--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: And in notes meetings, everyone was so…" description: "\"“And in notes meetings, everyone was so afraid of hurting someone’s feelings that they held back. We had to learn that we weren’t attacking the person,..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8cb/ed-catmull-1553_quote_and-in-notes-meetings-everyone-was-so-af_1207799.jpg" --- # And in notes meetings, everyone was so afraid of hurting… ![“And in notes meetings, everyone was so afraid of hurting someone’s feelings that they held back. We had to learn that we weren’t attacking the person, we were attacking the project. Only then could we create a crucible that boils away everything that’s not working and leaves the strongest framework.” quote by Ed Catmull](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8cb/ed-catmull-1553_quote_and-in-notes-meetings-everyone-was-so-af_1207799.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8cb/ed-catmull-1553_quote_and-in-notes-meetings-everyone-was-so-af_1207799.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8cb/ed-catmull-1553_quote_and-in-notes-meetings-everyone-was-so-af_1207799.jpg) > ““And in notes meetings, everyone was so afraid of hurting someone’s feelings that they held back. We had to learn that we weren’t attacking the person, we were attacking the project. Only then could we create a crucible that boils away everything that’s not working and leaves the strongest framework.”” [Ed Catmull](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ed-catmull/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Effective feedback must target the work, not the person, allowing teams to discard weak ideas and strengthen the best. **In simple terms:** Critique the project, not the people. Key Takeaway Focus criticism on ideas, not individuals. Themes communication feedback team dynamics Mood reflective determined Type leadership team building When to use this quote - product development - creative meetings - team retrospectives Key Concepts psychological safety constructive criticism Questions to Reflect On - How can you separate personal feelings from project critique? - What practices foster safe, honest dialogue? A Different Perspective Feedback can be perceived as personal attack, causing resistance. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Attacking Project](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/attacking-project-3649002/) [Create Crucible](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/create-crucible-3649003/) [Crucible](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/crucible/) [Hurting Feelings](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hurting-feelings/) [Meetings Afraid](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/meetings-afraid-3649001/) ## Related quotes > [Women are often meeker in meetings and afraid to ask for raises and promotions. I've told countless female colleagues to stop apologizing when they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/katharine-weymouth/women-are-often-meeker-in-meetings-and-afraid-to-ask-for-raises-and/) [Katharine Weymouth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/katharine-weymouth/) > [“Someone had to make you,” she explained. “And everyone else seems to be terrified of hurting your feelings. I wouldn’t be your friend if…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sara-c-roethle/someone-had-to-make-you-she-explained-and-everyone-else-seems-to-be/) [Sara C. Roethle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sara-c-roethle/) > [We hold back our true feelings and beliefs, whether it's from a sense of being polite or fear of hurting someone's feelings. But what…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nate-berkus/we-hold-back-our-true-feelings-and-beliefs-whether-it-s-from-a-sense/) [Nate Berkus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nate-berkus/) > [He was right – she was beating herself up about hurting his feelings. The girl was a classic martyr. She’d totally been born in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephenie-meyer/he-was-right-she-was-beating-herself-up-about-hurting-his-feelings/) [Stephenie Meyer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephenie-meyer/) > [When you're famous weird things will happen that end up hurting your feelings. I'll get a letter from somebody I knew a while ago…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fiona-apple/when-you-re-famous-weird-things-will-happen-that-end-up-hurting-your/) [Fiona Apple](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fiona-apple/) > [Sometimes when people say that they cant stand the sight of someone, that means that they cant wait that they cant wait until the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erykah-marshall/sometimes-when-people-say-that-they-cant-stand-the-sight-of-someone/) [Erykah Marshall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erykah-marshall/) > [“Was I really afraid of hurting her feelings? Or was I afraid of her?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bryce-loski/was-i-really-afraid-of-hurting-her-feelings-or-was-i-afraid-of-her/) [Bryce Loski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bryce-loski/) > [If you want to live an authentic, meaningful life, you need to master the art of disappointing and upsetting others, hurting feelings, and living…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cheryl-richardson/if-you-want-to-live-an-authentic-meaningful-life-you-need-to-master/) [Cheryl Richardson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cheryl-richardson/) > [If I could be more vague I'd write more about people in my life, but I hate hurting feelings or making people feel uncomfortable.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/caitlin-rose/if-i-could-be-more-vague-i-d-write-more-about-people-in-my-life-but-i/) [Caitlin Rose](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/caitlin-rose/) > [I don't understand rude people. How can you say something, knowing you're hurting their feelings, and think nothing of it?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/i-don-t-understand-rude-people-how-can-you-say-something-knowing-you/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I'd apologize for hurting your feelings, but I just don't care!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sharee/i-d-apologize-for-hurting-your-feelings-but-i-just-don-t-care/) [Sharee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sharee/) > [In Hollywood, they don't care about hurting anyone's feelings.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-eigenberg/in-hollywood-they-don-t-care-about-hurting-anyone-s-feelings/) [David Eigenberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-eigenberg/) > [Don't worry about hurting my feelings because I guarantee you not one bit of my self esteem is tied up in your acceptance.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/don-t-worry-about-hurting-my-feelings-because-i-guarantee-you-not-one/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Look, I'm human. Sometimes I'm struggling, sometimes I'm hurting, sometimes I have feelings, sometimes I'm heartbroken. I try to do good in the world…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dominique-crenn/look-i-m-human-sometimes-i-m-struggling-sometimes-i-m-hurting/) [Dominique Crenn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dominique-crenn/) > [You say you love her but you keep on hurting her feelings.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sheng-faltiquera/you-say-you-love-her-but-you-keep-on-hurting-her-feelings/) [Sheng Faltiquera](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sheng-faltiquera/) ## More by Ed Catmull > [“So I tell myself that I have time, even when I don’t. As in, ‘Okay, I’m going to proceed as if I have time—I’m…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ed-catmull/so-i-tell-myself-that-i-have-time-even-when-i-don-t-as-in-okay-i-m/) [Ed Catmull](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ed-catmull/) > [“How, then, do you make failure into something people can face without fear? Part of the answer is simple: If we as leaders can…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ed-catmull/how-then-do-you-make-failure-into-something-people-can-face-without/) [Ed Catmull](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ed-catmull/) > [“Andrew Stanton says, adding that on each of his own films, he has made a point of doing this on a smaller scale, separate…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ed-catmull/andrew-stanton-says-adding-that-on-each-of-his-own-films-he-has-made/) [Ed Catmull](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ed-catmull/) > [“This was a success in itself, but it came with an added and unexpected benefit: The act of thinking about the problem and responding…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ed-catmull/this-was-a-success-in-itself-but-it-came-with-an-added-and-unexpected/) [Ed Catmull](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ed-catmull/) > [“This principle eludes most people, but it is critical: You are not your idea, and if you identify too closely with your ideas, you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ed-catmull/this-principle-eludes-most-people-but-it-is-critical-you-are-not-your/) [Ed Catmull](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ed-catmull/) > [“You might say I’m an advocate for humility in leaders. But to be truly humble, those leaders must first understand how many of the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ed-catmull/you-might-say-i-m-an-advocate-for-humility-in-leaders-but-to-be-truly/) [Ed Catmull](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ed-catmull/) > [“Rejecting failure and avoiding mistakes seem like high-minded”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ed-catmull/rejecting-failure-and-avoiding-mistakes-seem-like-high-minded/) [Ed Catmull](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ed-catmull/) > [“The most productive creative sessions allow for the exploration of myriad trains of thought.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ed-catmull/the-most-productive-creative-sessions-allow-for-the-exploration-of/) [Ed Catmull](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ed-catmull/) > [“My rule of thumb is that any time we impose limits or procedures, we should ask how they will aid in enabling people to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ed-catmull/my-rule-of-thumb-is-that-any-time-we-impose-limits-or-procedures-we/) [Ed Catmull](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ed-catmull/) > [“Toy Story went on to become the top-grossing film of the year and would earn $358 million worldwide. But it wasn’t just the numbers…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ed-catmull/toy-story-went-on-to-become-the-top-grossing-film-of-the-year-and/) [Ed Catmull](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ed-catmull/) > [“THERE IS NOTHING quite like ignorance combined with a driving need to succeed to force rapid learning.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ed-catmull/there-is-nothing-quite-like-ignorance-combined-with-a-driving-need-to/) [Ed Catmull](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ed-catmull/) > [“What makes Pixar special is that we acknowledge we will always have problems, many of them hidden from our view; that we work hard…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ed-catmull/what-makes-pixar-special-is-that-we-acknowledge-we-will-always-have/) [Ed Catmull](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ed-catmull/) > [“Every morning, as I walk into Pixar Animation Studios—past the twenty-foot-high sculpture of Luxo Jr., our friendly desk lamp mascot, through the double doors…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ed-catmull/every-morning-as-i-walk-into-pixar-animation-studios-past-the-twenty/) [Ed Catmull](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ed-catmull/) > [“What makes Pixar special is that we acknowledge we will always have problems, many of them hidden from our view; that we work hard…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ed-catmull/what-makes-pixar-special-is-that-we-acknowledge-we-will-always-have-2/) [Ed Catmull](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ed-catmull/) > [“I believe that managers must loosen the controls, not tighten them. They must accept risk; they must trust the people they work with and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ed-catmull/i-believe-that-managers-must-loosen-the-controls-not-tighten-them/) [Ed Catmull](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ed-catmull/) [Explore all 226 Ed Catmull quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ed-catmull/) ## More Crucible quotes > [New York is large, glamorous, easy-going, kindly and incurious, but above all it is a crucible - because it is large enough to be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ford-madox-ford/new-york-is-large-glamorous-easy-going-kindly-and-incurious-but-above/) [Ford Madox Ford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ford-madox-ford/) > [Men since the beginning of time have sought peace...military alliances, balances of power, leagues of nations, all in turn have failed, leaving the only…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/douglas-macarthur/men-since-the-beginning-of-time-have-sought-peace-military-alliances/) [Douglas MacArthur](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/douglas-macarthur/) > [As any opera fan knows, lawyers and judges do not fare well in most operas. Just consider the productions of 'Andrea Chenier,' 'Aida, Norma,'…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karen-decrow/as-any-opera-fan-knows-lawyers-and-judges-do-not-fare-well-in-most/) [Karen DeCrow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karen-decrow/) > [ When I can see my face in it \[the liquid gold in the crucible\] then it is pure. ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amy-carmichael/when-i-can-see-my-face-in-it-the-liquid-gold-in-the-crucible-then-it/) [Amy Carmichael](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amy-carmichael/) > [“Worldbuilding: Giving my characters a crucible in which to form.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cathryn-louis/worldbuilding-giving-my-characters-a-crucible-in-which-to-form/) [Cathryn Louis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cathryn-louis/) > [“Because all books ARE the Book of Job -- man in the crucible like Jack in the Box…”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stanley-elkin/because-all-books-are-the-book-of-job-man-in-the-crucible-like-jack/) [Stanley Elkin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stanley-elkin/) > [But this is predicated upon the man's becoming in very fact an American and nothing but an American. If he tries to keep segregated…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/theodore-roosevelt/but-this-is-predicated-upon-the-man-s-becoming-in-very-fact-an/) [Theodore Roosevelt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/theodore-roosevelt/) > [It is not through the way in which someone speaks about God that I can see whether that person has passed through the crucible…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/simone-weil/it-is-not-through-the-way-in-which-someone-speaks-about-god-that-i/) [Simone Weil](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/simone-weil/) > [With 'Crucible,' any big changes I wanted to make I only had to run by Lucasfilm, not other authors whose stories I might affect.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/troy-denning/with-crucible-any-big-changes-i-wanted-to-make-i-only-had-to-run-by/) [Troy Denning](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/troy-denning/) > [“If the most precious are tried in the fire, are we to escape the crucible? If the diamond must be vexed upon the wheel,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-h-spurgeon/if-the-most-precious-are-tried-in-the-fire-are-we-to-escape-the/) [Charles H. Spurgeon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-h-spurgeon/) > [“They did not arrive alone but were attended by six cohorts, an assortment of dark-suited men so stern and judgmental of mien as to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-keenan/they-did-not-arrive-alone-but-were-attended-by-six-cohorts-an/) [Joe Keenan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-keenan/) > [Professional critics are incapable of distinguishing and appreciating either diamonds in the rough or gold in bars. They are traders, and in literature know…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-joubert/professional-critics-are-incapable-of-distinguishing-and-appreciating/) [Joseph Joubert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-joubert/) > [Only in the crucible of self-mastery can freedom be smelted](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tariq-ramadan/only-in-the-crucible-of-self-mastery-can-freedom-be-smelted/) [Tariq Ramadan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tariq-ramadan/) > [Recognize that the very molecules that make up your body...are traceable to the crucibles that were once the centers of high mass stars that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-degrasse-tyson/recognize-that-the-very-molecules-that-make-up-your-body-are/) [Neil deGrasse Tyson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-degrasse-tyson/) > [In my last year of drama school, I was Abigail in 'The Crucible' and Nina in 'The Seagull,' and I did some Shakespeare with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kimberley-nixon/in-my-last-year-of-drama-school-i-was-abigail-in-the-crucible-and/) [Kimberley Nixon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kimberley-nixon/) [Browse all 112 Crucible quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/crucible/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“And in notes meetings, everyone was so afraid of hurting someone’s feelings that they held back. 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