---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: It shouldn't be just about 'what you do'…"
description: "\"It shouldn't be just about 'what you do', but also 'how you do' and maybe more importantly 'why you do'.\" — Ash Sweeney"
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/694/ash-sweeney-731_actions_it-shouldn-t-be-just-about-what-you-do-b_1487318.jpg"
---

#  It shouldn't be just about 'what you do', but also 'how…

![“It shouldn't be just about 'what you do', but also 'how you do' and maybe more importantly 'why you do'.” quote by Ash Sweeney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/694/ash-sweeney-731_actions_it-shouldn-t-be-just-about-what-you-do-b_1487318.jpg)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/694/ash-sweeney-731_actions_it-shouldn-t-be-just-about-what-you-do-b_1487318.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/694/ash-sweeney-731_actions_it-shouldn-t-be-just-about-what-you-do-b_1487318.jpg)

> “It shouldn't be just about 'what you do', but also 'how you do' and maybe more importantly 'why you do'.”

[Ash Sweeney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ash-sweeney/)

## About This Quote

This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.

The quote stresses that actions, methods, and motivations all matter, not just the actions themselves.

**In simple terms:** What you do, how you do it, and why you do it all matter.

Key Takeaway

Consider all three aspects before acting.

Themes

motivation process intention

Mood

thoughtful analytical

Type

advice philosophical

When to use this quote

- teamwork
- personal projects
- leadership decisions

Key Concepts

ethics purpose execution

Questions to Reflect On

- What is your underlying purpose?
- How does your method reflect your values?

A Different Perspective

Focusing only on outcomes can ignore deeper reasons.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Actions](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/actions/) [Importantly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/importantly/) [Just Maybe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/just-maybe-527395/) [Life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/life/) [Maybe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/maybe/) [Maybe Importantly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/maybe-importantly-5432529/) [Purpose](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/purpose/) [Shouldn Just](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/shouldn-just-3011705/)

## Related quotes

> [It shouldn't just be about money. It should be about loving what you do.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sid-bernstein/it-shouldn-t-just-be-about-money-it-should-be-about-loving-what-you-do/)

[Sid Bernstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sid-bernstein/)

> [You should \*have\* an experience; it shouldn't just \*be\* an experience.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-cumming/you-should-have-an-experience-it-shouldn-t-just-be-an-experience/)

[Alan Cumming](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-cumming/)

> [Politics ought to be fun. It shouldn't be just boring meetings.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-hightower/politics-ought-to-be-fun-it-shouldn-t-be-just-boring-meetings/)

[Jim Hightower](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-hightower/)

> [Doing what's right should be easy. It shouldn't be just another big mess like everything else.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patrick-ness/doing-what-s-right-should-be-easy-it-shouldn-t-be-just-another-big/)

[Patrick Ness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patrick-ness/)

> [IF they can't make time for you, then maybe, just maybe, they don't deserve you..](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ash-sweeney/if-they-can-t-make-time-for-you-then-maybe-just-maybe-they-don-t/)

[Ash Sweeney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ash-sweeney/)

> [Maybe...just maybe...I like being imperfect](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/maybe-just-maybe-i-like-being-imperfect/)

[Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/)

> [And maybe, just maybe, it will.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nicholas-sparks/and-maybe-just-maybe-it-will/)

[Nicholas Sparks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nicholas-sparks/)

> [“Maybe, just maybe, she could finally learn to love herself in order to love someone else.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wisteria-d-jones/maybe-just-maybe-she-could-finally-learn-to-love-herself-in-order-to/)

[Wisteria D. Jones](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wisteria-d-jones/)

> [To me, integrity means always doing what is right and good, regardless of the immediate consequences. It means being righteous from the very depth…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-b-wirthlin/to-me-integrity-means-always-doing-what-is-right-and-good-regardless/)

[Joseph B. Wirthlin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-b-wirthlin/)

> [Our actions of the past should not define who we are today. Our actions of today should help to define who we want to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ash-sweeney/our-actions-of-the-past-should-not-define-who-we-are-today-our/)

[Ash Sweeney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ash-sweeney/)

> [None of us are responsible for all the things that happen to us, but we are responsible for the way we act when they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ash-sweeney/none-of-us-are-responsible-for-all-the-things-that-happen-to-us-but/)

[Ash Sweeney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ash-sweeney/)

> [Good intentions don't really matter if they don't lead to good actions. Sometimes those with good intentions do us more harm than good.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ash-sweeney/good-intentions-don-t-really-matter-if-they-don-t-lead-to-good/)

[Ash Sweeney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ash-sweeney/)

> [I like these words -- they seem to suggest action: If you hear a kind word spoken Of some worthy soul you know, It…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ash-sweeney/i-like-these-words-they-seem-to-suggest-action-if-you-hear-a-kind/)

[Ash Sweeney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ash-sweeney/)

> [The STRONGEST actions for a woman is to love themself, be themself, and shine amongst those who never believed they could!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ash-sweeney/the-strongest-actions-for-a-woman-is-to-love-themself-be-themself-and/)

[Ash Sweeney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ash-sweeney/)

> [“Maybe all there is is just the next thing maybe all there is is just the next thing maybe all there is is just…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joyce-carol-oates/maybe-all-there-is-is-just-the-next-thing-maybe-all-there-is-is-just/)

[Joyce Carol Oates](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joyce-carol-oates/)

## More by Ash Sweeney

> [You can close the windows and darken your room, and you can open the windows and let light in. It is a matter of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ash-sweeney/you-can-close-the-windows-and-darken-your-room-and-you-can-open-the/)

[Ash Sweeney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ash-sweeney/)

> [Tomorrow can be better or worse but will never be same as today.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ash-sweeney/tomorrow-can-be-better-or-worse-but-will-never-be-same-as-today/)

[Ash Sweeney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ash-sweeney/)

> [What is it with people nowadays, you claim you want something real' when it's staring at your face.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ash-sweeney/what-is-it-with-people-nowadays-you-claim-you-want-something-real/)

[Ash Sweeney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ash-sweeney/)

> [The real reason you struggling with letting go is because you keep holding on to what they use to be.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ash-sweeney/the-real-reason-you-struggling-with-letting-go-is-because-you-keep/)

[Ash Sweeney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ash-sweeney/)

> [It's one of those things that people say, you can't move on until you let go of the past. Letting go is the easy…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ash-sweeney/it-s-one-of-those-things-that-people-say-you-can-t-move-on-until-you/)

[Ash Sweeney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ash-sweeney/)

> [Half of being happy is being happy with what you've got, the other half is being happy no matter what.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ash-sweeney/half-of-being-happy-is-being-happy-with-what-you-ve-got-the-other/)

[Ash Sweeney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ash-sweeney/)

> [I like these words -- they seem to suggest action: If you hear a kind word spoken Of some worthy soul you know, It…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ash-sweeney/i-like-these-words-they-seem-to-suggest-action-if-you-hear-a-kind/)

[Ash Sweeney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ash-sweeney/)

> [Everyday I wake up, knowing that the thought of you will carry me through the morning. As I reach the middle of my day,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ash-sweeney/everyday-i-wake-up-knowing-that-the-thought-of-you-will-carry-me/)

[Ash Sweeney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ash-sweeney/)

> [Facebook isn't a waste of time, it's important, it um, let's me, um, yeah OK it's a waste of time but you do it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ash-sweeney/facebook-isn-t-a-waste-of-time-it-s-important-it-um-let-s-me-um-yeah/)

[Ash Sweeney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ash-sweeney/)

> [The blind leading the blind are those which think they can see into the heart of another. But are blinded by love and their…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ash-sweeney/the-blind-leading-the-blind-are-those-which-think-they-can-see-into/)

[Ash Sweeney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ash-sweeney/)

> [When you feel like quitting, think about why you started](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ash-sweeney/when-you-feel-like-quitting-think-about-why-you-started/)

[Ash Sweeney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ash-sweeney/)

> [Some people come into our lives and quickly go. Some people move our souls to dance. They awaken us to a new understanding with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ash-sweeney/some-people-come-into-our-lives-and-quickly-go-some-people-move-our/)

[Ash Sweeney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ash-sweeney/)

> [If we spend a lifetime searching for the meaning of life, we will truly miss out on everything meaningful and beautiful around us. Live…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ash-sweeney/if-we-spend-a-lifetime-searching-for-the-meaning-of-life-we-will/)

[Ash Sweeney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ash-sweeney/)

> [Even though we are separated by distance at this time, I am content knowing we are both looking at the same beautiful moon tonight.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ash-sweeney/even-though-we-are-separated-by-distance-at-this-time-i-am-content/)

[Ash Sweeney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ash-sweeney/)

> [Sometimes people only give you one chance. You mess up once , and you're done. Please treat the person you admire the best way…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ash-sweeney/sometimes-people-only-give-you-one-chance-you-mess-up-once-and-you-re/)

[Ash Sweeney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ash-sweeney/)

[Explore all 389 Ash Sweeney quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ash-sweeney/)

## More Actions quotes

> [“I take my actions because of my passion not because of compulsion.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amit-kalantri/i-take-my-actions-because-of-my-passion-not-because-of-compulsion/)

[Amit Kalantri](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amit-kalantri/)

> [Self-discipline is an act of cultivation. It require you to connect today's actions to tomorrow's results. There's a season for sowing a season for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gary-ryan-blair/self-discipline-is-an-act-of-cultivation-it-require-you-to-connect/)

[Gary Ryan Blair](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gary-ryan-blair/)

> [A lot of my work involves instilling objects with the power of touch - a transference of soul, spirit, energy through actions.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-colen/a-lot-of-my-work-involves-instilling-objects-with-the-power-of-touch/)

[Dan Colen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dan-colen/)

> [“Stop Blaming Others For Your Own Actions”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexis-g-roldan/stop-blaming-others-for-your-own-actions/)

[Alexis G. Roldan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexis-g-roldan/)

> [True love is proven through the actions of your true love!! Not through the act of saying it!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/true-love-is-proven-through-the-actions-of-your-true-love-not-through/)

[Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/)

> [The actions of the University in my case make it abundantly clear that the Administration's rhetoric about Harvard's desire to attract and retain the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/margaret-geller/the-actions-of-the-university-in-my-case-make-it-abundantly-clear/)

[Margaret Geller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/margaret-geller/)

> [As we get more transparent with data sets about infrastructure and systems management, I have a feeling we'll see big changes in how we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aaron-koblin/as-we-get-more-transparent-with-data-sets-about-infrastructure-and/)

[Aaron Koblin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aaron-koblin/)

> [“When you are pushed to the wall, you will act and do things you have never done before.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sunday-adelaja/when-you-are-pushed-to-the-wall-you-will-act-and-do-things-you-have/)

[Sunday Adelaja](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sunday-adelaja/)

> [“The definition of a professional is one who does a job well even when they don't like it.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-sheinwald/the-definition-of-a-professional-is-one-who-does-a-job-well-even-when/)

[Alan Sheinwald](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-sheinwald/)

> [“FLIES IN DISGUISE Tell me, Have you Really seen Flies in a child's eyes Or heard their hungry cries In the middle Of the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/suzy-kassem/flies-in-disguise-tell-me-have-you-really-seen-flies-in-a-child-s/)

[Suzy Kassem](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/suzy-kassem/)

> [“We are the result of our mere actions. What we do, we become.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/santosh-kalwar/we-are-the-result-of-our-mere-actions-what-we-do-we-become/)

[Santosh Kalwar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/santosh-kalwar/)

> [I would rather have my actions speak for me on the pitch.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lorenzo-insigne/i-would-rather-have-my-actions-speak-for-me-on-the-pitch/)

[Lorenzo Insigne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lorenzo-insigne/)

> [If you want to know someone's mind, listen to their words. If you want to know their heart, watch their actions.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/if-you-want-to-know-someone-s-mind-listen-to-their-words-if-you-want/)

[Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/)

> [Twitter didn't make up the hashtag. Twitter didn't make up the retweet. It's our users. And people started using them so much that we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/katie-jacobs-stanton/twitter-didn-t-make-up-the-hashtag-twitter-didn-t-make-up-the-retweet/)

[Katie Jacobs Stanton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/katie-jacobs-stanton/)

> [I personally claim no special insight into Satan's methods, but I have at times been able to identify his influence and his actions in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-e-faust/i-personally-claim-no-special-insight-into-satan-s-methods-but-i-have/)

[James E. Faust](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-e-faust/)

[Browse all 1,287 Actions quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/actions/)

```json
{
    "@context": "https://schema.org",
    "@graph": [
        {
            "@type": "Quotation",
            "text": "It shouldn't be just about 'what you do', but also 'how you do' and maybe more importantly 'why you do'.",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "Ash Sweeney"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ash-sweeney/it-shouldn-t-be-just-about-what-you-do-but-also-how-you-do-and-maybe/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "Actions"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ash-sweeney/it-shouldn-t-be-just-about-what-you-do-but-also-how-you-do-and-maybe/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/694/ash-sweeney-731_actions_it-shouldn-t-be-just-about-what-you-do-b_1487318.jpg",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/694/ash-sweeney-731_actions_it-shouldn-t-be-just-about-what-you-do-b_1487318.jpg",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/694/ash-sweeney-731_actions_it-shouldn-t-be-just-about-what-you-do-b_1487318.jpg",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“It shouldn't be just about 'what you do', but also 'how you do' and maybe more importantly 'why you do'.” — Ash Sweeney",
                "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": "Ash Sweeney",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ash-sweeney/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 4,
                    "name": "It shouldn't be just about 'what...",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ash-sweeney/it-shouldn-t-be-just-about-what-you-do-but-also-how-you-do-and-maybe/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ash-sweeney/it-shouldn-t-be-just-about-what-you-do-but-also-how-you-do-and-maybe/#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
            }
        }
    ]
}
```
