--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The day you are not solving problems or…" description: "\"“The day you are not solving problems or are not up to your butt in problems is probably a day you are no longer leading. If your desk is clean and no ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/056/colin-powell-691_leadership_the-day-you-are-not-solving-problems-or_2048288.jpg" --- # The day you are not solving problems or are not up to your… ![“The day you are not solving problems or are not up to your butt in problems is probably a day you are no longer leading. If your desk is clean and no one is bringing you problems, you should be very worried. It means that people don't think you can solve them or don't want to hear about them. Or…” quote by Colin Powell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/056/colin-powell-691_leadership_the-day-you-are-not-solving-problems-or_2048288.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/056/colin-powell-691_leadership_the-day-you-are-not-solving-problems-or_2048288.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/056/colin-powell-691_leadership_the-day-you-are-not-solving-problems-or_2048288.jpg) > ““The day you are not solving problems or are not up to your butt in problems is probably a day you are no longer leading. If your desk is clean and no one is bringing you problems, you should be very worried. It means that people don't think you can solve them or don't want to hear about them. Or, far worse, it means they don't think you care.”” [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. Leadership is measured by the flow of problems to you; a clean desk may signal disengagement or distrust. **In simple terms:** Leaders stay busy solving problems; a clean desk can be warning. Key Takeaway Stay engaged, invite challenges. Themes leadership responsibility trust Mood serious motivational Type advice leadership When to use this quote - project management - team oversight - crisis response Key Concepts problem‑solving visibility accountability Questions to Reflect On - How do you ensure problems reach you appropriately? - When should you delegate to avoid overload? A Different Perspective May cause burnout if over‑loaded. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Leadership](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/leadership/) ## Related quotes > [Leadership is solving problems. The day soldiers stop bringing you their problems is the day you have stopped leading them. They have either lost…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/colin-powell/leadership-is-solving-problems-the-day-soldiers-stop-bringing-you/) [Colin Powell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/colin-powell/) > [“If you are still worried, it means, you have not surrendered yet !”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sri-amma-bhagwan/if-you-are-still-worried-it-means-you-have-not-surrendered-yet/) [Sri Amma Bhagwan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sri-amma-bhagwan/) > [If she is worried about you then that means she cares, If she doesn't care about you that means you should be worried.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-valentine/if-she-is-worried-about-you-then-that-means-she-cares-if-she-doesn-t/) Jonathan Valentine > [When Mexico sends its people, they’re not sending the best...they’re sending people that have lots of problems and they’re bringing those problems. They’re bringing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donald-trump/when-mexico-sends-its-people-they-re-not-sending-the-best-they-re/) [Donald Trump](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donald-trump/) > [When Mexico sends its people, they're not sending their best... They're sending people that have lots of problems, and they're bringing those problems with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donald-trump/when-mexico-sends-its-people-they-re-not-sending-their-best-they-re/) [Donald Trump](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donald-trump/) > [Sometimes being alone is better than hanging out with the persons who just keep bringing problems to your life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bernajoy-vaal/sometimes-being-alone-is-better-than-hanging-out-with-the-persons-who/) [Bernajoy Vaal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bernajoy-vaal/) > [Bringing more problems to yourself would put more worry onto your shoulders](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/bringing-more-problems-to-yourself-would-put-more-worry-onto-your/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [As a parent, when I fail to listen to my kids, when our kids stop bringing us our problems, we have all failed as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/b-j-armstrong/as-a-parent-when-i-fail-to-listen-to-my-kids-when-our-kids-stop/) [B. J. Armstrong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/b-j-armstrong/) > [“Andon works only when you teach your employees the importance of bringing problems to the surface so they can be quickly solved.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeffrey-k-liker/andon-works-only-when-you-teach-your-employees-the-importance-of/) [Jeffrey K. Liker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeffrey-k-liker/) > [Leadership is solving problems.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/colin-powell/leadership-is-solving-problems/) [Colin Powell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/colin-powell/) > [In mathematics, the art of asking questions is more valuable than solving problems.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/georg-cantor/in-mathematics-the-art-of-asking-questions-is-more-valuable-than/) [Georg Cantor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/georg-cantor/) > [I left the Army in 2000 and went into industry before I started appearing on TV in 2003. My best job there was on…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dick-strawbridge/i-left-the-army-in-2000-and-went-into-industry-before-i-started/) [Dick Strawbridge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dick-strawbridge/) > [Money should not, and must not, change our commitment to solving problems and building this state.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dave-freudenthal/money-should-not-and-must-not-change-our-commitment-to-solving/) [Dave Freudenthal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dave-freudenthal/) > [“artificial intelligence is forcing human endeavor away from simple, algorithmic and repetitive tasks towards solving problems and incubating new ideas. It is the human…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gyan-nagpal/artificial-intelligence-is-forcing-human-endeavor-away-from-simple/) [Gyan Nagpal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gyan-nagpal/) > [“DR. OZ SPEAKS OUT FOR TRANSCENDENTAL MEDITATION Toward the end of April, 2012, Dr. Mehmet Oz took center stage at The Dr. Oz Show…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-forem/dr-oz-speaks-out-for-transcendental-meditation-toward-the-end-of/) Jack Forem ## 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. 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/) > [Politics is not bean bags. It's serious, tough stuff.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/colin-powell/politics-is-not-bean-bags-it-s-serious-tough-stuff/) [Colin Powell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/colin-powell/) > [There are no secrets to success: don't waste time looking for them, success is the result of perfection, hard work, learning from failure, loyalty…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/colin-powell/there-are-no-secrets-to-success-don-t-waste-time-looking-for-them/) [Colin Powell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/colin-powell/) > [So like any football or basketball coach, you always always believe you're going to win.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/colin-powell/so-like-any-football-or-basketball-coach-you-always-always-believe/) [Colin Powell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/colin-powell/) > [We hope that more assistance will be available to the nations of the region, to include Egypt, on the three pillars that I discussed…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/colin-powell/we-hope-that-more-assistance-will-be-available-to-the-nations-of-the/) [Colin Powell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/colin-powell/) > [One of the most worrisome things that emerges from the thick intelligence file we have on Iraq's biological weapons is the existence of mobile…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/colin-powell/one-of-the-most-worrisome-things-that-emerges-from-the-thick/) [Colin Powell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/colin-powell/) > [Pissing people off doesn't mean you're doing the right things, but doing the right things will almost inevitably piss people off.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/colin-powell/pissing-people-off-doesn-t-mean-you-re-doing-the-right-things-but/) [Colin Powell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/colin-powell/) > [The less you associate with some people, the more your life will improve. 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 Leadership quotes > [“If you want to build a ship, don’t drum up the men to gather wood, divide the work, and give orders. Instead, teach them…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/antoine-de-saint-exup-ry/if-you-want-to-build-a-ship-don-t-drum-up-the-men-to-gather-wood/) [Antoine de Saint-Exupéry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/antoine-de-saint-exup-ry/) > [It is absolutely necessary... for me to have persons that can think for me, as well as execute orders.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-washington/it-is-absolutely-necessary-for-me-to-have-persons-that-can-think-for/) [George Washington](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-washington/) > [Today, the world looks to America for leadership. And America looks to its Corps of Marines.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ronald-reagan/today-the-world-looks-to-america-for-leadership-and-america-looks-to/) [Ronald Reagan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ronald-reagan/) > [“Under the treaty of Sevres in 1920 Greece had been given Smyrna, and by 1922 the Greek army was trying to push its way…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sebastian-faulks/under-the-treaty-of-sevres-in-1920-greece-had-been-given-smyrna-and/) [Sebastian Faulks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sebastian-faulks/) > [“If you're focused, you can't get bored.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alin-sav/if-you-re-focused-you-can-t-get-bored/) [Alin Sav](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alin-sav/) > [Some people you speak to you speak into their heads. It's logical.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johnny-hunt/some-people-you-speak-to-you-speak-into-their-heads-it-s-logical/) [Johnny Hunt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johnny-hunt/) > [If the media is sending girls the message that their value lies in their bodies, this can only leave them feeling disempowered and distract…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jennifer-siebel-newsom/if-the-media-is-sending-girls-the-message-that-their-value-lies-in/) Jennifer Siebel Newsom > [Leaders need to compromise, negotiate with members of both parties and ideologies, and reform health care the right way - by developing a strong…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-boustany/leaders-need-to-compromise-negotiate-with-members-of-both-parties-and/) [Charles Boustany](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-boustany/) > [If you have a different mindset, you will have a different outcome: if you make different choices from your peers, your life will then…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-ma/if-you-have-a-different-mindset-you-will-have-a-different-outcome-if/) [Jack Ma](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-ma/) > [“If attempting to make the world a civilized one, makes you a bad woman in the eyes of the dumb patriarchal society, then, by…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abhijit-naskar/if-attempting-to-make-the-world-a-civilized-one-makes-you-a-bad-woman/) [Abhijit Naskar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abhijit-naskar/) > [I don't look at myself as a basketball coach. I look at myself as a leader who happens to coach basketball.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-krzyzewski/i-don-t-look-at-myself-as-a-basketball-coach-i-look-at-myself-as-a/) [Mike Krzyzewski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-krzyzewski/) > [No judge can stop us from praying for our country and I pray that on May 6, millions of Americans will join me in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/franklin-graham/no-judge-can-stop-us-from-praying-for-our-country-and-i-pray-that-on/) [Franklin Graham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/franklin-graham/) > [Islam never differentiates between men and women as regards political rights and puts them on an equal footing. However, even if a woman is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/yusuf-al-qaradawi/islam-never-differentiates-between-men-and-women-as-regards-political/) [Yusuf al-Qaradawi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/yusuf-al-qaradawi/) > [You can have Asians being leading men that are sex symbols. You can have leading women powering through.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-golding/you-can-have-asians-being-leading-men-that-are-sex-symbols-you-can/) [Henry Golding](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-golding/) > [“A man who saw has turned blind, A hearer deaf, A leader now leads astray!”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/miriam-lichtheim/a-man-who-saw-has-turned-blind-a-hearer-deaf-a-leader-now-leads-astray/) [Miriam Lichtheim](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/miriam-lichtheim/) [Browse all 20,954 Leadership quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/leadership/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“The day you are not solving problems or are not up to your butt in problems is probably a day you are no longer leading. If your desk is clean and no one is bringing you problems, you should be very worried. It means that people don't think you can solve them or don't want to hear about them. 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