--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Instead of my telling people what they…" description: "\"Instead of my telling people what they should be doing, it makes more sense to be an inspiration to them. I'm not perfect by any means. I've done some ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/88d/fergie-3363_action_instead-of-my-telling-people-what-they-s_1342450.jpg" --- # Instead of my telling people what they should be doing, it… ![“Instead of my telling people what they should be doing, it makes more sense to be an inspiration to them. I'm not perfect by any means. I've done some stupid things, and I'm very aware of that. In this day and age, you have to have a sense of humor about it, and at the same time, it's made me a…” quote by Fergie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/88d/fergie-3363_action_instead-of-my-telling-people-what-they-s_1342450.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/88d/fergie-3363_action_instead-of-my-telling-people-what-they-s_1342450.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/88d/fergie-3363_action_instead-of-my-telling-people-what-they-s_1342450.jpg) > “Instead of my telling people what they should be doing, it makes more sense to be an inspiration to them. I'm not perfect by any means. I've done some stupid things, and I'm very aware of that. In this day and age, you have to have a sense of humor about it, and at the same time, it's made me a lot more aware that you have to take responsibility for your actions. For me, it's about staying on the path. If I slip, that's OK; just get back up and keep focused.” [Fergie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fergie/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Inspiring others is more effective than dictating actions; humility and humor help acknowledge mistakes while staying responsible. **In simple terms:** Lead by example, admit flaws, keep moving forward. Key Takeaway Be an inspiring role model. Themes leadership humility responsibility Mood motivational reflective Type inspirational practical When to use this quote - team projects - public speaking - personal setbacks Key Concepts personal growth influence resilience Questions to Reflect On - How can you inspire without preaching? - What humor helps you stay accountable? A Different Perspective Perfection is unattainable; inspiration may not reach everyone. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Action](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/action/) [Age](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/age/) [Done](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/done/) [Focused](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/focused/) [Inspiration](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/inspiration/) [Inspiration Perfect](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/inspiration-perfect-4540074/) [Mean](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mean/) [Not perfect](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/not-perfect/) [Path](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/path/) [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) [Perfect](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/perfect/) [Responsibility](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/responsibility/) [Sense Inspiration](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sense-inspiration-4540075/) [Sense of humor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sense-of-humor/) [Stupid](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/stupid/) [Stupid things](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/stupid-things/) [Taking responsibility](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/taking-responsibility/) [Telling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/telling/) [Telling People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/telling-people/) [This day](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/this-day/) ## Related quotes > [People say bad things about me. I've had people tell me, "You know, Rush, I've been telling people to listen to you and listen…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rush-limbaugh/people-say-bad-things-about-me-i-ve-had-people-tell-me-you-know-rush/) [Rush Limbaugh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rush-limbaugh/) > [I've done some stupid things. 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I knew it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lil-baby/i-was-telling-people-like-my-dawg-gon-be-the-song-that-get-me-out/) [Lil Baby](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lil-baby/) > [Lil Wayne has an ex-wife, 5 baby mommas, 4 girl friends, 3 boos, a partridge in a pear tree, and has the nerve to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lil-wayne/lil-wayne-has-an-ex-wife-5-baby-mommas-4-girl-friends-3-boos-a/) [Lil Wayne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lil-wayne/) > [“I can never resist telling people good news. I mean, why not brighten someone else's life too?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sophie-kinsella/i-can-never-resist-telling-people-good-news-i-mean-why-not-brighten/) [Sophie Kinsella](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sophie-kinsella/) > [Everywhere my sons and I go, we're telling people the good news about Jesus, blowing duck calls, and making people, happy, happy- then down…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/phil-robertson/everywhere-my-sons-and-i-go-we-re-telling-people-the-good-news-about/) [Phil Robertson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/phil-robertson/) > [I don't think it's my personality to be going around telling people what I'm doing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ashley-cole/i-don-t-think-it-s-my-personality-to-be-going-around-telling-people/) [Ashley Cole](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ashley-cole/) > [Telling people at a dinner party you drive a Nissan Almera is like telling them you've got the Ebola virus and you're about to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeremy-clarkson/telling-people-at-a-dinner-party-you-drive-a-nissan-almera-is-like/) [Jeremy Clarkson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeremy-clarkson/) > [I was telling some people in my dressing room some of my other stories, my psychotic break, and blah, blah, blah, and no, they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carrie-fisher/i-was-telling-some-people-in-my-dressing-room-some-of-my-other/) [Carrie Fisher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carrie-fisher/) > [If you're going to be in the business of news and telling people the truth... you've got to be honest. You've got to have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/don-lemon/if-you-re-going-to-be-in-the-business-of-news-and-telling-people-the/) [Don Lemon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/don-lemon/) > [I want people to have a good impression of Israel. I don't feel like I'm an ambassador for my country, but I do talk…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gal-gadot/i-want-people-to-have-a-good-impression-of-israel-i-don-t-feel-like-i/) [Gal Gadot](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gal-gadot/) > [I certainly wouldn't feel safe telling people I was writer.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sophie-dahl/i-certainly-wouldn-t-feel-safe-telling-people-i-was-writer/) [Sophie Dahl](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sophie-dahl/) > [I don't walk around looking into cameras and telling people I'm the best fighter in the world just to hear myself talk. I say…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chael-sonnen/i-don-t-walk-around-looking-into-cameras-and-telling-people-i-m-the/) [Chael Sonnen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chael-sonnen/) ## More by Fergie > [You'd be surprised how addicting high self-esteem is.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fergie/you-d-be-surprised-how-addicting-high-self-esteem-is/) [Fergie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fergie/) > [Wonder if I take you home. Would you still be in love, baby?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fergie/wonder-if-i-take-you-home-would-you-still-be-in-love-baby/) [Fergie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fergie/) > [I keep a journal. I like myself better when I just pour it out. It's easier sometimes, even if you write on a piece…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fergie/i-keep-a-journal-i-like-myself-better-when-i-just-pour-it-out-it-s/) [Fergie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fergie/) > [I've learned to suck in my stomach when photographers are around. 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Like if you see everyone around me - I have my hair and makeup girl, my assistant. They're very calm,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fergie/i-have-my-team-like-if-you-see-everyone-around-me-i-have-my-hair-and/) [Fergie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fergie/) > [I love Nelly. He's such a great performer. He's so hyper and so am I.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fergie/i-love-nelly-he-s-such-a-great-performer-he-s-so-hyper-and-so-am-i/) [Fergie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fergie/) > [I'm very lucky about my family, because they're just a really solid family. I owe everything to them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fergie/i-m-very-lucky-about-my-family-because-they-re-just-a-really-solid/) [Fergie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fergie/) > [I try to work out with my personal trainer for an hour, four times a week - we mainly concentrate on weights and running.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fergie/i-try-to-work-out-with-my-personal-trainer-for-an-hour-four-times-a/) [Fergie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fergie/) > [I work out all the time. Cardio, resistance and a lot of jogging. I love to go hiking. I'm going to invest this in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fergie/i-work-out-all-the-time-cardio-resistance-and-a-lot-of-jogging-i-love/) [Fergie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fergie/) > [Luckily I don't have to buy shoes anymore, because I design them!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fergie/luckily-i-don-t-have-to-buy-shoes-anymore-because-i-design-them/) [Fergie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fergie/) [Explore all 132 Fergie quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fergie/) ## More Action 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/) > [You'd be surprised how hard it can often be to translate an action into an idea.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karl-kraus/you-d-be-surprised-how-hard-it-can-often-be-to-translate-an-action/) [Karl Kraus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karl-kraus/) > [Gratitude isn't just a feeling, it's an action. Expressing gratitude by writing in a journal, taking a photo, or shooting a video creates a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/janice-kaplan/gratitude-isn-t-just-a-feeling-it-s-an-action-expressing-gratitude-by/) [Janice Kaplan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/janice-kaplan/) > [Nothing is so powerful as an insight into human nature... what compulsions drive a man, what instincts dominate his action. If you know these…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-bernbach/nothing-is-so-powerful-as-an-insight-into-human-nature-what/) [William Bernbach](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-bernbach/) > [Every thought I have imprisioned in expression I must free by my deeds](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kahlil-gibran/every-thought-i-have-imprisioned-in-expression-i-must-free-by-my-deeds/) [Kahlil Gibran](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kahlil-gibran/) > [It took me 20 years to buy an electric typewriter, because I was afraid it would be too sensitive. I like to bang the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elmore-leonard/it-took-me-20-years-to-buy-an-electric-typewriter-because-i-was/) [Elmore Leonard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elmore-leonard/) > [Every action that helps us manifest our divine nature more and more is good; every action that retards it is evil.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/swami-vivekananda/every-action-that-helps-us-manifest-our-divine-nature-more-and-more/) [Swami Vivekananda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/swami-vivekananda/) > [As you begin changing your thinking, start immediately to change your behaviour. Begin to act the part of the person you would like to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/as-you-begin-changing-your-thinking-start-immediately-to-change-your/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [It's easy to say, let's go in and get the bad guys. But you have a divided country of Sunnis and Shias. 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