--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: When your effort is low, you're probably…" description: "\"When your effort is low, you're probably not thinking about the opportunity, you're thinking about the obligation.\" — Eric Thomas" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f74/eric-thomas-1758_effort_when-your-effort-is-low-you-re-probably_2770871.png" --- # When your effort is low, you're probably not thinking… ![“When your effort is low, you're probably not thinking about the opportunity, you're thinking about the obligation.” quote by Eric Thomas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f74/eric-thomas-1758_effort_when-your-effort-is-low-you-re-probably_2770871.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f74/eric-thomas-1758_effort_when-your-effort-is-low-you-re-probably_2770871.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f74/eric-thomas-1758_effort_when-your-effort-is-low-you-re-probably_2770871.png) > “When your effort is low, you're probably not thinking about the opportunity, you're thinking about the obligation.” [Eric Thomas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-thomas/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Low effort stems from focusing on obligations rather than opportunities, limiting growth. **In simple terms:** Obligations distract from opportunities. Key Takeaway Shift focus to opportunities. Themes motivation opportunity mindset Mood energetic direct Type motivational practical When to use this quote - career planning - personal development - coaching sessions - time management Key Concepts psychology of effort goal setting Questions to Reflect On - What obligations dominate you? - How can you reframe them? A Different Perspective May oversimplify complex motivations. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Effort](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/effort/) [Effort Low](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/effort-low-3240462/) [Hard work](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hard-work/) [Lows](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/lows/) [Obligation](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/obligation/) [Opportunity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/opportunity/) [Opportunity Thinking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/opportunity-thinking-3240463/) [Thinking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thinking/) [Thinking Obligation](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thinking-obligation-3240461/) [Thinking Opportunity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thinking-opportunity-1663201/) [Training](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/training/) ## Related quotes > [I made the move (to #NYR) thinking about this opportunity, to play in the #StanleyCup Final.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-st-louis/i-made-the-move-to-nyr-thinking-about-this-opportunity-to-play-in-the/) [Martin St. Louis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-st-louis/) > [You always have to be thinking about your opportunity. You always have to be ready.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matt-cassel/you-always-have-to-be-thinking-about-your-opportunity-you-always-have/) [Matt Cassel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matt-cassel/) > [Sometimes the things you plan for and hope for don't end up coming through and the thing you weren't really thinking about is the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laura-allen/sometimes-the-things-you-plan-for-and-hope-for-don-t-end-up-coming/) [Laura Allen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laura-allen/) > [ Quantum Leap Thinking \[is\] an opportunity to get our energy out and target it in the direction of great productivity, leaving us with a… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leon-tec/quantum-leap-thinking-is-an-opportunity-to-get-our-energy-out-and/) [Leon Tec](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leon-tec/) > [We have sunk so low it has become the obligation of every decent, thinking individual to re-state the obvious!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-orwell/we-have-sunk-so-low-it-has-become-the-obligation-of-every-decent/) [George Orwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-orwell/) > [I see the main problem of my life, and indeed anybody's life, as the balancing of competitive freedoms ... a sense of mutual obligations…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rebecca-west/i-see-the-main-problem-of-my-life-and-indeed-anybody-s-life-as-the/) [Rebecca West](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rebecca-west/) > [Benefits received are a delight to us as long as we think we can requite them; when that possibility is far exceeded, they are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tacitus/benefits-received-are-a-delight-to-us-as-long-as-we-think-we-can/) [Tacitus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tacitus/) > [Obligation is what's leading us to toward successful, and what keeps us moving towards the future.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wazim-shaw/obligation-is-what-s-leading-us-to-toward-successful-and-what-keeps/) [Wazim Shaw](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wazim-shaw/) > [Man always travels along precipices... 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This…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rand-paul/i-am-encouraged-president-obama-now-says-he-will-fulfill-his/) [Rand Paul](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rand-paul/) > [Trust is about keeping commitments, but in many instances, circumstances change and organizations therefore shed commitments, things such as retiree medical benefits, pension obligations,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeffrey-pfeffer/trust-is-about-keeping-commitments-but-in-many-instances/) [Jeffrey Pfeffer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeffrey-pfeffer/) > [ Evil cannot be "treated" -- nor should it be. Evil has to \[be\] confronted and destroyed and it matters not why the evil is… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-o-reilly/evil-cannot-be-treated-nor-should-it-be-evil-has-to-be-confronted-and/) [Bill O'Reilly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-o-reilly/) > [It makes no sense to talk of the social obligations of the corporation without reference to its economic obligations. The two are intertwined.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lee-r-raymond/it-makes-no-sense-to-talk-of-the-social-obligations-of-the/) [Lee R. Raymond](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lee-r-raymond/) ## More by Eric Thomas > [Your relationships will either make you or break you and there is no such thing as a neutral relationship. People either inspire you to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-thomas/your-relationships-will-either-make-you-or-break-you-and-there-is-no/) [Eric Thomas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-thomas/) > [At some point in life you have to face your fears.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-thomas/at-some-point-in-life-you-have-to-face-your-fears/) [Eric Thomas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-thomas/) > [When you're great! You attract great! When you're average! You attract average!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-thomas/when-you-re-great-you-attract-great-when-you-re-average-you-attract/) [Eric Thomas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-thomas/) > [“It's not easy, but it's simple.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-thomas/it-s-not-easy-but-it-s-simple/) [Eric Thomas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-thomas/) > [I kind of knew that there were a lot of people that didn't go to church and normally wouldn't listen to people, but they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-thomas/i-kind-of-knew-that-there-were-a-lot-of-people-that-didn-t-go-to/) [Eric Thomas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-thomas/) > [Las Vegas doesn't allow ( tourism ) to dictate the social norms of their community. 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Ask, Believe and Claim It.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-thomas/apply-the-abc-s-of-success-to-your-life-ask-believe-and-claim-it/) [Eric Thomas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-thomas/) > [“IDENTIFY your CHALLENGE area. Describe the thoughts that you commonly have in that area. Describe the things that you commonly say concerning that area…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-thomas/identify-your-challenge-area-describe-the-thoughts-that-you-commonly/) [Eric Thomas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-thomas/) > [If you sleep,you will miss the OPPORTUNITY to be successful](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-thomas/if-you-sleep-you-will-miss-the-opportunity-to-be-successful/) [Eric Thomas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-thomas/) > [Sometimes it ain’t about being the most talented. Sometimes it ain’t about being the smartest. Sometimes it’s not even about working the hardest. Sometimes…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-thomas/sometimes-it-ain-t-about-being-the-most-talented-sometimes-it-ain-t/) [Eric Thomas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-thomas/) > [The difference between those who succeed and fail: not taking advantage of opportunities.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-thomas/the-difference-between-those-who-succeed-and-fail-not-taking/) [Eric Thomas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-thomas/) > [I think my greatest strengths are my hands. I am also good at getting separation from the defender and finding ways to get open.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-thomas/i-think-my-greatest-strengths-are-my-hands-i-am-also-good-at-getting/) [Eric Thomas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-thomas/) [Explore all 210 Eric Thomas quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-thomas/) ## More Effort quotes > [I value the experiences that come with life too much to sit by and not put my full effort into them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-miller/i-value-the-experiences-that-come-with-life-too-much-to-sit-by-and/) [Jim Miller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-miller/) > [An enlightened awareness is within each one of us, right at this moment. 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I also do think about our… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bernie-ecclestone/bernie-ecclestone-is-the-commercial-rights-holder-so-the-more/) [Bernie Ecclestone](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bernie-ecclestone/) > [All efforts to render politics aesthetic culminate in one thing: war.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walter-benjamin/all-efforts-to-render-politics-aesthetic-culminate-in-one-thing-war/) [Walter Benjamin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walter-benjamin/) > [Im tired, tired of putting more effort than you do. Im tired of always having to start the conversation and if I dont, you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/im-tired-tired-of-putting-more-effort-than-you-do-im-tired-of-always/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [It is for the superfluous we sweat.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/seneca-the-younger/it-is-for-the-superfluous-we-sweat/) [Seneca the Younger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/seneca-the-younger/) > [Only alone can you go into eternity. Only alone can you feel the transcendental light. It is not a shared experience because if it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-lenz/only-alone-can-you-go-into-eternity-only-alone-can-you-feel-the/) [Frederick Lenz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-lenz/) > [I love a pocket. I'm about helping women look as good as possible on the least amount of effort. I want versatility and comfort.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stella-mccartney/i-love-a-pocket-i-m-about-helping-women-look-as-good-as-possible-on/) [Stella McCartney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stella-mccartney/) > [I have often spoken of integrity as the most important of these values, realizing that integrity – and personal integrity, at that – is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/verghese-kurien/i-have-often-spoken-of-integrity-as-the-most-important-of-these/) [Verghese Kurien](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/verghese-kurien/) > [Grace is the power of the Holy Spirit coming to us free of charge to enable you to do with ease what you could…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joyce-meyer/grace-is-the-power-of-the-holy-spirit-coming-to-us-free-of-charge-to/) [Joyce Meyer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joyce-meyer/) > [ No wonder that Churchill described this effort \[the British codebreakers working at Bletchley Park\] as "Britian"s secret weapon," a weapon far more effective than… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-hilton/no-wonder-that-churchill-described-this-effort-the-british/) [Peter Hilton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-hilton/) > [“Dreams will come true as long as you give some effort towards your goal”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dayana/dreams-will-come-true-as-long-as-you-give-some-effort-towards-your/) [Dayana](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dayana/) > [I should have liked to get married, but over many decades I have lived essentially alone. I go to sleep when I'm tired, get…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/felix-dennis/i-should-have-liked-to-get-married-but-over-many-decades-i-have-lived/) [Felix Dennis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/felix-dennis/) [Browse all 8,602 Effort quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/effort/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "When your effort is low, you're probably not thinking about the opportunity, you're thinking about the obligation.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Eric Thomas" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-thomas/when-your-effort-is-low-you-re-probably-not-thinking-about-the/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Effort" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-thomas/when-your-effort-is-low-you-re-probably-not-thinking-about-the/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f74/eric-thomas-1758_effort_when-your-effort-is-low-you-re-probably_2770871.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f74/eric-thomas-1758_effort_when-your-effort-is-low-you-re-probably_2770871.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f74/eric-thomas-1758_effort_when-your-effort-is-low-you-re-probably_2770871.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“When your effort is low, you're probably not thinking about the opportunity, you're thinking about the…” — Eric Thomas", "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": "Eric Thomas", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-thomas/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "When your effort is low, you're...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-thomas/when-your-effort-is-low-you-re-probably-not-thinking-about-the/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-thomas/when-your-effort-is-low-you-re-probably-not-thinking-about-the/#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 } } ] } ```