--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The most important thing is to…" description: "\"The most important thing is to simultaneously deal with reality - really the way it is, not the way you wished it could be or you hoped it could be - b..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a0a/alan-mulally-5334_dreams_the-most-important-thing-is-to-simultane_1910731.png" --- # The most important thing is to simultaneously deal with… ![“The most important thing is to simultaneously deal with reality - really the way it is, not the way you wished it could be or you hoped it could be - but also have a vision about where you want to go.” quote by Alan Mulally](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a0a/alan-mulally-5334_dreams_the-most-important-thing-is-to-simultane_1910731.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a0a/alan-mulally-5334_dreams_the-most-important-thing-is-to-simultane_1910731.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a0a/alan-mulally-5334_dreams_the-most-important-thing-is-to-simultane_1910731.png) > “The most important thing is to simultaneously deal with reality - really the way it is, not the way you wished it could be or you hoped it could be - but also have a vision about where you want to go.” [Alan Mulally](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-mulally/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Balancing realistic assessment with forward‑looking vision is essential for progress. **In simple terms:** Deal with reality now, plan for future. Key Takeaway Combine realism with vision. Themes leadership strategy vision Mood inspirational pragmatic Type leadership business When to use this quote - corporate meetings - project launches - crisis management Key Concepts decision making future planning Questions to Reflect On - How do you keep vision realistic? - When does realism hinder innovation? A Different Perspective Vision may be overly optimistic. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Dreams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/dreams/) [Go](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/go/) [Hoped Vision](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hoped-vision-2876640/) [Important](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/important/) [Reality](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/reality/) [Reality Really](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/reality-really-547332/) [Vision](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/vision/) [Vision Want](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/vision-want-530312/) [Way](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/way/) ## Related quotes > [“What you do is create a vision of who you want to be, and then live into that picture as if it were already…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-chandler/what-you-do-is-create-a-vision-of-who-you-want-to-be-and-then-live/) [Steve Chandler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-chandler/) > [“Being real and realistic at realizing your realm is a reality you can really realize in reams.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anyaele-sam-chiyson/being-real-and-realistic-at-realizing-your-realm-is-a-reality-you-can/) [Anyaele Sam Chiyson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anyaele-sam-chiyson/) > [Personally, I'm not into reality shows - I can't even name a reality show that I was a really big fan of, altogether as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/damien-fahey/personally-i-m-not-into-reality-shows-i-can-t-even-name-a-reality/) [Damien Fahey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/damien-fahey/) > [This reality is really just a fucked up dream](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/papa-roach/this-reality-is-really-just-a-fucked-up-dream/) [PAPA ROACH](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/papa-roach/) > [If you're automatically sure that you know what reality is and who and what is really important-if you want to operate on your default-setting-then…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-foster-wallace/if-you-re-automatically-sure-that-you-know-what-reality-is-and-who/) [David Foster Wallace](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-foster-wallace/) > [If you're doing a biography, you try to stay as accurate as possible to reality. But you really don't know what was going on…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/clint-eastwood/if-you-re-doing-a-biography-you-try-to-stay-as-accurate-as-possible/) [Clint Eastwood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/clint-eastwood/) > [Everything that I've ever done is not really based on reality, it's the caricature of reality, which is what's really exciting.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/genndy-tartakovsky/everything-that-i-ve-ever-done-is-not-really-based-on-reality-it-s/) [Genndy Tartakovsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/genndy-tartakovsky/) > [The opening to reality, as it really is, is beauty.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/byron-katie/the-opening-to-reality-as-it-really-is-is-beauty/) [Byron Katie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/byron-katie/) > [We think we are experiencing reality but what we are really experiencing is our thinking.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-neill/we-think-we-are-experiencing-reality-but-what-we-are-really/) [Michael Neill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-neill/) > [In movies, you shoot out of sequence, so the issue of reality is really taken out of it](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rosie-perez/in-movies-you-shoot-out-of-sequence-so-the-issue-of-reality-is-really/) [Rosie Perez](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rosie-perez/) > [“Physical reality is a reflection of what's going on in our belief systems and in our energy. (...) Physical reality is really nothing more…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/darryl-anka/physical-reality-is-a-reflection-of-what-s-going-on-in-our-belief/) [Darryl Anka](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/darryl-anka/) > [Virtual Reality is really a new communication platform. By feeling truly present, you can share unbounded spaces and experiences with the people in your…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-zuckerberg/virtual-reality-is-really-a-new-communication-platform-by-feeling/) [Mark Zuckerberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-zuckerberg/) > [Sometimes we focus on what we wish we had and we lose reality of what we really have.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/autumn-kohler/sometimes-we-focus-on-what-we-wish-we-had-and-we-lose-reality-of-what/) [Autumn Kohler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/autumn-kohler/) > [I think when you come from a reality show, nobody really respects you from the movie industry or from the WWE industry.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/the-miz/i-think-when-you-come-from-a-reality-show-nobody-really-respects-you/) [The Miz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/the-miz/) > [Reality really isn't as dull as it's cracked up to be.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/estelle/reality-really-isn-t-as-dull-as-it-s-cracked-up-to-be/) [Estelle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/estelle/) ## More by Alan Mulally > [At the most fundamental level, it is an honor to serve - at whatever type or size of organization you are privileged to lead,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-mulally/at-the-most-fundamental-level-it-is-an-honor-to-serve-at-whatever/) [Alan Mulally](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-mulally/) > [I taught my executive team how to argue.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-mulally/i-taught-my-executive-team-how-to-argue/) [Alan Mulally](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-mulally/) > [Boeing is a United States icon.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-mulally/boeing-is-a-united-states-icon/) [Alan Mulally](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-mulally/) > [If you get honest feedback and do nothing about it, then the feedback will stop.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-mulally/if-you-get-honest-feedback-and-do-nothing-about-it-then-the-feedback/) [Alan Mulally](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-mulally/) > [Some people believe the U.S. can't compete in the design and manufacture of sophisticated products. I think we absolutely can if we pull together.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-mulally/some-people-believe-the-u-s-can-t-compete-in-the-design-and/) [Alan Mulally](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-mulally/) > [I grew up with Microsoft. I know the leadership of Microsoft.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-mulally/i-grew-up-with-microsoft-i-know-the-leadership-of-microsoft/) [Alan Mulally](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-mulally/) > [I've just seen it all - I've seen the bird flu, I've seen the Asian economic meltdown, SARS, 9/11, economic cycles.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-mulally/i-ve-just-seen-it-all-i-ve-seen-the-bird-flu-i-ve-seen-the-asian/) [Alan Mulally](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-mulally/) > [An important part of leadership is being able to hold two things in your mind at once: Dealing with the reality, whatever it may…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-mulally/an-important-part-of-leadership-is-being-able-to-hold-two-things-in/) [Alan Mulally](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-mulally/) > [Although the quality of the vehicles is tremendously improving year after year but the underlying reasons that people are buying cars have really gotten…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-mulally/although-the-quality-of-the-vehicles-is-tremendously-improving-year/) [Alan Mulally](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-mulally/) > [Data can set you free.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-mulally/data-can-set-you-free/) [Alan Mulally](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-mulally/) > [We've incentivized people in the past to maybe turn their vehicles over, you know sooner rather than later. And in the United States with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-mulally/we-ve-incentivized-people-in-the-past-to-maybe-turn-their-vehicles/) [Alan Mulally](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-mulally/) > [At Ford, one of the behaviors is you listen, and you don't have side conversations during the meeting. It's just so important everybody stays…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-mulally/at-ford-one-of-the-behaviors-is-you-listen-and-you-don-t-have-side/) [Alan Mulally](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-mulally/) > [Don't manage your career. Follow your dream and contribute.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-mulally/don-t-manage-your-career-follow-your-dream-and-contribute/) [Alan Mulally](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-mulally/) > [Nothing will ever have the impact that 9/11 had on Boeing and on the world. It just changed things overnight.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-mulally/nothing-will-ever-have-the-impact-that-9-11-had-on-boeing-and-on-the/) [Alan Mulally](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-mulally/) > [We've always loved the automobile, and we all love Henry Ford's original vision to open the highways to all mankind, the freedom and movement.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-mulally/we-ve-always-loved-the-automobile-and-we-all-love-henry-ford-s/) [Alan Mulally](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-mulally/) [Explore all 101 Alan Mulally quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-mulally/) ## More Dreams quotes > [“Cine a ucis stelele? Cine a surpat drumul spre viitor al celor din morminte?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ionel-teodoreanu/cine-a-ucis-stelele-cine-a-surpat-drumul-spre-viitor-al-celor-din/) [Ionel Teodoreanu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ionel-teodoreanu/) > [“Once we become sensitive to dreams, we discover that every dynamic in a dream is manifesting itself in some way in our practical lives”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-a-johnson/once-we-become-sensitive-to-dreams-we-discover-that-every-dynamic-in/) [Robert A. Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-a-johnson/) > [“Now you’re wet. You’re so wet you’re leaking down your ass. You’re soaking my pillow. I don’t think I’m ever washing it. I want…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susan-stoker/now-you-re-wet-you-re-so-wet-you-re-leaking-down-your-ass-you-re/) [Susan Stoker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susan-stoker/) > [“Not that it matters, when you dream, there's no outside or in. Your mind is an unimaginable bloom. A willow catkin as big as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rich-shapero/not-that-it-matters-when-you-dream-there-s-no-outside-or-in-your-mind/) [Rich Shapero](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rich-shapero/) > [Sometimes we wish for the feel but we never understand that we have to give a lot to get the feel !](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-reynolds/sometimes-we-wish-for-the-feel-but-we-never-understand-that-we-have/) [Robert Reynolds](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-reynolds/) > [The vision of the left, full of envy and resentment, takes its worst toll on those at the bottom - whether black or white…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-sowell/the-vision-of-the-left-full-of-envy-and-resentment-takes-its-worst/) [Thomas Sowell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-sowell/) > [It’s so important to create in your own voice, to hold onto what makes you unique, and have faith in your vision.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-lasseter/it-s-so-important-to-create-in-your-own-voice-to-hold-onto-what-makes/) [John Lasseter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-lasseter/) > [“As dreams are the healing songs from the wilderness of our unconscious - So wild animals, wild plants, wild landscapes are the healing dreams…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dale-pendell/as-dreams-are-the-healing-songs-from-the-wilderness-of-our/) [Dale Pendell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dale-pendell/) > [Alone in a world, With millions of souls Walking in circles Trapped in their dreams unhealthy, unclean walking in circles, now do not disturb…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chester-bennington/alone-in-a-world-with-millions-of-souls-walking-in-circles-trapped-in/) [Chester Bennington](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chester-bennington/) > [“Doing the work to transform your dreams into reality is like walking across the earth. It can be that hard, and it can take…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dragos-bratasanu/doing-the-work-to-transform-your-dreams-into-reality-is-like-walking/) [Dragos Bratasanu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dragos-bratasanu/) > [As far as Im concerned, I didnt dream - ever.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/theodore-sturgeon/as-far-as-im-concerned-i-didnt-dream-ever/) [Theodore Sturgeon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/theodore-sturgeon/) > [I guess, it's a father's dream for his daughter to be known around the world.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/liza-soberano/i-guess-it-s-a-father-s-dream-for-his-daughter-to-be-known-around-the/) [Liza Soberano](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/liza-soberano/) > [I am just enjoying the dream of being Milan coach at the age of 40.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gennaro-gattuso/i-am-just-enjoying-the-dream-of-being-milan-coach-at-the-age-of-40/) [Gennaro Gattuso](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gennaro-gattuso/) > [Sometimes life seems like a dream, especially when I look down and see that I forgot to put on my pants.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-handey/sometimes-life-seems-like-a-dream-especially-when-i-look-down-and-see/) [Jack Handey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-handey/) > [“I had a dream. I had an awesome dream.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/i-had-a-dream-i-had-an-awesome-dream/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) [Browse all 40,599 Dreams quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/dreams/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "The most important thing is to simultaneously deal with reality - really the way it is, not the way you wished it could be or you hoped it could be - but also have a vision about where you want to go.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Alan Mulally" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-mulally/the-most-important-thing-is-to-simultaneously-deal-with-reality/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Dreams" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-mulally/the-most-important-thing-is-to-simultaneously-deal-with-reality/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a0a/alan-mulally-5334_dreams_the-most-important-thing-is-to-simultane_1910731.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a0a/alan-mulally-5334_dreams_the-most-important-thing-is-to-simultane_1910731.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a0a/alan-mulally-5334_dreams_the-most-important-thing-is-to-simultane_1910731.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“The most important thing is to simultaneously deal with reality - really the way it is, not the way you…” — Alan Mulally", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Alan Mulally", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-mulally/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "The most important thing is to...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-mulally/the-most-important-thing-is-to-simultaneously-deal-with-reality/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-mulally/the-most-important-thing-is-to-simultaneously-deal-with-reality/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```