--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: When I started doing things on my own, I…" description: "\"When I started doing things on my own, I was figuring - remember, it was a very nascent market. And there was a lot that was unknown about the renewabl..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/85c/vinod-khosla-5401_doing-things_when-i-started-doing-things-on-my-own-i_786840.jpg" --- # When I started doing things on my own, I was figuring… ![“When I started doing things on my own, I was figuring - remember, it was a very nascent market. And there was a lot that was unknown about the renewable marketplace in 2004, early 2003, when I was planning on it.” quote by Vinod Khosla](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/85c/vinod-khosla-5401_doing-things_when-i-started-doing-things-on-my-own-i_786840.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/85c/vinod-khosla-5401_doing-things_when-i-started-doing-things-on-my-own-i_786840.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/85c/vinod-khosla-5401_doing-things_when-i-started-doing-things-on-my-own-i_786840.jpg) > “When I started doing things on my own, I was figuring - remember, it was a very nascent market. And there was a lot that was unknown about the renewable marketplace in 2004, early 2003, when I was planning on it.” [Vinod Khosla](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vinod-khosla/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Early-stage entrepreneurs must navigate uncertain, emerging markets with limited information and high risk. **In simple terms:** Starting alone in a new market is risky and uncertain. Key Takeaway Embrace uncertainty and learn quickly. Themes entrepreneurship innovation risk market development learning Mood determined optimistic analytical Type advice reflective inspirational When to use this quote - startup founding - renewable energy venture - early market research - pivot decisions Key Concepts strategic planning first-mover advantage information asymmetry Questions to Reflect On - How do you validate assumptions in a nascent market? - What strategies reduce risk when information is scarce? A Different Perspective Limited data can lead to costly missteps without proper validation. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Doing things](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/doing-things/) [Early](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/early/) [Early 2003](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/early-2003-6052451/) [Investing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/investing/) [Marketplace 2004](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/marketplace-2004-6052452/) [Nascent Market](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/nascent-market-6052453/) [Own](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/own/) [Planning](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/planning/) [Remember](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/remember/) [Renewable Marketplace](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/renewable-marketplace-6052449/) [Unknown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/unknown/) [Unknown Renewable](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/unknown-renewable-6052450/) ## Related quotes > [I'm just a girl trying to find a way in this world.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/i-m-just-a-girl-trying-to-find-a-way-in-this-world/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Humein Aansu Se Zakhmo Ko Dhona Nahi Aata Milti Hai Khushi To Use Khona Nahi Aata Seh Lete Hai Har Ghum Hans Ke Log…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/humein-aansu-se-zakhmo-ko-dhona-nahi-aata-milti-hai-khushi-to-use/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [You make my heart skip a beat](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jasmine/you-make-my-heart-skip-a-beat/) [Jasmine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jasmine/) > [I've always found a cure for the blues is wandering into something unknown, and resting there, before coming back to whatever weight you were…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/diane-sawyer/i-ve-always-found-a-cure-for-the-blues-is-wandering-into-something/) [Diane Sawyer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/diane-sawyer/) > [I am wary of unknown street food, available in plenty in places such as Singapore and Malaysia.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vijay-antony/i-am-wary-of-unknown-street-food-available-in-plenty-in-places-such/) [Vijay Antony](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vijay-antony/) > [Don't you just love watching people say they're gonna kill themselves because they get yelled at? Then you look at a different life, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/naquitta-faith/don-t-you-just-love-watching-people-say-they-re-gonna-kill-themselves/) [Naquitta Faith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/naquitta-faith/) > [Science is about exploring the unknown and cannot offer guarantees.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/virginia-postrel/science-is-about-exploring-the-unknown-and-cannot-offer-guarantees/) [Virginia Postrel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/virginia-postrel/) > [What puzzles me is the way that some of the smaller, unknown chateaux imagine that because Chinese millionaires pay ludicrous sums for the great…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/simon-hoggart/what-puzzles-me-is-the-way-that-some-of-the-smaller-unknown-chateaux/) [Simon Hoggart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/simon-hoggart/) > [Fake friends tell me what I wanna hear. true friends tell me what I don't wanna hear but its the truth.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kim-kim/fake-friends-tell-me-what-i-wanna-hear-true-friends-tell-me-what-i/) [Kim Kim](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kim-kim/) > [I get offers all the time from film makers, but they are unknown quantities. I don't go there and do experiments.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-aykroyd/i-get-offers-all-the-time-from-film-makers-but-they-are-unknown/) [Dan Aykroyd](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dan-aykroyd/) > [I feel like you stabbed my heart out of my chest.. drained my energy and stole my soul.. I feel so empty and shattered..…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brokengirl143/i-feel-like-you-stabbed-my-heart-out-of-my-chest-drained-my-energy/) [Brokengirl143](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brokengirl143/) > [The fact of the matter is that the Internet has brought together millions of people who trust one another for reasons that are unknown.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-huh/the-fact-of-the-matter-is-that-the-internet-has-brought-together/) [Ben Huh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ben-huh/) > [I had always been scared of the unknown, and I think it had a lot to do with a lack of self-confidence (and wearing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-levy/i-had-always-been-scared-of-the-unknown-and-i-think-it-had-a-lot-to/) [Dan Levy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dan-levy/) > [It's a great story for us whenever an entrepreneur makes a crazy amount of money and we get to tell the world about it.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-lacy/it-s-a-great-story-for-us-whenever-an-entrepreneur-makes-a-crazy/) [Sarah Lacy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-lacy/) > [You got nothing nice to say keep it to yourself. Be intelligent with your life. Who cares about fitting in. Stand out and be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/makai1k5/you-got-nothing-nice-to-say-keep-it-to-yourself-be-intelligent-with/) [Makai1k5](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/makai1k5/) ## More by Vinod Khosla > [My willingness to fail gives me the ability to succeed.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vinod-khosla/my-willingness-to-fail-gives-me-the-ability-to-succeed/) [Vinod Khosla](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vinod-khosla/) > [The world is hung up on food-based biofuels. Not only are they the wrong thing, they're the uneconomic thing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vinod-khosla/the-world-is-hung-up-on-food-based-biofuels-not-only-are-they-the/) [Vinod Khosla](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vinod-khosla/) > [I generally disagree with most of the very high margin opportunities. Why? Because it's a business strategy tradeoff: the lower the margin you take,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vinod-khosla/i-generally-disagree-with-most-of-the-very-high-margin-opportunities/) [Vinod Khosla](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vinod-khosla/) > [The probability of failure doesn't matter to me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vinod-khosla/the-probability-of-failure-doesn-t-matter-to-me/) [Vinod Khosla](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vinod-khosla/) > [If I collected all the diamonds in the world, I'd have no 'income' but I'd have a lot of 'assets'. Would my company be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vinod-khosla/if-i-collected-all-the-diamonds-in-the-world-i-d-have-no-income-but-i/) [Vinod Khosla](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vinod-khosla/) > [What an entrepreneur does is to build for the long run. If the market is great, you get all of the resources you can.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vinod-khosla/what-an-entrepreneur-does-is-to-build-for-the-long-run-if-the-market/) [Vinod Khosla](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vinod-khosla/) > [New industries are created by entrepreneurs who don't necessarily have subject matter expertise when they get started, yet they are still responsible for most…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vinod-khosla/new-industries-are-created-by-entrepreneurs-who-don-t-necessarily/) [Vinod Khosla](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vinod-khosla/) > [I don’t mind failing, but if I succeed it better be worth succeeding for.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vinod-khosla/i-don-t-mind-failing-but-if-i-succeed-it-better-be-worth-succeeding/) [Vinod Khosla](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vinod-khosla/) > [I believe cellulosic fuels, biofuels made from nonfood crops are the only solution that will make a difference.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vinod-khosla/i-believe-cellulosic-fuels-biofuels-made-from-nonfood-crops-are-the/) [Vinod Khosla](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vinod-khosla/) > [You have to invent the future you want.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vinod-khosla/you-have-to-invent-the-future-you-want/) [Vinod Khosla](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vinod-khosla/) > [Hopefully, I can advise entrepreneurs to avoid mistakes. But you can never be sure if you're trying something new and unreasonable.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vinod-khosla/hopefully-i-can-advise-entrepreneurs-to-avoid-mistakes-but-you-can/) [Vinod Khosla](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vinod-khosla/) > [Seeking an acquisition from the start is more than just bad advice for an entrepreneur. For the entrepreneur it leads to short term tactical…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vinod-khosla/seeking-an-acquisition-from-the-start-is-more-than-just-bad-advice/) [Vinod Khosla](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vinod-khosla/) > [Letting the perfect be the enemy of the good is one of the reasons we have a coal-dependent infrastructure, with the resulting environmental impact…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vinod-khosla/letting-the-perfect-be-the-enemy-of-the-good-is-one-of-the-reasons-we/) [Vinod Khosla](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vinod-khosla/) > [Germany has a lot of solar power. In fact, in 2005, some 55 or 57 percent of worldwide installations were photovoltaics in Germany. That's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vinod-khosla/germany-has-a-lot-of-solar-power-in-fact-in-2005-some-55-or-57/) [Vinod Khosla](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vinod-khosla/) > [The willingness to fail gives us the freedom to succeed.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vinod-khosla/the-willingness-to-fail-gives-us-the-freedom-to-succeed/) [Vinod Khosla](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vinod-khosla/) [Explore all 101 Vinod Khosla quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vinod-khosla/) ## More Doing things quotes > [I love casting against type and doing things you wouldn't expect, because I think you get more interesting performances that way. Hollywood loves to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-s-goyer/i-love-casting-against-type-and-doing-things-you-wouldn-t-expect/) [David S. Goyer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-s-goyer/) > [Doing the right things is more important than doing things right.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ko-wen-je/doing-the-right-things-is-more-important-than-doing-things-right/) [Ko Wen-je](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ko-wen-je/) > [“Standards are just the most accepted ways of doing things. They're usually unquestioned, not challenged, not the most efficient, and not the best way…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rick-otton/standards-are-just-the-most-accepted-ways-of-doing-things-they-re/) [Rick Otton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rick-otton/) > [As opposed to getting into arguments about, well, these folks have been treated fairly so now we're going to be doing things that, very…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barack-obama/as-opposed-to-getting-into-arguments-about-well-these-folks-have-been/) [Barack Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barack-obama/) > [Either you let your life slip away by not doing the things you want to do, or you get up & do them](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roger-von-oech/either-you-let-your-life-slip-away-by-not-doing-the-things-you-want/) [Roger von Oech](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roger-von-oech/) > [Life is all about doing things you like and being surrounded by people you like.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/regina-cassandra/life-is-all-about-doing-things-you-like-and-being-surrounded-by/) [Regina Cassandra](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/regina-cassandra/) > [There are those that say, if you do the uncomfortable thing long enough, it will become comfortable. But we are really not encouragers of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/esther-hicks/there-are-those-that-say-if-you-do-the-uncomfortable-thing-long/) [Esther Hicks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/esther-hicks/) > [I'm closer to being happy. I'm doing things that make me happy. In football I loved to practice and I loved to play, but…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ricky-williams/i-m-closer-to-being-happy-i-m-doing-things-that-make-me-happy-in/) [Ricky Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ricky-williams/) > [“If you aren't in love, Willow Vaughn, then my name isn't Miriam Brigham." Willow started out of her daydreaming and glanced up from the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charlotte-mcpherren/if-you-aren-t-in-love-willow-vaughn-then-my-name-isn-t-miriam-brigham/) [Charlotte McPherren](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charlotte-mcpherren/) > [The story being told in 'Star Wars' is a classic one. Every few hundred years, the story is retold because we have a tendency…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-lucas/the-story-being-told-in-star-wars-is-a-classic-one-every-few-hundred/) [George Lucas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-lucas/) > [When you study history and look at every civilization that has grown up and died off, they all leave one remnant: a major sports…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/when-you-study-history-and-look-at-every-civilization-that-has-grown/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Well I think that what we're seeing now is that the people feel like they, the people in Congress don't have their consent to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laura-ingraham/well-i-think-that-what-we-re-seeing-now-is-that-the-people-feel-like/) [Laura Ingraham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laura-ingraham/) > [It's sad that women characters have lost so much ground in popular movies. 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