--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Control your own time. Don't let it be…" description: "\"Control your own time. Don't let it be done for you. If you are working off the in-box that is fed you, you are probably working on the priority of oth..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/36b/donald-rumsfeld-1507_boxes_control-your-own-time-don-t-let-it-be-do_570222.png" --- # Control your own time. Don't let it be done for you. If… ![“Control your own time. Don't let it be done for you. If you are working off the in-box that is fed you, you are probably working on the priority of others.” quote by Donald Rumsfeld](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/36b/donald-rumsfeld-1507_boxes_control-your-own-time-don-t-let-it-be-do_570222.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/36b/donald-rumsfeld-1507_boxes_control-your-own-time-don-t-let-it-be-do_570222.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/36b/donald-rumsfeld-1507_boxes_control-your-own-time-don-t-let-it-be-do_570222.png) > “Control your own time. Don't let it be done for you. If you are working off the in-box that is fed you, you are probably working on the priority of others.” [Donald Rumsfeld](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donald-rumsfeld/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Encourages individuals to control their own schedules and focus on self‑determined priorities rather than merely executing others' tasks. **In simple terms:** Take charge of your time and set your own priorities. Key Takeaway Avoid being a passive executor; set personal goals. Themes productivity autonomy leadership focus time management Mood motivational assertive Type leadership productivity When to use this quote - project planning - personal time management - team leadership - career development Key Concepts Self‑direction priority setting efficiency Questions to Reflect On - What tasks can you claim ownership of? - How do you balance personal and team priorities? A Different Perspective May ignore collaborative needs and interdependence in organizations. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Control](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/control/) [Feds](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/feds/) [Priorities](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/priorities/) [Time](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/time/) ## Related quotes > [Don't be afraid to let someone go if it's not working. You're not a bad boss. You're not a bad CEO.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/whitney-wolfe-herd/don-t-be-afraid-to-let-someone-go-if-it-s-not-working-you-re-not-a/) [Whitney Wolfe Herd](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/whitney-wolfe-herd/) > [Before you can move in new directions, you must first let go of what's not working for you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alberto-villoldo/before-you-can-move-in-new-directions-you-must-first-let-go-of-what-s/) [Alberto Villoldo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alberto-villoldo/) > [Control your time. If you're working off your in-box, you're working off the priorities of others. Be sure the staff is working on what…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donald-rumsfeld/control-your-time-if-you-re-working-off-your-in-box-you-re-working/) [Donald Rumsfeld](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donald-rumsfeld/) > [“The quality of your life depends on how you take control of your time”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sunday-adelaja/the-quality-of-your-life-depends-on-how-you-take-control-of-your-time/) [Sunday Adelaja](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sunday-adelaja/) > [I just want to be master of my own time. It is ironic that someone in the watch business should not be in control…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johann-rupert/i-just-want-to-be-master-of-my-own-time-it-is-ironic-that-someone-in/) [Johann Rupert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johann-rupert/) > [It gives us more flexibility, so we can do more, but it also creates the expectation of the instant response. It can take away…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ellen-galinsky/it-gives-us-more-flexibility-so-we-can-do-more-but-it-also-creates/) [Ellen Galinsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ellen-galinsky/) > [“And time is something we made up. Digital clocks, quartz watches, atomic clocks don’t measure ‘time’ they are just devices that exhibit change. Clocks…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-gover/and-time-is-something-we-made-up-digital-clocks-quartz-watches-atomic/) martin gover > [You’ve gotta keep control of your time, and you can’t unless you say no. You can’t let people set your agenda in life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/warren-buffett/you-ve-gotta-keep-control-of-your-time-and-you-can-t-unless-you-say/) [Warren Buffett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/warren-buffett/) > ['Efficient' scheduling and control of time are often counterproductive. The efficiency focus creates expectations that clash with the opportunities to develop rich relationships, to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-covey/efficient-scheduling-and-control-of-time-are-often-counterproductive/) [Stephen Covey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-covey/) > [“I am kind of in control and out of control at the same time.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/holly-black/i-am-kind-of-in-control-and-out-of-control-at-the-same-time/) [Holly Black](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/holly-black/) > [“Control the time you have left on this Earth and make it valuable or you will have to live with insufferable pangs of regret…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/control-the-time-you-have-left-on-this-earth-and-make-it-valuable-or/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [The idea of being in control for the sake of control, is not really important to me. If everyone is sharp and doing, you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tina-fey/the-idea-of-being-in-control-for-the-sake-of-control-is-not-really/) [Tina Fey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tina-fey/) > [I'm never in control of my time during the workday.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barbara-corcoran/i-m-never-in-control-of-my-time-during-the-workday/) [Barbara Corcoran](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barbara-corcoran/) > [If I could only control time, I'd go back to the moment we first meet. Not to change anything but to experience it all…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mhargs-abuda/if-i-could-only-control-time-i-d-go-back-to-the-moment-we-first-meet/) Mhargs Abuda > [As you gain control of the mind, you gain control of life and you gain control of your time. It all works together.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-lenz/as-you-gain-control-of-the-mind-you-gain-control-of-life-and-you-gain/) [Frederick Lenz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-lenz/) ## More by Donald Rumsfeld > [Five days or five months, but it certainly isn't going to last longer.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donald-rumsfeld/five-days-or-five-months-but-it-certainly-isn-t-going-to-last-longer/) [Donald Rumsfeld](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donald-rumsfeld/) > [I don't believe anyone that I know in the administration ever said that Iraq had nuclear weapons.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donald-rumsfeld/i-don-t-believe-anyone-that-i-know-in-the-administration-ever-said/) [Donald Rumsfeld](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donald-rumsfeld/) > [I don't think we'll discover anything, myself. I think what will happen is we'll discover people who will tell us where to go find…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donald-rumsfeld/i-don-t-think-we-ll-discover-anything-myself-i-think-what-will-happen/) [Donald Rumsfeld](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donald-rumsfeld/) > [Members of the U.S. House and the U.S. Senate are not there by accident. Each managed to get there for some reason. Learn what…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donald-rumsfeld/members-of-the-u-s-house-and-the-u-s-senate-are-not-there-by-accident/) [Donald Rumsfeld](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donald-rumsfeld/) > [The Federal Government should be the last resort, not the first. Ask if a potential program is truly a federal responsibility or whether it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donald-rumsfeld/the-federal-government-should-be-the-last-resort-not-the-first-ask-if/) [Donald Rumsfeld](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donald-rumsfeld/) > [The price of being close to the President is delivering bad news. 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