---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The issue is becoming so absorbed in…"
description: "\"“The issue is becoming so absorbed in positioning ourselves ahead of everyone else that life becomes nothing more than an endless strategy.”\" — Craig D..."
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2aa/craig-d-lounsbrough-285_ahead_the-issue-is-becoming-so-absorbed-in-pos_759219.jpg"
---

#  The issue is becoming so absorbed in positioning ourselves…

![“The issue is becoming so absorbed in positioning ourselves ahead of everyone else that life becomes nothing more than an endless strategy.” quote by Craig D. Lounsbrough](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2aa/craig-d-lounsbrough-285_ahead_the-issue-is-becoming-so-absorbed-in-pos_759219.jpg)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2aa/craig-d-lounsbrough-285_ahead_the-issue-is-becoming-so-absorbed-in-pos_759219.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2aa/craig-d-lounsbrough-285_ahead_the-issue-is-becoming-so-absorbed-in-pos_759219.jpg)

> ““The issue is becoming so absorbed in positioning ourselves ahead of everyone else that life becomes nothing more than an endless strategy.””

[Craig D. Lounsbrough](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/craig-d-lounsbrough/)

## About This Quote

This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.

Obsessing over outpacing others turns life into endless strategy, losing meaning.

**In simple terms:** Constant competition empties life.

Key Takeaway

Focus on purpose, not rivalry.

Themes

competition purpose meaninglessness

Mood

critical thoughtful

Type

analysis philosophical

When to use this quote

- career planning
- personal development
- team leadership

Key Concepts

strategic management existential philosophy

Questions to Reflect On

- What drives your need to be ahead?
- How can you find meaning beyond competition?

A Different Perspective

Strategic focus may ignore collaboration benefits.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Ahead](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ahead/) [Ahead Life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ahead-life-964635/) [Endless Strategy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/endless-strategy-5890627/) [Life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/life/) [Life and living](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/life-and-living/) [Life Endless](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/life-endless-333392/) [Positioning Ahead](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/positioning-ahead-5890628/) [Strategy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/strategy/)

## Related quotes

> [I want to go ahead in life and not look back.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sherlyn-chopra/i-want-to-go-ahead-in-life-and-not-look-back/)

[Sherlyn Chopra](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sherlyn-chopra/)

> [I've never looked ahead very much in my life. I've never had any grand plan from the outset. I had no burning ambition to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tracey-ullman/i-ve-never-looked-ahead-very-much-in-my-life-i-ve-never-had-any-grand/)

[Tracey Ullman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tracey-ullman/)

> [When you figure out that you cant have someone, just go ahead with your life and dont think about it](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aruho-marwin-machiaveli/when-you-figure-out-that-you-cant-have-someone-just-go-ahead-with/)

[Aruho Marwin Machiaveli](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aruho-marwin-machiaveli/)

> [Moving ahead, so life won’t pass me by.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-croce/moving-ahead-so-life-won-t-pass-me-by/)

[Jim Croce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-croce/)

> [Always remember that better days are ahead - if not in this life, in the next.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barbara-johnson/always-remember-that-better-days-are-ahead-if-not-in-this-life-in-the/)

[Barbara Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barbara-johnson/)

> [Sometimes you have to let go of what you love most, so you can move ahead with your life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tequilamucho/sometimes-you-have-to-let-go-of-what-you-love-most-so-you-can-move/)

[Tequilamucho](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tequilamucho/)

> [“Step up and move ahead, life is all about moving on and traveling all along like a bird.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/santosh-kalwar/step-up-and-move-ahead-life-is-all-about-moving-on-and-traveling-all/)

[Santosh Kalwar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/santosh-kalwar/)

> [“If you want to get ahead in life, you do less talking and do more working.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-taskinsoy/if-you-want-to-get-ahead-in-life-you-do-less-talking-and-do-more/)

[JOHN TASKINSOY](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-taskinsoy/)

> [Aries are often a step ahead of us. A life that is too predictable makes them antsy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/aries-are-often-a-step-ahead-of-us-a-life-that-is-too-predictable/)

[Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/)

> [“Go ahead into life, full-blooded, courageous and leap for the adventure. But you must do it soon—before the summer of your youth has cooled…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ruth-reichl/go-ahead-into-life-full-blooded-courageous-and-leap-for-the-adventure/)

[Ruth Reichl](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ruth-reichl/)

> [We have a choice. We can live in the past and be miserable and unhappy, or we can pick ourselves up and move ahead…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-templeton/we-have-a-choice-we-can-live-in-the-past-and-be-miserable-and-unhappy/)

[John Templeton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-templeton/)

> [I know the struggles that are ahead in my life and I know the struggles that are ahead in your life. It's not going…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/glenn-beck/i-know-the-struggles-that-are-ahead-in-my-life-and-i-know-the/)

[Glenn Beck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/glenn-beck/)

> [I've always just sort of bashed ahead with my life and hoped that it would all eventually make some sense.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christina-pickles/i-ve-always-just-sort-of-bashed-ahead-with-my-life-and-hoped-that-it/)

[Christina Pickles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christina-pickles/)

> [I am a positive person, and I want to look ahead in life and do something for my parents and the country.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hima-das/i-am-a-positive-person-and-i-want-to-look-ahead-in-life-and-do/)

[Hima Das](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hima-das/)

> [“While I stood on the front porch, watching him climb into his vehicle, I breathed in the humid air. I looked at the cloudless…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/debra-kay/while-i-stood-on-the-front-porch-watching-him-climb-into-his-vehicle/)

[Debra Kay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/debra-kay/)

## More by Craig D. Lounsbrough

> [“It is not the force of the wind, but the depth of the roots.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/craig-d-lounsbrough/it-is-not-the-force-of-the-wind-but-the-depth-of-the-roots/)

[Craig D. Lounsbrough](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/craig-d-lounsbrough/)

> [“Death is a reality that calls the rest of life and all of our assorted strivings into sharp relief.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/craig-d-lounsbrough/death-is-a-reality-that-calls-the-rest-of-life-and-all-of-our/)

[Craig D. Lounsbrough](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/craig-d-lounsbrough/)

> [“I’m not trying to save you from yourself. I’m trying to help you save yourself from yourself.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/craig-d-lounsbrough/i-m-not-trying-to-save-you-from-yourself-i-m-trying-to-help-you-save/)

[Craig D. Lounsbrough](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/craig-d-lounsbrough/)

> [“The service of self terminates at our own death.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/craig-d-lounsbrough/the-service-of-self-terminates-at-our-own-death/)

[Craig D. Lounsbrough](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/craig-d-lounsbrough/)

> [“The fact that I can get away with something is the very reason why I shouldn’t do it.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/craig-d-lounsbrough/the-fact-that-i-can-get-away-with-something-is-the-very-reason-why-i/)

[Craig D. Lounsbrough](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/craig-d-lounsbrough/)

> [“Rather than being incensed by the nature of the bruise, maybe we should be inspired by the possibilities in the bruise.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/craig-d-lounsbrough/rather-than-being-incensed-by-the-nature-of-the-bruise-maybe-we/)

[Craig D. Lounsbrough](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/craig-d-lounsbrough/)

> [“A ‘good’ father will tenderly cultivate his children. But a ‘good’ father who is also a ‘brave’ father will let the children without cultivate…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/craig-d-lounsbrough/a-good-father-will-tenderly-cultivate-his-children-but-a-good-father/)

[Craig D. Lounsbrough](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/craig-d-lounsbrough/)

> [“It’s better to die for what’s right than live for what’s wrong.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/craig-d-lounsbrough/it-s-better-to-die-for-what-s-right-than-live-for-what-s-wrong/)

[Craig D. Lounsbrough](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/craig-d-lounsbrough/)

> [“To stand at the very moment when all seems lost is the point of insanity for the coward, but it is the home of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/craig-d-lounsbrough/to-stand-at-the-very-moment-when-all-seems-lost-is-the-point-of/)

[Craig D. Lounsbrough](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/craig-d-lounsbrough/)

> [“Thankfulness acknowledges that we can’t own anything, but we can experience everything. And just knowing that makes me thankful.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/craig-d-lounsbrough/thankfulness-acknowledges-that-we-can-t-own-anything-but-we-can/)

[Craig D. Lounsbrough](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/craig-d-lounsbrough/)

> [“Do not be fooled. Passive prayers hastily tossed out as some second-thought appeasement at those junctures when life’s more pressing duties benevolently grant us…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/craig-d-lounsbrough/do-not-be-fooled-passive-prayers-hastily-tossed-out-as-some-second/)

[Craig D. Lounsbrough](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/craig-d-lounsbrough/)

> [“The measure of who you are will always exceed measurement.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/craig-d-lounsbrough/the-measure-of-who-you-are-will-always-exceed-measurement/)

[Craig D. Lounsbrough](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/craig-d-lounsbrough/)

> [“Darkness is the absence of light. Therefore, darkness is always fleeing from where light is and scurrying off to where it is not. So…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/craig-d-lounsbrough/darkness-is-the-absence-of-light-therefore-darkness-is-always-fleeing/)

[Craig D. Lounsbrough](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/craig-d-lounsbrough/)

> [“To recklessly excuse a failure is to believe that I’ve effectively erased it from the story of my life, when I’ve actually imprinted it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/craig-d-lounsbrough/to-recklessly-excuse-a-failure-is-to-believe-that-i-ve-effectively/)

[Craig D. Lounsbrough](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/craig-d-lounsbrough/)

> [“If I’m my biggest fan, the only person in the stadium is probably me.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/craig-d-lounsbrough/if-i-m-my-biggest-fan-the-only-person-in-the-stadium-is-probably-me/)

[Craig D. Lounsbrough](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/craig-d-lounsbrough/)

[Explore all 754 Craig D. Lounsbrough quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/craig-d-lounsbrough/)

## More Ahead quotes

> [Anybody who thinks that they should lead the country should go ahead and put their hat in the ring. I am not among them.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-schatz/anybody-who-thinks-that-they-should-lead-the-country-should-go-ahead/)

[Brian Schatz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-schatz/)

> [If I have a problem with somebody, I go ahead and say what's on my mind.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nico-hulkenberg/if-i-have-a-problem-with-somebody-i-go-ahead-and-say-what-s-on-my-mind/)

[Nico Hulkenberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nico-hulkenberg/)

> [I once invested in a risky business. Quite a few people warned me not to do so, but I still went ahead and invested…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gautam-rode/i-once-invested-in-a-risky-business-quite-a-few-people-warned-me-not/)

[Gautam Rode](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gautam-rode/)

> [“What lies behind us is nothing compared to what lies within us and ahead of us.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-r-covey/what-lies-behind-us-is-nothing-compared-to-what-lies-within-us-and/)

[Stephen R. Covey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-r-covey/)

> [In Life, We May Never Get The Same Opportunity Again, But There's Always Something Better Ahead...](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pacifiersucker/in-life-we-may-never-get-the-same-opportunity-again-but-there-s/)

[Pacifiersucker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pacifiersucker/)

> [Makeup is only fun if it's occasional and capricious - just like it's a treat to have an empty day ahead, but it wouldn't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/victoria-coren-mitchell/makeup-is-only-fun-if-it-s-occasional-and-capricious-just-like-it-s-a/)

[Victoria Coren Mitchell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/victoria-coren-mitchell/)

> [There is no such thing as disposable time if you want to stay ahead of the game](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/there-is-no-such-thing-as-disposable-time-if-you-want-to-stay-ahead/)

[Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/)

> [I'm the kind of guy who comes home and checks scores for everything. I'm a sports fan in general, so I pretty much keep…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chadwick-boseman/i-m-the-kind-of-guy-who-comes-home-and-checks-scores-for-everything-i/)

[Chadwick Boseman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chadwick-boseman/)

> [People are flying you places in business class. Everyone wants to take pictures of you and find out information about you. It's a freak-out.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/yolandi-visser/people-are-flying-you-places-in-business-class-everyone-wants-to-take/)

[Yolandi Visser](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/yolandi-visser/)

> [I wasn't putting my all into it and I was still managing to score goals, and that gave me something to dream about, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andre-gray/i-wasn-t-putting-my-all-into-it-and-i-was-still-managing-to-score/)

[Andre Gray](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andre-gray/)

> [There's no limit to what you can accomplish, but there's always someone one step ahead of you, so it's a constant uphill battle.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/catherine-mary-stewart/there-s-no-limit-to-what-you-can-accomplish-but-there-s-always/)

[Catherine Mary Stewart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/catherine-mary-stewart/)

> [I was never bothered about my position in the industry. If I had believed in it, I wouldn't have allowed anyone to get ahead…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dharmendra/i-was-never-bothered-about-my-position-in-the-industry-if-i-had/)

[Dharmendra](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dharmendra/)

> [I don't want to look too far ahead.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jofra-archer/i-don-t-want-to-look-too-far-ahead/)

[Jofra Archer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jofra-archer/)

> [“one who takes the first step always remains one step ahead”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rabi-shaheen/one-who-takes-the-first-step-always-remains-one-step-ahead/)

[Rabi Shaheen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rabi-shaheen/)

> [I am not interested to sing in Bollywood. I sing for only those actors whom I admire. I sing free of cost for them.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/yo-yo-honey-singh/i-am-not-interested-to-sing-in-bollywood-i-sing-for-only-those-actors/)

[Yo Yo Honey Singh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/yo-yo-honey-singh/)

[Browse all 1,773 Ahead quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ahead/)

```json
{
    "@context": "https://schema.org",
    "@graph": [
        {
            "@type": "Quotation",
            "text": "“The issue is becoming so absorbed in positioning ourselves ahead of everyone else that life becomes nothing more than an endless strategy.”",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "Craig D. Lounsbrough"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/craig-d-lounsbrough/the-issue-is-becoming-so-absorbed-in-positioning-ourselves-ahead-of/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "Ahead"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/craig-d-lounsbrough/the-issue-is-becoming-so-absorbed-in-positioning-ourselves-ahead-of/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2aa/craig-d-lounsbrough-285_ahead_the-issue-is-becoming-so-absorbed-in-pos_759219.jpg",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2aa/craig-d-lounsbrough-285_ahead_the-issue-is-becoming-so-absorbed-in-pos_759219.jpg",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2aa/craig-d-lounsbrough-285_ahead_the-issue-is-becoming-so-absorbed-in-pos_759219.jpg",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“The issue is becoming so absorbed in positioning ourselves ahead of everyone else that life becomes nothing…” — Craig D. Lounsbrough",
                "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": "Craig D. Lounsbrough",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/craig-d-lounsbrough/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 4,
                    "name": "“The issue is becoming so absorbed...",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/craig-d-lounsbrough/the-issue-is-becoming-so-absorbed-in-positioning-ourselves-ahead-of/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/craig-d-lounsbrough/the-issue-is-becoming-so-absorbed-in-positioning-ourselves-ahead-of/#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
            }
        }
    ]
}
```
