---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Let’s focus on where you could end up…"
description: "\"Let’s focus on where you could end up, not where you were or are.\" — Gary Cole"
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4b0/gary-cole-9784_ends_let-s-focus-on-where-you-could-end-up-no_2103590.jpg"
---

#  Let’s focus on where you could end up, not where you were…

![“Let’s focus on where you could end up, not where you were or are.” quote by Gary Cole](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4b0/gary-cole-9784_ends_let-s-focus-on-where-you-could-end-up-no_2103590.jpg)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4b0/gary-cole-9784_ends_let-s-focus-on-where-you-could-end-up-no_2103590.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4b0/gary-cole-9784_ends_let-s-focus-on-where-you-could-end-up-no_2103590.jpg)

> “Let’s focus on where you could end up, not where you were or are.”

[Gary Cole](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gary-cole/)

## About This Quote

This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.

Focus on future possibilities rather than past status to motivate progress.

**In simple terms:** Look ahead, not back, to drive growth.

Key Takeaway

Set goals based on desired outcomes.

Themes

goal‑setting future orientation motivation

Mood

hopeful forward‑looking

Type

motivational strategic

When to use this quote

- job search
- personal growth
- entrepreneurship
- education planning

Key Concepts

psychology career development

Questions to Reflect On

- What future outcome excites you most?
- How can past lessons inform future plans?

A Different Perspective

Past experiences still shape present choices.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Focus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/focus/) [Inspirational](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/inspirational/) [Love](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/love/)

## Related quotes

> [Before we come to a challenging situation, before the universe squeezes us, how much of our effort is geared toward the reason we came…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/yehuda-berg/before-we-come-to-a-challenging-situation-before-the-universe/)

[Yehuda Berg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/yehuda-berg/)

> [In America, people focus on the end result; they focus on the star.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joshua-waitzkin/in-america-people-focus-on-the-end-result-they-focus-on-the-star/)

[Joshua Waitzkin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joshua-waitzkin/)

> [“Yes, we all die but there's a tendency to focus on the end too much. Life can be a wondrous, sparkling comet trail that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stewart-stafford/yes-we-all-die-but-there-s-a-tendency-to-focus-on-the-end-too-much/)

[Stewart Stafford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stewart-stafford/)

> [“It makes little sense to focus on the end point—graduation and graduation rates—if you can’t get the beginning right.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karen-gross/it-makes-little-sense-to-focus-on-the-end-point-graduation-and/)

[Karen Gross](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karen-gross/)

> [Play the picture in your mind - focus on the end result.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rhonda-byrne/play-the-picture-in-your-mind-focus-on-the-end-result/)

[Rhonda Byrne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rhonda-byrne/)

> [You should focus on the end goal and not on the problems that you will encounter on the journey to the goal.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/you-should-focus-on-the-end-goal-and-not-on-the-problems-that-you/)

[Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/)

> [“Let’s take the focus off “fat” and put it on health. Let’s take the focus off “skinny” and put it on good common sense.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wendy-shanker/let-s-take-the-focus-off-fat-and-put-it-on-health-let-s-take-the/)

[Wendy Shanker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wendy-shanker/)

> [“Control your emotions and never allow them to cloud your judgment. Let your focus be on the open doors that lead you to greatness.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gift-gugu-mona/control-your-emotions-and-never-allow-them-to-cloud-your-judgment-let/)

[Gift Gugu Mona](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gift-gugu-mona/)

> [There is absolutely no point in sitting around and feeling sorry for yourself. The great power you have is to let go ... focus…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/minnie-driver/there-is-absolutely-no-point-in-sitting-around-and-feeling-sorry-for/)

[Minnie Driver](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/minnie-driver/)

> [From what I've learned I need to do, is let everything else go and focus on finishing the race and having fun.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bubba-wallace/from-what-i-ve-learned-i-need-to-do-is-let-everything-else-go-and/)

[Bubba Wallace](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bubba-wallace/)

> [“{Calli} "I,uh... can you stop popping your pecs for thirty seconds and let me focus?" {Travis} Busted. "Want me to turn around?" {Calli} "As…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karla-doyle/calli-i-uh-can-you-stop-popping-your-pecs-for-thirty-seconds-and-let/)

Karla Doyle

> [“let's focus on the unattainable”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marc-johns/let-s-focus-on-the-unattainable/)

Marc Johns

> [Wrestling is all I've known since I was 17 so it's time I let myself focus on other things and explored other parts of myself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-logan/wrestling-is-all-i-ve-known-since-i-was-17-so-it-s-time-i-let-myself/)

[Sarah Logan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-logan/)

> [The way to get through anything mentally painful is to take it a little at a time. The mind can't handle dealing with a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-de-sena/the-way-to-get-through-anything-mentally-painful-is-to-take-it-a/)

[Joe De Sena](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-de-sena/)

> [All that we are is the result of what we have thought.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/all-that-we-are-is-the-result-of-what-we-have-thought/)

[Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/)

## More by Gary Cole

> [It was really executed well, from the art direction to the wardrobe to everyone else. And I have to say, two really exceptional directors…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gary-cole/it-was-really-executed-well-from-the-art-direction-to-the-wardrobe-to/)

[Gary Cole](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gary-cole/)

> [The one nice thing about doing a character for a long time is, you begin to feel more comfortable, and you are thinking less…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gary-cole/the-one-nice-thing-about-doing-a-character-for-a-long-time-is-you/)

[Gary Cole](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gary-cole/)

> [Christopher Walken could literally read a phone book and fill a theater, and it would be interesting to watch. I've often wanted to produce…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gary-cole/christopher-walken-could-literally-read-a-phone-book-and-fill-a/)

[Gary Cole](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gary-cole/)

> [Other than advances in technology and equipment, making a movie is the same as it was when I started, at least. I don't go…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gary-cole/other-than-advances-in-technology-and-equipment-making-a-movie-is-the/)

[Gary Cole](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gary-cole/)

> [A lot of actors in my age bracket look at being still standing as pretty good.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gary-cole/a-lot-of-actors-in-my-age-bracket-look-at-being-still-standing-as/)

[Gary Cole](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gary-cole/)

> [Clint Eastwood is a very soft-spoken, humble guy, actually, which helped put somebody like me at ease, who had never worked with somebody as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gary-cole/clint-eastwood-is-a-very-soft-spoken-humble-guy-actually-which-helped/)

[Gary Cole](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gary-cole/)

> [When you make a movie, it's up to so many things and so many people.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gary-cole/when-you-make-a-movie-it-s-up-to-so-many-things-and-so-many-people/)

[Gary Cole](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gary-cole/)

> [Television is a big roulette table on so many levels. That's all it is for actors.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gary-cole/television-is-a-big-roulette-table-on-so-many-levels-that-s-all-it-is/)

[Gary Cole](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gary-cole/)

> [I just don't eat too much. That's never been my problem.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gary-cole/i-just-don-t-eat-too-much-that-s-never-been-my-problem/)

[Gary Cole](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gary-cole/)

> [I am also a drummer of sorts. I've got an electronic set sitting in my bedroom.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gary-cole/i-am-also-a-drummer-of-sorts-i-ve-got-an-electronic-set-sitting-in-my/)

[Gary Cole](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gary-cole/)

> [I don't think anyone sets out to do something bad, it's just that it's very difficult.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gary-cole/i-don-t-think-anyone-sets-out-to-do-something-bad-it-s-just-that-it-s/)

[Gary Cole](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gary-cole/)

> [Improv is not something I had a lot of experience with, because for a long time, my only experience in front of a camera…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gary-cole/improv-is-not-something-i-had-a-lot-of-experience-with-because-for-a/)

[Gary Cole](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gary-cole/)

> [Then, at some point, you get identified with certain things.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gary-cole/then-at-some-point-you-get-identified-with-certain-things/)

[Gary Cole](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gary-cole/)

> [I still like to listen to the people that I came of age on.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gary-cole/i-still-like-to-listen-to-the-people-that-i-came-of-age-on/)

[Gary Cole](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gary-cole/)

> ['Office Space' I loved doing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gary-cole/office-space-i-loved-doing/)

[Gary Cole](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gary-cole/)

[Explore all 70 Gary Cole quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gary-cole/)

## More Ends quotes

> [I understand that it's the music that keeps me alive... That's my lifeblood. And to give that up for, like, the TV, the cars,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bruce-springsteen/i-understand-that-it-s-the-music-that-keeps-me-alive-that-s-my/)

[Bruce Springsteen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bruce-springsteen/)

> [The end is nothing; the road is all.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/willa-cather/the-end-is-nothing-the-road-is-all/)

[Willa Cather](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/willa-cather/)

> [Well, The Day the Earth Caught Fire was a story... I don't if anybody knows what it is but it was about... in the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/val-guest/well-the-day-the-earth-caught-fire-was-a-story-i-don-t-if-anybody/)

[Val Guest](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/val-guest/)

> [Bush reiterated his stand to conservatives opposing his decision on stem cell research. He said today he believes life begins at conception and ends…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jay-leno/bush-reiterated-his-stand-to-conservatives-opposing-his-decision-on/)

[Jay Leno](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jay-leno/)

> [Dating someone on the opposite end of the happy spectrum teaches you an incredible amount of patience.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-pine/dating-someone-on-the-opposite-end-of-the-happy-spectrum-teaches-you/)

[Chris Pine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-pine/)

> [What is history after all? History is facts which become lies in the end.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-cocteau/what-is-history-after-all-history-is-facts-which-become-lies-in-the/)

[Jean Cocteau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-cocteau/)

> [Sometimes it's just enough for me to have the idea. I don't need to see it through to the end. When it actually happens,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amy-sedaris/sometimes-it-s-just-enough-for-me-to-have-the-idea-i-don-t-need-to/)

[Amy Sedaris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amy-sedaris/)

> [In the fight between biology and morality, biology has commonly won in the end.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/semir-zeki/in-the-fight-between-biology-and-morality-biology-has-commonly-won-in/)

[Semir Zeki](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/semir-zeki/)

> [At the end of night, before you close your eyes, be content with what you've done and be proud of who you are.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-almond/at-the-end-of-night-before-you-close-your-eyes-be-content-with-what/)

[Steve Almond](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-almond/)

> [it is the brevity of life which makes it tolerable; its experiences have value because they have an end.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/winifred-holtby/it-is-the-brevity-of-life-which-makes-it-tolerable-its-experiences/)

[Winifred Holtby](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/winifred-holtby/)

> [I hope that the Palestinians don't make the mistake of unleashing a new intifada. They've tried it twice before, and the consequences were bad…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-segev/i-hope-that-the-palestinians-don-t-make-the-mistake-of-unleashing-a/)

[Tom Segev](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-segev/)

> [Believe to the end, even if all men went astray and you were left the only one faithful; bring your offering even then and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fyodor-dostoevsky/believe-to-the-end-even-if-all-men-went-astray-and-you-were-left-the/)

[Fyodor Dostoevsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fyodor-dostoevsky/)

> [When the amount of change externally exceeds the amount of change internally, the end is in sight.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-welch/when-the-amount-of-change-externally-exceeds-the-amount-of-change/)

[Jack Welch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-welch/)

> [A man cannot speak but he judges himself. With his will or against his will he draws his portrait to the eye of his…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/a-man-cannot-speak-but-he-judges-himself-with-his-will-or-against-his/)

[Ralph Waldo Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-waldo-emerson/)

> [The beginning of love is all about the butterflies, but the end of it is when you can't get out of bed in the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/taylor-swift/the-beginning-of-love-is-all-about-the-butterflies-but-the-end-of-it/)

[Taylor Swift](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/taylor-swift/)

Browse all 20,790 Ends quotes

```json
{
    "@context": "https://schema.org",
    "@graph": [
        {
            "@type": "Quotation",
            "text": "Let’s focus on where you could end up, not where you were or are.",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "Gary Cole"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gary-cole/let-s-focus-on-where-you-could-end-up-not-where-you-were-or-are/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "Ends"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gary-cole/let-s-focus-on-where-you-could-end-up-not-where-you-were-or-are/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4b0/gary-cole-9784_ends_let-s-focus-on-where-you-could-end-up-no_2103590.jpg",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4b0/gary-cole-9784_ends_let-s-focus-on-where-you-could-end-up-no_2103590.jpg",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4b0/gary-cole-9784_ends_let-s-focus-on-where-you-could-end-up-no_2103590.jpg",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“Let’s focus on where you could end up, not where you were or are.” — Gary Cole",
                "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": "Gary Cole",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gary-cole/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 4,
                    "name": "Let’s focus on where you could...",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gary-cole/let-s-focus-on-where-you-could-end-up-not-where-you-were-or-are/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gary-cole/let-s-focus-on-where-you-could-end-up-not-where-you-were-or-are/#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
            }
        }
    ]
}
```
