Focus Quote by Van Jones
“I think the most important thing is discovering an idea that moves you, and then letting people who are moved by that idea find each other, and work together. A lot of times people focus on the technical side-"oh, I've got to take a class on non-profit development." Too few people allow themselves to think outside the box with regard to their issue areas.”
About This Quote
Source Speech: TED Talk, 2015
Finding a compelling idea and connecting like‑minded people fuels collaboration and impact.
In simple terms: A powerful idea brings people together to solve problems.
Key Takeaway
Identify and share your core idea.
Themes
collaboration
innovation
social impact
Mood
enthusiastic
optimistic
Type
inspirational
motivational
When to use this quote
- startup incubators
- non‑profit projects
- community organizing
- social entrepreneurship
Key Concepts
networking
purpose‑driven work
cross‑disciplinary teamwork
Questions to Reflect On
- What idea excites you most?
- How can you attract partners who share that vision?
A Different Perspective
Ideas alone aren’t enough without execution and resources.
![“It [the scene] can be something given to you and you go, "Ah this is a good idea, I can work with this." Sometimes it cuts right across your instinct and that's when I might resist. Even if the director might be insistent, I think it's very important to say, "Look, I'm not feeling this. I'll try…” quote by Ralph Fiennes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/a8f/ralph-fiennes-7066_cutting_it-the-scene-can-be-something-given-to-y_551000.jpg)
![“If [Donald] Trump throws 20 million off of health care, that's going to be - if he handles this badly - and it's very hard to handle it right, then that's a - a huge advantage in the mid-terms for us.” quote by Van Jones](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/f4d/van-jones-984_advantage_if-donald-trump-throws-20-million-off-of_12893.jpg)
![“I learned more in those six months [ in the White House] than in the prior six years. I don't think that anybody who has had the privilege to serve the country at that level should walk out and behave like a crybaby. And I plan to continue to serve the country in other capacities.” quote by Van Jones](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/3dc/van-jones-984_behave_i-learned-more-in-those-six-months-in-th_27061.jpg)
![“[Donald Trump] is a horrible human being, but he ain't worse than Bull Connor. Fannie Lou loved Bull Connor and beat Bull Connor because she loved him.” quote by Van Jones](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/def/van-jones-984_beats_donald-trump-is-a-horrible-human-being-b_54460.jpg)
