What David Heinemeier Hansson thinks about ambition
Creator of Ruby on Rails, CTO of 37signals, and creator of Omarchy.
David Heinemeier Hansson did not write this page.
We collected these quotes from things they published elsewhere, and every quote links to where it was said. They have no account here and have not endorsed this site. Quotes are word for word; the short line under each one is our own restatement, not their wording. Their own site. Is this you? Claim it or ask us to remove it. Or tell us what is wrong here.
Filter ambition · Newest first
104 more topics
Only David Heinemeier Hansson on ambition. See everyone on ambition
27 dated positions, 2021 to 2026, in their own words. Our reading of what David Heinemeier Hansson has said — not written or endorsed by them.
-
Their wordsStarship, Starlink, Grok, and Roadster. These should all have been Sputnik moments for Europe. Triggered immediate deregulation, mobilization of capital, and ambition to catch up.
- 3 weeks earlier
-
Their wordsThe opportunity cost of endless planning and contemplation just went way up.
- 8 days earlier
-
Their wordsAnd before you ask, the pursuit of excellence requires no justification!
- 3 weeks earlier
-
Their wordsAnd I will say I've actually changed my mind on that a little bit. I spent quite a lot of time speaking the other book that there are a lot of people who don't actually need those ambitions. And I also-- That's also true. We don't want 8 billion Elons running around the world. Would be rather crazy, I think. But I've come to realize that for entrepreneurs, it's healthy to have suitable chunky goals.
↗DHH: Future of Programming, AI, Agentic Engineering, Vibe Coding & Linux | Lex Fridman Podcast #501youtube.com 22nd of 41 in this recording
- 4 weeks earlier
-
Their wordsAnd in fact, when I look back upon my career, it only took off when I could close my door and not see anyone for long stretches of uninterrupted time.
↗DHH: How to Build a Profitable Company Without Losing Controlyoutube.com 6th of 27 in this recording
- 4 months earlier
-
Their wordswe're getting ambitions we would never have looked at before because suddenly the cost of exploring a hunch has just dropped by a thousandfold.
↗DHH’s new way of writing codeyoutube.com 14th of 21 in this recording
-
Their wordsThis is not like a limited sale. like AI is going to be here next month and the months after that.
↗DHH’s new way of writing codeyoutube.com 19th of 21 in this recording
-
Their wordsI think that's the other big misconception that some people have about wealth is that they conceive of it as some sort of checkpoint. Like once you've made it, then you can just kick back in leisure as though that was happiness.
↗DHH’s new way of writing codeyoutube.com 21st of 21 in this recording
- 9 months earlier
-
Their wordsMojito Island is a mirage. It always was. There is no retirement for ambitious people. There is no just sitting back on the beach and sipping a mojito for what? For two weeks before you go damn crazy and wanna get back into the action?
↗DHH: Future of Programming, AI, Ruby on Rails, Productivity & Parenting | Lex Fridman Podcast #474youtube.com 24th of 36 in this recording
-
Their wordsBut if I'm content just being in the top 5%, I can be in the top 5% on like five things at once. I can get really good at writing. I can get decent at driving a race car. I can become pretty good at programming. I can run a company. I can have a family.
↗DHH: Future of Programming, AI, Ruby on Rails, Productivity & Parenting | Lex Fridman Podcast #474youtube.com 26th of 36 in this recording
-
Their wordsBut there's something that's just not right in the analysis that children are a burden and that if woman chooses to stay at home with the kids, that that some sort of failure mode of feminist ambition. I think that's actually a complete dead end.
↗DHH: Future of Programming, AI, Ruby on Rails, Productivity & Parenting | Lex Fridman Podcast #474youtube.com 37th of 36 in this recording
-
Their words40 hours a week is actually a ton if you don't piss it away. Most people do piss it away. They piss it away in meetings. They piss it away on just stuff that doesn't matter when even three hours, four hours of concentrated uninterrupted time every day would move to goals they truly care about way down the field.
↗DHH: Future of Programming, AI, Ruby on Rails, Productivity & Parenting | Lex Fridman Podcast #474youtube.com 38th of 36 in this recording
- 8 months earlier
-
Their wordsalmost all big leaps forward are sprints inspired by a hunch
↗Obsessive problem solving followed by aimless wanderingworld.hey.com 1st of 2 in this piece
-
Their wordsmy best work is a series of sprints punctuated by periods of wandering
↗Obsessive problem solving followed by aimless wanderingworld.hey.com 2nd of 2 in this piece
- 5 months earlier
-
Our readingA life spent without taking bets on being early on an idea is one not lived to the fullest
Their wordsa life spent without taking at least a few bets on being early on an idea is one not lived to the fullest
- 6 weeks earlier
-
Our readingUncertainty is necessary for ambition
Their wordsIf we can quantify it all before we even begin, the ambition disappears
- 2 weeks earlier
-
Their wordsit probably is worse, for most people, to have too many stretches of too little to do than the opposite
- 1 day earlier
-
Their wordsYou can be very good at soccer, and still not be part of that lineup
↗You're not guaranteed a spot on the teamworld.hey.com 2nd of 3 in this piece
- 4 months earlier
-
Our readingHaving no responsibilities can be harmful
Their wordsThe satiation of every desire paired with a relief of every responsibility is a psychological death sentence to many
- 2 days earlier
-
Our readingSpending time on deliberate practice and refinement at work can lead to improved effectiveness
Their wordsSo spending a healthy chunk of the day in deliberate practice and refinement seems like an easy investment to justify
↗Commit to competence in this coming yearworld.hey.com 1st of 3 in this piece
- 5 months earlier
-
Their wordsThe risk of succumbing to the rigor mortis of success is usually far greater than the risk of making a mistake by not considering and mitigating all possible bad outcomes up front
↗Don't lose your unreasonable sense of urgencyworld.hey.com 1st of 2 in this piece
- 5 weeks earlier
-
Our readingAbilities unused will atrophy
Their wordsAbilities unused will atrophy, so putting in anything less than your best means giving up on what you're capable of
- 6 weeks earlier
-
Their wordspeople who feel overwhelmed by life, or lost in its endless possibilities, might not need a lighter load, but a more meaningful burden instead
↗The responsibility is the rewardworld.hey.com 2nd of 2 in this piece
- 3 months earlier
-
Their wordsSomething that's doable in a week might be a great investment, but if you spend six doing the same thing, with excess care, you're wasting your time
↗You can always go faster (if you know where to risk it)world.hey.com 2nd of 2 in this piece
- 2 months earlier
-
Their wordsOperating within your means, taking profits along the way, and aiming for a stable, long-term business is not just dismissed, but frowned upon
↗The bubble has popped for unprofitable software companiesworld.hey.com 1st of 2 in this piece
- 5 days earlier
-
Their wordswe've repeatedly proven that it's possible to run at this pace sustainably, without constant overwork, undue stress, software defects, or other ill consequences
- 12 months earlier
-
Their wordsThe way to work without regrets is to pursue projects that'll have been worth your time even if they don't pan out