Eli Broad Quotes

Powerful Eli Broad for Daily Growth

About Eli Broad

Eli Broad (born 1933) is an American entrepreneur, philanthropist, and art collector whose career in real estate development and business has been marked by innovation, growth, and significant contributions to various fields. Born in the Bronx, New York, to Jewish immigrants from Russia, Broad grew up in a modest household. He served in the U.S. Army during the Korean War before earning degrees in chemistry and business at Michigan State University. In 1957, he moved to Detroit to work for General Motors but left two years later to start his own insurance company with just $500. In 1961, Broad co-founded Kaufman & Broad Homes Corporation (later renamed Broad and Casskey) with Leonard Casskey, which revolutionized the housing industry by offering homebuyers a greater selection of models and features at competitive prices. The company grew rapidly, becoming one of the largest homebuilders in the United States. Broad expanded into other industries, including banking, entertainment, and automotive parts manufacturing. He is known for his business acumen and cost-cutting strategies that transformed these sectors. His most notable success came with SunAmerica Inc., a financial services company he co-founded in 1982. Through strategic acquisitions and restructuring, Broad grew SunAmerica into one of the largest insurance companies in the United States before selling it to AIG in 1999 for $16 billion. Broad's philanthropy has focused on education, science, and culture. In 1987, he established The Eli and Edythe Broad Foundation, which supports innovative educational programs, scientific research, and cultural institutions like the Los Angeles Museum of Contemporary Art (MOCA) and the Broad Art Museum at Michigan State University. Throughout his life, Broad has been influenced by a strong work ethic instilled by his parents and an unwavering belief in the power of free enterprise. His key works span various industries but have left lasting impacts on how businesses operate and how people live. Notable quotes include: "In business, there are no boundaries. There are only obstacles to be overcome," and "We can't just build great buildings; we have to do something for the soul."

Interpretations of Popular Quotes

"Entrepreneurship is the last legitimate way in America to become wealthy."

This quote by Eli Broad suggests that entrepreneurship, or starting and running a business, remains a viable and socially acceptable path for individuals in the United States to amass wealth. It implies that through hard work, innovation, and taking calculated risks, one can generate significant financial success by creating their own enterprise rather than relying on traditional means such as inheritance or employment within an established organization. The quote underscores the spirit of self-reliance and determination that is often associated with entrepreneurship in American culture.


"If you're not making mistakes, then you're not doing anything. I'm positive that a doer makes mistakes."

This quote by Eli Broad emphasizes that taking action and making progress often involves making mistakes. It suggests that those who are actively engaged in pursuing their goals or ambitions will inevitably encounter errors along the way. However, these mistakes should not be seen as setbacks but as learning opportunities, for it is through them that one can grow, adapt, and eventually succeed. In other words, a doer who isn't making mistakes may not be taking enough risks or pushing their boundaries, and thus might not be fully realizing their potential.


"The key to success is to focus our time, energy and money on activities that generate high returns."

Eli Broad's quote emphasizes the importance of strategic prioritization in achieving success. He suggests directing valuable resources - time, energy, and money - towards activities that yield substantial returns rather than spreading them thinly across various tasks or ventures with questionable results. In other words, focus on opportunities that promise significant gains to maximize efficiency and increase the likelihood of success.


"Innovation is the lifeblood of business, and the best way to ensure its continued flow is to invest in education."

Eli Broad's quote emphasizes the essential role that innovation plays within businesses for their growth and survival, and he highlights education as a critical tool for fostering continuous innovation. By investing in education, businesses can nurture a workforce equipped with the knowledge, skills, and mindset to think creatively, solve complex problems, and drive forward-thinking ideas – thereby ensuring the ongoing flow of innovation within their organizations. In essence, he suggests that investment in education is an investment in business success and future competitiveness.


"If you're not making a profit, it's very hard to continue doing what you love to do."

This quote by Eli Broad emphasizes the interplay between passion and financial sustainability. Broad suggests that without the ability to generate profits, it becomes increasingly difficult to pursue one's passions over a prolonged period. Profit serves as an essential lifeblood for any endeavor, providing the resources necessary to continue doing what one loves.


I believe in the democratization of the arts. What do I mean by that? I think museums, with some exceptions, have a responsibility to educate a much broader public.

- Eli Broad

Think, Some, I Think, Democratization

I'm strong-willed. Architects are strong-willed. You get the best results with a strong client and a strong architect working together.

- Eli Broad

Strong, Best, Architect, Architects

Oprah Winfrey's global influence is unparalleled. Not only has her generosity and firm belief that education is the key to a better life benefited countless women and children around the world, but her example has also inspired millions of people to give back in ways big and small.

- Eli Broad

Education, Small, Big, Generosity

Without a doubt, stem cell research will lead to the dramatic improvement in the human condition and will benefit millions of people.

- Eli Broad

Doubt, Will, Dramatic, Human Condition

I'd be bored to death if I spent all my time with other businesspeople, bankers and lawyers.

- Eli Broad

Lawyers, Other, Bankers, All My Time

School boards are, for the most part,made up of political wannabes who see a board seat as a stepping stone for political office, or well-meaning parents who represent an ethnic group or geography, or have some other narrow interests. Few people on them understand what governance is about.

- Eli Broad

Stepping Stone, Some, Other, Narrow

To me, unconventional thinking is approaching a problem and asking, 'Why not? Why can't something be done?' If someone can't give me a good reason why you can't do something, I find a way to do it.

- Eli Broad

Reason, Give, Asking, Give Me

I believe that a newspaper is a great civic asset and that ownership is best in the hands of foundations or wealthy families that want to own it for reasons other than maximizing profits. I also believe newspapers should remain in local hands.

- Eli Broad

Hands, Newspaper, Other, Civic

If you ask why I do what I do - I want to make a difference. I don't just want to maintain the status quo. I want to help people, to work with institutions or create ones when they don't exist.

- Eli Broad

Work, Want, Maintain, Status Quo

The biggest barrier we've seen to student progress is this: School policies and practices often prevent good teachers from doing great work and even dissuade some talented Americans from entering the profession. This needs to change.

- Eli Broad

Doing, Student, Some, Practices

School district policies and practices have not kept pace with student and teacher needs.

- Eli Broad

Teacher, School, Needs, Practices

What artists think about the world is often different from how we businessmen see it, and I find that an enriching experience.

- Eli Broad

Think, Enriching, About, Businessmen

A lot of executives act like their time is worth more than anyone else's. But I always respect an employee who guards his or her time, even from me.

- Eli Broad

Always, Like, Executives, Guards

I am old enough to remember when America's K-12 public schools were the best in the world. I am a proud graduate of them, and I credit much of my success to what I learned in Detroit Public Schools and at Michigan State University.

- Eli Broad

University, Remember When, State University

I'd rather be respected than loved.

- Eli Broad

Loved, Rather, Than, Respected

If you have poor management that's not doing the right job, you end up with unions filling the void and... page after page of work rules and thicker and thicker contracts.

- Eli Broad

Doing, Unions, Void, Thicker

I've never been one who enjoys maintaining the status quo. I'm always pushing for new ideas, whether it's in business or philanthropy.

- Eli Broad

New, Always, Been, New Ideas

I have always believed that every great city in history needs a vibrant center.

- Eli Broad

Always, Needs, Vibrant, Great City

Being a Midwesterner, I know that many of the middle-class manufacturing jobs that had been at the heart of our economy are either gone or going, and they're not coming back.

- Eli Broad

Going, Been, Middle-Class, Manufacturing

Someone once told me I'm a sore winner, and they're right. I rarely take more than a moment to enjoy a success before I'm moving on and looking for the next challenge.

- Eli Broad

Moving On, Next, Before, Sore

Unfortunately, the boards of art institutions tend to be populated with well-meaning supporters of the arts who often lack any business background or appetite for imposing appropriate discipline.

- Eli Broad

Art, Appropriate, Imposing, Supporters

I've become convinced that Los Angeles is going to become the next contemporary art capital - no other city has more contemporary gallery space than Los Angeles. We've come into our own, finally.

- Eli Broad

Art, Next, Capital, Contemporary Art

I believe in two things: One, Andrew Carnegie said, 'He who dies with wealth dies in shame.' And someone once said, 'He who gives while he lives also knows where it goes.'

- Eli Broad

Wealth, Shame, Lives, Carnegie

Museums do not share their collections with other museums unless they get something in exchange. The Metropolitan will deal with the Louvre, but will they send their stuff to Memphis? No.

- Eli Broad

Memphis, Deal, Other, Collections

Civilizations are not remembered by their business people, their bankers or lawyers. They're remembered by the arts.

- Eli Broad

Lawyers, Remembered, Bankers, Business People

For businesses to be successful, they need to constantly ask the question: 'How can we provide value to our customers?' At the end of the day, that is what matters.

- Eli Broad

Question, Need, Constantly, Businesses

There were periods when the art market got overheated, but there is no reason it should appreciate dramatically.

- Eli Broad

Art, Reason, Market, Dramatically

In America, what you've accomplished financially is a measurement, whether you like it or not.

- Eli Broad

Like, Accomplished, Whether, Financially

Managers are responsible for setting workplace policies under which teachers can succeed. Managers are responsible for negotiating contracts that create the conditions under which teachers can succeed.

- Eli Broad

Policies, Contracts, Which, Negotiating

Most museums - with all their burdens to pay for exhibitions, administration, and security - really don't have any money really to acquire art, with few exceptions.

- Eli Broad

Art, Pay, Administration, Burdens

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