--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: You cannot have people in your…" description: "\"You cannot have people in your organization who are pessimists. They take you to mediocrity.\" — Carlos Slim" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3ba/carlos-slim-13936_mediocrity_you-cannot-have-people-in-your-organizat_2767577.png" --- # You cannot have people in your organization who are… ![“You cannot have people in your organization who are pessimists. They take you to mediocrity.” quote by Carlos Slim](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3ba/carlos-slim-13936_mediocrity_you-cannot-have-people-in-your-organizat_2767577.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3ba/carlos-slim-13936_mediocrity_you-cannot-have-people-in-your-organizat_2767577.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3ba/carlos-slim-13936_mediocrity_you-cannot-have-people-in-your-organizat_2767577.png) > “You cannot have people in your organization who are pessimists. They take you to mediocrity.” [Carlos Slim](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carlos-slim/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Pessimists drag organizations toward mediocrity; optimism fuels excellence. **In simple terms:** Negativity lowers performance. Key Takeaway Foster a positive, ambitious culture. Themes leadership mindset performance Mood optimistic energetic Type advisory motivational When to use this quote - team building - innovation - strategy Key Concepts organizational behavior psychology Questions to Reflect On - How do you counteract pessimism? - What practices sustain optimism? A Different Perspective Optimism must be balanced with realism. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Mediocrity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mediocrity/) [Organization](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/organization/) [Organization Pessimists](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/organization-pessimists-3217842/) [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) [People Organization](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people-organization-924499/) [Pessimism](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/pessimism/) [Pessimist](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/pessimist/) [Pessimists](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/pessimists/) [Pessimists Mediocrity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/pessimists-mediocrity-3217843/) ## Related quotes > [I thought all my life that optimists and pessimists pass away the same way, so why be a pessimist?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shimon-peres/i-thought-all-my-life-that-optimists-and-pessimists-pass-away-the/) [Shimon Peres](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shimon-peres/) > [Pessimists are not boring. Pessimists are right. Pessimists are superfluous.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elias-canetti/pessimists-are-not-boring-pessimists-are-right-pessimists-are/) [Elias Canetti](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elias-canetti/) > [“Immune to the blandishments of religions, countries, families, and whatever else that—with a smattering of emotive images and strains of maudlin music—can move the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-ligotti/immune-to-the-blandishments-of-religions-countries-families-and/) [Thomas Ligotti](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-ligotti/) > [The play-it-safe pessimists of the world never accomplish much of anything, because they don't look clearly and objectively at situations, they don't recognize or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-hoff/the-play-it-safe-pessimists-of-the-world-never-accomplish-much-of/) [Benjamin Hoff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-hoff/) > [The defining characteristic of pessimists is that they tend to believe that bad events will last a long time, will undermine everything they do,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-seligman/the-defining-characteristic-of-pessimists-is-that-they-tend-to/) [Martin Seligman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-seligman/) > [I like pessimists. They’re always the ones who bring life jackets for the boat.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lisa-kleypas/i-like-pessimists-they-re-always-the-ones-who-bring-life-jackets-for/) [Lisa Kleypas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lisa-kleypas/) > [“Actually he was a pessimist, and, like all pessimists, a ridiculously unobservant man.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vladimir-nabokov/actually-he-was-a-pessimist-and-like-all-pessimists-a-ridiculously/) [Vladimir Nabokov](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vladimir-nabokov/) > [Pessimists see a problem behind every opportunity. Optimists see an opportunity behind every problem.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/denis-waitley/pessimists-see-a-problem-behind-every-opportunity-optimists-see-an/) [Denis Waitley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/denis-waitley/) > [Optimists and pessimists die the exact same death, but they live very different lives!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shimon-peres/optimists-and-pessimists-die-the-exact-same-death-but-they-live-very/) [Shimon Peres](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shimon-peres/) > [Whatever pretended pessimists in search of notoriety may say, most people are naturally kind, at heart.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-branch-cabell/whatever-pretended-pessimists-in-search-of-notoriety-may-say-most/) [James Branch Cabell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-branch-cabell/) > [Pessimists are usually kind. The gay, bubbling over, have no time for the pitiful.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sean-o-faolain/pessimists-are-usually-kind-the-gay-bubbling-over-have-no-time-for/) [Sean O Faolain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sean-o-faolain/) > [Pessimists fear becoming the dupes of Hope. Optimists enjoy Hope's company, and consider being duped no great matter.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mason-cooley/pessimists-fear-becoming-the-dupes-of-hope-optimists-enjoy-hope-s/) [Mason Cooley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mason-cooley/) > [“To see all pessimists as pessimists is to be a pessimist.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mokokoma-mokhonoana/to-see-all-pessimists-as-pessimists-is-to-be-a-pessimist/) [Mokokoma Mokhonoana](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mokokoma-mokhonoana/) > [The bottom line on attitude is that a good one helps to increase your possibilities. Pessimists usually get what they expect. So do optimists.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-c-maxwell/the-bottom-line-on-attitude-is-that-a-good-one-helps-to-increase-your/) [John C. Maxwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-c-maxwell/) > [“tell them that both optimists and pessimists die in the end, but the optimist leads a hopeful and happy existence while the pessimist spends…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shimon-peres/tell-them-that-both-optimists-and-pessimists-die-in-the-end-but-the/) [Shimon Peres](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shimon-peres/) ## More by Carlos Slim > [It is not important NOT to make mistakes, but the mistakes to be small](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carlos-slim/it-is-not-important-not-to-make-mistakes-but-the-mistakes-to-be-small/) [Carlos Slim](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carlos-slim/) > [I studied engineering in the national university, the Universidad Autonoma, in San Ildefonso.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carlos-slim/i-studied-engineering-in-the-national-university-the-universidad/) [Carlos Slim](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carlos-slim/) > [It's not a question of arriving and putting in a whole new administration, but instead, arriving and "compacting" things as much as possible, reducing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carlos-slim/it-s-not-a-question-of-arriving-and-putting-in-a-whole-new/) [Carlos Slim](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carlos-slim/) > [In this new wave of technology, you can't do it all yourself, you have to form alliances.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carlos-slim/in-this-new-wave-of-technology-you-can-t-do-it-all-yourself-you-have/) [Carlos Slim](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carlos-slim/) > [In high school, I loved history. I also loved cosmography, algebra. Mexico is so rich in culture and history, and I have always enjoyed…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carlos-slim/in-high-school-i-loved-history-i-also-loved-cosmography-algebra/) [Carlos Slim](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carlos-slim/) > [When we face our problems, they disappear. So learn from failure and let success be the silent incentive.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carlos-slim/when-we-face-our-problems-they-disappear-so-learn-from-failure-and/) [Carlos Slim](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carlos-slim/) > [When there is a crisis, that's when some are interested in getting out and that's when we are interested in getting in.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carlos-slim/when-there-is-a-crisis-that-s-when-some-are-interested-in-getting-out/) [Carlos Slim](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carlos-slim/) > [If you are in business, you are not enjoying. You are working.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carlos-slim/if-you-are-in-business-you-are-not-enjoying-you-are-working/) [Carlos Slim](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carlos-slim/) > [Mistakes are normal and human. Make them small, accept them, correct them, and forget them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carlos-slim/mistakes-are-normal-and-human-make-them-small-accept-them-correct/) [Carlos Slim](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carlos-slim/) > [You cannot make thousands of universities or hundreds of thousands of professors, but with technology and the Internet you can have great courses and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carlos-slim/you-cannot-make-thousands-of-universities-or-hundreds-of-thousands-of/) [Carlos Slim](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carlos-slim/) > [Work well done is not only a responsibility to yourselves and society; it is also an emotional need.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carlos-slim/work-well-done-is-not-only-a-responsibility-to-yourselves-and-society/) [Carlos Slim](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carlos-slim/) > [My mother born in Mexico, but was Lebanese in origin. She born 1902 the same year my father arrived to Mexico when he was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carlos-slim/my-mother-born-in-mexico-but-was-lebanese-in-origin-she-born-1902-the/) [Carlos Slim](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carlos-slim/) > [Technology is going to transform people's lives and society everywhere in the world. I spend most of my time studying new technologies. My main…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carlos-slim/technology-is-going-to-transform-people-s-lives-and-society/) [Carlos Slim](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carlos-slim/) > [It's important to give a better country to your children, but it is more important to give better children to your country.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carlos-slim/it-s-important-to-give-a-better-country-to-your-children-but-it-is/) [Carlos Slim](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carlos-slim/) > [Do not allow negative feelings and emotions to control your mind. Emotional harm does not come from others; it is conceived and developed within…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carlos-slim/do-not-allow-negative-feelings-and-emotions-to-control-your-mind/) [Carlos Slim](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carlos-slim/) [Explore all 48 Carlos Slim quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carlos-slim/) ## More Mediocrity quotes > [Mediocrity knows nothing higher than itself, but talent instantly recognizes genius.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arthur-conan-doyle/mediocrity-knows-nothing-higher-than-itself-but-talent-instantly/) [Arthur Conan Doyle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arthur-conan-doyle/) > [Christianity does not oppose debauchery and uncontrollable passions and the like as much as it opposes... flat mediocrity, this nauseating atmosphere, this homey, civil…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/soren-kierkegaard/christianity-does-not-oppose-debauchery-and-uncontrollable-passions/) [Soren Kierkegaard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/soren-kierkegaard/) > [It is an error common to many artists, who strive merely to avoid mistakes, when all our efforts should be to create positive and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-steichen/it-is-an-error-common-to-many-artists-who-strive-merely-to-avoid/) [Edward Steichen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-steichen/) > [Only mediocrity can be trusted to be always at its best.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/max-beerbohm/only-mediocrity-can-be-trusted-to-be-always-at-its-best/) [Max Beerbohm](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/max-beerbohm/) > [Let America first praise mediocrity even, in her children, before she praises... the best excellence in the children of any other land.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/herman-melville/let-america-first-praise-mediocrity-even-in-her-children-before-she/) [Herman Melville](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/herman-melville/) > [If you want to be average, do what others do. If you want to be awesome, do what no one does.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-den-heijer/if-you-want-to-be-average-do-what-others-do-if-you-want-to-be-awesome/) [Alexander Den Heijer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexander-den-heijer/) > [There has been an obvious effort to play it safe, to make 'Bonanza' a good family show that would offend no one and hit…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pernell-roberts/there-has-been-an-obvious-effort-to-play-it-safe-to-make-bonanza-a/) [Pernell Roberts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pernell-roberts/) > [Philadelphians are every whit as mediocre as their neighbors, but they seldom encourage each other in mediocrity by giving it a more agreeable name.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/agnes-repplier/philadelphians-are-every-whit-as-mediocre-as-their-neighbors-but-they/) [Agnes Repplier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/agnes-repplier/) > [Once you decide that mediocrity is unthinkable, your only choices are excellence and quitting.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nick-murray/once-you-decide-that-mediocrity-is-unthinkable-your-only-choices-are/) [Nick Murray](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nick-murray/) > [At independence Kenya's economic indicators were equal to those of South Korea, but 45 years down the road, Korea's economy is 40 times that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/raila-odinga/at-independence-kenya-s-economic-indicators-were-equal-to-those-of/) [Raila Odinga](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/raila-odinga/) > [Trying to be cool is the easiest path to mediocrity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-crews/trying-to-be-cool-is-the-easiest-path-to-mediocrity/) [Terry Crews](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terry-crews/) > [All greatness of character is dependent on individuality.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-f-cooper/all-greatness-of-character-is-dependent-on-individuality/) [James F. Cooper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-f-cooper/) > [When Americans decry our politicians, we must remember that ultimately, politicians reflect us. When we demand more than mediocrity - and the passing comforts…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-m-strock/when-americans-decry-our-politicians-we-must-remember-that-ultimately/) [James M Strock](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-m-strock/) > [We will meet our challenges head on and we will do it by rejecting the politics of mediocrity and corruption. You voted for change;…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rod-blagojevich/we-will-meet-our-challenges-head-on-and-we-will-do-it-by-rejecting/) [Rod Blagojevich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rod-blagojevich/) > [The greatest danger to Christianity is, I contend, not heresies, not heterodoxies, not atheists, not profane secularism - no, but the kind of orthodoxy…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/soren-kierkegaard/the-greatest-danger-to-christianity-is-i-contend-not-heresies-not/) [Soren Kierkegaard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/soren-kierkegaard/) [Browse all 929 Mediocrity quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mediocrity/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "You cannot have people in your organization who are pessimists. 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