--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: If I have three ideas and I'm working on…" description: "\"If I have three ideas and I'm working on one more than the others, that sort of tells me that I should work on that one.\" — Colson Whitehead" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d11/colson-whitehead-1042_ideas_if-i-have-three-ideas-and-i-m-working-on_650690.png" --- # If I have three ideas and I'm working on one more than the… ![“If I have three ideas and I'm working on one more than the others, that sort of tells me that I should work on that one.” quote by Colson Whitehead](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d11/colson-whitehead-1042_ideas_if-i-have-three-ideas-and-i-m-working-on_650690.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d11/colson-whitehead-1042_ideas_if-i-have-three-ideas-and-i-m-working-on_650690.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d11/colson-whitehead-1042_ideas_if-i-have-three-ideas-and-i-m-working-on_650690.png) > “If I have three ideas and I'm working on one more than the others, that sort of tells me that I should work on that one.” [Colson Whitehead](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/colson-whitehead/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Balancing effort reveals which project truly demands attention, suggesting focus on the most demanding task. **In simple terms:** Work on the task that needs the most effort. Key Takeaway Prioritize the hardest work. Themes focus productivity decisionmaking Mood determined analytical Type advice strategic When to use this quote - project management - creative writing - software development - research planning Key Concepts Opportunity cost attention allocation Questions to Reflect On - How do you measure the effort each idea requires? - What risks arise from ignoring less demanding ideas? A Different Perspective Only works if you can accurately gauge effort; may neglect valuable ideas. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Ideas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ideas/) [Ideas Working](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ideas-working-334558/) [Ifs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ifs/) [Should](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/should/) [Tells Work](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/tells-work-2769267/) [Three](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/three/) [Work](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/work/) [Working](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/working/) ## Related quotes > [I work out 3 and half hours a day. I get some of my best ideas while I'm working out.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zayed-khan/i-work-out-3-and-half-hours-a-day-i-get-some-of-my-best-ideas-while-i/) [Zayed Khan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zayed-khan/) > [If somebody tells me to work or exercise, I go the other way. I'll come up with an excuse.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-prine/if-somebody-tells-me-to-work-or-exercise-i-go-the-other-way-i-ll-come/) [John Prine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-prine/) > [I'm biased, but I see people who have great ideas and are working on things that could be successful, but they give up.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/justin-kan/i-m-biased-but-i-see-people-who-have-great-ideas-and-are-working-on/) [Justin Kan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/justin-kan/) > [The ideas I'm working with are ideas I'm committed to. I don't know how to soft-shoe them. I don't know how to make them…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carrie-mae-weems/the-ideas-i-m-working-with-are-ideas-i-m-committed-to-i-don-t-know/) [Carrie Mae Weems](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carrie-mae-weems/) > [Seizing new ground, making connections between people or ideas, working without a map-these are works of art, and if you do them, you are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/seth-godin/seizing-new-ground-making-connections-between-people-or-ideas-working/) [Seth Godin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/seth-godin/) > [I enjoy creating new ideas, working on new creative projects.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-allen/i-enjoy-creating-new-ideas-working-on-new-creative-projects/) [Paul Allen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-allen/) > [Being able to chuck ideas around and bounce ideas off each other with anyone I'm working with is just something I love to do,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benee/being-able-to-chuck-ideas-around-and-bounce-ideas-off-each-other-with/) [Benee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benee/) > [The truth is that one is more frequently blessed with ideas while working.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jerry-uelsmann/the-truth-is-that-one-is-more-frequently-blessed-with-ideas-while/) [Jerry Uelsmann](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jerry-uelsmann/) > [Collaboration is like carbonation for fresh ideas. Working together bubbles up ideas you would not have come up with solo, which gets you further…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/caroline-ghosn/collaboration-is-like-carbonation-for-fresh-ideas-working-together/) [Caroline Ghosn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/caroline-ghosn/) > [I want to keep growing as a writer. I find myself doing unexpected projects and sort of challenging my idea of where I am…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/colson-whitehead/i-want-to-keep-growing-as-a-writer-i-find-myself-doing-unexpected/) [Colson Whitehead](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/colson-whitehead/) > [For three months, when I was 23 years old, I worked as a clerk at Wandsworth Sewer.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sandi-toksvig/for-three-months-when-i-was-23-years-old-i-worked-as-a-clerk-at/) [Sandi Toksvig](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sandi-toksvig/) > [You can't really think about more than one movie at a time. You're thinking about it consciously, and the subconscious is working too, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marshall-brickman/you-can-t-really-think-about-more-than-one-movie-at-a-time-you-re/) [Marshall Brickman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marshall-brickman/) > [I don't like just traveling in for a short time. I've done that before, because sometimes you work for magazines and they have a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-sacco/i-don-t-like-just-traveling-in-for-a-short-time-i-ve-done-that-before/) [Joe Sacco](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-sacco/) > [I can't imagine not working, really. I just think work's more fun than fun.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-quant/i-can-t-imagine-not-working-really-i-just-think-work-s-more-fun-than/) [Mary Quant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-quant/) > [Writing thats not working for a living.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-asprin/writing-thats-not-working-for-a-living/) [Robert Asprin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-asprin/) ## More by Colson Whitehead > [I'd never been much of an athlete, due to a physical condition I'd had since birth (unathleticism). Perhaps if there were a sport centered…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/colson-whitehead/i-d-never-been-much-of-an-athlete-due-to-a-physical-condition-i-d-had/) [Colson Whitehead](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/colson-whitehead/) > [I want to keep growing as a writer. I find myself doing unexpected projects and sort of challenging my idea of where I am…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/colson-whitehead/i-want-to-keep-growing-as-a-writer-i-find-myself-doing-unexpected/) [Colson Whitehead](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/colson-whitehead/) > [“Every Tuesday, James Fulton (and later, Orville Lever) stood in the downstairs drawing room and lectured on the intricacies of his science. Lectured on…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/colson-whitehead/every-tuesday-james-fulton-and-later-orville-lever-stood-in-the/) [Colson Whitehead](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/colson-whitehead/) > [I started writing in the '90s, so I was free to just have an eccentric career and not conform to some idea of what…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/colson-whitehead/i-started-writing-in-the-90s-so-i-was-free-to-just-have-an-eccentric/) [Colson Whitehead](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/colson-whitehead/) > [“Is this the truth of our historic encounter?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/colson-whitehead/is-this-the-truth-of-our-historic-encounter/) [Colson Whitehead](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/colson-whitehead/) > [“The Great War had always been between the white and the black. It always would be. Cora”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/colson-whitehead/the-great-war-had-always-been-between-the-white-and-the-black-it/) [Colson Whitehead](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/colson-whitehead/) > [“The worst sort of scoundrels took up the chase. Drunkards, incorrigibles, poor whites who didn’t even own shoes delighted in this opportunity to scourge…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/colson-whitehead/the-worst-sort-of-scoundrels-took-up-the-chase-drunkards/) [Colson Whitehead](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/colson-whitehead/) > [Don’t go searching for a subject, let your subject find you. You can’t rush inspiration. … Once your subject finds you, it’s like falling…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/colson-whitehead/don-t-go-searching-for-a-subject-let-your-subject-find-you-you-can-t/) [Colson Whitehead](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/colson-whitehead/) > [“its terms? Homer watched her as she dressed, like a valet who had waited on her since the cradle. “I’m caught,” Cora said. “You…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/colson-whitehead/its-terms-homer-watched-her-as-she-dressed-like-a-valet-who-had/) [Colson Whitehead](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/colson-whitehead/) > [These days I find myself wanting to avoid being pigeon-holed, ghettoized, held in a different category than other authors. And when people ask me…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/colson-whitehead/these-days-i-find-myself-wanting-to-avoid-being-pigeon-holed/) [Colson Whitehead](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/colson-whitehead/) > [Part of any book is establishing the rules at the end of the world. My first book, 'The Intuitionist,' takes place in an alternative…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/colson-whitehead/part-of-any-book-is-establishing-the-rules-at-the-end-of-the-world-my/) [Colson Whitehead](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/colson-whitehead/) > [There's always an attack on the sophomore novel from some quarters.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/colson-whitehead/there-s-always-an-attack-on-the-sophomore-novel-from-some-quarters/) [Colson Whitehead](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/colson-whitehead/) > [“All he felt now was envy. These people had expectations. Of the world, of the future, it didn't matter--expectation was such an innovative concept…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/colson-whitehead/all-he-felt-now-was-envy-these-people-had-expectations-of-the-world/) [Colson Whitehead](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/colson-whitehead/) > [Growing up as a product of the black civil-rights movement, I had a lot of different models for black weirdness, whether it's Richard Pryor…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/colson-whitehead/growing-up-as-a-product-of-the-black-civil-rights-movement-i-had-a/) [Colson Whitehead](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/colson-whitehead/) > [Schools don't teach American history that well, especially a lot of black American history.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/colson-whitehead/schools-don-t-teach-american-history-that-well-especially-a-lot-of/) [Colson Whitehead](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/colson-whitehead/) [Explore all 302 Colson Whitehead quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/colson-whitehead/) ## More Ideas quotes > [I think a new world will arise out of the religious mists when we approach our Bible with the idea that it is not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aiden-wilson-tozer/i-think-a-new-world-will-arise-out-of-the-religious-mists-when-we/) [Aiden Wilson Tozer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aiden-wilson-tozer/) > [Companies with cultures that celebrate diverse opinions and encourage the exchange of ideas have an advantage when solving difficult problems. A company that doesn't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/doug-mcmillon/companies-with-cultures-that-celebrate-diverse-opinions-and-encourage/) [Doug McMillon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/doug-mcmillon/) > [You'd be surprised how hard it can often be to translate an action into an idea.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karl-kraus/you-d-be-surprised-how-hard-it-can-often-be-to-translate-an-action/) [Karl Kraus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karl-kraus/) > [I know for my wife and I, we always loved the idea of being young parents. It is an incredibly inspiring and challenging job…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/taylor-hanson/i-know-for-my-wife-and-i-we-always-loved-the-idea-of-being-young/) [Taylor Hanson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/taylor-hanson/) > [That's the great secret of creativity. You treat ideas like cats: you make them follow you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ray-bradbury/that-s-the-great-secret-of-creativity-you-treat-ideas-like-cats-you/) [Ray Bradbury](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ray-bradbury/) > [I've always been fascinated by the idea that there's no such thing as evil; it's all in your point of view. To one group…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eli-roth/i-ve-always-been-fascinated-by-the-idea-that-there-s-no-such-thing-as/) [Eli Roth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eli-roth/) > [The image of blacks usually is one of people who are suffering from hunger, unemployment, and poverty. The idea of them as agents and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/grace-lee-boggs/the-image-of-blacks-usually-is-one-of-people-who-are-suffering-from/) [Grace Lee Boggs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/grace-lee-boggs/) > [It revealed a cruelty that really made one wonder if the universe was such a good idea after all.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeff-lindsay/it-revealed-a-cruelty-that-really-made-one-wonder-if-the-universe-was/) [Jeff Lindsay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeff-lindsay/) > [Sometimes it's just enough for me to have the idea. I don't need to see it through to the end. When it actually happens,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amy-sedaris/sometimes-it-s-just-enough-for-me-to-have-the-idea-i-don-t-need-to/) [Amy Sedaris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amy-sedaris/) > [Love is like that, fragile and light. No wonder it rests upon our hearts in intangible moments, bids us follow fleeting thoughts and ideas…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/love-is-like-that-fragile-and-light-no-wonder-it-rests-upon-our/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [But I already saw no great difference between the psyche and spirituality. To amass knowledge without becoming wise is not my idea of progress…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/m-scott-peck/but-i-already-saw-no-great-difference-between-the-psyche-and/) [M. Scott Peck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/m-scott-peck/) > [Making movies seemed so impossible as far as getting my ideas funded.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/boots-riley/making-movies-seemed-so-impossible-as-far-as-getting-my-ideas-funded/) [Boots Riley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/boots-riley/) > [I am not the avant-garde. I am the artist who comes after the advancing guard. I am more concerned with continuity of ideas and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nathan-oliveira/i-am-not-the-avant-garde-i-am-the-artist-who-comes-after-the/) [Nathan Oliveira](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nathan-oliveira/) > [What is music? Music is language. A human being wants to express ideas in this language, but not ideas that can be translated into…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anton-webern/what-is-music-music-is-language-a-human-being-wants-to-express-ideas/) [Anton Webern](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anton-webern/) > [“What does it mean to be a self-conscious animal? The idea is ludicrous, if it is not monstrous. It means to know that one…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ernest-becker/what-does-it-mean-to-be-a-self-conscious-animal-the-idea-is-ludicrous/) [Ernest Becker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ernest-becker/) [Browse all 24,908 Ideas quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ideas/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "If I have three ideas and I'm working on one more than the others, that sort of tells me that I should work on that one.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Colson Whitehead" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/colson-whitehead/if-i-have-three-ideas-and-i-m-working-on-one-more-than-the-others/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Ideas" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/colson-whitehead/if-i-have-three-ideas-and-i-m-working-on-one-more-than-the-others/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d11/colson-whitehead-1042_ideas_if-i-have-three-ideas-and-i-m-working-on_650690.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d11/colson-whitehead-1042_ideas_if-i-have-three-ideas-and-i-m-working-on_650690.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d11/colson-whitehead-1042_ideas_if-i-have-three-ideas-and-i-m-working-on_650690.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“If I have three ideas and I'm working on one more than the others, that sort of tells me that I should work…” — Colson Whitehead", "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": "Colson Whitehead", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/colson-whitehead/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "If I have three ideas and...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/colson-whitehead/if-i-have-three-ideas-and-i-m-working-on-one-more-than-the-others/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/colson-whitehead/if-i-have-three-ideas-and-i-m-working-on-one-more-than-the-others/#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 } } ] } ```