--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: You have to be prepared to think outside…" description: "\"You have to be prepared to think outside the box...Stand back and think about what we could do creativity. We've got to do that to push the field forwa..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/611/geoffrey-canada-11965_be-prepared_you-have-to-be-prepared-to-think-outside_2166729.jpg" --- # You have to be prepared to think outside the box...Stand… ![“You have to be prepared to think outside the box...Stand back and think about what we could do creativity. We've got to do that to push the field forward.” quote by Geoffrey Canada](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/611/geoffrey-canada-11965_be-prepared_you-have-to-be-prepared-to-think-outside_2166729.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/611/geoffrey-canada-11965_be-prepared_you-have-to-be-prepared-to-think-outside_2166729.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/611/geoffrey-canada-11965_be-prepared_you-have-to-be-prepared-to-think-outside_2166729.jpg) > “You have to be prepared to think outside the box...Stand back and think about what we could do creativity. We've got to do that to push the field forward.” [Geoffrey Canada](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/geoffrey-canada/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Emphasizes the need for creative, unconventional thinking to advance a field. **In simple terms:** Think creatively to move forward. Key Takeaway Encourage bold, out‑of‑the‑box ideas. Themes innovation creativity progress Mood inspirational challenging Type motivational strategic When to use this quote - education reform - technology development - team brainstorming - policy design Key Concepts creative problem solving strategic risk taking Questions to Reflect On - How can you foster a culture that rewards unconventional ideas? - What barriers stop you from thinking outside the box? A Different Perspective Creative ideas may lack resources or support. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Creativity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/creativity/) [Outside the box](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/outside-the-box/) [Thinking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thinking/) ## Related quotes > [We have to think outside the box, inside the Constitution, find ways to do things that will elevate our security, reduce the risk of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-ashcroft/we-have-to-think-outside-the-box-inside-the-constitution-find-ways-to/) [John Ashcroft](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-ashcroft/) > [“Think outside of the box. Work outside of the box. Dream outside of the box. Succeed outside of the box.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matshona-dhliwayo/think-outside-of-the-box-work-outside-of-the-box-dream-outside-of-the/) [Matshona Dhliwayo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matshona-dhliwayo/) > [I have never understood the saying 'To think outside the box.' Why would anyone sit inside of a box and then think outside of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lawrence-anthony/i-have-never-understood-the-saying-to-think-outside-the-box-why-would/) [Lawrence Anthony](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lawrence-anthony/) > [The best way to get people to think outside the box is not to create the box in the first place.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-cooper/the-best-way-to-get-people-to-think-outside-the-box-is-not-to-create/) [Martin Cooper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-cooper/) > [You've got to think outside the box. If you can't, that's going to put you behind the power curve in a big way.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-teti/you-ve-got-to-think-outside-the-box-if-you-can-t-that-s-going-to-put/) [Joe Teti](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-teti/) > [You should be a person inside the world with knowledge of your terrain. And if you lock yourself into the 2,000-by-3,000-square-mile, lower-48 box of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chuck-d/you-should-be-a-person-inside-the-world-with-knowledge-of-your/) [Chuck D](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chuck-d/) > [You have to think outside the box.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arnold-schwarzenegger/you-have-to-think-outside-the-box/) [Arnold Schwarzenegger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arnold-schwarzenegger/) > [It isn't enough to think outside the box. Thinking is passive. Get used to acting outside the box.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tim-ferriss/it-isn-t-enough-to-think-outside-the-box-thinking-is-passive-get-used/) [Tim Ferriss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tim-ferriss/) > [If you \*think\* you think outside the box, you're trapped in one.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mc-paul-barman/if-you-think-you-think-outside-the-box-you-re-trapped-in-one/) [MC Paul Barman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mc-paul-barman/) > [It's easier to think outside the box if you don't draw one around yourself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/it-s-easier-to-think-outside-the-box-if-you-don-t-draw-one-around/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [When I was sixteen, I began to think outside the box of my small town. Not that the people in my small town are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ronee-blakley/when-i-was-sixteen-i-began-to-think-outside-the-box-of-my-small-town/) [Ronee Blakley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ronee-blakley/) > [Always think outside the box and embrace opportunities that appear, wherever they might be.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lakshmi-mittal/always-think-outside-the-box-and-embrace-opportunities-that-appear/) [Lakshmi Mittal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lakshmi-mittal/) > [“Think outside the box? Indeed. But to add balance to that, one should not in the process forget what the inside of the box…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/criss-jami/think-outside-the-box-indeed-but-to-add-balance-to-that-one-should/) [Criss Jami](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/criss-jami/) > [“I just like the idea of looking back at my life and feeling like I made different choices than everyone else, you know? Most…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/margaux-froley/i-just-like-the-idea-of-looking-back-at-my-life-and-feeling-like-i/) Margaux Froley > [“They say think outside the box. I say think without the box . Let your mind be free to think beyond, what human eye…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/de-philosopher-dj-kyos/they-say-think-outside-the-box-i-say-think-without-the-box-let-your/) De philosopher DJ Kyos ## More by Geoffrey Canada > [I want my kids to graduate from high school. But that's not enough. I also want them to go to college. Why? Because rich…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/geoffrey-canada/i-want-my-kids-to-graduate-from-high-school-but-that-s-not-enough-i/) [Geoffrey Canada](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/geoffrey-canada/) > [Many schools today are sacrificing social studies, the arts and physical education so children can cover basic subjects like math, English and science.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/geoffrey-canada/many-schools-today-are-sacrificing-social-studies-the-arts-and/) [Geoffrey Canada](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/geoffrey-canada/) > [If you raise a child, there's no time, you can't be a great parent.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/geoffrey-canada/if-you-raise-a-child-there-s-no-time-you-can-t-be-a-great-parent/) [Geoffrey Canada](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/geoffrey-canada/) > [Teachers need to be paid like professionals.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/geoffrey-canada/teachers-need-to-be-paid-like-professionals/) [Geoffrey Canada](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/geoffrey-canada/) > [Let's stop teaching to the middle and start teaching to the student.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/geoffrey-canada/let-s-stop-teaching-to-the-middle-and-start-teaching-to-the-student/) [Geoffrey Canada](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/geoffrey-canada/) > [Video games offer violent messages, and even the sports video games include taunting and teasing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/geoffrey-canada/video-games-offer-violent-messages-and-even-the-sports-video-games/) [Geoffrey Canada](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/geoffrey-canada/) > [There's not a day that goes by that I don't draw on my undergraduate background in psychology.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/geoffrey-canada/there-s-not-a-day-that-goes-by-that-i-don-t-draw-on-my-undergraduate/) [Geoffrey Canada](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/geoffrey-canada/) > [Convincing people to give your way a try will work if you neutralize - and sometimes you have to cauterize - the ones who…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/geoffrey-canada/convincing-people-to-give-your-way-a-try-will-work-if-you-neutralize/) [Geoffrey Canada](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/geoffrey-canada/) > [When kids know that you refuse to let them fail ... they don't give up as easy. So sometimes they don't have it inside,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/geoffrey-canada/when-kids-know-that-you-refuse-to-let-them-fail-they-don-t-give-up-as/) [Geoffrey Canada](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/geoffrey-canada/) > [Kids who are poor often have families that have not really been kept informed about... how important it is to read to your child,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/geoffrey-canada/kids-who-are-poor-often-have-families-that-have-not-really-been-kept/) [Geoffrey Canada](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/geoffrey-canada/) > [Monsters work seven days a week and don't take vacations.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/geoffrey-canada/monsters-work-seven-days-a-week-and-don-t-take-vacations/) [Geoffrey Canada](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/geoffrey-canada/) > [I believe that for lots of churches and religious institutions, their main focus on the development of faith among parishioners needs to spread to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/geoffrey-canada/i-believe-that-for-lots-of-churches-and-religious-institutions-their/) [Geoffrey Canada](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/geoffrey-canada/) > [How is it we could have a system where schools could remain lousy for 50 years and yet you do exactly the same thing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/geoffrey-canada/how-is-it-we-could-have-a-system-where-schools-could-remain-lousy-for/) [Geoffrey Canada](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/geoffrey-canada/) > [When I began working in not-for-profits, it was taking a vow of poverty, which eliminated huge numbers of folks.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/geoffrey-canada/when-i-began-working-in-not-for-profits-it-was-taking-a-vow-of/) [Geoffrey Canada](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/geoffrey-canada/) > [You grow up in America and you're told from day one, 'This is the land of opportunity.' That everybody has an equal chance to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/geoffrey-canada/you-grow-up-in-america-and-you-re-told-from-day-one-this-is-the-land/) [Geoffrey Canada](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/geoffrey-canada/) [Explore all 57 Geoffrey Canada quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/geoffrey-canada/) ## More Be prepared quotes > [“In your goals to go the extra mile, prepare to pay an extra cost. Excellence is to be exceptional, surpassing, more competent and a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/israelmore-ayivor/in-your-goals-to-go-the-extra-mile-prepare-to-pay-an-extra-cost/) [Israelmore Ayivor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/israelmore-ayivor/) > [I have learned so much from my dad. 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Like the driver's ed kid,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chelsea-martin/the-thing-about-writing-or-making-art-is-that-i-m-not-thinking-about/) [Chelsea Martin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chelsea-martin/) > [You must have goals in your life, or otherwise be prepared to be used by those who do have them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/herb-brooks/you-must-have-goals-in-your-life-or-otherwise-be-prepared-to-be-used/) [Herb Brooks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/herb-brooks/) > [I never minded giving my opinions. They are just opinions, and I had studied music and I had strong feelings. I was happy for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wynton-marsalis/i-never-minded-giving-my-opinions-they-are-just-opinions-and-i-had/) [Wynton Marsalis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wynton-marsalis/) > [To me, man means awareness of death. I am not saying become afraid of death; that is not awareness. Just be aware of the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rajneesh/to-me-man-means-awareness-of-death-i-am-not-saying-become-afraid-of/) [Rajneesh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rajneesh/) > [Don't yield to that alluring witch, laziness, or else be prepared to surrender all that you have won in your better moments.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/horace/don-t-yield-to-that-alluring-witch-laziness-or-else-be-prepared-to/) [Horace](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/horace/) > [Another mistake a director can make is not to be prepared, so you get there on the day to shoot the scene, and they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-h-macy/another-mistake-a-director-can-make-is-not-to-be-prepared-so-you-get/) [William H. Macy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-h-macy/) > [Old Flossie settle down on the other side of What-the-Dickens and dragged some handiwork out of a sack. She armed herself with two thorns…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gregory-maguire/old-flossie-settle-down-on-the-other-side-of-what-the-dickens-and/) [Gregory Maguire](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gregory-maguire/) > [Good preparation is key for me. Nowadays everyone is an actor slash writer, slash this, slash that, its cool; and you can only go…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jaime-zevallos/good-preparation-is-key-for-me-nowadays-everyone-is-an-actor-slash/) [Jaime Zevallos](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jaime-zevallos/) > [Cruel and paradoxical though it undoubtedly is, the record shows that yje most succesful 20th century monarchs have been those who were not actually…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-cannadine/cruel-and-paradoxical-though-it-undoubtedly-is-the-record-shows-that/) [David Cannadine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-cannadine/) > [One can understand the politics of that at this moment. 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