---
title: A little bit of slope makes up for a lot of y-intercept
modified: 2026-03-13
---

# Slope/Rate > Position

By [John Ousterhout, Professor of Computer Science at Stanford University](https://web.stanford.edu/~ouster/cgi-bin/home.php)

From his “[Thoughts for the Weekend](https://web.stanford.edu/~ouster/cgi-bin/cs142-spring12/weekendThoughts.php)”

| ![](https://images.prismic.io/sketchplanations/b623dc8e-4e1a-4318-afe4-4b5e224732d9_177387106997.jpg?auto=format&fit=max&w=640&q=95) |
| :-: |
| <sub>[Source](https://sketchplanations.com/a-little-bit-of-slope-makes-up-for-a-lot-of-y-intercept)</sub> |

Full script: _[slope v.s starting](https://gist.github.com/gtallen1187/e83ed02eac6cc8d7e185)_

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# Trend > Position

[Stop trusting in the position, start trusting in the trend.](https://www.sahilbloom.com/newsletter/an-open-letter-to-my-lost-younger-self)

![](https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/66915d91469ad34b8324ab88/673c9fb2288e3e7fa0922af7_email.jpeg)

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# Trajectory > Position

[It’s more important to be on an upward trajectory than to be at a high position.](https://youtu.be/KyfUysrNaco?t=1171s)