--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Ninety-five percent of my work is being…" description: "\"Ninety-five percent of my work is being mayor. But that 5% that nags at all of us - of what's going wrong in this country - I think is best thought out..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f64/eric-garcetti-5068_best_ninety-five-percent-of-my-work-is-being_1803505.jpg" --- # Ninety-five percent of my work is being mayor. But that 5%… ![“Ninety-five percent of my work is being mayor. But that 5% that nags at all of us - of what's going wrong in this country - I think is best thought out not in your own head but by getting out there, being out there, and listening to Americans.” quote by Eric Garcetti](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f64/eric-garcetti-5068_best_ninety-five-percent-of-my-work-is-being_1803505.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f64/eric-garcetti-5068_best_ninety-five-percent-of-my-work-is-being_1803505.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f64/eric-garcetti-5068_best_ninety-five-percent-of-my-work-is-being_1803505.jpg) > “Ninety-five percent of my work is being mayor. But that 5% that nags at all of us - of what's going wrong in this country - I think is best thought out not in your own head but by getting out there, being out there, and listening to Americans.” [Eric Garcetti](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-garcetti/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. A small portion of work involves analyzing national problems, best done by engaging directly with citizens. **In simple terms:** Listen to people to understand issues. Key Takeaway Engage community for insight. Themes civic engagement listening policy analysis Mood hopeful determined Type advice political When to use this quote - town halls - surveys - community forums Key Concepts democracy public service Questions to Reflect On - How can you balance anecdotal input with statistical evidence? - What methods improve citizen feedback? A Different Perspective Direct listening may miss systemic data trends. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Best](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/best/) [Country](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/country/) [Listening](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/listening/) [Listening Americans](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/listening-americans-2051697/) [Mayor Nags](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mayor-nags-2051696/) [Ninety percent](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ninety-percent/) [Percent Work](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/percent-work-1160877/) [Us](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/us/) [Work](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/work/) [Work Mayor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/work-mayor-2051695/) ## Related quotes > [“Ninety percent of my work is crap,” he continued. “Another nine percent is mediocre, and then there are those rare gems that are actually…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/olivia-cunning/ninety-percent-of-my-work-is-crap-he-continued-another-nine-percent/) [Olivia Cunning](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/olivia-cunning/) > [Ninety-nine percent of all work on self is attitudinal.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/e-j-gold/ninety-nine-percent-of-all-work-on-self-is-attitudinal/) [E. J. Gold](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/e-j-gold/) > [Obamacare represents a shocking display of political arrogance. It's about time Washington started listening to Americans' common sense voices.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fred-upton/obamacare-represents-a-shocking-display-of-political-arrogance-it-s/) [Fred Upton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fred-upton/) > [I've spent the last year listening to Americans, and the state of the union that George W. Bush lives in is very different from…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-lieberman/i-ve-spent-the-last-year-listening-to-americans-and-the-state-of-the/) [Joe Lieberman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-lieberman/) > [I always have the fear that, if I don't commit 100 percent to my work, then it's gonna suffer.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joaquin-phoenix/i-always-have-the-fear-that-if-i-don-t-commit-100-percent-to-my-work/) [Joaquin Phoenix](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joaquin-phoenix/) > [“is 100 percent the work of God and, just for that reason, it is to engage 100 percent of the activity of the believer.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-b-jr-gaffin/is-100-percent-the-work-of-god-and-just-for-that-reason-it-is-to/) [Richard B. Jr. Gaffin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-b-jr-gaffin/) > [The average American worker has fifty interruptions a day, of which seventy percent have nothing to do with work.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/w-edwards-deming/the-average-american-worker-has-fifty-interruptions-a-day-of-which/) [W. Edwards Deming](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/w-edwards-deming/) > [Let's face it, 80 percent of the work I do my kids can't see.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-pantoliano/let-s-face-it-80-percent-of-the-work-i-do-my-kids-can-t-see/) [Joe Pantoliano](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-pantoliano/) > [“Economists often talk about the 80/20 Principle, which is the idea that in any situation roughly 80 percent of the “work” will be done…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/economists-often-talk-about-the-80-20-principle-which-is-the-idea-2/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I understand the opposite side of the camera. I have a profound respect for that. I have worked with people who, when you hit…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jake-gyllenhaal/i-understand-the-opposite-side-of-the-camera-i-have-a-profound/) [Jake Gyllenhaal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jake-gyllenhaal/) > [“While you judge me by my outward appearance I am silently doing the same to you, even though there's a ninety-percent chance that in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richelle-e-goodrich/while-you-judge-me-by-my-outward-appearance-i-am-silently-doing-the/) [Richelle E. Goodrich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richelle-e-goodrich/) > [“There's not a branch of publishing or broadcasting that doesn't depend in some way on advertising. It'd be like an aquarium without water. Why,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/haruki-murakami/there-s-not-a-branch-of-publishing-or-broadcasting-that-doesn-t/) [Haruki Murakami](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/haruki-murakami/) > [Ninety-nine percent of getting over a problem is mental.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bernard-hopkins/ninety-nine-percent-of-getting-over-a-problem-is-mental/) [Bernard Hopkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bernard-hopkins/) > [Ninety percent of all human wisdom is the ability to mind your own business.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-a-heinlein/ninety-percent-of-all-human-wisdom-is-the-ability-to-mind-your-own/) [Robert A. Heinlein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-a-heinlein/) > [“Ask anyone; possibly ninety-five percent of their wishes have come true. The unfortunate part is, we all overlook that, and regret all our lives…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/uday-mukerji/ask-anyone-possibly-ninety-five-percent-of-their-wishes-have-come/) [Uday Mukerji](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/uday-mukerji/) ## More by Eric Garcetti > [I think it's really important to talk education, to talk infrastructure, to talk good jobs and the future of work.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-garcetti/i-think-it-s-really-important-to-talk-education-to-talk/) [Eric Garcetti](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-garcetti/) > [I have a piano in my office, and sometimes during meetings, I'll sit down and goof on the keyboard a little bit.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-garcetti/i-have-a-piano-in-my-office-and-sometimes-during-meetings-i-ll-sit/) [Eric Garcetti](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-garcetti/) > [I don't spend much time on the computer at all, so I do most of my email on my phone if I do any…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-garcetti/i-don-t-spend-much-time-on-the-computer-at-all-so-i-do-most-of-my/) [Eric Garcetti](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-garcetti/) > [On my mom's side, the Jewish side of the family, I come from a family of musicians who are pianists, so I've always loved…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-garcetti/on-my-mom-s-side-the-jewish-side-of-the-family-i-come-from-a-family/) [Eric Garcetti](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-garcetti/) > [I don't think you can lead a nation if you don't have a definition of the nation. We have to define, as Democrats, what…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-garcetti/i-don-t-think-you-can-lead-a-nation-if-you-don-t-have-a-definition-of/) [Eric Garcetti](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-garcetti/) > [I'm a typical mutt American. I have an Italian last name. Half-Mexican, half-Jewish.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-garcetti/i-m-a-typical-mutt-american-i-have-an-italian-last-name-half-mexican/) [Eric Garcetti](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-garcetti/) > [Campaigns are these moments of suspended animation where people usually learn how to be friends afterward.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-garcetti/campaigns-are-these-moments-of-suspended-animation-where-people/) [Eric Garcetti](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-garcetti/) > [The idea of red-washing or blue-washing an entire county because a few more people vote one way or the other does a disservice to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-garcetti/the-idea-of-red-washing-or-blue-washing-an-entire-county-because-a/) [Eric Garcetti](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-garcetti/) > [I'm not one of those politicians, to my probably discredit, who thinks very far ahead. It has to feel right to me and not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-garcetti/i-m-not-one-of-those-politicians-to-my-probably-discredit-who-thinks/) [Eric Garcetti](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-garcetti/) > [In presidential elections, I think people focus way too much on ideology.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-garcetti/in-presidential-elections-i-think-people-focus-way-too-much-on/) [Eric Garcetti](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-garcetti/) > [My wife and I are foster parents.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-garcetti/my-wife-and-i-are-foster-parents/) [Eric Garcetti](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-garcetti/) > [Most people will be primarily getting into autonomous vehicles if we look 20, 30 years out. If we mandate that autonomous vehicles have to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-garcetti/most-people-will-be-primarily-getting-into-autonomous-vehicles-if-we/) [Eric Garcetti](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-garcetti/) > [The problem with the Democratic Party is, we're like, 'If we just get another presidential candidate in there, everything will be OK.' We should…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-garcetti/the-problem-with-the-democratic-party-is-we-re-like-if-we-just-get/) [Eric Garcetti](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-garcetti/) > [When President Trump got out of the Paris climate accords, we got 412 cities to say we will do it instead, because we're on…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-garcetti/when-president-trump-got-out-of-the-paris-climate-accords-we-got-412/) [Eric Garcetti](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-garcetti/) > [On things like the minimum wage, where cities as well as states are increasingly looking at income disparity, mayors will have, I think, a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-garcetti/on-things-like-the-minimum-wage-where-cities-as-well-as-states-are/) [Eric Garcetti](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-garcetti/) [Explore all 103 Eric Garcetti quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-garcetti/) ## More Best quotes > [Failures happen. You can't cry over them. 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When I knew I could work with him I was very…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ederson/it-s-no-wonder-pep-is-one-of-the-best-coaches-in-the-world-when-i/) [Ederson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ederson/) > [“Before you were my enemy, you were my best friend.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kresley-cole/before-you-were-my-enemy-you-were-my-best-friend/) [Kresley Cole](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kresley-cole/) > [If we accept being talked to any kind of a way, then we are telling ourselves we are not quite worth the best. And…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maya-angelou/if-we-accept-being-talked-to-any-kind-of-a-way-then-we-are-telling/) [Maya Angelou](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maya-angelou/) > [I want to be perceived as a guy who played his best in all facets, not just scoring. A guy who loved challenges.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-jordan/i-want-to-be-perceived-as-a-guy-who-played-his-best-in-all-facets-not/) [Michael Jordan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-jordan/) > [I feel like I'm the best, but you're not going to get me to say that.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jerry-rice/i-feel-like-i-m-the-best-but-you-re-not-going-to-get-me-to-say-that/) [Jerry Rice](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jerry-rice/) > [Life is where you love people and use things not use people and love things.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/babloo/life-is-where-you-love-people-and-use-things-not-use-people-and-love/) [Babloo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/babloo/) > [With every product, the delta between the brand and the reality determines its power over the minds of consumers, and with Trump, that delta…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rick-wilson/with-every-product-the-delta-between-the-brand-and-the-reality/) [Rick Wilson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rick-wilson/) > [The human element should be the two players on the court, not the officials. The best officials are the ones you never notice. The…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gene-scott/the-human-element-should-be-the-two-players-on-the-court-not-the/) [Gene Scott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gene-scott/) > [I'm looking to fight the best guys in the world.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/yair-rodriguez/i-m-looking-to-fight-the-best-guys-in-the-world/) [Yair Rodriguez](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/yair-rodriguez/) > [Batley and Spen has a high proportion of people working in manufacturing, and we can boast the full range of industries, including high-skilled, precision…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jo-cox/batley-and-spen-has-a-high-proportion-of-people-working-in/) [Jo Cox](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jo-cox/) > [It is no secret that I have read 'The Da Vinci Code' several times. I genuinely believe that 'The Da Vinci Code' and 'Angels…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ashwin-sanghi/it-is-no-secret-that-i-have-read-the-da-vinci-code-several-times-i/) [Ashwin Sanghi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ashwin-sanghi/) > [Any position I was going to be in, I was going to make the best of it. I always do.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-bledsoe/any-position-i-was-going-to-be-in-i-was-going-to-make-the-best-of-it/) [Eric Bledsoe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-bledsoe/) [Browse all 21,674 Best quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/best/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Ninety-five percent of my work is being mayor. 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