--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I was single-minded and I had tunnel…" description: "\"I was single-minded and I had tunnel vision. Now it's time for a change.\" — Evelyn Ashford" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/506/evelyn-ashford-31093_change_i-was-single-minded-and-i-had-tunnel-vis_109684.png" --- # I was single-minded and I had tunnel vision. Now it's time… ![“I was single-minded and I had tunnel vision. Now it's time for a change.” quote by Evelyn Ashford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/506/evelyn-ashford-31093_change_i-was-single-minded-and-i-had-tunnel-vis_109684.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/506/evelyn-ashford-31093_change_i-was-single-minded-and-i-had-tunnel-vis_109684.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/506/evelyn-ashford-31093_change_i-was-single-minded-and-i-had-tunnel-vis_109684.png) > “I was single-minded and I had tunnel vision. Now it's time for a change.” [Evelyn Ashford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/evelyn-ashford/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Intense focus can become limiting; recognizing the need for broader perspective invites growth and adaptability. **In simple terms:** Tunnel vision hinders evolution. Key Takeaway Flexibility follows awareness of rigidity. Themes focus growth adaptability self-awareness Mood reflective cautious Type personal advisory When to use this quote - career pivot after years in one role - artist exploring new styles - leader shifting strategy in response to market change Key Concepts cognitive flexibility personal development Practical Applications - Schedule regular reflection to assess whether focus serves goals - Introduce diverse inputs to broaden perspective Questions to Reflect On - How can one balance deep focus with openness to change? - When is it appropriate to maintain tunnel vision? A Different Perspective Sometimes deep focus is essential for mastery; premature change can dilute expertise. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Change](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/change/) [Dreams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/dreams/) [Time](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/time/) [Time for a change](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/time-for-a-change/) [Tunnel vision](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/tunnel-vision/) [Vision](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/vision/) ## Related quotes > [Whenever you do any one thing intensely over a period of time you have to give up other lives you could be living. You…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-jobs/whenever-you-do-any-one-thing-intensely-over-a-period-of-time-you/) [Steve Jobs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-jobs/) > [Learn to see the big picture. Often times we get tunnel vision and lose sight of the big picture and what we're really trying…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-cheeke/learn-to-see-the-big-picture-often-times-we-get-tunnel-vision-and/) [Robert Cheeke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-cheeke/) > [When your child is sick, you have tunnel vision.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nick-cassavetes/when-your-child-is-sick-you-have-tunnel-vision/) [Nick Cassavetes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nick-cassavetes/) > [A lot of people don't understand the building phase. They don't have the blueprint, but we do. With us having the blueprint and knowing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/b-j-the-chicago-kid/a-lot-of-people-don-t-understand-the-building-phase-they-don-t-have/) [B.J. The Chicago Kid](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/b-j-the-chicago-kid/) > [At a certain point, I became a kind of musician that has tunnel vision about jazz. I only listened to jazz and classical music.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/herbie-hancock/at-a-certain-point-i-became-a-kind-of-musician-that-has-tunnel-vision/) [Herbie Hancock](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/herbie-hancock/) > [People who get trapped in the tunnel vision of making money think that is all there is to life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/felix-dennis/people-who-get-trapped-in-the-tunnel-vision-of-making-money-think/) [Felix Dennis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/felix-dennis/) > [A wine goes in my mouth, and I just see it. I see it in three dimensions. The textures. The flavors. The smells. They…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-m-parker-jr/a-wine-goes-in-my-mouth-and-i-just-see-it-i-see-it-in-three/) [Robert M. Parker, Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-m-parker-jr/) > [The main thing is to win. You just try to keep your tunnel vision on to get the team the win.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jennie-finch/the-main-thing-is-to-win-you-just-try-to-keep-your-tunnel-vision-on/) [Jennie Finch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jennie-finch/) > [It takes a lot of time to be a good junkie or alcoholic - you spend hours getting the necessary supplies, then imbibing, then…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joshua-mohr/it-takes-a-lot-of-time-to-be-a-good-junkie-or-alcoholic-you-spend/) [Joshua Mohr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joshua-mohr/) > [Let's face it: Most companies in most industries have a kind of tunnel vision. They chase the same opportunities that everyone else is chasing,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-taylor/let-s-face-it-most-companies-in-most-industries-have-a-kind-of-tunnel/) [Bill Taylor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-taylor/) > [Demanding historical (or scientific) veracity as a prerequisite for truth is another kind of tunnel vision. To do so is to mistake poetry for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-kimball/demanding-historical-or-scientific-veracity-as-a-prerequisite-for/) [Charles Kimball](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-kimball/) > [Maintaining concentration depends on what I call tunnel vision; nothing else in the world exists but the catcher's target, the hitter and my perfect…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nolan-ryan/maintaining-concentration-depends-on-what-i-call-tunnel-vision/) [Nolan Ryan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nolan-ryan/) > [She often had to remind herself that she couldn't do everything alone. She wasn't always the best person for the job. Sometimes she got…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rick-riordan/she-often-had-to-remind-herself-that-she-couldn-t-do-everything-alone/) [Rick Riordan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rick-riordan/) > [When you have your passion, you never even think about other things. It's tunnel vision. You go until you get it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nicola-peltz/when-you-have-your-passion-you-never-even-think-about-other-things-it/) [Nicola Peltz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nicola-peltz/) > [Sometimes the tide is just out. But it always comes back in again. In times of severe distress, we tend to get tunnel vision…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jewel/sometimes-the-tide-is-just-out-but-it-always-comes-back-in-again-in/) [Jewel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jewel/) ## More by Evelyn Ashford > [The fastest way to get me to go out and do something is to tell me no way I can do it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/evelyn-ashford/the-fastest-way-to-get-me-to-go-out-and-do-something-is-to-tell-me-no/) [Evelyn Ashford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/evelyn-ashford/) > [I want to combine a business major with studies in clothing and textiles.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/evelyn-ashford/i-want-to-combine-a-business-major-with-studies-in-clothing-and/) [Evelyn Ashford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/evelyn-ashford/) > [I can't run forever. I decided to go back to school for my degree, because I know now there's more to life than track.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/evelyn-ashford/i-can-t-run-forever-i-decided-to-go-back-to-school-for-my-degree/) [Evelyn Ashford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/evelyn-ashford/) > [I can feel the wind go by when I run. It feels good. It feels fast.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/evelyn-ashford/i-can-feel-the-wind-go-by-when-i-run-it-feels-good-it-feels-fast/) [Evelyn Ashford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/evelyn-ashford/) > [I believe in women. I believe in myself. I believe in my body.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/evelyn-ashford/i-believe-in-women-i-believe-in-myself-i-believe-in-my-body/) [Evelyn Ashford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/evelyn-ashford/) > [I always want to be the best and if I can't, I don't want to run.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/evelyn-ashford/i-always-want-to-be-the-best-and-if-i-can-t-i-don-t-want-to-run/) [Evelyn Ashford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/evelyn-ashford/) > [Now, I talk to athletes who answer questions with a 'yeah'. I realize I used to do that. Or they answer very quickly and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/evelyn-ashford/now-i-talk-to-athletes-who-answer-questions-with-a-yeah-i-realize-i/) [Evelyn Ashford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/evelyn-ashford/) > [Whatever muscles I have are the product of my own hard work and nothing else.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/evelyn-ashford/whatever-muscles-i-have-are-the-product-of-my-own-hard-work-and/) [Evelyn Ashford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/evelyn-ashford/) > [When I'm running fast, I don't feel anything, it's effortless, it's like my feet don't even touch the ground, it's like I'm flying.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/evelyn-ashford/when-i-m-running-fast-i-don-t-feel-anything-it-s-effortless-it-s-like/) [Evelyn Ashford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/evelyn-ashford/) > [I've noticed that since I've been pregnant I see babies everywhere. I love talking to them. I never used to really like kids that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/evelyn-ashford/i-ve-noticed-that-since-i-ve-been-pregnant-i-see-babies-everywhere-i/) [Evelyn Ashford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/evelyn-ashford/) > [I take pride in everything I do. I don't want to be handed anything. I want to earn it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/evelyn-ashford/i-take-pride-in-everything-i-do-i-don-t-want-to-be-handed-anything-i/) [Evelyn Ashford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/evelyn-ashford/) > [I want it all. Fame, fortune and all the commercials there are to do.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/evelyn-ashford/i-want-it-all-fame-fortune-and-all-the-commercials-there-are-to-do/) [Evelyn Ashford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/evelyn-ashford/) > [Before me, sprinters retired at 23 or 24. I run because I still like it, I can make a living, and I feel I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/evelyn-ashford/before-me-sprinters-retired-at-23-or-24-i-run-because-i-still-like-it/) [Evelyn Ashford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/evelyn-ashford/) > [I have a nice family and I'm well rounded.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/evelyn-ashford/i-have-a-nice-family-and-i-m-well-rounded/) [Evelyn Ashford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/evelyn-ashford/) > [I am thrilled to be 31, still running and having my daughter watch me even if it is on TV.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/evelyn-ashford/i-am-thrilled-to-be-31-still-running-and-having-my-daughter-watch-me/) [Evelyn Ashford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/evelyn-ashford/) [Explore all 16 Evelyn Ashford quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/evelyn-ashford/) ## More Change quotes > [Only within yourself exists the other reality for which you long. I can give you nothing that has not already its being within yourself.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hermann-hesse/only-within-yourself-exists-the-other-reality-for-which-you-long-i/) [Hermann Hesse](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hermann-hesse/) > [Life is full of change. That's how we learn and grow.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/life-is-full-of-change-that-s-how-we-learn-and-grow/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I can't believe that I'm sitting in meetings with Steven Spielberg, Tom Hanks, and Annette Bening. I want to take on that responsibility to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roger-ross-williams/i-can-t-believe-that-i-m-sitting-in-meetings-with-steven-spielberg/) [Roger Ross Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roger-ross-williams/) > [“…progress isn't necessarily about change but about things turning out as we want them to”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/phil-hogan/progress-isn-t-necessarily-about-change-but-about-things-turning-out/) Phil Hogan > [Nobody can tell me that no changes are necessary in Washington.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-weld/nobody-can-tell-me-that-no-changes-are-necessary-in-washington/) [William Weld](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-weld/) > [If my campaign is not in the debate, we will not be talking about how we really fix this problem of endless and expanding…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jill-stein/if-my-campaign-is-not-in-the-debate-we-will-not-be-talking-about-how/) [Jill Stein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jill-stein/) > [When you walk down the street of Kabul your values for life changes, they do change.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marco-pierre-white/when-you-walk-down-the-street-of-kabul-your-values-for-life-changes/) [Marco Pierre White](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marco-pierre-white/) > [Your world will change whether or not you choose to change, but you have the power to choose it's direction.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/napoleon-hill/your-world-will-change-whether-or-not-you-choose-to-change-but-you/) [Napoleon Hill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/napoleon-hill/) > [I hope I continue to evolve.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charlotte-flair/i-hope-i-continue-to-evolve/) [Charlotte Flair](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charlotte-flair/) > [“Stay focused on bringing people together and more on positive messaging so that you can be the change you wish to see in the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/germany-kent/stay-focused-on-bringing-people-together-and-more-on-positive/) [Germany Kent](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/germany-kent/) > [The biggest change for me as a mom was realizing I needed to put someone else before me. Now the hardest part about the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kim-alexis/the-biggest-change-for-me-as-a-mom-was-realizing-i-needed-to-put/) [Kim Alexis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kim-alexis/) > [“After the funeral, my life changed. I felt as if time were suddenly precious, water going down an open drain, and I could not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mitch-albom/after-the-funeral-my-life-changed-i-felt-as-if-time-were-suddenly/) [Mitch Albom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mitch-albom/) > [You practice mindfulness, on the one hand, to be calm and peaceful. On the other hand, as you practice mindfulness and live a life…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/you-practice-mindfulness-on-the-one-hand-to-be-calm-and-peaceful-on/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Irish research will contribute to global progress and have the potential to help all countries realise the potential of their land sectors in addressing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/enda-kenny/irish-research-will-contribute-to-global-progress-and-have-the/) [Enda Kenny](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/enda-kenny/) > [No man can change himself into anything from sheer reason; he can only change into what he potentially is.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carl-jung/no-man-can-change-himself-into-anything-from-sheer-reason-he-can-only/) [Carl Jung](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carl-jung/) [Browse all 33,920 Change quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/change/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "I was single-minded and I had tunnel vision. Now it's time for a change.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Evelyn Ashford" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/evelyn-ashford/i-was-single-minded-and-i-had-tunnel-vision-now-it-s-time-for-a-change/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Change" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/evelyn-ashford/i-was-single-minded-and-i-had-tunnel-vision-now-it-s-time-for-a-change/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/506/evelyn-ashford-31093_change_i-was-single-minded-and-i-had-tunnel-vis_109684.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/506/evelyn-ashford-31093_change_i-was-single-minded-and-i-had-tunnel-vis_109684.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/506/evelyn-ashford-31093_change_i-was-single-minded-and-i-had-tunnel-vis_109684.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“I was single-minded and I had tunnel vision. Now it's time for a change.” — Evelyn Ashford", "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": "Evelyn Ashford", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/evelyn-ashford/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "I was single-minded and I had...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/evelyn-ashford/i-was-single-minded-and-i-had-tunnel-vision-now-it-s-time-for-a-change/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/evelyn-ashford/i-was-single-minded-and-i-had-tunnel-vision-now-it-s-time-for-a-change/#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 } } ] } ```