--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Faced with a choice of stepping up or…" description: "\"Faced with a choice of stepping up or stepping it down, we are going to step it down.\" — Bill McDermott" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b0c/bill-mcdermott-63081_choice_faced-with-a-choice-of-stepping-up-or-st_2736768.jpg" --- # Faced with a choice of stepping up or stepping it down, we… ![“Faced with a choice of stepping up or stepping it down, we are going to step it down.” quote by Bill McDermott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b0c/bill-mcdermott-63081_choice_faced-with-a-choice-of-stepping-up-or-st_2736768.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b0c/bill-mcdermott-63081_choice_faced-with-a-choice-of-stepping-up-or-st_2736768.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b0c/bill-mcdermott-63081_choice_faced-with-a-choice-of-stepping-up-or-st_2736768.jpg) > “Faced with a choice of stepping up or stepping it down, we are going to step it down.” [Bill McDermott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-mcdermott/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Faced with a decision, the speaker chooses to retreat rather than advance, highlighting a tendency to avoid challenge. **In simple terms:** Choosing to step back instead of up. Key Takeaway Recognize when fear drives avoidance. Themes decision avoidance confidence Mood cautious thoughtful Type motivational philosophical When to use this quote - career choices - personal growth - conflict resolution Key Concepts risk self‑efficacy Questions to Reflect On - Why do you choose the easier path? - What would happen if you stepped up? A Different Perspective May limit potential for progress. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Choice](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/choice/) [Choice Stepping](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/choice-stepping-2996450/) [Choices](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/choices/) [Faced Choice](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/faced-choice-2996452/) [Going Step](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/going-step-602808/) [Stepping Going](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/stepping-going-2996451/) [Steps](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/steps/) ## Related quotes > [Always watch where you are going. Otherwise, you may step on a piece of the Forest that was left out by mistake.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/always-watch-where-you-are-going-otherwise-you-may-step-on-a-piece-of/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“I tumbled into the taxi alone, closing the door closed with a dull thud before I could possibly change my mind. Not like this,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/catherine-sanderson/i-tumbled-into-the-taxi-alone-closing-the-door-closed-with-a-dull/) [Catherine Sanderson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/catherine-sanderson/) > [When faced with the choice, choose happy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/valerie-bertinelli/when-faced-with-the-choice-choose-happy/) [Valerie Bertinelli](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/valerie-bertinelli/) > [Explaining that I'm faced with a choice between being with the love of my life, or saving four lives that were never meant to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alyson-noel/explaining-that-i-m-faced-with-a-choice-between-being-with-the-love/) [Alyson Noel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alyson-noel/) > [Faced with a choice, do both.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dieter-roth/faced-with-a-choice-do-both/) [Dieter Roth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dieter-roth/) > [...Next time you're faced with a choice, do the right thing. It hurts everyone less in the long run.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wendelin-van-draanen/next-time-you-re-faced-with-a-choice-do-the-right-thing-it-hurts/) [Wendelin Van Draanen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wendelin-van-draanen/) > [Bottom line is that there's bad people everywhere. And every now and again, we are going to have to step to them to make…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcus-luttrell/bottom-line-is-that-there-s-bad-people-everywhere-and-every-now-and/) [Marcus Luttrell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcus-luttrell/) > [There are always those times when you're going to be down. It's how you step through it that makes you the person you are.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-krzyzewski/there-are-always-those-times-when-you-re-going-to-be-down-it-s-how/) [Mike Krzyzewski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-krzyzewski/) > [Any race, I'm always going for the top step on the podium.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/caroline-buchanan/any-race-i-m-always-going-for-the-top-step-on-the-podium/) [Caroline Buchanan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/caroline-buchanan/) > [Keep going each step may get harder but don't stop. The view is beautiful at the top.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anurag-prakash-ray/keep-going-each-step-may-get-harder-but-don-t-stop-the-view-is/) [Anurag Prakash Ray](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anurag-prakash-ray/) > [“Knowing where you're going is the first step to get there.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ken-blanchard/knowing-where-you-re-going-is-the-first-step-to-get-there/) [Ken Blanchard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ken-blanchard/) > [Of course there's going to be times when I'm going to have to step up and knock down corner 3s, but I don't want…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/iman-shumpert/of-course-there-s-going-to-be-times-when-i-m-going-to-have-to-step-up/) [Iman Shumpert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/iman-shumpert/) > [Everyone is going to have to step up to the plate.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/warren-rudman/everyone-is-going-to-have-to-step-up-to-the-plate/) [Warren Rudman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/warren-rudman/) > [One step back doesn't mean you're defeated, it only means you're going to take the same step forward again, but this time, WISER...](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nishan-panwar/one-step-back-doesn-t-mean-you-re-defeated-it-only-means-you-re-going/) [Nishan Panwar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nishan-panwar/) > [I'm going to take it step by step to get my belt.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-oliveira/i-m-going-to-take-it-step-by-step-to-get-my-belt/) [Charles Oliveira](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-oliveira/) ## More by Bill McDermott > [What you focus on expands. Focus on what you are best at and you will be unstoppable.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-mcdermott/what-you-focus-on-expands-focus-on-what-you-are-best-at-and-you-will/) [Bill McDermott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-mcdermott/) > [You treat people with dignity and respect and they give it right back to you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-mcdermott/you-treat-people-with-dignity-and-respect-and-they-give-it-right-back/) [Bill McDermott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-mcdermott/) > [At SAP, we see a dream for a simpler world, for a simpler SAP, and for a simpler customer experience.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-mcdermott/at-sap-we-see-a-dream-for-a-simpler-world-for-a-simpler-sap-and-for-a/) [Bill McDermott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-mcdermott/) > [Trust is the ultimate human currency.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-mcdermott/trust-is-the-ultimate-human-currency/) [Bill McDermott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-mcdermott/) [Explore all 5 Bill McDermott quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-mcdermott/) ## More Choice quotes > [Making the right decision is hard,telling someone your decision is even harder.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abhishek-tiwari/making-the-right-decision-is-hard-telling-someone-your-decision-is/) [Abhishek Tiwari](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abhishek-tiwari/) > [“That’s all! Now either leave us alone or join us as a father rather than a receiver of sacrifices. You have the choice of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-simmons/that-s-all-now-either-leave-us-alone-or-join-us-as-a-father-rather/) [Dan Simmons](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dan-simmons/) > [“In a world of fixed future, there can be no right or wrong. Right and wrong demand freedom of choice, but if each action…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-lightman/in-a-world-of-fixed-future-there-can-be-no-right-or-wrong-right-and/) [Alan Lightman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-lightman/) > [“Exactly. So, what can't you take? Decide which of the two options is harder, and do the other. That way, no matter how hard…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/josephine-angelini/exactly-so-what-can-t-you-take-decide-which-of-the-two-options-is/) [Josephine Angelini](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/josephine-angelini/) > [“too—I realized that my only hope was to give up the life that had been, in order to make room for the life that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-lesser/too-i-realized-that-my-only-hope-was-to-give-up-the-life-that-had/) [Elizabeth Lesser](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-lesser/) > [When you have a choice, choose happy!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pancho-barnes/when-you-have-a-choice-choose-happy/) [Pancho Barnes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pancho-barnes/) > [You dont choose your life; it chooses you. Theres no point asking why life has reserved certain joys or griefs, you just accept them…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paulo-coelho/you-dont-choose-your-life-it-chooses-you-theres-no-point-asking-why/) [Paulo Coelho](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paulo-coelho/) > [There has always been a feeling with people that they love my singing but not always the choice of material.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alison-moyet/there-has-always-been-a-feeling-with-people-that-they-love-my-singing/) [Alison Moyet](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alison-moyet/) > [I have too many options when it comes to guitars.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rick-nielsen/i-have-too-many-options-when-it-comes-to-guitars/) [Rick Nielsen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rick-nielsen/) > [“Amazing how a small choice can change your life forever.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/randy-c-dockens/amazing-how-a-small-choice-can-change-your-life-forever/) [Randy C. Dockens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/randy-c-dockens/) > [Change is inevitable but personal growth is a choice.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bob-proctor/change-is-inevitable-but-personal-growth-is-a-choice/) [Bob Proctor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bob-proctor/) > [If you choose to draw from the inner well of free will, then you can make choices that are outside your current karmic patterns.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-lenz/if-you-choose-to-draw-from-the-inner-well-of-free-will-then-you-can/) [Frederick Lenz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-lenz/) > [Since I don't outline my books very much, I feel like sometimes I don't have a choice in what the characters do; they just…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anna-todd/since-i-don-t-outline-my-books-very-much-i-feel-like-sometimes-i-don/) [Anna Todd](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anna-todd/) > [Act always so as to increase the number of choices](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/heinz-von-foerster/act-always-so-as-to-increase-the-number-of-choices/) [Heinz von Foerster](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/heinz-von-foerster/) > [Words can only have an effect on you if you choose to listen to them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bernajoy-vaal/words-can-only-have-an-effect-on-you-if-you-choose-to-listen-to-them/) [Bernajoy Vaal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bernajoy-vaal/) [Browse all 8,092 Choice quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/choice/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Faced with a choice of stepping up or stepping it down, we are going to step it down.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Bill McDermott" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-mcdermott/faced-with-a-choice-of-stepping-up-or-stepping-it-down-we-are-going/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Choice" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-mcdermott/faced-with-a-choice-of-stepping-up-or-stepping-it-down-we-are-going/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b0c/bill-mcdermott-63081_choice_faced-with-a-choice-of-stepping-up-or-st_2736768.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b0c/bill-mcdermott-63081_choice_faced-with-a-choice-of-stepping-up-or-st_2736768.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b0c/bill-mcdermott-63081_choice_faced-with-a-choice-of-stepping-up-or-st_2736768.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Faced with a choice of stepping up or stepping it down, we are going to step it down.” — Bill McDermott", "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": "Bill McDermott", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-mcdermott/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "Faced with a choice of stepping...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-mcdermott/faced-with-a-choice-of-stepping-up-or-stepping-it-down-we-are-going/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-mcdermott/faced-with-a-choice-of-stepping-up-or-stepping-it-down-we-are-going/#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 } } ] } ```