The quote “Seek forgiveness, not permission” is famously attributed to Rear Admiral Grace Hopper, the pioneering computer scientist and U.S. Navy officer who helped create some of the earliest programming languages. Hopper coined the phrase to describe a mindset essential for innovation — that progress often demands initiative before approval.

It’s a line that sounds rebellious at first, but in truth, it’s about ownership, courage, and intent. Hopper didn’t mean “ignore authority” — she meant “don’t let fear of disapproval paralyze action.” If you know your intent is sound and your judgment is grounded, act — and deal with consequences later if necessary.

I saw this philosophy come to life during my years at Yahoo and later at Google. Both environments valued experimentation, but the scale and complexity of decision-making meant it was easy to get trapped in layers of alignment. In large organizations, even good ideas can die waiting for approval. Some of the most meaningful work I was part of happened when individuals — or small teams — took initiative first. They built, tested, and proved the idea before anyone could dismiss it.

That experience taught me that permission is comfortable, but it’s rarely creative. Innovation doesn’t happen because someone said “yes”; it happens because someone decided “why not?” Acting without explicit approval isn’t about defiance — it’s about momentum. It’s what separates people who maintain systems from those who move them forward.

Of course, the line is delicate. Acting first works only when paired with integrity and accountability. You don’t seek forgiveness when you’re careless — you seek it when the risk of waiting outweighs the risk of moving. In complex organizations, that often means trusting your instincts, aligning later, and showing value through action.

Over time, I’ve realized this philosophy applies beyond work. We often wait for invisible permissions — to start a new idea, speak a hard truth, or make a change we already know we need. But waiting rarely brings clarity; it just delays courage.

“Seek forgiveness, not permission” isn’t a slogan for recklessness. It’s a call to act with conviction when the intent is right and the stakes demand movement. It’s a reminder that growth doesn’t come from avoiding mistakes — it comes from learning fast and correcting with humility.

Because sometimes, the window for doing something meaningful is narrow — and if you hesitate too long, it closes.

Progress belongs to those who move first — and fix fast.