--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Bring your whole self to work because…" description: "\"Bring your whole self to work because, that way, you can bring full ideas and the wholeness of your unique abilities.\" — Bozoma Saint John" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5ef/bozoma-saint-john-5584_ideas_bring-your-whole-self-to-work-because-th_2183602.jpg" --- # Bring your whole self to work because, that way, you can… ![“Bring your whole self to work because, that way, you can bring full ideas and the wholeness of your unique abilities.” quote by Bozoma Saint John](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5ef/bozoma-saint-john-5584_ideas_bring-your-whole-self-to-work-because-th_2183602.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5ef/bozoma-saint-john-5584_ideas_bring-your-whole-self-to-work-because-th_2183602.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5ef/bozoma-saint-john-5584_ideas_bring-your-whole-self-to-work-because-th_2183602.jpg) > “Bring your whole self to work because, that way, you can bring full ideas and the wholeness of your unique abilities.” [Bozoma Saint John](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bozoma-saint-john/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Bringing your full identity to work unlocks creativity and leverages unique strengths **In simple terms:** Be whole at work for better ideas Key Takeaway Show authentic self at work Themes authenticity creativity inclusion leadership Mood motivational professional Type speech advice When to use this quote - team meetings - innovation sessions - performance reviews Key Concepts psychology of self‑actualization organizational behavior Questions to Reflect On - How can you safely share more of yourself at work? - What barriers exist to authenticity? A Different Perspective Corporate cultures may resist full self‑expression ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Bring Ideas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/bring-ideas-674072/) [Bring Self](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/bring-self-2640677/) [Ideas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ideas/) [Ideas Wholeness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ideas-wholeness-4727048/) [Self](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/self/) [Self Work](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/self-work-1531514/) [Unique](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/unique/) [Way](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/way/) [Wholeness Unique](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wholeness-unique-4388912/) [Work](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/work/) ## Related quotes > [Bringing your whole self to work is the mantra for me as I sit in my office and do the work, and it's also…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bozoma-saint-john/bringing-your-whole-self-to-work-is-the-mantra-for-me-as-i-sit-in-my/) [Bozoma Saint John](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bozoma-saint-john/) > [I detach myself from preconceived outcomes and trust that all is well. Being myself allows the wholeness of my unique magnificience to draw me…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anita-moorjani/i-detach-myself-from-preconceived-outcomes-and-trust-that-all-is-well/) [Anita Moorjani](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anita-moorjani/) > [You can never separate yourself from who you are. You bring your whole self to everything that you do.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maya-harris/you-can-never-separate-yourself-from-who-you-are-you-bring-your-whole/) [Maya Harris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maya-harris/) > [“When we bring self-compassion into everyday life, we learn to be kind to ourselves.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carmel-sheridan/when-we-bring-self-compassion-into-everyday-life-we-learn-to-be-kind/) [Carmel Sheridan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carmel-sheridan/) > [When you fit meditation into your day, you bring much more of yourself to all the other hours of your day - you bring…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeff-kober/when-you-fit-meditation-into-your-day-you-bring-much-more-of-yourself/) [Jeff Kober](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeff-kober/) > [“...it shames me to admit that I can bring all of my self-reflective idols with me into Mass, line them up like trophies before…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-scalia/it-shames-me-to-admit-that-i-can-bring-all-of-my-self-reflective/) [Elizabeth Scalia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-scalia/) > [Bring your whole self to work. I don't believe we have a professional self Monday through Friday and a real self the rest of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sheryl-sandberg/bring-your-whole-self-to-work-i-don-t-believe-we-have-a-professional/) [Sheryl Sandberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sheryl-sandberg/) > [I had to do so much self-searching and self-work and learning how to navigate in a world that seemed very mean.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/natalie-prass/i-had-to-do-so-much-self-searching-and-self-work-and-learning-how-to/) [Natalie Prass](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/natalie-prass/) > [The only competition I actually want is with my own self, and for me, work comes above all.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vikrant-massey/the-only-competition-i-actually-want-is-with-my-own-self-and-for-me/) [Vikrant Massey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vikrant-massey/) > [Through my handicaps, I have found my self, my work, my God.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/helen-keller/through-my-handicaps-i-have-found-my-self-my-work-my-god/) [Helen Keller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/helen-keller/) > [We don't ever write stuff individually and say, 'OK, this is gonna be the song.' We bring in ideas in their rawest form and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/justin-chancellor/we-don-t-ever-write-stuff-individually-and-say-ok-this-is-gonna-be/) [Justin Chancellor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/justin-chancellor/) > [“The creative act is a letting down of the net of human imagination into the ocean of chaos on which we are suspended, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terence-mckenna/the-creative-act-is-a-letting-down-of-the-net-of-human-imagination/) [Terence McKenna](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terence-mckenna/) > [I want to continually find ways to bring my ideas off the stage and into the real world, into the streets. I think I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kurt-braunohler/i-want-to-continually-find-ways-to-bring-my-ideas-off-the-stage-and/) [Kurt Braunohler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kurt-braunohler/) > [Bring ideas in and entertain them royally, for one of them may be the king.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-van-doren/bring-ideas-in-and-entertain-them-royally-for-one-of-them-may-be-the/) [Mark Van Doren](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-van-doren/) > [Initially, I didn't start out to be a member of a band. I wanted to make films, write plays, books. When I found myself…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-morrison/initially-i-didn-t-start-out-to-be-a-member-of-a-band-i-wanted-to/) [Jim Morrison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-morrison/) ## More by Bozoma Saint John > [Even though society has come a long way in correcting the inequalities between men and women in the workplace, it still has to be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bozoma-saint-john/even-though-society-has-come-a-long-way-in-correcting-the/) [Bozoma Saint John](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bozoma-saint-john/) > [Obviously, as a marketer, I love to work with brands that aren't static, that have life and personality.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bozoma-saint-john/obviously-as-a-marketer-i-love-to-work-with-brands-that-aren-t-static/) [Bozoma Saint John](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bozoma-saint-john/) > [I don't see a utopia anywhere for me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bozoma-saint-john/i-don-t-see-a-utopia-anywhere-for-me/) [Bozoma Saint John](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bozoma-saint-john/) > [I think it's interesting how you can associate a creative brand with a human being and use some of the good qualities of the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bozoma-saint-john/i-think-it-s-interesting-how-you-can-associate-a-creative-brand-with/) [Bozoma Saint John](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bozoma-saint-john/) > [I think women have a unique talent for being able to see the forest and the trees at the same time.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bozoma-saint-john/i-think-women-have-a-unique-talent-for-being-able-to-see-the-forest/) [Bozoma Saint John](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bozoma-saint-john/) > [I love sleep so much. That's the one thing I won't sacrifice. I really cannot.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bozoma-saint-john/i-love-sleep-so-much-that-s-the-one-thing-i-won-t-sacrifice-i-really/) [Bozoma Saint John](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bozoma-saint-john/) > [I want to be something that is worthy to be bragged about.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bozoma-saint-john/i-want-to-be-something-that-is-worthy-to-be-bragged-about/) [Bozoma Saint John](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bozoma-saint-john/) > [Bringing your whole self to work is the mantra for me as I sit in my office and do the work, and it's also…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bozoma-saint-john/bringing-your-whole-self-to-work-is-the-mantra-for-me-as-i-sit-in-my/) [Bozoma Saint John](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bozoma-saint-john/) > [I don't know if I'm ever considered a part of the community I'm in.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bozoma-saint-john/i-don-t-know-if-i-m-ever-considered-a-part-of-the-community-i-m-in/) [Bozoma Saint John](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bozoma-saint-john/) > [I always do what I'm most interested in first.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bozoma-saint-john/i-always-do-what-i-m-most-interested-in-first/) [Bozoma Saint John](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bozoma-saint-john/) > [Risk is the essence of any reward - to try the thing that no one else is willing to try.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bozoma-saint-john/risk-is-the-essence-of-any-reward-to-try-the-thing-that-no-one-else/) [Bozoma Saint John](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bozoma-saint-john/) > [Part of our human nature is finding new ways of being.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bozoma-saint-john/part-of-our-human-nature-is-finding-new-ways-of-being/) [Bozoma Saint John](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bozoma-saint-john/) > [We all know this: Music is such a fundamental part of life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bozoma-saint-john/we-all-know-this-music-is-such-a-fundamental-part-of-life/) [Bozoma Saint John](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bozoma-saint-john/) > [I'm bold in personality, I'm hella tall, and I'm hella black.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bozoma-saint-john/i-m-bold-in-personality-i-m-hella-tall-and-i-m-hella-black/) [Bozoma Saint John](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bozoma-saint-john/) > [If you are in a hiring position, hire someone that is nothing like you. We keep looking for the commonalities, but find someone with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bozoma-saint-john/if-you-are-in-a-hiring-position-hire-someone-that-is-nothing-like-you/) [Bozoma Saint John](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bozoma-saint-john/) [Explore all 100 Bozoma Saint John quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bozoma-saint-john/) ## More Ideas quotes > [I think a new world will arise out of the religious mists when we approach our Bible with the idea that it is not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aiden-wilson-tozer/i-think-a-new-world-will-arise-out-of-the-religious-mists-when-we/) [Aiden Wilson Tozer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aiden-wilson-tozer/) > [Companies with cultures that celebrate diverse opinions and encourage the exchange of ideas have an advantage when solving difficult problems. A company that doesn't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/doug-mcmillon/companies-with-cultures-that-celebrate-diverse-opinions-and-encourage/) [Doug McMillon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/doug-mcmillon/) > [You'd be surprised how hard it can often be to translate an action into an idea.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karl-kraus/you-d-be-surprised-how-hard-it-can-often-be-to-translate-an-action/) [Karl Kraus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karl-kraus/) > [I know for my wife and I, we always loved the idea of being young parents. It is an incredibly inspiring and challenging job…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/taylor-hanson/i-know-for-my-wife-and-i-we-always-loved-the-idea-of-being-young/) [Taylor Hanson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/taylor-hanson/) > [That's the great secret of creativity. You treat ideas like cats: you make them follow you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ray-bradbury/that-s-the-great-secret-of-creativity-you-treat-ideas-like-cats-you/) [Ray Bradbury](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ray-bradbury/) > [I've always been fascinated by the idea that there's no such thing as evil; it's all in your point of view. To one group…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eli-roth/i-ve-always-been-fascinated-by-the-idea-that-there-s-no-such-thing-as/) [Eli Roth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eli-roth/) > [The image of blacks usually is one of people who are suffering from hunger, unemployment, and poverty. The idea of them as agents and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/grace-lee-boggs/the-image-of-blacks-usually-is-one-of-people-who-are-suffering-from/) [Grace Lee Boggs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/grace-lee-boggs/) > [It revealed a cruelty that really made one wonder if the universe was such a good idea after all.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeff-lindsay/it-revealed-a-cruelty-that-really-made-one-wonder-if-the-universe-was/) [Jeff Lindsay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeff-lindsay/) > [Sometimes it's just enough for me to have the idea. I don't need to see it through to the end. When it actually happens,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amy-sedaris/sometimes-it-s-just-enough-for-me-to-have-the-idea-i-don-t-need-to/) [Amy Sedaris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amy-sedaris/) > [Love is like that, fragile and light. No wonder it rests upon our hearts in intangible moments, bids us follow fleeting thoughts and ideas…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/love-is-like-that-fragile-and-light-no-wonder-it-rests-upon-our/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [But I already saw no great difference between the psyche and spirituality. To amass knowledge without becoming wise is not my idea of progress…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/m-scott-peck/but-i-already-saw-no-great-difference-between-the-psyche-and/) [M. Scott Peck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/m-scott-peck/) > [Making movies seemed so impossible as far as getting my ideas funded.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/boots-riley/making-movies-seemed-so-impossible-as-far-as-getting-my-ideas-funded/) [Boots Riley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/boots-riley/) > [I am not the avant-garde. I am the artist who comes after the advancing guard. I am more concerned with continuity of ideas and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nathan-oliveira/i-am-not-the-avant-garde-i-am-the-artist-who-comes-after-the/) [Nathan Oliveira](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nathan-oliveira/) > [What is music? Music is language. A human being wants to express ideas in this language, but not ideas that can be translated into…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anton-webern/what-is-music-music-is-language-a-human-being-wants-to-express-ideas/) [Anton Webern](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anton-webern/) > [“What does it mean to be a self-conscious animal? The idea is ludicrous, if it is not monstrous. It means to know that one…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ernest-becker/what-does-it-mean-to-be-a-self-conscious-animal-the-idea-is-ludicrous/) [Ernest Becker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ernest-becker/) [Browse all 24,908 Ideas quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ideas/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Bring your whole self to work because, that way, you can bring full ideas and the wholeness of your unique abilities.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Bozoma Saint John" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bozoma-saint-john/bring-your-whole-self-to-work-because-that-way-you-can-bring-full/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Ideas" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bozoma-saint-john/bring-your-whole-self-to-work-because-that-way-you-can-bring-full/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5ef/bozoma-saint-john-5584_ideas_bring-your-whole-self-to-work-because-th_2183602.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5ef/bozoma-saint-john-5584_ideas_bring-your-whole-self-to-work-because-th_2183602.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5ef/bozoma-saint-john-5584_ideas_bring-your-whole-self-to-work-because-th_2183602.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Bring your whole self to work because, that way, you can bring full ideas and the wholeness of your unique…” — Bozoma Saint John", "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": "Bozoma Saint John", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bozoma-saint-john/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "Bring your whole self to work...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bozoma-saint-john/bring-your-whole-self-to-work-because-that-way-you-can-bring-full/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bozoma-saint-john/bring-your-whole-self-to-work-because-that-way-you-can-bring-full/#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 } } ] } ```