--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: As leaders, we understand that…" description: "\"As leaders, we understand that intangibles are important, but we don't have a clue how to measure them.\" — Chip Conley" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8cc/chip-conley-14348_clue_as-leaders-we-understand-that-intangible_2614890.png" --- # As leaders, we understand that intangibles are important… ![“As leaders, we understand that intangibles are important, but we don't have a clue how to measure them.” quote by Chip Conley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8cc/chip-conley-14348_clue_as-leaders-we-understand-that-intangible_2614890.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8cc/chip-conley-14348_clue_as-leaders-we-understand-that-intangible_2614890.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8cc/chip-conley-14348_clue_as-leaders-we-understand-that-intangible_2614890.png) > “As leaders, we understand that intangibles are important, but we don't have a clue how to measure them.” [Chip Conley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chip-conley/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Leaders recognize intangible assets but lack tools to quantify them, limiting strategic decisions. **In simple terms:** Leaders see intangibles but can’t measure them. Key Takeaway Develop metrics for intangible value. Themes leadership measurement strategy Mood thoughtful analytical Type strategic reflective When to use this quote - product development - team morale - brand equity - customer loyalty Key Concepts intangible assets valuation performance metrics Questions to Reflect On - How can we capture intangible value without reducing it to numbers? - What risks arise from over‑reliance on metrics? A Different Perspective Quantifying intangibles can oversimplify complex human factors. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Inspiration](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/inspiration/) [Leader](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/leader/) [Leadership](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/leadership/) [Motivation](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/motivation/) ## Related quotes > [I didn't do anything very pretty. My contributions were in the intangibles. But, they were the type of things that help lead a team..](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wes-unseld/i-didn-t-do-anything-very-pretty-my-contributions-were-in-the/) Wes Unseld > [There are a lot of three and four-star guys undervalued because of intangibles.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-herman/there-are-a-lot-of-three-and-four-star-guys-undervalued-because-of/) [Tom Herman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-herman/) > [You can find the intangibles of being a quarterback in almost every profession in the world. There's nothing like it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brady-quinn/you-can-find-the-intangibles-of-being-a-quarterback-in-almost-every/) [Brady Quinn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brady-quinn/) > [The fights for me are always about what you cannot see, the intangibles. It's about what's inside - what really is inside.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eddie-alvarez/the-fights-for-me-are-always-about-what-you-cannot-see-the/) [Eddie Alvarez](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eddie-alvarez/) > [The intangibles are a euphemism for we have no idea what we're looking for but we know it when we see it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-billick/the-intangibles-are-a-euphemism-for-we-have-no-idea-what-we-re/) [Brian Billick](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-billick/) > [The concentration and dedication- the intangibles are the deciding factors between who won and who lost.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-seaver/the-concentration-and-dedication-the-intangibles-are-the-deciding/) [Tom Seaver](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-seaver/) > [Goodwill and reputation are intangibles, but they are the keys to business success. Since they are also inexorably linked to social values, it follows…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/noreena-hertz/goodwill-and-reputation-are-intangibles-but-they-are-the-keys-to/) [Noreena Hertz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/noreena-hertz/) > [“giving intangibles works like lighting candles. When you do it, you create more lit candles, not fewer.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tim-sanders/giving-intangibles-works-like-lighting-candles-when-you-do-it-you/) [Tim Sanders](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tim-sanders/) > [“I live to create value in peoples' lives and I measure myself by their reactions. I'm a love merchant. I trade in intangibles.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tim-sanders/i-live-to-create-value-in-peoples-lives-and-i-measure-myself-by-their/) [Tim Sanders](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tim-sanders/) > [“We are beginning to learn that intangibles have more specific gravity than we suspected, that ideas can generate as much forward thrust as Atlas…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lloyd-alexander/we-are-beginning-to-learn-that-intangibles-have-more-specific-gravity/) [Lloyd Alexander](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lloyd-alexander/) > [People attach too much importance to intangibles like heart, desire and clutch hitting.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nate-silver/people-attach-too-much-importance-to-intangibles-like-heart-desire/) [Nate Silver](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nate-silver/) > [“A well-built brand is the culmination of intangibles that do not directly flow to the revenue or profitability of a company, but contribute to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/howard-schultz/a-well-built-brand-is-the-culmination-of-intangibles-that-do-not/) [Howard Schultz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/howard-schultz/) > [When judging others it's the intangibles that we often miss.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-baker/when-judging-others-it-s-the-intangibles-that-we-often-miss/) [Tom Baker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-baker/) > [I think people always assume that every team has great intangibles, and that's not necessarily right.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nick-saban/i-think-people-always-assume-that-every-team-has-great-intangibles/) [Nick Saban](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nick-saban/) > [And so when we talk about intangible values remember that they cannot be separated from the others. The conservation of waters, forests, soils, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sigurd-f-olson/and-so-when-we-talk-about-intangible-values-remember-that-they-cannot/) [Sigurd F. Olson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sigurd-f-olson/) ## More by Chip Conley > [I do interview senior candidates at the home office or many of our hotel or restaurant General Manager candidates. My two favorite questions are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chip-conley/i-do-interview-senior-candidates-at-the-home-office-or-many-of-our/) [Chip Conley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chip-conley/) > [“Anxiety = Uncertainty x Powerlessness”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chip-conley/anxiety-uncertainty-x-powerlessness/) [Chip Conley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chip-conley/) > [“Curiosity = Wonder + Awe”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chip-conley/curiosity-wonder-awe/) [Chip Conley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chip-conley/) > [I'd done my time in corporate America, from McDonald's making shakes to Morgan Stanley making deals and, yet, I felt awfully constrained by the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chip-conley/i-d-done-my-time-in-corporate-america-from-mcdonald-s-making-shakes/) [Chip Conley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chip-conley/) > [At the heart of great leadership is a curious mind, heart, and spirit.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chip-conley/at-the-heart-of-great-leadership-is-a-curious-mind-heart-and-spirit/) [Chip Conley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chip-conley/) > [Business principles are only as good as the practices that back them up.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chip-conley/business-principles-are-only-as-good-as-the-practices-that-back-them/) [Chip Conley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chip-conley/) > [Many people do not distinguish between something that happens to them and their reaction to it. Yet it isn't the event or situation that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chip-conley/many-people-do-not-distinguish-between-something-that-happens-to-them/) [Chip Conley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chip-conley/) > [Isn't it ironic that pay, perks, and benefits all cost your company at the bottom line, but authentic recognition, especially when it's most unexpected,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chip-conley/isn-t-it-ironic-that-pay-perks-and-benefits-all-cost-your-company-at/) [Chip Conley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chip-conley/) > [Conventional wisdom suggests the primary motivator for entrepreneurs is money or wealth creation and, in fact, much of the political debate tends to center…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chip-conley/conventional-wisdom-suggests-the-primary-motivator-for-entrepreneurs/) [Chip Conley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chip-conley/) > [Curiosity has ... proven to be a great ingredient in resilience, a trait particularly valuable in an extended economic downturn. Resilient people aren't made…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chip-conley/curiosity-has-proven-to-be-a-great-ingredient-in-resilience-a-trait/) [Chip Conley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chip-conley/) > [Feeling good about your life, but not expressing a heartfelt 'thank you,' is like wrapping a gift for someone and never giving it to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chip-conley/feeling-good-about-your-life-but-not-expressing-a-heartfelt-thank-you/) [Chip Conley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chip-conley/) > [Whether we're conscious of it or not, our work and personal lives are made up of daily rituals, including when we eat our meals,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chip-conley/whether-we-re-conscious-of-it-or-not-our-work-and-personal-lives-are/) [Chip Conley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chip-conley/) > [When I started my hotel company, Joie de Vivre, at the age of 26, I saw this venture as my ticket to freedom.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chip-conley/when-i-started-my-hotel-company-joie-de-vivre-at-the-age-of-26-i-saw/) [Chip Conley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chip-conley/) > [“Mark Twain didn’t dabble in psychological focus groups, but he certainly knew something about human nature when he wrote, “Twenty years from now you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chip-conley/mark-twain-didn-t-dabble-in-psychological-focus-groups-but-he/) [Chip Conley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chip-conley/) > [Those of us who have been lucky enough to experience a calling in our work have a certain faith and peace of mind that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chip-conley/those-of-us-who-have-been-lucky-enough-to-experience-a-calling-in-our/) [Chip Conley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chip-conley/) [Explore all 47 Chip Conley quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chip-conley/) ## More Clue quotes > [If people in Indonesia look 'different', they are afraid. Racist insults fly if someone does not look like part of the majority. Indonesia is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andre-vltchek/if-people-in-indonesia-look-different-they-are-afraid-racist-insults/) [Andre Vltchek](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andre-vltchek/) > [There's too many people in seats of power who just haven't got a clue what they're doing. They're bean counters, and it just pisses…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pierce-brosnan/there-s-too-many-people-in-seats-of-power-who-just-haven-t-got-a-clue/) [Pierce Brosnan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pierce-brosnan/) > [Think you figured it out, but you don't have a clue. Think you on top of the world, but the world on top of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/young-jeezy/think-you-figured-it-out-but-you-don-t-have-a-clue-think-you-on-top/) [Young Jeezy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/young-jeezy/) > [Having people around you that are honest with you, and having a team around you that can actually track and communicate where things are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/muneshine/having-people-around-you-that-are-honest-with-you-and-having-a-team/) [Muneshine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/muneshine/) > [If you jump to conclusion you can't step on a clue.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-santinello/if-you-jump-to-conclusion-you-can-t-step-on-a-clue/) [James Santinello](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-santinello/) > [If I wasn't acting, I have no clue what I'd be doing 'cause I have no other talent.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/morgan-freeman/if-i-wasn-t-acting-i-have-no-clue-what-i-d-be-doing-cause-i-have-no/) [Morgan Freeman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/morgan-freeman/) > [I come from a theater background, so I always like to dissect the scene and try to get some hint about what the author…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adina-porter/i-come-from-a-theater-background-so-i-always-like-to-dissect-the/) [Adina Porter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adina-porter/) > [The truth is, I don't have a real clue what love is - how to find it, how to give it. Once upon a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ellen-hopkins/the-truth-is-i-don-t-have-a-real-clue-what-love-is-how-to-find-it-how/) [Ellen Hopkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ellen-hopkins/) > [Arthur Conan Doyle was entranced by the notion of a brilliant detective who can deduce everything a stranger has been up to from the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rafael-yglesias/arthur-conan-doyle-was-entranced-by-the-notion-of-a-brilliant/) [Rafael Yglesias](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rafael-yglesias/) > [Talking about the future, like we had a clue. Never plans that one day, I'd be losing you](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/katy-perry/talking-about-the-future-like-we-had-a-clue-never-plans-that-one-day/) [Katy Perry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/katy-perry/) > [Make something, a kind of object, which as it changes or falls apart (dies as it were) or increases in its parts (grows as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jasper-johns/make-something-a-kind-of-object-which-as-it-changes-or-falls-apart/) [Jasper Johns](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jasper-johns/) > [Dreamily the Princess stood up. "I'm not sure if I can walk," she said. "Then I'll carry you." "Is that what love is?" "I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-robbins/dreamily-the-princess-stood-up-i-m-not-sure-if-i-can-walk-she-said/) [Tom Robbins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-robbins/) > [Out past the cornfields where the woods got heavy, out in the back seat of my '60 Chevy. Workin' on mysteries without any clues,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bob-seger/out-past-the-cornfields-where-the-woods-got-heavy-out-in-the-back/) [Bob Seger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bob-seger/) > [Personal happiness seems mysteriously and frustratingly elusive. Even when people achieve it, they can't hold onto it. That is the greatest clue, the biggest…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neale-donald-walsch/personal-happiness-seems-mysteriously-and-frustratingly-elusive-even/) [Neale Donald Walsch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neale-donald-walsch/) > [Ask yourself what you would do even if you were never paid. That’s a clue to what you should be doing and of course…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-vitale/ask-yourself-what-you-would-do-even-if-you-were-never-paid-that-s-a/) [Joe Vitale](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-vitale/) Browse all 627 Clue quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "As leaders, we understand that intangibles are important, but we don't have a clue how to measure them.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Chip Conley" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chip-conley/as-leaders-we-understand-that-intangibles-are-important-but-we-don-t/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Clue" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chip-conley/as-leaders-we-understand-that-intangibles-are-important-but-we-don-t/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8cc/chip-conley-14348_clue_as-leaders-we-understand-that-intangible_2614890.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8cc/chip-conley-14348_clue_as-leaders-we-understand-that-intangible_2614890.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8cc/chip-conley-14348_clue_as-leaders-we-understand-that-intangible_2614890.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“As leaders, we understand that intangibles are important, but we don't have a clue how to measure them.” — Chip Conley", "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": "Chip Conley", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chip-conley/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "As leaders, we understand that intangibles...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chip-conley/as-leaders-we-understand-that-intangibles-are-important-but-we-don-t/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chip-conley/as-leaders-we-understand-that-intangibles-are-important-but-we-don-t/#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 } } ] } ```