Robert Kotick Quotes

Powerful Robert Kotick for Daily Growth

About Robert Kotick

Robert Kotick, born on August 16, 1954, is an influential American writer and journalist, renowned for his thought-provoking work in the fields of pop culture and politics. He was raised in the suburbs of New York City, where he developed a keen interest in music, literature, and social issues at a young age. After graduating from the University of Pennsylvania with a degree in English, Kotick embarked on a journalistic career that would span over four decades. His writing has been published by numerous prestigious outlets such as Rolling Stone, The New York Times, Esquire, and Spin Magazine. In the 1980s, Kotick gained significant attention for his work covering the punk rock scene in Los Angeles. This led to the publication of his groundbreaking book 'Girl Walks Into a Bar: The Unlikely Story of a Stand-Up Comic' (1987), which chronicled his experiences as a stand-up comedian while also exploring the broader themes of identity, creativity, and success. Kotick's most notable work, however, is 'The Future Is Another Place: New Journeys in a Science Fiction World' (1994). This collection of essays delves into various aspects of science fiction literature, examining its cultural impact, social relevance, and potential as a medium for discussing contemporary issues. Throughout his career, Kotick has consistently explored the intersection between popular culture and societal changes. His work continues to inspire and influence a new generation of writers, thinkers, and creators.

Interpretations of Popular Quotes

"Culture beats strategy every time."

Robert Kotick's quote, "Culture beats strategy every time," emphasizes that a company's values, beliefs, and attitudes (culture) have a more significant impact on its success than any strategic plans or business models (strategy). In other words, a strong, positive culture fosters a work environment that motivates employees to perform at their best, leading to better overall results. A successful strategy without a supportive culture may not yield the desired outcomes, as it can lead to disengagement, low morale, and poor performance among team members. Therefore, creating an exceptional company culture should be a top priority for any business leader.


"Success is a lousy teacher. It seduces smart people into thinking they can't lose."

This quote by Robert Kotick suggests that success, while often celebrated and desired, can lead individuals to become overconfident and complacent, underestimating potential risks or challenges. The phrase "lousy teacher" implies that success doesn't provide the necessary lessons about the need for continued vigilance and humility in order to maintain one's position or achieve further success. It is a caution against allowing success to breed arrogance and a false sense of invincibility.


"I'm not concerned about short-term gains, but I am very much focused on the long-term health of this company."

Bobby Kotick, in this quote, indicates his prioritization of the long-term stability and success of the company over immediate profits or advantages. This perspective underscores a commitment to making strategic decisions that ensure the company's longevity and continued growth, despite potential short-term challenges or sacrifices. In essence, Kotick is expressing a focus on building a resilient, sustainable business model that can withstand various market fluctuations and maintain its competitive edge in the long run.


"Greatness is not a function of circumstance. Greatness, it turns out, is largely a matter of conscious choice, and discipline."

This quote emphasizes that greatness is not solely determined by circumstances but rather depends on personal choices and discipline. It suggests that individuals have the power to decide their own level of achievement and success, regardless of the external factors. The implication is that one can cultivate greatness by exercising self-discipline, setting goals, making conscious choices towards those goals, and consistently working towards them.


"There's no magic formula for creating a great team; you need to find the chemistry between people who have a passion for what they do."

This quote by Robert Kotick emphasizes that there isn't a specific formula or recipe for building an exceptional team, but rather, it's about finding the right mix of individuals who share a common passion for their work and can collaborate effectively due to their unique chemistry. Essentially, he is suggesting that a successful team requires both individual dedication and interpersonal harmony.


To allow our audiences to watch more professionally produced video content, we acquired Major League Gaming - MLG - and we expect MLG to become the 'ESPN of Videogames' with a focus on the celebration of gamers, both amateur and professionals.

- Robert Kotick

Allow, ESPN, Professionals, Amateur

In the mid 1980s, video games as an industry had lost its way a bit. Atari had collapsed. There was this widespread collective belief that it was because video games were a fad.

- Robert Kotick

Collapsed, Fad, Mid, Atari

We don't view the App Store as a really big opportunity for dedicated games.

- Robert Kotick

Big, App, Dedicated, Big Opportunity

How do you expect people to actually join the military if, when they leave the military, they can't integrate back into the free market they're supposed to be protecting?

- Robert Kotick

People, Back, Protecting, Integrate

I would have 'Call of Duty' be an online subscription service tomorrow. I think our audiences are clamouring for it.

- Robert Kotick

Tomorrow, Think, I Think, Subscription

When I got to Activision, it was like a carnival. They had a recycling container filled with cans and a sign over it that said 'Activision Takeover Defense Fund.' Activision was making games based on passion and gut instinct. We needed to develop games based on P&L statements and what was going to sell.

- Robert Kotick

Over It, Container, Takeover, Cans

As business models evolve, as the way you distribute content evolves, as the ability to do things online changes in terms of pricing or trial or sample, I think we've definitely always been out in front of the rest of our competitors.

- Robert Kotick

Changes, Been, I Think, Sample

We'd love to see Led Zeppelin on 'Guitar Hero.'

- Robert Kotick

Love, See, Led, Led Zeppelin

Professional gaming competitions are creating celebrities who are recognized and revered as athletes were in prior generations. Spectator gaming is becoming as popular as mainstream sports.

- Robert Kotick

Gaming, Becoming, Revered, Competitions

The social element has really transformed the gaming experience.

- Robert Kotick

Experience, Gaming, Social, Transformed

Veterans Day is a time to reflect and renew our commitment to ensure our military heroes have the tools to reintegrate successfully back to civilian life.

- Robert Kotick

Veterans, Successfully, Renew

We've always operated under the belief that you could run a video game business as professionally as you could run a consumer packaged goods business, and you wouldn't diminish creativity.

- Robert Kotick

Business, Game, Always, Consumer

I ran a hot-dog-and-soda stand at Little League, and I started a business planning parties in high school.

- Robert Kotick

Business, Little League, Ran

I think running Apple is a great job, but it suits Steve Jobs so well. I wouldn't want to be the person that ran Apple after Steve, but he has a great job.

- Robert Kotick

Think, I Think, Jobs, Ran

It's about really being considerate of the culture in the game studios that Activision buys. That's the biggest difference between us and any of our competitors.

- Robert Kotick

Game, Studios, Buys, Biggest Difference

I go to these cocktail parties now, and I say I make video games, and people go, 'Wow.' I can attract crowds.

- Robert Kotick

Go, Say, Attract, Wow

When employees can bring their full selves to work, we get the full benefit of all their perspectives and experiences.

- Robert Kotick

Work, Get, Selves, Perspectives

The video game business is primarily a male-oriented business. And I have three girls. And you see the things that are important to them in their game experiences are the social interaction. They love the ability to chat with their friends. They love the ability to have some connection online with other people.

- Robert Kotick

Love, Game, Some, Video Game

The Call of Duty Endowment is a natural philanthropic extension of our brand.

- Robert Kotick

Natural, Call, Extension, Philanthropic

All my life, I've been the rebel in the X-wing fighter, and then one morning, I woke up, and I was on board the Death Star.

- Robert Kotick

My Life, Rebel, Been, Board

If I go play 'Modern Warfare,' I'll find a hundred different things I'd like done differently. And I don't have the discipline to not express my opinion.

- Robert Kotick

Play, Like, Hundred, Different Things

What I'm good at is making sure we have the best resources, the best talent, the best marketing, and the best access to distribution.

- Robert Kotick

Marketing, Making, Sure, Distribution

Our customers need to be satisfied that there is a price-value relationship that they feel great about.

- Robert Kotick

Satisfied, Need, About, Customers

If it's compelling and engaging enough, customers will consider paying for it. If we don't deliver something that has value, we won't expect value in return.

- Robert Kotick

Will, Deliver, Compelling, Customers

Don't focus on reaching the C-Suite. Focus on doing great work and serving your customers and community. That's how you can find the right opportunities and get the skills and experience to get to the top in your career.

- Robert Kotick

Work, Career, Doing, Customers

You put some things out there. Some work, some don't, and then one really takes off, and that pays for your failures. Then you go on to the next one.

- Robert Kotick

Next, Some, Failures, Pays

I think the reason why video games are more popular as entertainment in difficult economies is that the cost per hour of video games is lower than any other form of entertainment.

- Robert Kotick

Think, Reason, Other, Per

Activision Blizzard has always been about inspiring play, competition, and community for our fans and employees, and that hasn't changed.

- Robert Kotick

Play, Always, Been, Employees

Our mission is to inspire audiences to play, connect, and compete by making the most engaging entertainment in the world, and our talent evaluation process ensures that each new hire shares that commitment.

- Robert Kotick

Play, New, Compete, Shares

Treyarch contributed so significantly to the multiplayer technology that's in 'Modern Warfare 2,' and they didn't really get the credit for that.

- Robert Kotick

Technology, Modern, Really, Credit

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