--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: It can be done, but you have to make it…" description: "\"It can be done, but you have to make it happen.\" — Chris Gardner" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/bdc/chris-gardner-3822_ability_it-can-be-done-but-you-have-to-make-it-h_2736386.png" --- # It can be done, but you have to make it happen. ![“It can be done, but you have to make it happen.” quote by Chris Gardner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/bdc/chris-gardner-3822_ability_it-can-be-done-but-you-have-to-make-it-h_2736386.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/bdc/chris-gardner-3822_ability_it-can-be-done-but-you-have-to-make-it-h_2736386.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/bdc/chris-gardner-3822_ability_it-can-be-done-but-you-have-to-make-it-h_2736386.png) > “It can be done, but you have to make it happen.” [Chris Gardner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-gardner/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Emphasizes that success requires proactive effort and personal agency. **In simple terms:** Success needs personal initiative. Key Takeaway Take decisive action toward goals. Themes initiative determination self‑reliance Mood determined hopeful Type motivational practical When to use this quote - career building - goal achievement - self‑improvement Key Concepts entrepreneurship personal responsibility Questions to Reflect On - What action will you commit today? - How do you handle setbacks? A Different Perspective External factors can impede plans. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Ability](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ability/) [Funny](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/funny/) [Inspirational](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/inspirational/) [Love](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/love/) ## Related quotes > [Nothing happens until I make it happen.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scott-wilson/nothing-happens-until-i-make-it-happen/) [Scott Wilson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scott-wilson/) > [Take your passion and make it happen.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/irene-cara/take-your-passion-and-make-it-happen/) [Irene Cara](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/irene-cara/) > [Once people tell me I can't do stuff, I'm going to go and make it happen.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/t-pain/once-people-tell-me-i-can-t-do-stuff-i-m-going-to-go-and-make-it/) [T-Pain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/t-pain/) > [To make any future that we dreamt up real requires creative scientists, engineers, and technologists to make it happen. If people are not within…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-degrasse-tyson/to-make-any-future-that-we-dreamt-up-real-requires-creative/) [Neil deGrasse Tyson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-degrasse-tyson/) > [Anything in life is possible, if you make it happen.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-lalanne/anything-in-life-is-possible-if-you-make-it-happen/) [Jack LaLanne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-lalanne/) > [You can't just be a recipient of a blessing, you have to do something to make it happen.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/t-d-jakes/you-can-t-just-be-a-recipient-of-a-blessing-you-have-to-do-something/) [T. D. Jakes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/t-d-jakes/) > [And I thought well, if Tina Turner can go up there and she can give everything for 500 people, no matter how sick I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bryan-adams/and-i-thought-well-if-tina-turner-can-go-up-there-and-she-can-give/) [Bryan Adams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bryan-adams/) > [I sometimes say that success just happens. That's not true. You have to make it happen. When I make up my mind to do…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-grade/i-sometimes-say-that-success-just-happens-that-s-not-true-you-have-to/) Michael Grade > [Make it happen.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/make-it-happen/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Pause and remember - Stop procrastinating! Wishing is wonderful but action is what it takes to make it happen.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jennifer-young/pause-and-remember-stop-procrastinating-wishing-is-wonderful-but/) [Jennifer Young](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jennifer-young/) > [Visualize your ultimate goal and then do the work to make it happen.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/suzanne-somers/visualize-your-ultimate-goal-and-then-do-the-work-to-make-it-happen/) [Suzanne Somers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/suzanne-somers/) > [If you're waiting around for something to be handed to you or win the lottery, chances are nothing is ever going to go down,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aaron-bruno/if-you-re-waiting-around-for-something-to-be-handed-to-you-or-win-the/) [Aaron Bruno](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aaron-bruno/) > [You are the only one who can make it happen for you. Others can support and encourage you, but you have to find the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lynda-field/you-are-the-only-one-who-can-make-it-happen-for-you-others-can/) [Lynda Field](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lynda-field/) > [Don't be an extra in your own movie. Move out of your comfort zone. Don't be afraid of feeling uncomfortable or awkward. Step-out and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bob-proctor/don-t-be-an-extra-in-your-own-movie-move-out-of-your-comfort-zone-don/) [Bob Proctor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bob-proctor/) > [Instead of just letting life happen, I'm going to make it happen for me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/denis-waitley/instead-of-just-letting-life-happen-i-m-going-to-make-it-happen-for-me/) [Denis Waitley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/denis-waitley/) ## More by Chris Gardner > [Be bold enough to find the one thing that you are passionate about. It might not be what you were trained to do. But…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-gardner/be-bold-enough-to-find-the-one-thing-that-you-are-passionate-about-it/) [Chris Gardner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-gardner/) > [Others may question your credentials, your papers, your degrees. Others may look for all kinds of ways to diminish your worth. But what is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-gardner/others-may-question-your-credentials-your-papers-your-degrees-others/) [Chris Gardner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-gardner/) > [Walk that walk and go forward all the time. Don't just talk that talk, walk it and go forward. Also, the walk didn't have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-gardner/walk-that-walk-and-go-forward-all-the-time-don-t-just-talk-that-talk/) [Chris Gardner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-gardner/) > [Salespeople are the most important people in any organization. Until a salesperson gets an order, nobody in the company has a job.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-gardner/salespeople-are-the-most-important-people-in-any-organization-until-a/) [Chris Gardner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-gardner/) > [You're never too old to do something new.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-gardner/you-re-never-too-old-to-do-something-new/) [Chris Gardner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-gardner/) > [It's ok to FAIL it's not ok to Quit](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-gardner/it-s-ok-to-fail-it-s-not-ok-to-quit/) [Chris Gardner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-gardner/) > [“It’s okay to fail, it’s not okay to quit.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-gardner/it-s-okay-to-fail-it-s-not-okay-to-quit/) [Chris Gardner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-gardner/) > [I have one of those old-fashioned mothers who told me every single day, 'Son, you can do or be anything that you want to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-gardner/i-have-one-of-those-old-fashioned-mothers-who-told-me-every-single/) [Chris Gardner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-gardner/) > [You know how mountains get moved? Everyone who can move a couple, move a couple. Those who can move rocks, move rocks. Those who…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-gardner/you-know-how-mountains-get-moved-everyone-who-can-move-a-couple-move/) [Chris Gardner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-gardner/) > [I had spent years in the United States military. Specifically in the U.S. Navy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-gardner/i-had-spent-years-in-the-united-states-military-specifically-in-the-u/) [Chris Gardner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-gardner/) > [I've never been big on sports coats and pants. I'm a suit guy. It makes it clear who's in charge.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-gardner/i-ve-never-been-big-on-sports-coats-and-pants-i-m-a-suit-guy-it-makes/) [Chris Gardner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-gardner/) > [Still a dreamer, yet more of a realist than ever before, I knew this was my time to sail. On the horizon I saw…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-gardner/still-a-dreamer-yet-more-of-a-realist-than-ever-before-i-knew-this/) [Chris Gardner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-gardner/) > [Nine times out of 10, extenuating circumstances aside, I believe that people are where they are by some kind of choice on their part.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-gardner/nine-times-out-of-10-extenuating-circumstances-aside-i-believe-that/) [Chris Gardner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-gardner/) > [(The movie) is the story of my life, but it's not about me. It's about anybody who ever dreamed big and had someone tell…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-gardner/the-movie-is-the-story-of-my-life-but-it-s-not-about-me-it-s-about/) [Chris Gardner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-gardner/) > [I had never gone to college. I was not from a politically connected family. I had no money of my own. Who is going…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-gardner/i-had-never-gone-to-college-i-was-not-from-a-politically-connected/) [Chris Gardner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-gardner/) [Explore all 120 Chris Gardner quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-gardner/) ## 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": "It can be done, but you have to make it happen.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Chris Gardner" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-gardner/it-can-be-done-but-you-have-to-make-it-happen/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Ability" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-gardner/it-can-be-done-but-you-have-to-make-it-happen/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/bdc/chris-gardner-3822_ability_it-can-be-done-but-you-have-to-make-it-h_2736386.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/bdc/chris-gardner-3822_ability_it-can-be-done-but-you-have-to-make-it-h_2736386.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/bdc/chris-gardner-3822_ability_it-can-be-done-but-you-have-to-make-it-h_2736386.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“It can be done, but you have to make it happen.” — Chris Gardner", "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": "Chris Gardner", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-gardner/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "It can be done, but you...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-gardner/it-can-be-done-but-you-have-to-make-it-happen/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-gardner/it-can-be-done-but-you-have-to-make-it-happen/#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 } } ] } ```