--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: What people need to realize is that when…" description: "\"What people need to realize is that when I was elected and put in this role, I was breaking a glass ceiling. What I didn't realize at the time was that..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c21/annamie-paul-8962_glass_what-people-need-to-realize-is-that-when_1259313.jpg" --- # What people need to realize is that when I was elected and… ![“What people need to realize is that when I was elected and put in this role, I was breaking a glass ceiling. What I didn't realize at the time was that I was breaking a glass ceiling that was going to fall on my head and leave a lot of shards of glass that I was going to have to crawl over…” quote by Annamie Paul](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c21/annamie-paul-8962_glass_what-people-need-to-realize-is-that-when_1259313.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c21/annamie-paul-8962_glass_what-people-need-to-realize-is-that-when_1259313.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c21/annamie-paul-8962_glass_what-people-need-to-realize-is-that-when_1259313.jpg) > “What people need to realize is that when I was elected and put in this role, I was breaking a glass ceiling. What I didn't realize at the time was that I was breaking a glass ceiling that was going to fall on my head and leave a lot of shards of glass that I was going to have to crawl over throughout my time as a leader.” [Annamie Paul](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/annamie-paul/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Leadership can unintentionally create new obstacles for oneself and others, requiring vigilance and humility. **In simple terms:** Leaders may create hidden challenges. Key Takeaway Anticipate and address unintended consequences of your leadership. Themes leadership responsibility consequences Mood reflective cautious Type philosophical inspirational When to use this quote - policy making - team management - organizational change - public service - advocacy Key Concepts glass ceiling metaphor systems thinking ethical governance Questions to Reflect On - How can you identify hidden impacts of your decisions? - What structures can you put in place to mitigate unintended fallout? A Different Perspective Not all obstacles are visible; they may persist despite good intentions. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Glass ceiling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/glass-ceiling/) [Leader](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/leader/) [Leadership](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/leadership/) [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) [Time](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/time/) ## Related quotes > [The message I like to convey to women and girls across the globe is that there is no glass ceiling.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/venus-williams/the-message-i-like-to-convey-to-women-and-girls-across-the-globe-is/) [Venus Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/venus-williams/) > [For inspiration, we still demand the rhetorical high notes. Clinton has hit them before, in her speech in Beijing as first lady when she…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rebecca-traister/for-inspiration-we-still-demand-the-rhetorical-high-notes-clinton-has/) [Rebecca Traister](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rebecca-traister/) > [I've been asked about the glass ceiling a lot, and I don't think of myself as some kind of crusader going around smashing glass.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jennifer-yuh-nelson/i-ve-been-asked-about-the-glass-ceiling-a-lot-and-i-don-t-think-of/) [Jennifer Yuh Nelson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jennifer-yuh-nelson/) > [As far as a glass ceiling, I feel that all you can do is give it your absolute best with whatever gifts the universe…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alice-walker/as-far-as-a-glass-ceiling-i-feel-that-all-you-can-do-is-give-it-your/) [Alice Walker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alice-walker/) > [The term 'glass ceiling' was coined in 1984. More than 20 years later, the ceiling has barely cracked. There isn't a single country in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/noreena-hertz/the-term-glass-ceiling-was-coined-in-1984-more-than-20-years-later/) [Noreena Hertz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/noreena-hertz/) > [I knew I needed to make a studio film - not for any financial reason, but because, as a filmmaker, and especially as a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lexi-alexander/i-knew-i-needed-to-make-a-studio-film-not-for-any-financial-reason/) [Lexi Alexander](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lexi-alexander/) > [There is a glass ceiling for everybody until you find a way to get that connection that Cena has.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dolph-ziggler/there-is-a-glass-ceiling-for-everybody-until-you-find-a-way-to-get/) [Dolph Ziggler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dolph-ziggler/) > [There's definitely a list of things I'd like to do. But there's been a lot of things I hadn't even thought would have been…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aj-lee/there-s-definitely-a-list-of-things-i-d-like-to-do-but-there-s-been-a/) [AJ Lee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aj-lee/) > [And they were writing scripts where Christine had hit the glass ceiling. And I always thought Christine would never hit the glass ceiling. I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sharon-gless/and-they-were-writing-scripts-where-christine-had-hit-the-glass/) [Sharon Gless](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sharon-gless/) > [Things that used to be a glass ceiling aren't anymore. Now not only is it a possibility that women are going to main event…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/beth-phoenix/things-that-used-to-be-a-glass-ceiling-aren-t-anymore-now-not-only-is/) [Beth Phoenix](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/beth-phoenix/) > [Any time I broke through the 'glass ceiling' by accomplishing things that foreigners weren't apparently able to do, they've been huge personal victories and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kenny-omega/any-time-i-broke-through-the-glass-ceiling-by-accomplishing-things/) [Kenny Omega](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kenny-omega/) > [The best advice I can give women at all levels is increase training. There are still areas where we have to break through that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hilda-solis/the-best-advice-i-can-give-women-at-all-levels-is-increase-training/) [Hilda Solis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hilda-solis/) > [I think, before Obama, there was a glass ceiling. That's a big change. As a president, I think he was the best. I felt…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jordan-peele/i-think-before-obama-there-was-a-glass-ceiling-that-s-a-big-change-as/) [Jordan Peele](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jordan-peele/) > [I never thought I was breaking a glass ceiling. I just had to do what I had to do, and it never occurred to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marian-wright-edelman/i-never-thought-i-was-breaking-a-glass-ceiling-i-just-had-to-do-what/) [Marian Wright Edelman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marian-wright-edelman/) > [We've heard a lot in recent polemic about how to win the fight for the corner office. But pushing up against a glass ceiling…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tina-brown/we-ve-heard-a-lot-in-recent-polemic-about-how-to-win-the-fight-for/) [Tina Brown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tina-brown/) ## More by Annamie Paul > [Every single person who is a member of our party deserves to have certainty. They deserve to know that my attention and focus is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/annamie-paul/every-single-person-who-is-a-member-of-our-party-deserves-to-have/) [Annamie Paul](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/annamie-paul/) > [It should not be this difficult for people of good will, people with experience, to offer it in service to their country. There are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/annamie-paul/it-should-not-be-this-difficult-for-people-of-good-will-people-with/) [Annamie Paul](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/annamie-paul/) > [Unfortunately, a platitude is not a plan. So I am encouraging people to turn towards the Green Party if they're looking for a real…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/annamie-paul/unfortunately-a-platitude-is-not-a-plan-so-i-am-encouraging-people-to/) [Annamie Paul](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/annamie-paul/) > [I have been subjected to what can only be described as an unrelenting onslaught of comments and commentary and trolling online.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/annamie-paul/i-have-been-subjected-to-what-can-only-be-described-as-an-unrelenting/) [Annamie Paul](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/annamie-paul/) > [Even as the leader of the party, my first duty always is to the people who elected me, my first duty always is going…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/annamie-paul/even-as-the-leader-of-the-party-my-first-duty-always-is-to-the-people/) [Annamie Paul](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/annamie-paul/) > [I just love traveling.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/annamie-paul/i-just-love-traveling/) [Annamie Paul](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/annamie-paul/) > [I'm going to be working as hard as I can to give a strong Green option to residents and to give them the option…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/annamie-paul/i-m-going-to-be-working-as-hard-as-i-can-to-give-a-strong-green/) [Annamie Paul](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/annamie-paul/) > [It's good news that all the parties, well, with the exception of the People's Party, recognize that we're in a climate crisis. It's bad…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/annamie-paul/it-s-good-news-that-all-the-parties-well-with-the-exception-of-the/) [Annamie Paul](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/annamie-paul/) > [You have got to have social justice to have climate justice.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/annamie-paul/you-have-got-to-have-social-justice-to-have-climate-justice/) [Annamie Paul](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/annamie-paul/) > [And of course, we've never had a Black person or a woman of color lead a party.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/annamie-paul/and-of-course-we-ve-never-had-a-black-person-or-a-woman-of-color-lead/) [Annamie Paul](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/annamie-paul/) > [Anyone who knows Black women and their hair knows it is a big commitment.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/annamie-paul/anyone-who-knows-black-women-and-their-hair-knows-it-is-a-big/) [Annamie Paul](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/annamie-paul/) > [I was definitely one of those kids who, for whatever reason, followed politics and public policy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/annamie-paul/i-was-definitely-one-of-those-kids-who-for-whatever-reason-followed/) [Annamie Paul](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/annamie-paul/) > [It is extremely hard to have your integrity questioned when you value it so much.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/annamie-paul/it-is-extremely-hard-to-have-your-integrity-questioned-when-you-value/) [Annamie Paul](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/annamie-paul/) > [We need to move towards a truly just and equitable society by... making sure that every Canadian - whether they're living in long-term care…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/annamie-paul/we-need-to-move-towards-a-truly-just-and-equitable-society-by-making/) [Annamie Paul](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/annamie-paul/) > [Politics still remains a very hostile, unwelcoming place for diverse peoples. It's the reason that we have so few of them in politics.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/annamie-paul/politics-still-remains-a-very-hostile-unwelcoming-place-for-diverse/) [Annamie Paul](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/annamie-paul/) [Explore all 76 Annamie Paul quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/annamie-paul/) ## More Elected quotes > [No matter how unusual a personality may be who gets elected to office, there are constraints in this country. You don't get to do…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mitch-mcconnell/no-matter-how-unusual-a-personality-may-be-who-gets-elected-to-office/) [Mitch McConnell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mitch-mcconnell/) > [Realizing that they can't get their agenda across: against religious liberty, against a culture of life, they can't get those issues across through the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rod-parsley/realizing-that-they-can-t-get-their-agenda-across-against-religious/) [Rod Parsley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rod-parsley/) > [When I was elected governor of my state, I had a legislature 87 percent Democrat. It was not lost on me that to get…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mitt-romney/when-i-was-elected-governor-of-my-state-i-had-a-legislature-87/) [Mitt Romney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mitt-romney/) > [When you're running, when you're in elected office, you're surrounded with power. And, so every single day, you have to remind yourself why you're…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sam-rasoul/when-you-re-running-when-you-re-in-elected-office-you-re-surrounded/) [Sam Rasoul](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sam-rasoul/) > [We hope that the elected officials will respond positively to a ground swell of letters, phone calls, e-mails and visits from parents. The law…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/we-hope-that-the-elected-officials-will-respond-positively-to-a/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I came into office to do what was correct, not to see what was politically expedient to get re-elected.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/luis-fortuno/i-came-into-office-to-do-what-was-correct-not-to-see-what-was/) [Luis Fortuno](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/luis-fortuno/) > [The American people, in their own families, they understand that you have to do that. You have to make the tough decisions. You have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cathy-mcmorris-rodgers/the-american-people-in-their-own-families-they-understand-that-you/) [Cathy McMorris Rodgers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cathy-mcmorris-rodgers/) > [You now have the potential of 200 people deciding who ends up being elected president every single time](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barack-obama/you-now-have-the-potential-of-200-people-deciding-who-ends-up-being/) [Barack Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barack-obama/) > [If elected, I shall see to it that every man has a square deal, no less and no more.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/theodore-roosevelt/if-elected-i-shall-see-to-it-that-every-man-has-a-square-deal-no-less/) [Theodore Roosevelt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/theodore-roosevelt/) > [Others will have opinions on how I do and that's just fine... I've been elected four times, delivered results for my constituents and delivered…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pierre-poilievre/others-will-have-opinions-on-how-i-do-and-that-s-just-fine-i-ve-been/) [Pierre Poilievre](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pierre-poilievre/) > [I was elected to Parliament as a Conservative three times, most recently in 2017.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nick-boles/i-was-elected-to-parliament-as-a-conservative-three-times-most/) [Nick Boles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nick-boles/) > [My goal was never to get re-elected.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scott-mccallum/my-goal-was-never-to-get-re-elected/) [Scott McCallum](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scott-mccallum/) > [I was elected because I believed in what we call "grassroots politics," politics from the bottom up, not the top down.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barack-obama/i-was-elected-because-i-believed-in-what-we-call-grassroots-politics/) [Barack Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barack-obama/) > [There are many Israelis who are not keen on Barack Obama - they did not want to see him elected.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-engel/there-are-many-israelis-who-are-not-keen-on-barack-obama-they-did-not/) [Richard Engel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-engel/) > [Now we have black and white elected officials working together. Today, we have gone beyond just passing laws. Now we have to create a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-lewis/now-we-have-black-and-white-elected-officials-working-together-today/) [John Lewis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-lewis/) Browse all 542 Elected quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "What people need to realize is that when I was elected and put in this role, I was breaking a glass ceiling. 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