---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: IBM doesn't want its people to get…"
description: "\"IBM doesn't want its people to get frustrated and restless because it has them reaching for carrots they can't quit\" — Buck Rodgers"
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4b0/buck-rodgers-30120_carrots_ibm-doesn-t-want-its-people-to-get-frust_1652171.jpg"
---

#  IBM doesn't want its people to get frustrated and restless…

![“IBM doesn't want its people to get frustrated and restless because it has them reaching for carrots they can't quit” quote by Buck Rodgers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4b0/buck-rodgers-30120_carrots_ibm-doesn-t-want-its-people-to-get-frust_1652171.jpg)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4b0/buck-rodgers-30120_carrots_ibm-doesn-t-want-its-people-to-get-frust_1652171.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4b0/buck-rodgers-30120_carrots_ibm-doesn-t-want-its-people-to-get-frust_1652171.jpg)

> “IBM doesn't want its people to get frustrated and restless because it has them reaching for carrots they can't quit”

[Buck Rodgers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/buck-rodgers/)

## 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 warns that setting unattainable goals can cause employee frustration and disengagement.

**In simple terms:** Unrealistic targets demotivate staff.

Key Takeaway

Set realistic, achievable goals.

Themes

motivation management employee well‑being

Mood

concerned pragmatic

Type

leadership motivational

When to use this quote

- performance reviews
- team meetings
- project planning
- career development
- stress management

Key Concepts

goal setting psychology of incentives

Questions to Reflect On

- How can you balance challenge and attainability?
- What incentives keep staff engaged without causing burnout?

A Different Perspective

If goals are too easy, they may not drive improvement.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Carrots](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/carrots/) [Carrots Quit](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/carrots-quit-665532/) [Frustrated](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/frustrated/) [Frustrated Restless](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/frustrated-restless-665529/) [Ibm](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ibm/) [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) [People Frustrated](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people-frustrated-487574/) [Quitting](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/quitting/) [Reaching](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/reaching/) [Reaching Carrots](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/reaching-carrots-665530/) [Restless](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/restless/) [Restless Reaching](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/restless-reaching-665531/) [Want](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/want/)

## Related quotes

> [At IBM everybody sells! Every employee has been trained to think that the customer comes first - everybody from the CEO, to the people…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/buck-rodgers/at-ibm-everybody-sells-every-employee-has-been-trained-to-think-that/)

[Buck Rodgers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/buck-rodgers/)

> [We depend on you to do the right thing; right for both you and the company. It is no exaggeration to say that IBM's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/buck-rodgers/we-depend-on-you-to-do-the-right-thing-right-for-both-you-and-the/)

[Buck Rodgers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/buck-rodgers/)

> [Normally, people who are frustrated out in the water are frustrated on land. They brought their frustration with them. If you go to a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laird-hamilton/normally-people-who-are-frustrated-out-in-the-water-are-frustrated-on/)

[Laird Hamilton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laird-hamilton/)

> [When people get more frustrated by their indecision than by the situation that prompted it, clarity often follows.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carolyn-hax/when-people-get-more-frustrated-by-their-indecision-than-by-the/)

[Carolyn Hax](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carolyn-hax/)

> [The Tories’ major announcement was to scrap the Human Rights Act, because, and I quote, ‘people get very frustrated with human rights.’](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tim-farron/the-tories-major-announcement-was-to-scrap-the-human-rights-act/)

[Tim Farron](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tim-farron/)

> [People are so frustrated by electing people to represent them in Washington, D.C., and having them immediately forget about the Hoosiers they represent.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/todd-young/people-are-so-frustrated-by-electing-people-to-represent-them-in/)

[Todd Young](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/todd-young/)

> [“Some people are as frustrated as a three-headed woodpecker in a petrified forest.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/t-f-tenney/some-people-are-as-frustrated-as-a-three-headed-woodpecker-in-a/)

[T.F. Tenney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/t-f-tenney/)

> [When people get frustrated, it's when they feel they are living in a context that deprives them of dignity, deprives them of justice and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-friedman/when-people-get-frustrated-it-s-when-they-feel-they-are-living-in-a/)

[Thomas Friedman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-friedman/)

> [It's so critical for people frustrated with the economy, with changing tides in government, who aren't able to hear their voices, questions or their…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-noory/it-s-so-critical-for-people-frustrated-with-the-economy-with-changing/)

[George Noory](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-noory/)

> [The reason why most people are frustrated is because a lie cannot be turned into a truth.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vernon-howard/the-reason-why-most-people-are-frustrated-is-because-a-lie-cannot-be/)

[Vernon Howard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vernon-howard/)

> [I think people are frustrated with dysfunction, not just dysfunction in government, but a lot of dysfunction that surrounds them. I get the frustration…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-kasich/i-think-people-are-frustrated-with-dysfunction-not-just-dysfunction/)

[John Kasich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-kasich/)

> [People are frustrated all over the country, whether they're in Oklahoma or Oregon or San Diego or San Francisco or L.A. or D.C. or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zal-batmanglij/people-are-frustrated-all-over-the-country-whether-they-re-in/)

[Zal Batmanglij](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zal-batmanglij/)

> [People are frustrated. They're fed up. They don't think the government is working for them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-kasich/people-are-frustrated-they-re-fed-up-they-don-t-think-the-government/)

[John Kasich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-kasich/)

> [I sense from people that they get frustrated with me for not being out and about. But I guess I'm a shy boy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-lloyd/i-sense-from-people-that-they-get-frustrated-with-me-for-not-being/)

[Christopher Lloyd](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-lloyd/)

> [“Usually when I meet people who are frustrated and angry, my instinctive response is to talk about how we can fix things. That’s why…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hillary-rodham-clinton/usually-when-i-meet-people-who-are-frustrated-and-angry-my/)

[Hillary Rodham Clinton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hillary-rodham-clinton/)

## More by Buck Rodgers

> [Good people need room to develop. They have to find their own voice . . . each IBMer is a businessperson working within the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/buck-rodgers/good-people-need-room-to-develop-they-have-to-find-their-own-voice/)

[Buck Rodgers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/buck-rodgers/)

> [. . . top management should spend 40 to 50 percent of its time educating and motivating its people . . .](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/buck-rodgers/top-management-should-spend-40-to-50-percent-of-its-time-educating/)

[Buck Rodgers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/buck-rodgers/)

> [While every body wants it, most don't want to give it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/buck-rodgers/while-every-body-wants-it-most-don-t-want-to-give-it/)

[Buck Rodgers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/buck-rodgers/)

> [. . . the world is filled with the kind of customers who deserve the care and attention I advocate, and I'd be willing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/buck-rodgers/the-world-is-filled-with-the-kind-of-customers-who-deserve-the-care/)

[Buck Rodgers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/buck-rodgers/)

> [There are countless ways of attaining greatness, but any road to reaching one's maximum potential must be built on a bedrock of respect for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/buck-rodgers/there-are-countless-ways-of-attaining-greatness-but-any-road-to/)

[Buck Rodgers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/buck-rodgers/)

> [First, there is the law. It must be obeyed. But the law is the minimum. You must act ethically.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/buck-rodgers/first-there-is-the-law-it-must-be-obeyed-but-the-law-is-the-minimum/)

[Buck Rodgers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/buck-rodgers/)

> [We depend on you to do the right thing; right for both you and the company. It is no exaggeration to say that IBM's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/buck-rodgers/we-depend-on-you-to-do-the-right-thing-right-for-both-you-and-the/)

[Buck Rodgers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/buck-rodgers/)

> [You can't talk about leadership without talking about responsibility and accountability...you can't separate the two. A leader must delegate responsibility and provide the freedom…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/buck-rodgers/you-can-t-talk-about-leadership-without-talking-about-responsibility/)

[Buck Rodgers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/buck-rodgers/)

> [A real leader has the ability to motivate others to their highest level of achievement; then gives them the opportunity and the freedom to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/buck-rodgers/a-real-leader-has-the-ability-to-motivate-others-to-their-highest/)

[Buck Rodgers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/buck-rodgers/)

> [Don't make misrepresentations to anyone you deal with. If you believe the other person may have misunderstood you, correct any misunderstanding you find exists.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/buck-rodgers/don-t-make-misrepresentations-to-anyone-you-deal-with-if-you-believe/)

[Buck Rodgers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/buck-rodgers/)

> [There are countless ways of achieving greatness, but any road to achieving one's maximum potential must be built on a bedrock of respect for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/buck-rodgers/there-are-countless-ways-of-achieving-greatness-but-any-road-to/)

[Buck Rodgers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/buck-rodgers/)

> [At IBM everybody sells! Every employee has been trained to think that the customer comes first - everybody from the CEO, to the people…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/buck-rodgers/at-ibm-everybody-sells-every-employee-has-been-trained-to-think-that/)

[Buck Rodgers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/buck-rodgers/)

> [Leadership is the ability of a single individual through his or her actions to motivate others to higher levels of achievement.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/buck-rodgers/leadership-is-the-ability-of-a-single-individual-through-his-or-her/)

[Buck Rodgers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/buck-rodgers/)

> [The ultimate compliment a customer can make to an organization about one of its marketing people is: "I'm not sure whether your sales rep…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/buck-rodgers/the-ultimate-compliment-a-customer-can-make-to-an-organization-about/)

[Buck Rodgers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/buck-rodgers/)

> [People buy products for what they can do, not for what they are.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/buck-rodgers/people-buy-products-for-what-they-can-do-not-for-what-they-are/)

[Buck Rodgers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/buck-rodgers/)

[Explore all 17 Buck Rodgers quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/buck-rodgers/)

## More Carrots quotes

> [The universe is simmering down, like a giant stew left to cook for four billion years. Sooner or later we won’t be able to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arthur-bloch/the-universe-is-simmering-down-like-a-giant-stew-left-to-cook-for/)

[Arthur Bloch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arthur-bloch/)

> [If you were to draw Bugs, the easiest way is to learn how to draw a carrot and then hook a rabbit onto it](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chuck-jones/if-you-were-to-draw-bugs-the-easiest-way-is-to-learn-how-to-draw-a/)

[Chuck Jones](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chuck-jones/)

> [There comes a point where you see no evidence that the carrot and diplomacy are working.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-f-kennedy/there-comes-a-point-where-you-see-no-evidence-that-the-carrot-and/)

[John F. Kennedy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-f-kennedy/)

> [I think they named the orange before the carrot.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/demetri-martin/i-think-they-named-the-orange-before-the-carrot/)

[Demetri Martin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/demetri-martin/)

> [If you've got a plot the size of a car or a tiny yard in Italy, you're going to be growing tomatoes and basil…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frances-mayes/if-you-ve-got-a-plot-the-size-of-a-car-or-a-tiny-yard-in-italy-you-re/)

[Frances Mayes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frances-mayes/)

> [I usually eat four or five raw carrots with my meat, and that is all. I must be part rabbit; I never get bored…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marilyn-monroe/i-usually-eat-four-or-five-raw-carrots-with-my-meat-and-that-is-all-i/)

[Marilyn Monroe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marilyn-monroe/)

> [When your Super Bowl guests arrive, they should find a mound of potato chips large enough to conceal a pony sitting in front of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dave-barry/when-your-super-bowl-guests-arrive-they-should-find-a-mound-of-potato/)

[Dave Barry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dave-barry/)

> [For four to six months at a time, I would barely eat. I lived on a diet of Melba toast, carrots, and black coffee.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alanis-morissette/for-four-to-six-months-at-a-time-i-would-barely-eat-i-lived-on-a-diet/)

[Alanis Morissette](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alanis-morissette/)

> [I never worry about diets. The only carrots that interest me are the number of carats in a diamond.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mae-west/i-never-worry-about-diets-the-only-carrots-that-interest-me-are-the/)

[Mae West](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mae-west/)

> [I never worry about diets. The only carrots that interest me are the number you get in a diamond.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mae-west/i-never-worry-about-diets-the-only-carrots-that-interest-me-are-the-2/)

[Mae West](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mae-west/)

> [“Did Anton try the carrots?” “I believe so. Flavio seems happier, at least on that count, and I have noticed now that Anton shudders…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-austen/did-anton-try-the-carrots-i-believe-so-flavio-seems-happier-at-least/)

[James Austen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-austen/)

> [Look, I don’t care what the Ooga-Boogas do. It sounds like they need a family counselor, not a sniper. (Steele) They’re not Ooga-Boogas, they’re…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sherrilyn-kenyon/look-i-don-t-care-what-the-ooga-boogas-do-it-sounds-like-they-need-a/)

[Sherrilyn Kenyon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sherrilyn-kenyon/)

> [I was in Las Vegas when the Nogueira brothers first touched down in America. There was a bus, this is a true story. There…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chael-sonnen/i-was-in-las-vegas-when-the-nogueira-brothers-first-touched-down-in/)

[Chael Sonnen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chael-sonnen/)

> [“If I had an orange penis, and an erection, I might take offense at carrot eaters. Baby carrots.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jarod-kintz/if-i-had-an-orange-penis-and-an-erection-i-might-take-offense-at/)

[Jarod Kintz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jarod-kintz/)

> [Carrots might be good for my eyes, but they won't straighten out the curveball.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carl-furillo/carrots-might-be-good-for-my-eyes-but-they-won-t-straighten-out-the/)

[Carl Furillo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carl-furillo/)

[Browse all 210 Carrots quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/carrots/)

```json
{
    "@context": "https://schema.org",
    "@graph": [
        {
            "@type": "Quotation",
            "text": "IBM doesn't want its people to get frustrated and restless because it has them reaching for carrots they can't quit",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "Buck Rodgers"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/buck-rodgers/ibm-doesn-t-want-its-people-to-get-frustrated-and-restless-because-it/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "Carrots"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/buck-rodgers/ibm-doesn-t-want-its-people-to-get-frustrated-and-restless-because-it/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4b0/buck-rodgers-30120_carrots_ibm-doesn-t-want-its-people-to-get-frust_1652171.jpg",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4b0/buck-rodgers-30120_carrots_ibm-doesn-t-want-its-people-to-get-frust_1652171.jpg",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4b0/buck-rodgers-30120_carrots_ibm-doesn-t-want-its-people-to-get-frust_1652171.jpg",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“IBM doesn't want its people to get frustrated and restless because it has them reaching for carrots they…” — Buck Rodgers",
                "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": "Buck Rodgers",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/buck-rodgers/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 4,
                    "name": "IBM doesn't want its people to...",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/buck-rodgers/ibm-doesn-t-want-its-people-to-get-frustrated-and-restless-because-it/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/buck-rodgers/ibm-doesn-t-want-its-people-to-get-frustrated-and-restless-because-it/#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
            }
        }
    ]
}
```
