-town-into-a-big-city-for/) [Mike Colter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-colter/) > [My mom had very low expectations for me, and she really had a point. I was a big problem at seventeen. If I had…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alejandro-gonzalez-inarritu/my-mom-had-very-low-expectations-for-me-and-she-really-had-a-point-i/) [Alejandro Gonzalez Inarritu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alejandro-gonzalez-inarritu/) > [I have always been a big meta guy because I think the way journalism is practiced in Washington, and the way everyone sort of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-leibovich/i-have-always-been-a-big-meta-guy-because-i-think-the-way-journalism/) [Mark Leibovich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-leibovich/) > [It's going to be used in the last days to get people to come against Christ, and that's the issue: they come against the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tim-lahaye/it-s-going-to-be-used-in-the-last-days-to-get-people-to-come-against/) [Tim LaHaye](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tim-lahaye/) > [My parents are divorced, and seeing that was really painful for me. Really painful for me. But that's also a big part of why…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/banks/my-parents-are-divorced-and-seeing-that-was-really-painful-for-me/) [Banks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/banks/) > [I always want to do a big finale.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jennifer-yuh-nelson/i-always-want-to-do-a-big-finale/) [Jennifer Yuh Nelson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jennifer-yuh-nelson/) > [I turn a lot of stuff down - big, big movies, the kind I wouldn't want to go to the cinema to see.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matthew-fox/i-turn-a-lot-of-stuff-down-big-big-movies-the-kind-i-wouldn-t-want-to/) [Matthew Fox](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matthew-fox/) > [So I concentrated on the rhythmic side of things, and therefore left a lot of holes. I didn't want to use big pad chords…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/midge-ure/so-i-concentrated-on-the-rhythmic-side-of-things-and-therefore-left-a/) [Midge Ure](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/midge-ure/) > [I think a big part of success in football is mental, not physical. How you are inside your head matters more.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/iker-casillas/i-think-a-big-part-of-success-in-football-is-mental-not-physical-how/) [Iker Casillas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/iker-casillas/) > [I was always attracted most to joining City, and I am pleased to be at such a good club with such a big ambition…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edin-dzeko/i-was-always-attracted-most-to-joining-city-and-i-am-pleased-to-be-at/) [Edin Dzeko](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edin-dzeko/) > [Making sure that people have access to preventive medicine for the first time ever as a nation? That's a big deal.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brad-schneider/making-sure-that-people-have-access-to-preventive-medicine-for-the/) [Brad Schneider](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brad-schneider/) > [If you read 'Lord of the Rings' and dismiss it as a lie because it has orcs and elves, you're missing the whole point…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/doug-tennapel/if-you-read-lord-of-the-rings-and-dismiss-it-as-a-lie-because-it-has/) [Doug TenNapel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/doug-tennapel/) > [What I know about Ali Krieger is no moment is ever going to be too big for her.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jill-ellis/what-i-know-about-ali-krieger-is-no-moment-is-ever-going-to-be-too/) [Jill Ellis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jill-ellis/) Browse all 12,477 Big quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "When Mike Hammond and I started Gateway 12 years ago on my father's cattle farm, we knew it could be big. 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