--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The most common mistake you'll make is…" description: "\"The most common mistake you'll make is forgetting to keep your own scorecard. Very little at work reinforces your ability to do this, so you will have ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5c9/charlotte-beers-34667_ability_the-most-common-mistake-you-ll-make-is-f_3094341.jpg" --- # The most common mistake you'll make is forgetting to keep… ![“The most common mistake you'll make is forgetting to keep your own scorecard. Very little at work reinforces your ability to do this, so you will have to be vigilant. When evaluators give you an assessment, they are just guessing at who you are; they certainly are not the ones who know your…” quote by Charlotte Beers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5c9/charlotte-beers-34667_ability_the-most-common-mistake-you-ll-make-is-f_3094341.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5c9/charlotte-beers-34667_ability_the-most-common-mistake-you-ll-make-is-f_3094341.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5c9/charlotte-beers-34667_ability_the-most-common-mistake-you-ll-make-is-f_3094341.jpg) > “The most common mistake you'll make is forgetting to keep your own scorecard. Very little at work reinforces your ability to do this, so you will have to be vigilant. When evaluators give you an assessment, they are just guessing at who you are; they certainly are not the ones who know your potential. They can rate you and influence you, but they don't get to define you. That's your most honorable assignment: to define, every day through the way you deliver your work, the scope and nature of your inherent abilities.” [Charlotte Beers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charlotte-beers/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Self‑assessment is essential; external evaluations are limited and can misrepresent true potential. **In simple terms:** Know yourself, not just others’ ratings. Key Takeaway Track personal performance daily. Themes self‑awareness growth leadership evaluation Mood thoughtful empowering Type philosophical inspirational When to use this quote - performance reviews - career planning - personal goal setting - team feedback Key Concepts potential bias self‑definition Questions to Reflect On - What metrics truly reflect your abilities? - How do you stay vigilant against biased feedback? A Different Perspective External scores can become self‑fulfilling prophecies. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Ability](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ability/) [Failure](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/failure/) [Giving](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/giving/) [Influence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/influence/) [Mistake](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mistake/) [Scope](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/scope/) ## Related quotes > [“there will be four evaluators staring at me for close to two hours.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lauren-oliver/there-will-be-four-evaluators-staring-at-me-for-close-to-two-hours/) [Lauren Oliver](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lauren-oliver/) > [What you believe matters, however. It’s all anyone has to act on. And since what you do is who you are, your actions define…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/russell-banks/what-you-believe-matters-however-it-s-all-anyone-has-to-act-on-and/) [Russell Banks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/russell-banks/) > [The chances you take… the people you meet… the people you love...the faith that you have - that’s what’s going to define your life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/denzel-washington/the-chances-you-take-the-people-you-meet-the-people-you-love-the/) [Denzel Washington](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/denzel-washington/) > [Henry, this isn't about us. I mean it is, but they don't define you by the button you wear. They define you by what…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jamie-ford/henry-this-isn-t-about-us-i-mean-it-is-but-they-don-t-define-you-by/) [Jamie Ford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jamie-ford/) > [When you win, you don't examine it very much, except to congratulate yourself. You easily, and wrongly, assume it has something to do with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lance-armstrong/when-you-win-you-don-t-examine-it-very-much-except-to-congratulate/) [Lance Armstrong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lance-armstrong/) > [what is joy without sorrow? what is success without failure? what is a win without a loss? what is health without illness? you have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-twain/what-is-joy-without-sorrow-what-is-success-without-failure-what-is-a/) [Mark Twain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-twain/) > [Go without a coat when it's cold; find out what cold is. Go hungry; keep your existence lean. Wear away the fat, get down…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-rollins/go-without-a-coat-when-it-s-cold-find-out-what-cold-is-go-hungry-keep/) [Henry Rollins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-rollins/) > [If you want to be an entrepreneur, it's not a job, it's a lifestyle. It defines you. Forget about vacations, about going home at…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/niklas-zennstrom/if-you-want-to-be-an-entrepreneur-it-s-not-a-job-it-s-a-lifestyle-it/) [Niklas Zennstrom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/niklas-zennstrom/) > [The logical upshot of liberalism's hatred of hypocrisy is that it is better for the liar to champion lying, the glutton to advocate gluttony,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonah-goldberg/the-logical-upshot-of-liberalism-s-hatred-of-hypocrisy-is-that-it-is/) [Jonah Goldberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonah-goldberg/) > [I used to have a fake Louis Vuitton bag because I thought it meant something in life. But now I realize that all the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oprah-winfrey/i-used-to-have-a-fake-louis-vuitton-bag-because-i-thought-it-meant/) [Oprah Winfrey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oprah-winfrey/) > [Choose your enemies carefully 'cause they will define you Make them interesting 'cause in some ways they will mind you They're not there in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cormac-mccarthy/choose-your-enemies-carefully-cause-they-will-define-you-make-them/) [Cormac McCarthy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cormac-mccarthy/) > [My definition of courage is never letting anyone define you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jenna-jameson/my-definition-of-courage-is-never-letting-anyone-define-you/) [Jenna Jameson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jenna-jameson/) > [I've had great success and I've had catastrophic failure. It's really how you handle the rough stuff that defines you, I think.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-berg/i-ve-had-great-success-and-i-ve-had-catastrophic-failure-it-s-really/) [Peter Berg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-berg/) > [I've always felt there were aspects of me that were monstrous, and you can either hide from it or confront it, embrace it and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ron-perlman/i-ve-always-felt-there-were-aspects-of-me-that-were-monstrous-and-you/) [Ron Perlman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ron-perlman/) > [Whether you are buying a car or casting a ballot, choosing a job or planning a family, follow your moral compass. Don't let others…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/denis-hayes/whether-you-are-buying-a-car-or-casting-a-ballot-choosing-a-job-or/) [Denis Hayes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/denis-hayes/) ## More by Charlotte Beers > [“Her favorite stepping-aside technique was to lay out a dizzying mountain of complex steps and then pronounce the conclusion self-evident. Excuse me? Things that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charlotte-beers/her-favorite-stepping-aside-technique-was-to-lay-out-a-dizzying/) [Charlotte Beers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charlotte-beers/) > [Speaking with passion born of your own authentic experience and belief is always persuasive.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charlotte-beers/speaking-with-passion-born-of-your-own-authentic-experience-and/) [Charlotte Beers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charlotte-beers/) > [Being in charge of your work life doesn't mean you always move with assurance and sublime self-confidence; it means you keep moving, continuing on…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charlotte-beers/being-in-charge-of-your-work-life-doesn-t-mean-you-always-move-with/) [Charlotte Beers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charlotte-beers/) > [The men at the top aren't that great at properly assessing the women under them, certainly not enough to gauge their potential or intestinal…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charlotte-beers/the-men-at-the-top-aren-t-that-great-at-properly-assessing-the-women/) [Charlotte Beers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charlotte-beers/) > [Any CEO who cannot clearly articulate the intangible assets of his brand and understand its connection to customers, is in trouble.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charlotte-beers/any-ceo-who-cannot-clearly-articulate-the-intangible-assets-of-his/) [Charlotte Beers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charlotte-beers/) > [Resolving to influence and persuade others will require a degree of personal passion and a depth of caring that you are willing to express…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charlotte-beers/resolving-to-influence-and-persuade-others-will-require-a-degree-of/) [Charlotte Beers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charlotte-beers/) > [“Relying only on logic, on what can be factually established, may inform or intimidate, but it will rarely stir anyone into action or change.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charlotte-beers/relying-only-on-logic-on-what-can-be-factually-established-may-inform/) [Charlotte Beers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charlotte-beers/) > [Here's what I believe is sexy at work: being strong and committed and confident, being precisely who you are and in hot pursuit of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charlotte-beers/here-s-what-i-believe-is-sexy-at-work-being-strong-and-committed-and/) [Charlotte Beers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charlotte-beers/) > [Perfection, in the form of a flawless stream of words delivered with cool composure, is never as persuasive as realness. An impassioned but imperfect…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charlotte-beers/perfection-in-the-form-of-a-flawless-stream-of-words-delivered-with/) [Charlotte Beers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charlotte-beers/) > [Speaking passionately from the very center of who you are is compelling, forceful, persuasive: that’s what leadership sounds like.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charlotte-beers/speaking-passionately-from-the-very-center-of-who-you-are-is/) [Charlotte Beers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charlotte-beers/) > [“If you believe the world will be a better place because you have both the desire and the means to take charge, that's the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charlotte-beers/if-you-believe-the-world-will-be-a-better-place-because-you-have-both/) [Charlotte Beers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charlotte-beers/) > [Consensus is a poor substitute for leadership.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charlotte-beers/consensus-is-a-poor-substitute-for-leadership/) [Charlotte Beers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charlotte-beers/) > [One of the biggest mistakes women make in business is that they aren't friendly enough.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charlotte-beers/one-of-the-biggest-mistakes-women-make-in-business-is-that-they-aren/) [Charlotte Beers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charlotte-beers/) [Explore all 14 Charlotte Beers quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charlotte-beers/) ## More Ability quotes > [I don't think there's a direct correlation between my sexuality and my skiing ability. But I think because I was so concerned about it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gus-kenworthy/i-don-t-think-there-s-a-direct-correlation-between-my-sexuality-and/) [Gus Kenworthy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gus-kenworthy/) > [“the importance of ability. The things that make a great job great, I discovered, are rare and valuable. If you want them in your…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cal-newport/the-importance-of-ability-the-things-that-make-a-great-job-great-i/) [Cal Newport](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cal-newport/) > [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/) > [The ability of the gospel to unite us on common strengths and common truths is one of the great miracles . . . of the gospel.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeffrey-r-holland/the-ability-of-the-gospel-to-unite-us-on-common-strengths-and-common/) [Jeffrey R. Holland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeffrey-r-holland/) > [Maybe law enforcement would like the ability to turn on the camera on your Mac.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tim-cook/maybe-law-enforcement-would-like-the-ability-to-turn-on-the-camera-on/) [Tim Cook](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tim-cook/) > [I've seen guys come along with more ability - they've been faster or bigger or stronger - but they never worked hard to develop…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-largent/i-ve-seen-guys-come-along-with-more-ability-they-ve-been-faster-or/) [Steve Largent](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-largent/) > [The youth of India has the strength to move the entire World with a click of a mouse, we have generated that ability!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/narendra-modi/the-youth-of-india-has-the-strength-to-move-the-entire-world-with-a/) [Narendra Modi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/narendra-modi/) > [Time hath not yet so dried this blood of mine, Nor age so eat up my invention, Nor fortune made such havoc of my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-shakespeare/time-hath-not-yet-so-dried-this-blood-of-mine-nor-age-so-eat-up-my/) [William Shakespeare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-shakespeare/) > [An absolutely necessary part of a writer's equipment, almost as necessary as talent, is the ability to stand up under punishment, both the punishment…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/irwin-shaw/an-absolutely-necessary-part-of-a-writer-s-equipment-almost-as/) [Irwin Shaw](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/irwin-shaw/) > [I'd be more frightened by not using whatever abilities I'd been given. I'd be more frightened by procrastination and laziness.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/denzel-washington/i-d-be-more-frightened-by-not-using-whatever-abilities-i-d-been-given/) [Denzel Washington](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/denzel-washington/) > [Bring into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ. Take what I cannot give: my heart, body, thoughts, time, abilities, money, health, strength,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-prentiss/bring-into-captivity-every-thought-to-the-obedience-of-christ-take/) [Elizabeth Prentiss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-prentiss/) > [You can only do the work to the very best of your ability.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christine-baranski/you-can-only-do-the-work-to-the-very-best-of-your-ability/) [Christine Baranski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christine-baranski/) > [Judge a person not by his ability to make money but by his ability to retain it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vikrant-parsai/judge-a-person-not-by-his-ability-to-make-money-but-by-his-ability-to/) [Vikrant Parsai](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vikrant-parsai/) > [Balance is the ability to be happy in the midst of the most chaotic or even boring or transient circumstance.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-lenz/balance-is-the-ability-to-be-happy-in-the-midst-of-the-most-chaotic/) [Frederick Lenz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-lenz/) > [Bobby had faith in my ability as a singer.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julie-london/bobby-had-faith-in-my-ability-as-a-singer/) [Julie London](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julie-london/) [Browse all 9,990 Ability quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ability/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "The most common mistake you'll make is forgetting to keep your own scorecard. 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