--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Professionals have to decide on which…" description: "\"Professionals have to decide on which subjects they are prepared to give nagging rights\" — David Maister" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ca4/david-maister-24034_giving_professionals-have-to-decide-on-which-su_1047710.jpg" --- # Professionals have to decide on which subjects they are… ![“Professionals have to decide on which subjects they are prepared to give nagging rights” quote by David Maister](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ca4/david-maister-24034_giving_professionals-have-to-decide-on-which-su_1047710.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ca4/david-maister-24034_giving_professionals-have-to-decide-on-which-su_1047710.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ca4/david-maister-24034_giving_professionals-have-to-decide-on-which-su_1047710.jpg) > “Professionals have to decide on which subjects they are prepared to give nagging rights” [David Maister](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-maister/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Professionals must set boundaries on which issues they will tolerate and which they will not. **In simple terms:** Set clear limits on what you accept. Key Takeaway Define your professional boundaries. Themes professionalism boundaries decision‑making Mood pragmatic assertive Type advice inspirational When to use this quote - consulting - legal practice - medical practice Key Concepts ethics scope of work client management Questions to Reflect On - Which issues deserve your attention? - How do you enforce limits? A Different Perspective Too many allowances erode authority. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Giving](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/giving/) [Inspiring](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/inspiring/) [Professionalism](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/professionalism/) [Rights](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/rights/) ## Related quotes > [When we are capable of living in the moment free from the tyranny of "shoulds," free from the nagging sensation that this moment isn't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joan-z-borysenko/when-we-are-capable-of-living-in-the-moment-free-from-the-tyranny-of/) [Joan Z. Borysenko](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joan-z-borysenko/) > [“They had perfected their team nagging to a level where they no longer had to confer and felt they would be wasting their talents…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomm-quackenbush/they-had-perfected-their-team-nagging-to-a-level-where-they-no-longer/) [Thomm Quackenbush](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomm-quackenbush/) > [The weather's cold. My club's bad. My knee hurts. I can't putt no more. I'm off my diet. My wife is nagging me. Other…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/don-zimmer/the-weather-s-cold-my-club-s-bad-my-knee-hurts-i-can-t-putt-no-more-i/) [Don Zimmer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/don-zimmer/) > [Some guys refer to their wife as the old ball 'n chain. I refer to mine as the old nagging cunt.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nikhil-saluja/some-guys-refer-to-their-wife-as-the-old-ball-n-chain-i-refer-to-mine/) [Nikhil Saluja](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nikhil-saluja/) > [“Another nagging little question lodged like a bit of grapeshot in his chest. It was nothing major, but the place where he stored them…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-darnielle/another-nagging-little-question-lodged-like-a-bit-of-grapeshot-in-his/) [John Darnielle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-darnielle/) > [I am thrilled. I love movies. I don't have those nagging, regretful feelings about either of them, it is a miracle.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kristen-stewart/i-am-thrilled-i-love-movies-i-don-t-have-those-nagging-regretful/) [Kristen Stewart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kristen-stewart/) > [At the end of the day, not everyone's going to like what you do. There's always going to be that one person, or many…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/skai-jackson/at-the-end-of-the-day-not-everyone-s-going-to-like-what-you-do-there/) [Skai Jackson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/skai-jackson/) > [“He'd gotten this far on bravado and the time honored tradition of ignoring any inconvenient nagging thoughts, but it wasn't working so well now.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-langlois/he-d-gotten-this-far-on-bravado-and-the-time-honored-tradition-of/) Michael Langlois > [Perhaps, as we say in America, I wanted to find myself. This is an interesting phrase, not current as far as I know in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/perhaps-as-we-say-in-america-i-wanted-to-find-myself-this-is-an/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Senator John McCain, who spent over five years in a Vietnamese POW camp, publicly releases 1,000 pages of medical records. Now people are left…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jon-stewart/senator-john-mccain-who-spent-over-five-years-in-a-vietnamese-pow/) [Jon Stewart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jon-stewart/) > [I date this girl for two years-and then the nagging starts: 'I wanna know your name...'](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-binder/i-date-this-girl-for-two-years-and-then-the-nagging-starts-i-wanna/) [Mike Binder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-binder/) > [Man will have replicated his own intelligence not when he teaches a computer to reason but when he teaches a computer to have a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-breault/man-will-have-replicated-his-own-intelligence-not-when-he-teaches-a/) [Robert Breault](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-breault/) > [A good man likes a hard boss. I don't mean a nagging boss or a grouchy boss. I mean a boss who insists on…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-feather/a-good-man-likes-a-hard-boss-i-don-t-mean-a-nagging-boss-or-a-grouchy/) [William Feather](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-feather/) > [I'm not that kind of wife who would say, 'Learn this' or 'Learn that.' I'm not a nagging wife.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/melania-trump/i-m-not-that-kind-of-wife-who-would-say-learn-this-or-learn-that-i-m/) [Melania Trump](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/melania-trump/) > [“Harping should be limited to musical instruments. - Charmainism”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charmaine-smith-ladd/harping-should-be-limited-to-musical-instruments-charmainism/) [Charmaine Smith Ladd](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charmaine-smith-ladd/) ## More by David Maister > [Before a leader can be accepted, let alone succeed, autonomous professionals must agree to be influenced by that person.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-maister/before-a-leader-can-be-accepted-let-alone-succeed-autonomous/) [David Maister](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-maister/) > [No one can manage you if you don't give them permission to do so. But if you are interested in accomplishing as much as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-maister/no-one-can-manage-you-if-you-don-t-give-them-permission-to-do-so-but/) [David Maister](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-maister/) > [Success comes from doing what you enjoy. If you don't enjoy it, how can it be called success?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-maister/success-comes-from-doing-what-you-enjoy-if-you-don-t-enjoy-it-how-can/) [David Maister](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-maister/) > [The courage to care about your people, your clients, and your career.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-maister/the-courage-to-care-about-your-people-your-clients-and-your-career/) [David Maister](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-maister/) > [What do I have to do to earn and deserve the key relationships that are going to get me where I want to go?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-maister/what-do-i-have-to-do-to-earn-and-deserve-the-key-relationships-that/) [David Maister](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-maister/) > [More than any other factor, it is the people we have to deal with that determine the quality of our work lives.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-maister/more-than-any-other-factor-it-is-the-people-we-have-to-deal-with-that/) [David Maister](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-maister/) > [I will not accept your guidance and critique unless you are supportive and nurturing. On the other hand, you need to be continually demanding.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-maister/i-will-not-accept-your-guidance-and-critique-unless-you-are/) [David Maister](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-maister/) > [Stop teaching students that they are the best and the brightest.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-maister/stop-teaching-students-that-they-are-the-best-and-the-brightest/) [David Maister](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-maister/) > [Left untended, knowledge and skill, like all assets, depreciate in value surprisingly quickly.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-maister/left-untended-knowledge-and-skill-like-all-assets-depreciate-in-value/) [David Maister](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-maister/) > [Professional is not a label you give yourself - it's a description you hope others will apply to you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-maister/professional-is-not-a-label-you-give-yourself-it-s-a-description-you/) [David Maister](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-maister/) > [Truly visionary and successful companies have discovered that there is no conflict between the pursuit of profit and having a pursuit beyond profit.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-maister/truly-visionary-and-successful-companies-have-discovered-that-there/) [David Maister](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-maister/) > [Believe passionately in what you do, and never knowingly compromise your standards and values. Act like a true professional, aiming for true excellence, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-maister/believe-passionately-in-what-you-do-and-never-knowingly-compromise/) [David Maister](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-maister/) > [What you do with your billable time determines your current income, but what you do with your non-billable time determines your future.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-maister/what-you-do-with-your-billable-time-determines-your-current-income/) [David Maister](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-maister/) > [A true professional feels no pressure to run up a client's bill, knowing that any reduction in revenues caused by being efficient will be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-maister/a-true-professional-feels-no-pressure-to-run-up-a-client-s-bill/) [David Maister](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-maister/) > [You cannot and should not try to please everyone. Make sure that the right people like you, and it will be expected that others…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-maister/you-cannot-and-should-not-try-to-please-everyone-make-sure-that-the/) [David Maister](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-maister/) [Explore all 25 David Maister quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-maister/) ## More Giving quotes > [Only within yourself exists the other reality for which you long. I can give you nothing that has not already its being within yourself.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hermann-hesse/only-within-yourself-exists-the-other-reality-for-which-you-long-i/) [Hermann Hesse](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hermann-hesse/) > [The only people who think the Internet is a calamity are people whose lives have been hurt by it; the only people who insist…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chuck-klosterman/the-only-people-who-think-the-internet-is-a-calamity-are-people-whose/) [Chuck Klosterman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chuck-klosterman/) > [True works of art contain their own theory and give us the measurement according to which we should judge them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johann-wolfgang-von-goethe/true-works-of-art-contain-their-own-theory-and-give-us-the/) [Johann Wolfgang von Goethe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johann-wolfgang-von-goethe/) > [Crony capitalism is essentially a condition in which... public officials are giving favours to people in the private sector in payment of political favours.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-greenspan/crony-capitalism-is-essentially-a-condition-in-which-public-officials/) [Alan Greenspan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-greenspan/) > [Some people give you that motivation to work harder simply to get the hell away from wherever they are.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dane-cook/some-people-give-you-that-motivation-to-work-harder-simply-to-get-the/) [Dane Cook](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dane-cook/) > [You've touched people and known it. You've touched people and never may know it. Either way, you have something to give. It is in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laura-schlessinger/you-ve-touched-people-and-known-it-you-ve-touched-people-and-never/) [Laura Schlessinger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laura-schlessinger/) > [I understand that it's the music that keeps me alive... That's my lifeblood. And to give that up for, like, the TV, the cars,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bruce-springsteen/i-understand-that-it-s-the-music-that-keeps-me-alive-that-s-my/) [Bruce Springsteen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bruce-springsteen/) > [I received a beautiful welcome to the world of music. I want to give something back to the younger generation.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/luciano-pavarotti/i-received-a-beautiful-welcome-to-the-world-of-music-i-want-to-give/) [Luciano Pavarotti](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/luciano-pavarotti/) > [Eternal Trinity... mystery deep as the sea, You could give me no greater gift than the gift of Yourself. For You are a fire…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/st-catherine-of-siena/eternal-trinity-mystery-deep-as-the-sea-you-could-give-me-no-greater/) [St. Catherine of Siena](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/st-catherine-of-siena/) > [Faith gives you a certain structure and meaning to your life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/riffat-hassan/faith-gives-you-a-certain-structure-and-meaning-to-your-life/) Riffat Hassan > [Grandma, please. It’s okay. Dad’s doing a great job. I give him kudos for at least being calm and rational, and not losing his…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sherrilyn-kenyon/grandma-please-it-s-okay-dad-s-doing-a-great-job-i-give-him-kudos-for/) [Sherrilyn Kenyon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sherrilyn-kenyon/) > [Most paper money initially existed as a substitute for gold. That's what gave it value. But right now what gives a currency value is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-schiff/most-paper-money-initially-existed-as-a-substitute-for-gold-that-s/) [Peter Schiff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-schiff/) > [Practically all animals which move fast in a homogeneous medium have found means of giving their body a streamlined shape, thereby reducing friction to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/konrad-lorenz/practically-all-animals-which-move-fast-in-a-homogeneous-medium-have/) [Konrad Lorenz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/konrad-lorenz/) > [Give me strength to walk the soft earth, a relative to all that is.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/black-elk/give-me-strength-to-walk-the-soft-earth-a-relative-to-all-that-is/) [Black Elk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/black-elk/) > [I don't think my relationship with the idea of womanhood is that attached to giving birth... like, I'm fully aware that I'll never give…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patti-harrison/i-don-t-think-my-relationship-with-the-idea-of-womanhood-is-that/) [Patti Harrison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patti-harrison/) [Browse all 39,303 Giving quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/giving/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Professionals have to decide on which subjects they are prepared to give nagging rights", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "David Maister" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-maister/professionals-have-to-decide-on-which-subjects-they-are-prepared-to/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Giving" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-maister/professionals-have-to-decide-on-which-subjects-they-are-prepared-to/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ca4/david-maister-24034_giving_professionals-have-to-decide-on-which-su_1047710.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ca4/david-maister-24034_giving_professionals-have-to-decide-on-which-su_1047710.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ca4/david-maister-24034_giving_professionals-have-to-decide-on-which-su_1047710.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Professionals have to decide on which subjects they are prepared to give nagging rights” — David Maister", "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": "David Maister", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-maister/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "Professionals have to decide on which...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-maister/professionals-have-to-decide-on-which-subjects-they-are-prepared-to/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-maister/professionals-have-to-decide-on-which-subjects-they-are-prepared-to/#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 } } ] } ```