--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: So if your primary goal is to have a…" description: "\"“So if your primary goal is to have a fully worked out, set-in-stone plan, you are only upping your chances of being unoriginal.”\" — Ed Catmull" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/941/ed-catmull-1553_goals_so-if-your-primary-goal-is-to-have-a-ful_2284654.jpg" --- # So if your primary goal is to have a fully worked out… ![“So if your primary goal is to have a fully worked out, set-in-stone plan, you are only upping your chances of being unoriginal.” quote by Ed Catmull](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/941/ed-catmull-1553_goals_so-if-your-primary-goal-is-to-have-a-ful_2284654.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/941/ed-catmull-1553_goals_so-if-your-primary-goal-is-to-have-a-ful_2284654.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/941/ed-catmull-1553_goals_so-if-your-primary-goal-is-to-have-a-ful_2284654.jpg) > ““So if your primary goal is to have a fully worked out, set-in-stone plan, you are only upping your chances of being unoriginal.”” [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. Rigid, detailed plans limit originality; flexibility encourages creative breakthroughs. **In simple terms:** Strict plans hinder originality; stay adaptable. Key Takeaway Embrace flexible planning for innovation. Themes creativity planning originality flexibility Mood inspirational pragmatic Type business creative When to use this quote - product development - artistic projects - startup strategy - team brainstorming Key Concepts Design thinking risk taking innovation management Questions to Reflect On - How can teams balance structure and flexibility? - What methods keep projects adaptable without chaos? A Different Perspective Too much flexibility can cause scope creep. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Chances Unoriginal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/chances-unoriginal-5344924/) [Goal Fully](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/goal-fully-3721212/) [Goals](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/goals/) [Plan Upping](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/plan-upping-5344926/) [Strategy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/strategy/) [Unoriginal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/unoriginal/) [Upping Chances](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/upping-chances-5344925/) ## Related quotes > [“But I should caution that if you seek to plot out all your moves before you make them—if you put your faith in slow,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ed-catmull/but-i-should-caution-that-if-you-seek-to-plot-out-all-your-moves/) [Ed Catmull](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ed-catmull/) > [“Our ultimate goal is to be fully present for life. It takes practice”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/janet-gallagher-nestor/our-ultimate-goal-is-to-be-fully-present-for-life-it-takes-practice/) [Janet Gallagher Nestor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/janet-gallagher-nestor/) > [“...once you recognize, or admit, that your primary goal is to fully express yourself, you will find the means to achieve the rest of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/warren-bennis/once-you-recognize-or-admit-that-your-primary-goal-is-to-fully/) [Warren Bennis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/warren-bennis/) > [Originality is the one thing which unoriginal minds cannot feel the use of.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-stuart-mill/originality-is-the-one-thing-which-unoriginal-minds-cannot-feel-the/) [John Stuart Mill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-stuart-mill/) > [Sorry if we can't all be unoriginal but I have a mold to break.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeffree-star/sorry-if-we-can-t-all-be-unoriginal-but-i-have-a-mold-to-break/) [Jeffree Star](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeffree-star/) > [“No one is just a victim or a victor. Everyone is somewhere in between. People who go around casting themselves as one or the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/taylor-jenkins-reid/no-one-is-just-a-victim-or-a-victor-everyone-is-somewhere-in-between/) [Taylor Jenkins Reid](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/taylor-jenkins-reid/) > [A good way to have good ideas is by being unoriginal.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bram-cohen/a-good-way-to-have-good-ideas-is-by-being-unoriginal/) [Bram Cohen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bram-cohen/) > [“There's lower wisdom in comment.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/toba-beta/there-s-lower-wisdom-in-comment/) [Toba Beta](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/toba-beta/) > [“When I wrote this song I felt pretty unoriginal because everybody writes love songs, and everybody feels like their love is the most important…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tegan-quin/when-i-wrote-this-song-i-felt-pretty-unoriginal-because-everybody/) [Tegan Quin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tegan-quin/) > [People would come up to me, saying, 'You sound a lot like the lead singer from Queen.' I started wondering, 'Who is this guy…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marc-martel/people-would-come-up-to-me-saying-you-sound-a-lot-like-the-lead/) [Marc Martel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marc-martel/) > [“Truth is unoriginal.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kamand-kojouri/truth-is-unoriginal/) [Kamand Kojouri](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kamand-kojouri/) > [“Man is an unoriginal animal," said Hercule Poirot”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/agatha-christie/man-is-an-unoriginal-animal-said-hercule-poirot/) [Agatha Christie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/agatha-christie/) > [You said, 'I love you.' Why is it that the most unoriginal thing we can say to one another is still the thing we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeanette-winterson/you-said-i-love-you-why-is-it-that-the-most-unoriginal-thing-we-can/) [Jeanette Winterson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeanette-winterson/) > [“Everything seems just alike in these days.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/e-m-forster-2/everything-seems-just-alike-in-these-days/) [E.M. Forster](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/e-m-forster-2/) > [That young people don't have valid thoughts about the world because they haven't been alive long enough is sadly a very popular and, frankly,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tavi-gevinson/that-young-people-don-t-have-valid-thoughts-about-the-world-because/) [Tavi Gevinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tavi-gevinson/) ## 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 Goals quotes > [I always say there are two things to be successful. The first is decide exactly what you want - set your goals - and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-tracy/i-always-say-there-are-two-things-to-be-successful-the-first-is/) [Brian Tracy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-tracy/) > [The costs of the Bush-Obama wars in Iraq and Afghanistan are now estimated to run as high as $4.4 trillion - a major victory…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/noam-chomsky/the-costs-of-the-bush-obama-wars-in-iraq-and-afghanistan-are-now/) [Noam Chomsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/noam-chomsky/) > [Before I debuted, it was my goal to make my debut, and afterwards, I aimed at winning champion titles on television music shows, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hyuna/before-i-debuted-it-was-my-goal-to-make-my-debut-and-afterwards-i/) [Hyuna](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hyuna/) > [I don't really like too much credit. I know nobody's going to believe this, but I'd rather be able to score goals and nobody…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bradley-wright-phillips/i-don-t-really-like-too-much-credit-i-know-nobody-s-going-to-believe/) [Bradley Wright-Phillips](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bradley-wright-phillips/) > [Leo, Cristiano Ronaldo, Neymar, Eden. Every year, you look at their numbers - score goals, assists, minutes - to see they play very well.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pedro/leo-cristiano-ronaldo-neymar-eden-every-year-you-look-at-their/) [Pedro](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pedro/) > [“So Jace is my actual family," Kit said. "But I can't go live with him, because him and his hot girlfriend are going off…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cassandra-clare/so-jace-is-my-actual-family-kit-said-but-i-can-t-go-live-with-him/) [Cassandra Clare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cassandra-clare/) > [The goal of spiritual practice is full recovery, and the only thing you need to recover from is a fractured sense of self.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marianne-williamson/the-goal-of-spiritual-practice-is-full-recovery-and-the-only-thing/) [Marianne Williamson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marianne-williamson/) > [Every drop of rain hits its appointed target.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-newton/every-drop-of-rain-hits-its-appointed-target/) [John Newton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-newton/) > [“Achieving mental harmony is one of the greatest goals and experiences in life.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kambiz-mostofizadeh/achieving-mental-harmony-is-one-of-the-greatest-goals-and-experiences/) [Kambiz Mostofizadeh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kambiz-mostofizadeh/) > [I don't think about the press or the crowds or the other leaders of the race. The focus is only on myself. As soon…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/magdalena-neuner/i-don-t-think-about-the-press-or-the-crowds-or-the-other-leaders-of/) [Magdalena Neuner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/magdalena-neuner/) > [Too many times we flitter our energy into too many goals and in the process don't achieve much. Focus is very important in life.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vaishali-kasture/too-many-times-we-flitter-our-energy-into-too-many-goals-and-in-the/) [Vaishali Kasture](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vaishali-kasture/) > [Plainly, the environment must be a living one, directed by a higher intelligence, arranged by an adult who is prepared for his mission.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maria-montessori/plainly-the-environment-must-be-a-living-one-directed-by-a-higher/) [Maria Montessori](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maria-montessori/) > [According to the best research, less than 3% of Americans have written goals, and less than 1% review and rewrite their goals on a daily basis.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-tracy/according-to-the-best-research-less-than-3-of-americans-have-written/) [Brian Tracy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-tracy/) > [When you have accomplished your goal simply walk away. This is the path way to Heaven.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laozi/when-you-have-accomplished-your-goal-simply-walk-away-this-is-the/) [Laozi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laozi/) > [“What shapes us is not always our achievements but our omissions. Not lies; simply the truths we don’t tell.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/c-j-tudor/what-shapes-us-is-not-always-our-achievements-but-our-omissions-not/) [C.J. Tudor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/c-j-tudor/) [Browse all 21,276 Goals quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/goals/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“So if your primary goal is to have a fully worked out, set-in-stone plan, you are only upping your chances of being unoriginal.”", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Ed Catmull" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ed-catmull/so-if-your-primary-goal-is-to-have-a-fully-worked-out-set-in-stone/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Goals" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ed-catmull/so-if-your-primary-goal-is-to-have-a-fully-worked-out-set-in-stone/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/941/ed-catmull-1553_goals_so-if-your-primary-goal-is-to-have-a-ful_2284654.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/941/ed-catmull-1553_goals_so-if-your-primary-goal-is-to-have-a-ful_2284654.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/941/ed-catmull-1553_goals_so-if-your-primary-goal-is-to-have-a-ful_2284654.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“So if your primary goal is to have a fully worked out, set-in-stone plan, you are only upping your chances…” — Ed Catmull", "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": "Ed Catmull", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ed-catmull/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "“So if your primary goal is...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ed-catmull/so-if-your-primary-goal-is-to-have-a-fully-worked-out-set-in-stone/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ed-catmull/so-if-your-primary-goal-is-to-have-a-fully-worked-out-set-in-stone/#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 } } ] } ```