--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: A person with average talent, ambition…" description: "\"A person with average talent, ambition and education, can outstrip a genius in society, if that person has focused goals.\" — Brian Tracy" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/77a/brian-tracy-216_ambition_a-person-with-average-talent-ambition-an_1682044.jpg" --- # A person with average talent, ambition and education, can… ![“A person with average talent, ambition and education, can outstrip a genius in society, if that person has focused goals.” quote by Brian Tracy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/77a/brian-tracy-216_ambition_a-person-with-average-talent-ambition-an_1682044.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/77a/brian-tracy-216_ambition_a-person-with-average-talent-ambition-an_1682044.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/77a/brian-tracy-216_ambition_a-person-with-average-talent-ambition-an_1682044.jpg) > “A person with average talent, ambition and education, can outstrip a genius in society, if that person has focused goals.” [Brian Tracy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-tracy/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Focused goals enable disciplined effort that can surpass raw talent, allowing ordinary individuals to achieve extraordinary results. **In simple terms:** Clear goals let ordinary people beat talent. Key Takeaway Set specific, measurable goals. Themes goal setting achievement discipline motivation Mood determined optimistic Type motivational practical When to use this quote - career advancement - academic study - personal projects - entrepreneurship Key Concepts self‑efficacy growth mindset Questions to Reflect On - What goals could you clarify to maximize impact? - How does focus change your daily habits? A Different Perspective Talent alone is insufficient without sustained focus and effort. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Ambition](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ambition/) [Ambition Education](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ambition-education-967368/) [Average](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/average/) [Education](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/education/) [Focused](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/focused/) [Genius](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/genius/) [Genius Society](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/genius-society-967367/) [Goal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/goal/) [Goals](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/goals/) [Ifs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ifs/) [Intelligence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/intelligence/) [Persons](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/persons/) [Talent](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/talent/) [Talent Ambition](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/talent-ambition-723528/) ## Related quotes > [“An average person with average talent, ambition and education can outstrip the most brilliant genius in our society, if that person has clear, focused…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-tracy/an-average-person-with-average-talent-ambition-and-education-can/) [Brian Tracy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-tracy/) > [“The moment men begin to care more for education than for religion, they begin to care more for ambition than for education. It is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/g-k-chesterton/the-moment-men-begin-to-care-more-for-education-than-for-religion-2/) [G.K. Chesterton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/g-k-chesterton/) > [Helen: You've got talent and ambition. Don: Talent? Ambition? That's dead long ago. That's drowned. That's drifting around with a bloated belly on a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/billy-wilder/helen-you-ve-got-talent-and-ambition-don-talent-ambition-that-s-dead/) [Billy Wilder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/billy-wilder/) > [An average person with average talents and ambition and average education, can outstrip the most brilliant genius in our society, if that person has…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-kay-ash/an-average-person-with-average-talents-and-ambition-and-average/) [Mary Kay Ash](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-kay-ash/) > [“What elevates one and not another to the level of genius is not only talent and ambition and luck, but a gift for turning…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jan-swafford/what-elevates-one-and-not-another-to-the-level-of-genius-is-not-only/) [Jan Swafford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jan-swafford/) > [I like to teach. And when I spot talent without ambition, it makes me angry. I give students short shrift if they're not willing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/f-murray-abraham/i-like-to-teach-and-when-i-spot-talent-without-ambition-it-makes-me/) [F. Murray Abraham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/f-murray-abraham/) > [The nature of a society is largely determined by the direction in which talent and ambition flowby the tilt of the social landscape.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-hoffer/the-nature-of-a-society-is-largely-determined-by-the-direction-in/) [Eric Hoffer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-hoffer/) > [We remain a country where a young person's chance of fulfilling their potential rests on the vagaries of where they were born and what…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/luciana-berger/we-remain-a-country-where-a-young-person-s-chance-of-fulfilling-their/) [Luciana Berger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/luciana-berger/) > [It's not human nature to be great. It's human nature to survive, to be average and do what you have to do to get…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nick-saban/it-s-not-human-nature-to-be-great-it-s-human-nature-to-survive-to-be/) [Nick Saban](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nick-saban/) > [Life is good. I've got a apartment that is paid for with rap money. It's good. It's amazing. It's a blessing. I wake up…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/g-eazy/life-is-good-i-ve-got-a-apartment-that-is-paid-for-with-rap-money-it/) [G-Eazy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/g-eazy/) > [I see that women still have self-doubt, and at the same time I feel like I see all these fantastic young women, and they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-harron/i-see-that-women-still-have-self-doubt-and-at-the-same-time-i-feel/) [Mary Harron](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-harron/) > [When you've accomplished a certain amount in your career, you're not so focused on your ambitions.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-douglas/when-you-ve-accomplished-a-certain-amount-in-your-career-you-re-not/) [Michael Douglas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-douglas/) > [The average condition of the people improving or deteriorating, depends upon whether population is advancing faster than improvement, or improvement than population.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-stuart-mill/the-average-condition-of-the-people-improving-or-deteriorating/) [John Stuart Mill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-stuart-mill/) > [There were times last year when people looked at the scoreboard and thought my batting average was the temperature.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/buck-martinez/there-were-times-last-year-when-people-looked-at-the-scoreboard-and/) [Buck Martinez](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/buck-martinez/) > [I genuinely did not expect more than half our nation to choose to walk away from our long-term allies into the arms of our…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-reade/i-genuinely-did-not-expect-more-than-half-our-nation-to-choose-to/) [Brian Reade](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-reade/) ## More by Brian Tracy > [I always say there are two things to be successful. The first is decide exactly what you want - set your goals - and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-tracy/i-always-say-there-are-two-things-to-be-successful-the-first-is/) [Brian Tracy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-tracy/) > [According to the best research, less than 3% of Americans have written goals, and less than 1% review and rewrite their goals on a daily basis.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-tracy/according-to-the-best-research-less-than-3-of-americans-have-written/) [Brian Tracy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-tracy/) > [“Rumi says: ‘die before you die’. It means live each moment fully. Then, when the moment dies, there is no pain or regret because…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-tracy/rumi-says-die-before-you-die-it-means-live-each-moment-fully-then/) [Brian Tracy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-tracy/) > [One of the most important rules for success is this: Every great success is the result of hundreds and thousands of small efforts and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-tracy/one-of-the-most-important-rules-for-success-is-this-every-great/) [Brian Tracy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-tracy/) > [Almost any decision is better than no decision at all.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-tracy/almost-any-decision-is-better-than-no-decision-at-all/) [Brian Tracy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-tracy/) > [Spend unbroken chunks of time with the most important people in your life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-tracy/spend-unbroken-chunks-of-time-with-the-most-important-people-in-your/) [Brian Tracy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-tracy/) > [The effective leader recognizes that she is more dependent on her people than they are on her. Walk softly.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-tracy/the-effective-leader-recognizes-that-she-is-more-dependent-on-her/) [Brian Tracy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-tracy/) > [Develop a mentor at each stage of your career - someone who will give you guidance and advice.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-tracy/develop-a-mentor-at-each-stage-of-your-career-someone-who-will-give/) [Brian Tracy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-tracy/) > [I believe each person has far more intelligence than they have ever used.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-tracy/i-believe-each-person-has-far-more-intelligence-than-they-have-ever/) [Brian Tracy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-tracy/) > [Our mind is the most valuable possession that we have. The quality of our lives is, and will be, a reflection of how well…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-tracy/our-mind-is-the-most-valuable-possession-that-we-have-the-quality-of/) [Brian Tracy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-tracy/) > [Intense, burning desire is the motivational force that enables you to overcome any obstacle and achieve almost any goal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-tracy/intense-burning-desire-is-the-motivational-force-that-enables-you-to/) [Brian Tracy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-tracy/) > [Any system or blueprint for success is better than none at all. Think on paper.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-tracy/any-system-or-blueprint-for-success-is-better-than-none-at-all-think/) [Brian Tracy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-tracy/) > [Being true to yourself means living in truth with each person in your life. It means refusing to say or do something that you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-tracy/being-true-to-yourself-means-living-in-truth-with-each-person-in-your/) [Brian Tracy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-tracy/) > [The happiest people in the world are those who feel absolutely terrific about themselves, and this is the natural outgrowth of accepting total responsibility…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-tracy/the-happiest-people-in-the-world-are-those-who-feel-absolutely/) [Brian Tracy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-tracy/) > [The value of a promise is the cost to you of keeping your word.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-tracy/the-value-of-a-promise-is-the-cost-to-you-of-keeping-your-word/) [Brian Tracy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-tracy/) [Explore all 882 Brian Tracy quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-tracy/) ## More Ambition quotes > [Ambition drives you on, ability certainly helps, but the fickle finger of fate and luck are great things.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fergus-henderson/ambition-drives-you-on-ability-certainly-helps-but-the-fickle-finger/) [Fergus Henderson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fergus-henderson/) > [One needs more than ambition and talent to make a success of anything, really. There must be love and a vocation.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jessye-norman/one-needs-more-than-ambition-and-talent-to-make-a-success-of-anything/) [Jessye Norman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jessye-norman/) > [I just think my own ambition would not allow me to sit on the gifts that my creator had given me. And so that's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/janelle-monae/i-just-think-my-own-ambition-would-not-allow-me-to-sit-on-the-gifts/) [Janelle Monae](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/janelle-monae/) > [A man's worth is no greater than the worth of his ambitions](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/a-man-s-worth-is-no-greater-than-the-worth-of-his-ambitions/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I'm hungry and ambitious.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julen-lopetegui/i-m-hungry-and-ambitious/) [Julen Lopetegui](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julen-lopetegui/) > [“I was ambitious and desperate to direct my first film, so I capitulated and blew it. Never again. Never fucking again.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/craig-ferguson/i-was-ambitious-and-desperate-to-direct-my-first-film-so-i/) [Craig Ferguson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/craig-ferguson/) > [I was always attracted most to joining City, and I am pleased to be at such a good club with such a big ambition…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edin-dzeko/i-was-always-attracted-most-to-joining-city-and-i-am-pleased-to-be-at/) [Edin Dzeko](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edin-dzeko/) > [Work towards your goal and dont watch the post size,its either they hate,or like you.there is no room for both sides.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/isaac-buabeng/work-towards-your-goal-and-dont-watch-the-post-size-its-either-they/) [Isaac Buabeng](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/isaac-buabeng/) > [“But young men have not only this frivolous ambition of being thought masters of execution, inciting them on the one hand, but also their…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/but-young-men-have-not-only-this-frivolous-ambition-of-being-thought/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I almost never have a plan for myself... I'm not ambitious in that way.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martha-plimpton/i-almost-never-have-a-plan-for-myself-i-m-not-ambitious-in-that-way/) [Martha Plimpton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martha-plimpton/) > [I play for high stakes and given an audience - there is no act too daring or too noble.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/winston-churchill/i-play-for-high-stakes-and-given-an-audience-there-is-no-act-too/) [Winston Churchill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/winston-churchill/) > [There's nothing worse than a leader who lacks ambition.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/there-s-nothing-worse-than-a-leader-who-lacks-ambition/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [If i can't even protect my captain's dream, then whatever ambition i have is nothing but talk..](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zoro/if-i-can-t-even-protect-my-captain-s-dream-then-whatever-ambition-i/) [Zoro](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zoro/) > [It may seem unattainable but if you put actions, your heart and your mind into it, you will prevail.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/london-mond/it-may-seem-unattainable-but-if-you-put-actions-your-heart-and-your/) [London Mond](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/london-mond/) > [Obligation is what's leading us to toward successful, and what keeps us moving towards the future.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wazim-shaw/obligation-is-what-s-leading-us-to-toward-successful-and-what-keeps/) [Wazim Shaw](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wazim-shaw/) [Browse all 4,601 Ambition quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ambition/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "A person with average talent, ambition and education, can outstrip a genius in society, if that person has focused goals.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Brian Tracy" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-tracy/a-person-with-average-talent-ambition-and-education-can-outstrip-a/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Ambition" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-tracy/a-person-with-average-talent-ambition-and-education-can-outstrip-a/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/77a/brian-tracy-216_ambition_a-person-with-average-talent-ambition-an_1682044.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/77a/brian-tracy-216_ambition_a-person-with-average-talent-ambition-an_1682044.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/77a/brian-tracy-216_ambition_a-person-with-average-talent-ambition-an_1682044.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“A person with average talent, ambition and education, can outstrip a genius in society, if that person has…” — Brian Tracy", "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": "Brian Tracy", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-tracy/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "A person with average talent, ambition...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-tracy/a-person-with-average-talent-ambition-and-education-can-outstrip-a/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-tracy/a-person-with-average-talent-ambition-and-education-can-outstrip-a/#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 } } ] } ```