You can look at building a startup much like a resource management game. In the world of startups, the things that really matter are talent and capital! If you have a large supply of talent, and a lot of capital, you'll win every time.
— Adeo Ressi“At Dyson our philosophy has always been to invest in the long term. To power our 25 year pipeline of technology we have just announced a further £1.5 billion investment into new research and development on top of our current spending of £3 million a week. You cannot create disruptive technology without investing heavily in the long term.”— Sir James Dyson
Inventor & Founder of Dyson Ltd, Bagless Vacuum Pioneer
The quote archive
Entrepreneurship
A growing archive of 3,000+ moments, drawn from every interview.
I believe that success in business can be measured by if you enjoy what you are doing; create something that stands out; create something that everyone is really proud of.
— Sir Richard BransonFounder of Virgin Group & Billionaire Entrepreneur & Adventurer
If you fall flat on your face, at least you're moving forward. All you have to do is get back up and try again!
— Sir Richard BransonFounder of Virgin Group & Billionaire Entrepreneur & Adventurer
Money is not my first priority – I have always pursued what I am passionate about whether that will make me money or not, my fascination is learning and discovery more than being rich and powerful.
— Sir Richard BransonFounder of Virgin Group & Billionaire Entrepreneur & Adventurer
There is no magic formula for great company culture. The key is just to treat your staff how you would like to be treated yourself. People are fundamental in driving the success of a business. You should treat your employees like the smart and capable adults they are.
— Sir Richard BransonFounder of Virgin Group & Billionaire Entrepreneur & Adventurer
I wasn't thinking about success or being 'big' or creating a huge business. I was thinking about answering a need, a void, creating something that wasn't there before.
— Donna KaranRenowned Fashion Designer & Founder of DKNY Brand
Entrepreneurship is a way of life. For me, entrepreneurship has always been about being a builder. Whether it's about undiscovered artists or working with companies pre-launch, the build process is what attracts me.
— Troy CarterMusic executive and manager, founder of Meadows and Q&A platform
When you're identifying talent in music or other industries- one of the most important things to identify is which of those individuals is able to marry talent with extraordinary drive.
— Troy CarterMusic executive and manager, founder of Meadows and Q&A platform
To follow your dreams and imagine the unimaginable. Everything man-made that we see and touch on a daily basis has been invented by someone, by an entrepreneur. Life is exciting and you can create your own destiny, just as long as you believe in yourself and step outside of the box.
— Laurence GraffFounder and Chairman of Graff Diamonds, luxury jeweler and gemstone merchant
Entrepreneurship is a way of thinking, a way of acting, that enables you to realise your dreams. It allows ideas to thrive and become reality and success to be born from hard work, good intention, taking risks and believing in something that others may deem to be impossible.
— Laurence GraffFounder and Chairman of Graff Diamonds, luxury jeweler and gemstone merchant
A great entrepreneur always acts with full intention and without limitation, always striving for the best in everything they do. From an early age I knew I had to rely on myself, look after myself, to not be afraid of anything. It gave me huge confidence and unshakable belief.
— Laurence GraffFounder and Chairman of Graff Diamonds, luxury jeweler and gemstone merchant
We adopted in Portugal a National Strategy for Entrepreneurship: Startup Portugal. A strategy that aims to make Portugal the ideal space to create, test, fail and try again.
— António CostaPrime Minister of Portugal (2015-2024)
I believe many of our new generation of entrepreneurs put too much significance on money, and not enough on ideas. If you have a great idea, and the skills to execute that idea, the money will come.
— Frederik Paulsen, Jr.I believe that entrepreneurship is something you're born with, or not. I've met many highly intelligent, and incredibly bright people who have not been able to develop their ideas into sensible businesses. Entrepreneurship is not related to intelligence, it's something you have or don't have.
— Frederik Paulsen, Jr.In line with most highly-tuned talents, I absolutely believe that entrepreneurship is a genetic gift that you're born with. What you do with that gift depends on your upbringing, opportunities and inspirations; you either make them massively better or neglect them.
— John CaudwellBillionaire British entrepreneur and founder of Phones 4u mobile retailer
There are no people called entrepreneurs but people perform entrepreneurial functions at different times. Edison performed great entrepreneurial acts. But he was also fierce opponent of innovation when it threatened his business interests.
— Professor Calestous JumaLeading African innovation and development scholar at Harvard Kennedy School