--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I thought, 'Okay, what's going to be my…" description: "\"I thought, 'Okay, what's going to be my edge, and how am I going to define what I'm doing differently?' Once I had that key idea of the software develo..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8bf/trip-hawkins-17637_art_i-thought-okay-what-s-going-to-be-my-edg_196640.jpg" --- # I thought, 'Okay, what's going to be my edge, and how am I… ![“I thought, 'Okay, what's going to be my edge, and how am I going to define what I'm doing differently?' Once I had that key idea of the software developer as an artist, once I had that idea, a whole bunch of other ideas flowed from that, because I realized that I need to go study the music…” quote by Trip Hawkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8bf/trip-hawkins-17637_art_i-thought-okay-what-s-going-to-be-my-edg_196640.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8bf/trip-hawkins-17637_art_i-thought-okay-what-s-going-to-be-my-edg_196640.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8bf/trip-hawkins-17637_art_i-thought-okay-what-s-going-to-be-my-edg_196640.jpg) > “I thought, 'Okay, what's going to be my edge, and how am I going to define what I'm doing differently?' Once I had that key idea of the software developer as an artist, once I had that idea, a whole bunch of other ideas flowed from that, because I realized that I need to go study the music industry, I need to study the book publishing and Hollywood and figure out how they do things, why they do them that way, and then I need to borrow, and rearrange, the things that they're doing to fit my industry so that I can invent and create this new industry.” [Trip Hawkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/trip-hawkins/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. He emphasizes redefining a role by borrowing concepts from other fields to innovate a new industry. **In simple terms:** Use ideas from other areas to create something new. Key Takeaway Adapt and remix ideas from elsewhere. Themes innovation creativity crossdisciplinary industry strategy Mood inspired strategic Type philosophical practical When to use this quote - software development - music industry - book publishing - film production Key Concepts artistic mindset industry analysis idea synthesis Questions to Reflect On - How can you ensure borrowed ideas fit your context? - What risks arise from mixing industries? A Different Perspective Requires deep understanding of each borrowed field to avoid superficial copying. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Art](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/art/) [Artist](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/artist/) [Book](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/book/) [Book publishing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/book-publishing/) [Developers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/developers/) [Hollywood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hollywood/) [Ideas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ideas/) [Industry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/industry/) [Music](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/music/) [Music industry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/music-industry/) [Programming](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/programming/) [Publishing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/publishing/) [Software](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/software/) ## Related quotes > [“To each other, they talked at a gallop. Literature turned them on; their ideas flowed, ran back and forth like a current. (The Cousins)”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-spencer/to-each-other-they-talked-at-a-gallop-literature-turned-them-on-their/) [Elizabeth Spencer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-spencer/) > [I realized I need to increase my spirit, so when others are down, my spirit rises.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/micah-parsons/i-realized-i-need-to-increase-my-spirit-so-when-others-are-down-my/) [Micah Parsons](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/micah-parsons/) > [Why do I act like I'm all high and mighty when inside I'm dying. I've finally realized that I need help.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eminem/why-do-i-act-like-i-m-all-high-and-mighty-when-inside-i-m-dying-i-ve/) [Eminem](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eminem/) > [If more people realized they need more work before they get into a relationship clearly we would have less angry people in the world.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/if-more-people-realized-they-need-more-work-before-they-get-into-a/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“You don't need to go all through this for me." Alynna said in a whisper. "Yeah, I never needed to. But I want to.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nicholaa-spencer/you-don-t-need-to-go-all-through-this-for-me-alynna-said-in-a-whisper/) [Nicholaa Spencer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nicholaa-spencer/) > [I realized I need a certain kind of chemistry and a certain kind of look to be into someone, and like 1 percent of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jen-kirkman/i-realized-i-need-a-certain-kind-of-chemistry-and-a-certain-kind-of/) [Jen Kirkman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jen-kirkman/) > [I finally realized this, I need you more than I thought.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/punkinhead-abhishek/i-finally-realized-this-i-need-you-more-than-i-thought/) [Punkinhead Abhishek](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/punkinhead-abhishek/) > [I realized I need to do a better job of opening up other interests because my interests are sports, my family, my faith and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mack-brown/i-realized-i-need-to-do-a-better-job-of-opening-up-other-interests/) [Mack Brown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mack-brown/) > [“He held on to me like I was a rock, the only thing keeping him from drifting out with the tide of dark memories.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jodi-meadows/he-held-on-to-me-like-i-was-a-rock-the-only-thing-keeping-him-from/) [Jodi Meadows](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jodi-meadows/) > [When they need you,you were always there for them.But when you need them,that's the time you'll realized that they are not there for you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/when-they-need-you-you-were-always-there-for-them-but-when-you-need/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [People who succeed at the highest level are not lucky; they're doing something differently than everyone else.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tony-robbins/people-who-succeed-at-the-highest-level-are-not-lucky-they-re-doing/) [Tony Robbins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tony-robbins/) > [We must start talking differently about poverty--and start doing something differently.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gary-haugen/we-must-start-talking-differently-about-poverty-and-start-doing/) [Gary Haugen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gary-haugen/) > [How would I be doing this differently if I were WILLING to let it be easy?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-cohen/how-would-i-be-doing-this-differently-if-i-were-willing-to-let-it-be/) [Alan Cohen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-cohen/) > [I don't think about how many times how many heroines have said 'I love you' to how many heroes on screen and that I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/urmila-matondkar/i-don-t-think-about-how-many-times-how-many-heroines-have-said-i-love/) [Urmila Matondkar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/urmila-matondkar/) > [We have only to see how that which makes up the reality of our lives relates to our vocation; we have only to hear…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-danielou/we-have-only-to-see-how-that-which-makes-up-the-reality-of-our-lives/) Jean Danielou ## More by Trip Hawkins > [If you look at any institution in history - look at the Roman Empire - anything in history, and what it looks like when…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/trip-hawkins/if-you-look-at-any-institution-in-history-look-at-the-roman-empire/) [Trip Hawkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/trip-hawkins/) > [I'm not saying that more performance wouldn't be better - all these technologies are going to get better - that's the difference between first…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/trip-hawkins/i-m-not-saying-that-more-performance-wouldn-t-be-better-all-these/) [Trip Hawkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/trip-hawkins/) > [I have a number of famous quotes, and one of them is, if you get knocked down, get back up again. I don't really…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/trip-hawkins/i-have-a-number-of-famous-quotes-and-one-of-them-is-if-you-get/) [Trip Hawkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/trip-hawkins/) > [But any big change is more likely to result if there is a disruptive event such as new technologies or platforms that have a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/trip-hawkins/but-any-big-change-is-more-likely-to-result-if-there-is-a-disruptive/) [Trip Hawkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/trip-hawkins/) > [Digital Chocolate has 60% of its developers in Finland where the sun never sets in the summer and there is nothing to do outside…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/trip-hawkins/digital-chocolate-has-60-of-its-developers-in-finland-where-the-sun/) [Trip Hawkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/trip-hawkins/) > [We also had good software in the key categories and more focus on the gameplaying capability, so more of the marketing effort was targeted…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/trip-hawkins/we-also-had-good-software-in-the-key-categories-and-more-focus-on-the/) [Trip Hawkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/trip-hawkins/) > [So the guy that we're really targeting our system at this year is one of the guys who brought a 16bit system three or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/trip-hawkins/so-the-guy-that-we-re-really-targeting-our-system-at-this-year-is-one/) [Trip Hawkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/trip-hawkins/) > [We'll look at the japanese launch as a model and aspire to have things go as well as they did over there.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/trip-hawkins/we-ll-look-at-the-japanese-launch-as-a-model-and-aspire-to-have/) [Trip Hawkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/trip-hawkins/) > [You are nuts and you should be proud of it. Stick with what you believe in.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/trip-hawkins/you-are-nuts-and-you-should-be-proud-of-it-stick-with-what-you/) [Trip Hawkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/trip-hawkins/) > [And initially, a lot of companies avoid trying to make a really radical new kind of title for a new system, because that would…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/trip-hawkins/and-initially-a-lot-of-companies-avoid-trying-to-make-a-really/) [Trip Hawkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/trip-hawkins/) > [You have to have the kind of personality where you're resilient and you can get up and keep moving and learn what there is.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/trip-hawkins/you-have-to-have-the-kind-of-personality-where-you-re-resilient-and/) [Trip Hawkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/trip-hawkins/) > [I can't tell you how important it was for us to be successful in japan.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/trip-hawkins/i-can-t-tell-you-how-important-it-was-for-us-to-be-successful-in-japan/) [Trip Hawkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/trip-hawkins/) > [We want to make as big a market as we can with our current product.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/trip-hawkins/we-want-to-make-as-big-a-market-as-we-can-with-our-current-product/) [Trip Hawkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/trip-hawkins/) > [Online console gaming will continue to grow at a healthy pace.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/trip-hawkins/online-console-gaming-will-continue-to-grow-at-a-healthy-pace/) [Trip Hawkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/trip-hawkins/) > [From day one our next generation system will run all our exsisting software - so that gives us a head start.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/trip-hawkins/from-day-one-our-next-generation-system-will-run-all-our-exsisting/) [Trip Hawkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/trip-hawkins/) [Explore all 36 Trip Hawkins quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/trip-hawkins/) ## More Art quotes > [True works of art contain their own theory and give us the measurement according to which we should judge them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johann-wolfgang-von-goethe/true-works-of-art-contain-their-own-theory-and-give-us-the/) [Johann Wolfgang von Goethe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johann-wolfgang-von-goethe/) > [Before Noah, men having only water to drink, could not find the truth. Accordingly...they became abominably wicked, and they were justly exterminated by the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-franklin/before-noah-men-having-only-water-to-drink-could-not-find-the-truth/) [Benjamin Franklin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-franklin/) > [“Hear the sum of the whole matter in the compass of one brief word — every art possessed by man comes from Prometheus.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aeschylus/hear-the-sum-of-the-whole-matter-in-the-compass-of-one-brief-word/) [Aeschylus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aeschylus/) > [I think most artists feel like they're outside society - no matter how many accolades they receive, or how much money is in your…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aaron-rose/i-think-most-artists-feel-like-they-re-outside-society-no-matter-how/) [Aaron Rose](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aaron-rose/) > [The capacity to be puzzled is the premise of all creation, be it in art or in science.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erich-fromm/the-capacity-to-be-puzzled-is-the-premise-of-all-creation-be-it-in/) [Erich Fromm](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erich-fromm/) > [That's the great secret of creativity. You treat ideas like cats: you make them follow you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ray-bradbury/that-s-the-great-secret-of-creativity-you-treat-ideas-like-cats-you/) [Ray Bradbury](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ray-bradbury/) > [“So, really," continued Jacob as if this were perfectly normal to expound on art in these circumstances, "when you think about it, the artists…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/justina-chen-headley/so-really-continued-jacob-as-if-this-were-perfectly-normal-to-expound/) [Justina Chen Headley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/justina-chen-headley/) > [“There are two options in art; either to adopt philosophical life by dissecting art, or to write your own philosophical life and claim it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/taf-teh/there-are-two-options-in-art-either-to-adopt-philosophical-life-by/) Taf Teh > [The house has to serve comfort. The work of art is revolutionary; the house is conservative.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adolf-loos/the-house-has-to-serve-comfort-the-work-of-art-is-revolutionary-the/) [Adolf Loos](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adolf-loos/) > [During human progress, every science is evolved out of its corresponding art.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/herbert-spencer/during-human-progress-every-science-is-evolved-out-of-its/) [Herbert Spencer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/herbert-spencer/) > [In literature and art memory is a synonym for invention. It is the life-blood of imagination, which faints and dies when the veins are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-aris-willmott/in-literature-and-art-memory-is-a-synonym-for-invention-it-is-the/) [Robert Aris Willmott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-aris-willmott/) > [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/) > [“The only thing--I tell you this straight from the heart--that disgusts me in Salzburg is that one can't have any proper social intercourse with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wolfgang-amadeus-mozart/the-only-thing-i-tell-you-this-straight-from-the-heart-that-disgusts/) [Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wolfgang-amadeus-mozart/) > [The sublime in art is the attempt to express the infinite without finding in the realm of phenomena any object which proves itself fitting…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/georg-wilhelm-friedrich-hegel/the-sublime-in-art-is-the-attempt-to-express-the-infinite-without/) [Georg Wilhelm Friedrich Hegel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/georg-wilhelm-friedrich-hegel/) > [Art isn't done to decorate apartments, but to wage war against the enemy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pablo-picasso/art-isn-t-done-to-decorate-apartments-but-to-wage-war-against-the/) [Pablo Picasso](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pablo-picasso/) [Browse all 48,643 Art quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/art/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "I thought, 'Okay, what's going to be my edge, and how am I going to define what I'm doing differently?' Once I had that key idea of the software developer as an artist, once I had that idea, a whole bunch of other ideas flowed from that, because I realized that I need to go study the music industry, I need to study the book publishing and Hollywood and figure out how they do things, why they do them that way, and then I need to borrow, and rearrange, the things that they're doing to fit my industry so that I can invent and create this new industry.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Trip Hawkins" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/trip-hawkins/i-thought-okay-what-s-going-to-be-my-edge-and-how-am-i-going-to/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Art" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/trip-hawkins/i-thought-okay-what-s-going-to-be-my-edge-and-how-am-i-going-to/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8bf/trip-hawkins-17637_art_i-thought-okay-what-s-going-to-be-my-edg_196640.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8bf/trip-hawkins-17637_art_i-thought-okay-what-s-going-to-be-my-edg_196640.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8bf/trip-hawkins-17637_art_i-thought-okay-what-s-going-to-be-my-edg_196640.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“I thought, 'Okay, what's going to be my edge, and how am I going to define what I'm doing differently?' 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