--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: What separates those who achieve from…" description: "\"What separates those who achieve from those who do not is in direct proportion to one's ability to ask for help.\" — Donald Keough" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/28d/donald-keough-62133_ability_what-separates-those-who-achieve-from-th_854389.png" --- # What separates those who achieve from those who do not is… ![“What separates those who achieve from those who do not is in direct proportion to one's ability to ask for help.” quote by Donald Keough](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/28d/donald-keough-62133_ability_what-separates-those-who-achieve-from-th_854389.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/28d/donald-keough-62133_ability_what-separates-those-who-achieve-from-th_854389.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/28d/donald-keough-62133_ability_what-separates-those-who-achieve-from-th_854389.png) > “What separates those who achieve from those who do not is in direct proportion to one's ability to ask for help.” [Donald Keough](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donald-keough/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Success hinges on willingness to seek assistance; those who ask for help progress faster than those who try alone. **In simple terms:** Ask for help to succeed. Key Takeaway Don’t fear asking for help. Themes achievement collaboration self‑efficacy Mood motivational practical Type advice inspirational When to use this quote - career advancement - academic projects - personal goals - team sports Key Concepts help‑seeking social support Questions to Reflect On - When is it better to solve problems alone? - How can you balance help‑seeking with self‑reliance? A Different Perspective Over‑reliance on others can hinder independence. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Ability](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ability/) [Ability Ask](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ability-ask-399078/) [Achieve](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/achieve/) [Ask for help](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ask-for-help/) [Ask Help](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ask-help/) [Asks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/asks/) [Direct](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/direct/) [Helping](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/helping/) [Life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/life/) [Motivational](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/motivational/) [Proportion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/proportion/) [Proportion Ability](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/proportion-ability-783918/) [Separates Achieve](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/separates-achieve-783919/) [Success](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/success/) ## Related quotes > [“My income is in direct proportion to my ability to add massive and measurable levels of value to other human beings." ―Mark Anastasi”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erlend-bakke/my-income-is-in-direct-proportion-to-my-ability-to-add-massive-and/) [Erlend Bakke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erlend-bakke/) > [“Our measure of hope is in direct proportion to our ability to conquer hopelessness.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leeann-taylor/our-measure-of-hope-is-in-direct-proportion-to-our-ability-to-conquer/) [LeeAnn Taylor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leeann-taylor/) > [What makes us human, I think, is an ability to ask questions, a consequence of our sophisticated spoken language.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jane-goodall/what-makes-us-human-i-think-is-an-ability-to-ask-questions-a/) [Jane Goodall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jane-goodall/) > [“The ability to ask questions is a virtue and a trait of a free thinker.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sabina-nore/the-ability-to-ask-questions-is-a-virtue-and-a-trait-of-a-free-thinker/) [Sabina Nore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sabina-nore/) > [Don't be afraid to face the facts, and never lose your ability to ask the questions: Why? and How?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/immanuel-velikovsky/don-t-be-afraid-to-face-the-facts-and-never-lose-your-ability-to-ask/) [Immanuel Velikovsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/immanuel-velikovsky/) > [The ability to ask questions is the greatest resource in learning the truth.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carl-jung/the-ability-to-ask-questions-is-the-greatest-resource-in-learning-the/) [Carl Jung](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carl-jung/) > [“I learned that when you ask for help it will always be given. If you try to work with spirit then they will always…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michelle-rathore/i-learned-that-when-you-ask-for-help-it-will-always-be-given-if-you/) [Michelle Rathore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michelle-rathore/) > [In American culture at large, but especially in African American culture, it's a sign of weakness to ask for help.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jesmyn-ward/in-american-culture-at-large-but-especially-in-african-american/) [Jesmyn Ward](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jesmyn-ward/) > [One of the biggest defects in life is the inability to ask for help.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-kiyosaki/one-of-the-biggest-defects-in-life-is-the-inability-to-ask-for-help/) [Robert Kiyosaki](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-kiyosaki/) > [Ask for help when you need it. Even from your parents. There is no shame in needing help.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/ask-for-help-when-you-need-it-even-from-your-parents-there-is-no/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [The best advice I can give to anyone going through a rough patch is to never be afraid to ask for help.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/demi-lovato/the-best-advice-i-can-give-to-anyone-going-through-a-rough-patch-is/) [Demi Lovato](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/demi-lovato/) > [“Most of those who think their strength is gone and ask for help from others do not know that the strength that seems to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mehmet-murat-ildan/most-of-those-who-think-their-strength-is-gone-and-ask-for-help-from/) [Mehmet Murat ildan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mehmet-murat-ildan/) > [Don't be ashamed to ask for help.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/don-t-be-ashamed-to-ask-for-help/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“When you refuse to ask for help, it tells others that they also shouldn't ask for help from you.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marie-lu/when-you-refuse-to-ask-for-help-it-tells-others-that-they-also/) [Marie Lu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marie-lu/) > [When you ask for help listen. It's one thing to ask the question and it's another thing to listen to the answer. Many people…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gary-zukav/when-you-ask-for-help-listen-it-s-one-thing-to-ask-the-question-and/) [Gary Zukav](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gary-zukav/) ## More by Donald Keough > [Some critics will say Coca-Cola made a marketing mistake. Some cynics will say that we planned the whole thing. The truth is we are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donald-keough/some-critics-will-say-coca-cola-made-a-marketing-mistake-some-cynics/) [Donald Keough](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donald-keough/) > [To quit taking risks is a serious risk!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donald-keough/to-quit-taking-risks-is-a-serious-risk/) [Donald Keough](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donald-keough/) > [Don Keough's (CEO Coca-Cola) 11 Rules on "HOW TO LOSE": 1. Stop taking risks 2. Be content 3. Never deviate from what the founder…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donald-keough/don-keough-s-ceo-coca-cola-11-rules-on-how-to-lose-1-stop-taking/) [Donald Keough](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donald-keough/) > [You never stand beside the same river twice; you have to keep looking upstream.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donald-keough/you-never-stand-beside-the-same-river-twice-you-have-to-keep-looking/) [Donald Keough](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donald-keough/) [Explore all 5 Donald Keough quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donald-keough/) ## More Ability quotes > [I don't think there's a direct correlation between my sexuality and my skiing ability. But I think because I was so concerned about it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gus-kenworthy/i-don-t-think-there-s-a-direct-correlation-between-my-sexuality-and/) [Gus Kenworthy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gus-kenworthy/) > [“the importance of ability. 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Holland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeffrey-r-holland/) > [Maybe law enforcement would like the ability to turn on the camera on your Mac.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tim-cook/maybe-law-enforcement-would-like-the-ability-to-turn-on-the-camera-on/) [Tim Cook](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tim-cook/) > [I've seen guys come along with more ability - they've been faster or bigger or stronger - but they never worked hard to develop…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-largent/i-ve-seen-guys-come-along-with-more-ability-they-ve-been-faster-or/) [Steve Largent](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-largent/) > [The youth of India has the strength to move the entire World with a click of a mouse, we have generated that ability!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/narendra-modi/the-youth-of-india-has-the-strength-to-move-the-entire-world-with-a/) [Narendra Modi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/narendra-modi/) > [Time hath not yet so dried this blood of mine, Nor age so eat up my invention, Nor fortune made such havoc of my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-shakespeare/time-hath-not-yet-so-dried-this-blood-of-mine-nor-age-so-eat-up-my/) [William Shakespeare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-shakespeare/) > [An absolutely necessary part of a writer's equipment, almost as necessary as talent, is the ability to stand up under punishment, both the punishment…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/irwin-shaw/an-absolutely-necessary-part-of-a-writer-s-equipment-almost-as/) [Irwin Shaw](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/irwin-shaw/) > [I'd be more frightened by not using whatever abilities I'd been given. I'd be more frightened by procrastination and laziness.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/denzel-washington/i-d-be-more-frightened-by-not-using-whatever-abilities-i-d-been-given/) [Denzel Washington](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/denzel-washington/) > [Bring into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ. Take what I cannot give: my heart, body, thoughts, time, abilities, money, health, strength,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-prentiss/bring-into-captivity-every-thought-to-the-obedience-of-christ-take/) [Elizabeth Prentiss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-prentiss/) > [You can only do the work to the very best of your ability.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christine-baranski/you-can-only-do-the-work-to-the-very-best-of-your-ability/) [Christine Baranski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christine-baranski/) > [Judge a person not by his ability to make money but by his ability to retain it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vikrant-parsai/judge-a-person-not-by-his-ability-to-make-money-but-by-his-ability-to/) [Vikrant Parsai](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vikrant-parsai/) > [Balance is the ability to be happy in the midst of the most chaotic or even boring or transient circumstance.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-lenz/balance-is-the-ability-to-be-happy-in-the-midst-of-the-most-chaotic/) [Frederick Lenz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-lenz/) > [Bobby had faith in my ability as a singer.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julie-london/bobby-had-faith-in-my-ability-as-a-singer/) [Julie London](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julie-london/) [Browse all 9,990 Ability quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ability/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "What separates those who achieve from those who do not is in direct proportion to one's ability to ask for help.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Donald Keough" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donald-keough/what-separates-those-who-achieve-from-those-who-do-not-is-in-direct/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Ability" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donald-keough/what-separates-those-who-achieve-from-those-who-do-not-is-in-direct/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/28d/donald-keough-62133_ability_what-separates-those-who-achieve-from-th_854389.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/28d/donald-keough-62133_ability_what-separates-those-who-achieve-from-th_854389.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/28d/donald-keough-62133_ability_what-separates-those-who-achieve-from-th_854389.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“What separates those who achieve from those who do not is in direct proportion to one's ability to ask for…” — Donald Keough", "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": "Donald Keough", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donald-keough/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "What separates those who achieve from...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donald-keough/what-separates-those-who-achieve-from-those-who-do-not-is-in-direct/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donald-keough/what-separates-those-who-achieve-from-those-who-do-not-is-in-direct/#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 } } ] } ```