--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Generally you should act somewhere…" description: "\"Generally you should act somewhere between P40 and P70, as I call it. Sometime after you have obtained 40 percent of all the information you are liable..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/720/colin-powell-691_decision_generally-you-should-act-somewhere-betwe_1118722.jpg" --- # Generally you should act somewhere between P40 and P70, as… ![“Generally you should act somewhere between P40 and P70, as I call it. Sometime after you have obtained 40 percent of all the information you are liable to get, start thinking in terms of making a decision. When you have about 70 percent of all the information, you probably ought to decide, because…” quote by Colin Powell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/720/colin-powell-691_decision_generally-you-should-act-somewhere-betwe_1118722.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/720/colin-powell-691_decision_generally-you-should-act-somewhere-betwe_1118722.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/720/colin-powell-691_decision_generally-you-should-act-somewhere-betwe_1118722.jpg) > “Generally you should act somewhere between P40 and P70, as I call it. Sometime after you have obtained 40 percent of all the information you are liable to get, start thinking in terms of making a decision. When you have about 70 percent of all the information, you probably ought to decide, because you may lose an opportunity in losing time.” [Colin Powell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/colin-powell/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Advocates making decisions after gathering sufficient information, suggesting a 40‑70% threshold to balance analysis and action. **In simple terms:** Decide after you have 40‑70% of needed info, not too early or too late. Key Takeaway Use a partial‑information window for timely decisions. Themes decision‑making information timing strategy balance Mood analytical pragmatic Type strategic instructional When to use this quote - business planning - emergency response - personal choices - project management Key Concepts risk management cognitive bias Questions to Reflect On - What information is essential before you act? - How do you handle uncertainty beyond numbers? A Different Perspective Over‑reliance on percentages may ignore qualitative factors. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Decision](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/decision/) [Losing time](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/losing-time/) [Making A Decision](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/making-a-decision/) [Opportunity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/opportunity/) [Thinking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thinking/) [Time](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/time/) ## Related quotes > [War is ninety percent information.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/napoleon-bonaparte/war-is-ninety-percent-information/) [Napoleon Bonaparte](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/napoleon-bonaparte/) > [Eighty percent of the information we receive comes through our eyes. And if you compare light energy to musical scales, it would only be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/louis-schwartzberg/eighty-percent-of-the-information-we-receive-comes-through-our-eyes/) [Louis Schwartzberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/louis-schwartzberg/) > [As I have done in every election since I started voting so many years ago, I always like to take my time and examine…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/colin-powell/as-i-have-done-in-every-election-since-i-started-voting-so-many-years/) [Colin Powell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/colin-powell/) > [I always like to take my time and examine the two candidates, see not only the two candidates but the policies they will bring…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/colin-powell/i-always-like-to-take-my-time-and-examine-the-two-candidates-see-not/) [Colin Powell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/colin-powell/) > [With respect to where we are now, we have a voluntary army. And if we ever go back to conscription I hope that at…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/colin-powell/with-respect-to-where-we-are-now-we-have-a-voluntary-army-and-if-we/) [Colin Powell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/colin-powell/) > [“Some 40 percent of people with serious mental illnesses have been arrested at some point in their lives.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/some-40-percent-of-people-with-serious-mental-illnesses-have-been/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [A poor child who receives high-quality early childhood development is 40 percent less likely to need special education, twice as likely to attend college…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shakira/a-poor-child-who-receives-high-quality-early-childhood-development-is/) [Shakira](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shakira/) > [We don't go into a market without a chance of a 40 percent share and sustainable differentiation. We wouldn't get into wiring oil rigs…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-t-chambers/we-don-t-go-into-a-market-without-a-chance-of-a-40-percent-share-and/) [John T. Chambers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-t-chambers/) > [I saw a story in the Los Angeles Times that 40 percent of the viewers are men. It didn't really surprise me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-denton/i-saw-a-story-in-the-los-angeles-times-that-40-percent-of-the-viewers/) [James Denton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-denton/) > [Sex accounts for about 40 percent of your relationship, but if it's bad, then it's 60.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-manganiello/sex-accounts-for-about-40-percent-of-your-relationship-but-if-it-s/) [Joe Manganiello](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-manganiello/) > [“You must find a comfortable range for yourself—somewhere between 40 percent and 80 percent—”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amy-webb/you-must-find-a-comfortable-range-for-yourself-somewhere-between-40/) [Amy Webb](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amy-webb/) > [ The average college graduate's proficient literacy in English \[the ability to read lengthy, complex texts and draw complicated inferences\] has declined from 40 percent… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-colson/the-average-college-graduate-s-proficient-literacy-in-english-the/) [Charles Colson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-colson/) > [According to a new survey, 40 percent of adults in Mexico say they would move to the United States if they got a chance.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/conan-o-brien/according-to-a-new-survey-40-percent-of-adults-in-mexico-say-they/) [Conan O'Brien](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/conan-o-brien/) > [“Some economists have estimated that the NRA boosted the cost of doing business by an average of 40 percent — not something a depressed…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lawrence-w-reed/some-economists-have-estimated-that-the-nra-boosted-the-cost-of-doing/) [Lawrence W. Reed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lawrence-w-reed/) > [I joke that the beard does 40 percent of the job.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-sullivan/i-joke-that-the-beard-does-40-percent-of-the-job/) [Chris Sullivan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-sullivan/) ## More by Colin Powell > [Failure is a part of life and you have to learn to deal with it. Failure is something that is part of life's cycle…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/colin-powell/failure-is-a-part-of-life-and-you-have-to-learn-to-deal-with-it/) [Colin Powell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/colin-powell/) > [Effective leaders are made, not born. They learn from trial and error, and from experience.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/colin-powell/effective-leaders-are-made-not-born-they-learn-from-trial-and-error/) [Colin Powell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/colin-powell/) > [Decision-making is lonely.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/colin-powell/decision-making-is-lonely/) [Colin Powell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/colin-powell/) > [The purposes of the United States should not be doubted. The Security Council resolutions will be enforced - the just demands of peace and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/colin-powell/the-purposes-of-the-united-states-should-not-be-doubted-the-security/) [Colin Powell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/colin-powell/) > [I always like to take my time and examine the two candidates, see not only the two candidates but the policies they will bring…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/colin-powell/i-always-like-to-take-my-time-and-examine-the-two-candidates-see-not/) [Colin Powell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/colin-powell/) > [We can seldom get our children to do what we tell them, but they almost never fail to imitate us.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/colin-powell/we-can-seldom-get-our-children-to-do-what-we-tell-them-but-they/) [Colin Powell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/colin-powell/) > [With respect to where we are now, we have a voluntary army. 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Any time you tolerate mediocrity in others, it increases your mediocrity.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/colin-powell/the-less-you-associate-with-some-people-the-more-your-life-will/) [Colin Powell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/colin-powell/) > [Be careful what you choose: You may get it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/colin-powell/be-careful-what-you-choose-you-may-get-it/) [Colin Powell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/colin-powell/) [Explore all 408 Colin Powell quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/colin-powell/) ## More Decide quotes > [“Exactly. So, what can't you take? Decide which of the two options is harder, and do the other. That way, no matter how hard…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/josephine-angelini/exactly-so-what-can-t-you-take-decide-which-of-the-two-options-is/) [Josephine Angelini](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/josephine-angelini/) > [DECIDE, v.i. To succumb to the preponderance of one set of influences over another set.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ambrose-bierce/decide-v-i-to-succumb-to-the-preponderance-of-one-set-of-influences/) [Ambrose Bierce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ambrose-bierce/) > [We do not know which irresponsible Israeli prime minister will take office and decide to use nuclear weapons in the struggle against neighboring Arab…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mordechai-vanunu/we-do-not-know-which-irresponsible-israeli-prime-minister-will-take/) [Mordechai Vanunu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mordechai-vanunu/) > [In New York, you are constantly faced with this very urgent decision that you have to make, about every twenty minutes...you have to decide,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-cross/in-new-york-you-are-constantly-faced-with-this-very-urgent-decision/) [David Cross](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-cross/) > [Nothing is more private than a woman's body; it is her physical, emotional, and moral citadel. She cannot be free at all if she…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lewis-b-smedes/nothing-is-more-private-than-a-woman-s-body-it-is-her-physical/) [Lewis B. Smedes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lewis-b-smedes/) > [LOOK before you pick,DECIDE WELL before you choose,because these two things are very important in life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oluwatayo-oluwatoyosi/look-before-you-pick-decide-well-before-you-choose-because-these-two/) [Oluwatayo Oluwatoyosi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oluwatayo-oluwatoyosi/) > [Decisions decide destiny, there is no action without decision](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tony-robbins/decisions-decide-destiny-there-is-no-action-without-decision/) [Tony Robbins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tony-robbins/) > [“Do you keep pace with those around you, or do you decide yourself just how you will live your life? The truth is...only you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-goodier/do-you-keep-pace-with-those-around-you-or-do-you-decide-yourself-just/) [Steve Goodier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-goodier/) > [All the people ought to decide, but now most states are tossed on the scrap heap and ignored](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-anderson/all-the-people-ought-to-decide-but-now-most-states-are-tossed-on-the/) [John Anderson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-anderson/) > [Fear is going to be a player in your life, but you get to decide how much!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-carrey/fear-is-going-to-be-a-player-in-your-life-but-you-get-to-decide-how/) [Jim Carrey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-carrey/) > [We cant choose our lives, but we can decide what to do with the joys or griefs were given.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paulo-coelho/we-cant-choose-our-lives-but-we-can-decide-what-to-do-with-the-joys/) [Paulo Coelho](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paulo-coelho/) > [It’s as easy as we choose to make it,” he murmured, pressing his forehead to mine. “At least, this decision is. Nothing’s truly easy,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richelle-mead/it-s-as-easy-as-we-choose-to-make-it-he-murmured-pressing-his/) [Richelle Mead](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richelle-mead/) > [What you believe in, is the life you decide.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/keshia-chante/what-you-believe-in-is-the-life-you-decide/) [Keshia Chante](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/keshia-chante/) > [Heart is decide u want in ur life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/raajni/heart-is-decide-u-want-in-ur-life/) Raajni > [I think hopefully we've got enough brain cells left to decide if our music is really worth something.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/will-champion/i-think-hopefully-we-ve-got-enough-brain-cells-left-to-decide-if-our/) [Will Champion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/will-champion/) Browse all 1,644 Decide quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Generally you should act somewhere between P40 and P70, as I call it. 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