--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: A lot of the work in, say, construction…" description: "\"A lot of the work in, say, construction or restaurants involves visual and motor flexibility. It also requires adaptability, in terms of answering ques..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5d6/david-autor-14811_adaptability_a-lot-of-the-work-in-say-construction-or_2569917.jpg" --- # A lot of the work in, say, construction or restaurants… ![“A lot of the work in, say, construction or restaurants involves visual and motor flexibility. It also requires adaptability, in terms of answering questions, giving people directions, or taking orders.” quote by David Autor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5d6/david-autor-14811_adaptability_a-lot-of-the-work-in-say-construction-or_2569917.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5d6/david-autor-14811_adaptability_a-lot-of-the-work-in-say-construction-or_2569917.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5d6/david-autor-14811_adaptability_a-lot-of-the-work-in-say-construction-or_2569917.jpg) > “A lot of the work in, say, construction or restaurants involves visual and motor flexibility. It also requires adaptability, in terms of answering questions, giving people directions, or taking orders.” [David Autor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-autor/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The quote highlights that many jobs need both visual and motor flexibility, plus the ability to adapt to varied tasks like answering questions or giving directions. **In simple terms:** Jobs need visual, motor, and adaptive skills. Key Takeaway Develop flexible, adaptable skill sets. Themes skill development adaptability workplace dynamics Mood pragmatic insightful Type observational practical When to use this quote - construction - restaurants - customer service - hospitality - field work Key Concepts cognitive flexibility motor skills task switching Questions to Reflect On - How can training programs boost visual‑motor flexibility? - What tools can support adaptability in fast‑paced jobs? A Different Perspective May overlook the role of technology in reducing manual demands. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Adaptability](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/adaptability/) [Construction](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/construction/) [Engineering](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/engineering/) [Flexibility](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/flexibility/) [Giving](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/giving/) [Questions](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/questions/) [Work](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/work/) ## Related quotes > [Performing at the highest level in sports requires adaptability.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abhinav-bindra/performing-at-the-highest-level-in-sports-requires-adaptability/) [Abhinav Bindra](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abhinav-bindra/) > [Flexibility requires an open mind and a welcoming of new alternatives.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/flexibility-requires-an-open-mind-and-a-welcoming-of-new-alternatives/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [There can be no life without change, and to be afraid of what is different or unfamiliar is to be afraid of life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/theodore-roosevelt/there-can-be-no-life-without-change-and-to-be-afraid-of-what-is/) [Theodore Roosevelt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/theodore-roosevelt/) > [“There are very few choices in the life of Childfree people that can’t be undone or changed. Take your best shot at a plan…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jay-zigmont/there-are-very-few-choices-in-the-life-of-childfree-people-that-can-t/) Jay Zigmont > [“Adaptability is flexibility with values.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/virendra-rajput/adaptability-is-flexibility-with-values/) Virendra Rajput > [“I had to reinvent myself a hundred times just to find some peace of mind.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mitta-xinindlu/i-had-to-reinvent-myself-a-hundred-times-just-to-find-some-peace-of/) [Mitta Xinindlu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mitta-xinindlu/) > [Adaptability is key.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marc-andreessen/adaptability-is-key/) [Marc Andreessen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marc-andreessen/) > [“Stay flexible, and open to change.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/izey-victoria-odiase/stay-flexible-and-open-to-change/) [Izey Victoria Odiase](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/izey-victoria-odiase/) > [There's a mindset of flexibility and adaptability that comes with us. We don't mind hardship. We don't mind somebody saying, 'Go in and do…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-f-amos/there-s-a-mindset-of-flexibility-and-adaptability-that-comes-with-us/) [James F. Amos](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-f-amos/) > [Lexical variety, eccentric constructions and punctuation, variant spellings, archaisms, the ability to pile clause on clause, the effortless incorporation of words from other languages:…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donna-tartt/lexical-variety-eccentric-constructions-and-punctuation-variant/) [Donna Tartt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donna-tartt/) > [I've learnt a lot about construction and flexibility from my time at Geox.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patrick-cox/i-ve-learnt-a-lot-about-construction-and-flexibility-from-my-time-at/) [Patrick Cox](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patrick-cox/) > [“Evolution is more about adaptivity than adaptability.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/raheel-farooq/evolution-is-more-about-adaptivity-than-adaptability/) [Raheel Farooq](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/raheel-farooq/) > [We'll have a different set of values, and society will adapt. That doesn't mean these changes are all good, just because we will accept…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-reischauer/we-ll-have-a-different-set-of-values-and-society-will-adapt-that/) Robert Reischauer > [ My contemplation of life and human nature in that secluded place \[cell 54 of Cairo Central Prison\] taught me that he who cannot change… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anwar-sadat/my-contemplation-of-life-and-human-nature-in-that-secluded-place-cell/) [Anwar Sadat](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anwar-sadat/) > [if I can't get what I want - well, I'll want what I can get.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lucy-maud-montgomery/if-i-can-t-get-what-i-want-well-i-ll-want-what-i-can-get/) [Lucy Maud Montgomery](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lucy-maud-montgomery/) ## More by David Autor > [The average worker in 2015 wanting to attain the average living standard in 1915 could do so by working just 17 weeks a year,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-autor/the-average-worker-in-2015-wanting-to-attain-the-average-living/) [David Autor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-autor/) > [I did software development for a while, and I also spent several years directing a nonprofit in San Francisco that did computer education for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-autor/i-did-software-development-for-a-while-and-i-also-spent-several-years/) [David Autor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-autor/) > [China's rise is really a kind of a world historical event. This is the largest country in the world. It has caused a wholesale…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-autor/china-s-rise-is-really-a-kind-of-a-world-historical-event-this-is-the/) [David Autor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-autor/) > [Computers were programmed to swap out error-prone, inconsistent human calculation with digital perfection.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-autor/computers-were-programmed-to-swap-out-error-prone-inconsistent-human/) [David Autor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-autor/) > [The end of the 'tech bubble' in the year 2000 is, of course, widely recognized, as the NASDAQ stock index erased three-quarters of its…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-autor/the-end-of-the-tech-bubble-in-the-year-2000-is-of-course-widely/) [David Autor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-autor/) > [The U.S. tends to export high-tech goods because we have strong comparative advantage there, and we tend to import labor-intensive and less skill-intensive goods…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-autor/the-u-s-tends-to-export-high-tech-goods-because-we-have-strong/) [David Autor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-autor/) > [If I lose my job at a furniture factory where I've worked for decades, no amount of cheaper toys and raincoats at Wal-Mart is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-autor/if-i-lose-my-job-at-a-furniture-factory-where-i-ve-worked-for-decades/) [David Autor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-autor/) > [I'm not yet convinced that we will face an unemployment problem created by AI. There will certainly be some occupations eliminated - drivers of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-autor/i-m-not-yet-convinced-that-we-will-face-an-unemployment-problem/) [David Autor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-autor/) > [Work is what structures adults' lives: it gives us purpose, focus, a set of responsibilities, and an identity. So when people are not participating…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-autor/work-is-what-structures-adults-lives-it-gives-us-purpose-focus-a-set/) [David Autor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-autor/) > [Economists have understood since the Victorian era that the main benefits of trade come from comparative advantage: the idea that people can specialize in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-autor/economists-have-understood-since-the-victorian-era-that-the-main/) [David Autor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-autor/) > [Here's a startling fact: in the 45 years since the introduction of the automated teller machine, those vending machines that dispense cash, the number…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-autor/here-s-a-startling-fact-in-the-45-years-since-the-introduction-of-the/) [David Autor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-autor/) > [Workers and jobs are naturally heterogeneous, and the quality of their interaction when paired is difficult to forecast.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-autor/workers-and-jobs-are-naturally-heterogeneous-and-the-quality-of-their/) [David Autor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-autor/) > [There's never been a better time to be a worker with special skills or the right education, because these people can use technology to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-autor/there-s-never-been-a-better-time-to-be-a-worker-with-special-skills-2/) [David Autor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-autor/) > [There's always new work to do. Adjusting to the rapid pace of technological change creates real challenges, seen most clearly in our polarized labor…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-autor/there-s-always-new-work-to-do-adjusting-to-the-rapid-pace-of/) [David Autor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-autor/) > [Workers are basically supervisors of machines.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-autor/workers-are-basically-supervisors-of-machines/) [David Autor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-autor/) [Explore all 45 David Autor quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-autor/) ## More Adaptability quotes > [if I can't get what I want - well, I'll want what I can get.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lucy-maud-montgomery/if-i-can-t-get-what-i-want-well-i-ll-want-what-i-can-get/) [Lucy Maud Montgomery](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lucy-maud-montgomery/) > [ My contemplation of life and human nature in that secluded place \[cell 54 of Cairo Central Prison\] taught me that he who cannot change… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anwar-sadat/my-contemplation-of-life-and-human-nature-in-that-secluded-place-cell/) [Anwar Sadat](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anwar-sadat/) > [We'll have a different set of values, and society will adapt. That doesn't mean these changes are all good, just because we will accept…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-reischauer/we-ll-have-a-different-set-of-values-and-society-will-adapt-that/) Robert Reischauer > [“Evolution is more about adaptivity than adaptability.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/raheel-farooq/evolution-is-more-about-adaptivity-than-adaptability/) [Raheel Farooq](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/raheel-farooq/) > [I think that human beings have gotten as far as we've gotten because of our adaptability, our ability to adapt, and our ability to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jason-silva/i-think-that-human-beings-have-gotten-as-far-as-we-ve-gotten-because/) [Jason Silva](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jason-silva/) > [“It's a fact— everyone is ignorant in some way or another. Ignorance is our deepest secret. And it is one of the scariest things…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vera-nazarian/it-s-a-fact-everyone-is-ignorant-in-some-way-or-another-ignorance-is/) [Vera Nazarian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vera-nazarian/) > [The fastest thing computers do is go obsolete.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andy-rooney/the-fastest-thing-computers-do-is-go-obsolete/) [Andy Rooney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andy-rooney/) > [Thea was still under the belief that public opinion could be placated; that if you clucked often enough, the hens would mistake you for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/willa-cather/thea-was-still-under-the-belief-that-public-opinion-could-be-placated/) [Willa Cather](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/willa-cather/) > [“adaptability coupled with readiness to flower year after year right from the first, roses are clearly”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maggie-oster/adaptability-coupled-with-readiness-to-flower-year-after-year-right/) [Maggie Oster](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maggie-oster/) > [There's a mindset of flexibility and adaptability that comes with us. We don't mind hardship. We don't mind somebody saying, 'Go in and do…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-f-amos/there-s-a-mindset-of-flexibility-and-adaptability-that-comes-with-us/) [James F. Amos](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-f-amos/) > [“Change is inevitable. Wise leaders anticipate it and adapt quickly.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cynthia-rivard/change-is-inevitable-wise-leaders-anticipate-it-and-adapt-quickly/) Cynthia Rivard > [“Marketing is a never-ending story. It’s about perpetual motion where innovation plays the lead role.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stacey-kehoe/marketing-is-a-never-ending-story-it-s-about-perpetual-motion-where/) [Stacey Kehoe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stacey-kehoe/) > [“...such it is with all human sensations that people become gradually used to everything and this is truly a beneficial gift from nature, because…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/c-j-wagevier/such-it-is-with-all-human-sensations-that-people-become-gradually/) C. J. Wagevier > [“That was certainly a case of snowballing momentum. Who would've thought he'd succeed being that far behind?" "True. This particular assignment was designed to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/yuto-tsukuda/that-was-certainly-a-case-of-snowballing-momentum-who-would-ve/) [Yuto Tsukuda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/yuto-tsukuda/) > [My point was simply that the war on global terrorism is going to be a long one, and we need to adapt as our…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-myers/my-point-was-simply-that-the-war-on-global-terrorism-is-going-to-be-a/) Richard Myers [Browse all 162 Adaptability quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/adaptability/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "A lot of the work in, say, construction or restaurants involves visual and motor flexibility. 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