--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: it was so hard to see what the future…" description: "\"“it was so hard to see what the future held because to perform at this game, you have to be “in the mud,” obsessed with the task at hand. Perspective i..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8e4/doug-glanville-102001_career_it-was-so-hard-to-see-what-the-future-he_203327.jpg" --- # it was so hard to see what the future held because to… ![“it was so hard to see what the future held because to perform at this game, you have to be “in the mud,” obsessed with the task at hand. Perspective is neutralized, stunted so that you can capture only the most relevant, time-sensitive data that will determine how to approach your opponent that…” quote by Doug Glanville](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8e4/doug-glanville-102001_career_it-was-so-hard-to-see-what-the-future-he_203327.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8e4/doug-glanville-102001_career_it-was-so-hard-to-see-what-the-future-he_203327.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8e4/doug-glanville-102001_career_it-was-so-hard-to-see-what-the-future-he_203327.jpg) > ““it was so hard to see what the future held because to perform at this game, you have to be “in the mud,” obsessed with the task at hand. Perspective is neutralized, stunted so that you can capture only the most relevant, time-sensitive data that will determine how to approach your opponent that day. Then you look up and realize your 20-year career has been a collection of days where you couldn’t see tomorrow.”” Doug Glanville ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Focusing on immediate tasks can blind one to future prospects, limiting long-term perspective and career growth. **In simple terms:** Task focus can obscure future vision. Key Takeaway Balance present focus with future planning. Themes career focus perspective future task growth Mood thoughtful motivational Type advice reflective When to use this quote - game preparation - career counseling - goal setting - performance analysis Key Concepts psychology strategic planning sports dynamics Questions to Reflect On - How can you stay aware of future while engaged now? - What habits expand long-term vision? A Different Perspective Overemphasis on present may hinder adaptability. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Career](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/career/) [Job](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/job/) [Legacy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/legacy/) [Perspective](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/perspective/) [Task at hand](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/task-at-hand/) [Time](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/time/) ## Related quotes > [Purpose should determine approach. At the end of the day, it's what we do, not what we purposed to do, that defines our lives…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andy-stanley/purpose-should-determine-approach-at-the-end-of-the-day-it-s-what-we/) [Andy Stanley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andy-stanley/) > [The only reason why we can't see the future is because of what is held in it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ganda-wickliffe/the-only-reason-why-we-can-t-see-the-future-is-because-of-what-is/) [Ganda Wickliffe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ganda-wickliffe/) > [I stared at the creased map on my wall, the thin green line connecting all the places I had read about. There they were,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kami-garcia/i-stared-at-the-creased-map-on-my-wall-the-thin-green-line-connecting/) [Kami Garcia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kami-garcia/) > [“I didn't know exactly what the future held, but I knew we were a team. Parting would not break us.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wendy-higgins/i-didn-t-know-exactly-what-the-future-held-but-i-knew-we-were-a-team/) [Wendy Higgins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wendy-higgins/) > [Do not let the future be held hostage by the past](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neal-a-maxwell/do-not-let-the-future-be-held-hostage-by-the-past/) [Neal A. Maxwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neal-a-maxwell/) > [“I still didn't know what the future held. I didn't have a map or even a plan. But I had learned that's what life…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/linda-francis-lee/i-still-didn-t-know-what-the-future-held-i-didn-t-have-a-map-or-even/) [Linda Francis Lee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/linda-francis-lee/) > [“I didn’t know what the future held in store for me, but I felt hopeful.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/padma-lakshmi/i-didn-t-know-what-the-future-held-in-store-for-me-but-i-felt-hopeful/) [Padma Lakshmi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/padma-lakshmi/) > [“What the future held for her she didn't know. Of two things only she was certain. There would be children-her own or other people's-and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alice-dalgliesh/what-the-future-held-for-her-she-didn-t-know-of-two-things-only-she/) Alice Dalgliesh > [“Getting to the future is always held up by those trying to protect the past.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ziad-k-abdelnour/getting-to-the-future-is-always-held-up-by-those-trying-to-protect/) [Ziad K. Abdelnour](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ziad-k-abdelnour/) > [“Let go of your worries and focus only on the task at hand. The future will be what it will, and fretting about it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-paolini/let-go-of-your-worries-and-focus-only-on-the-task-at-hand-the-future/) [Christopher Paolini](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-paolini/) > [“Mamá was mixing bread dough by the kitchen window, pressing and pulling in a culinary tug of war. It took all her strength to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tess-almend-rez-lojacono/mam-was-mixing-bread-dough-by-the-kitchen-window-pressing-and-pulling/) Tess Almend�rez Lojacono > [“Once taken off one task without completing the transaction, the mind continues to seek closure. Fight to stay focused on the task at hand.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeff-davidson/once-taken-off-one-task-without-completing-the-transaction-the-mind/) [Jeff Davidson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeff-davidson/) > [Game day can be emotional, and there are a lot of ups and downs throughout a game, but as a quarterback, you have to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alex-smith/game-day-can-be-emotional-and-there-are-a-lot-of-ups-and-downs/) [Alex Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alex-smith/) > [“Viagra isn't the only drug being prescribed off-label for women with arousal problems. Los Angeles urologist Jennifer Berman told me some doctors are prescribing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-roach/viagra-isn-t-the-only-drug-being-prescribed-off-label-for-women-with/) [Mary Roach](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-roach/) > [I shaped my reputation in this business and this outlook in this business being singularly focused on the task at hand.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-tomlin/i-shaped-my-reputation-in-this-business-and-this-outlook-in-this/) [Mike Tomlin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-tomlin/) ## More by Doug Glanville > [“As history of any kind will tell us, when human beings get an opportunity to express their individual selves, a few selves will go…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/doug-glanville/as-history-of-any-kind-will-tell-us-when-human-beings-get-an/) Doug Glanville Explore all 2 Doug Glanville quotes ## More Career quotes > [“Don’t allow anyone to pressure you into taking a job in a field that doesn’t feel right in your gut. You are the one…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alison-james/don-t-allow-anyone-to-pressure-you-into-taking-a-job-in-a-field-that/) Alison James > [In every province, the chief occupations, in order of importance, are lovemaking, malicious gossip, and talking nonsense.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/voltaire/in-every-province-the-chief-occupations-in-order-of-importance-are/) [Voltaire](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/voltaire/) > [I think I've had the longest career of strength, focus, and still being able to sell records. I think I'm that guy. I'm still…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nas/i-think-i-ve-had-the-longest-career-of-strength-focus-and-still-being/) [Nas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nas/) > [One needs more than ambition and talent to make a success of anything, really. 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In…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rostam-batmanglij/i-am-a-very-big-fan-of-brian-eno-of-his-work-as-an-artist-and-making/) [Rostam Batmanglij](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rostam-batmanglij/) > [If I can beat a proven champion like Canelo, that will take my career to a different level.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gennady-golovkin/if-i-can-beat-a-proven-champion-like-canelo-that-will-take-my-career/) [Gennady Golovkin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gennady-golovkin/) > [My non-career. My excuse for a career? Honestly, I never think about the word 'career.' I've had managers, the minute they say it to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-verlaine/my-non-career-my-excuse-for-a-career-honestly-i-never-think-about-the/) [Tom Verlaine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-verlaine/) > [“The vocation of a man lies in his vision.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lailah-gifty-akita/the-vocation-of-a-man-lies-in-his-vision/) [Lailah Gifty Akita](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lailah-gifty-akita/) > [I started off as a model maker, so the first part of my career was a model maker and then a motion control camera…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-knoll/i-started-off-as-a-model-maker-so-the-first-part-of-my-career-was-a/) [John Knoll](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-knoll/) > [Growing up I did commercials and things like that, but nothing serious. As I got older, my family is really hardcore into academics. They…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/portia-doubleday/growing-up-i-did-commercials-and-things-like-that-but-nothing-serious/) [Portia Doubleday](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/portia-doubleday/) > [You can have a career and kids who love you. But you have to nurture yourself and find a way to be fulfilled so…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/catherine-reitman/you-can-have-a-career-and-kids-who-love-you-but-you-have-to-nurture/) [Catherine Reitman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/catherine-reitman/) > [As for doing good; that is one of the professions which is full. Moreover I have tried it fairly and, strange as it may…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-david-thoreau/as-for-doing-good-that-is-one-of-the-professions-which-is-full/) [Henry David Thoreau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-david-thoreau/) > [Even though I'm already successful and have a career, it is always good to have your eggs in more than one basket.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/farrah-abraham/even-though-i-m-already-successful-and-have-a-career-it-is-always/) [Farrah Abraham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/farrah-abraham/) [Browse all 11,387 Career quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/career/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“it was so hard to see what the future held because to perform at this game, you have to be “in the mud,” obsessed with the task at hand. 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