--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Good decisions can have bad short-term…" description: "\"Good decisions can have bad short-term outcomes but be great for the business long-term.\" — Gerry Schwartz" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7ab/gerry-schwartz-26646_bad_good-decisions-can-have-bad-short-term-o_1228733.png" --- # Good decisions can have bad short-term outcomes but be… ![“Good decisions can have bad short-term outcomes but be great for the business long-term.” quote by Gerry Schwartz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7ab/gerry-schwartz-26646_bad_good-decisions-can-have-bad-short-term-o_1228733.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7ab/gerry-schwartz-26646_bad_good-decisions-can-have-bad-short-term-o_1228733.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7ab/gerry-schwartz-26646_bad_good-decisions-can-have-bad-short-term-o_1228733.png) > “Good decisions can have bad short-term outcomes but be great for the business long-term.” [Gerry Schwartz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gerry-schwartz/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Short-term setbacks can be worthwhile if they serve long-term strategic goals. **In simple terms:** Accept short-term pain for long-term gain. Key Takeaway Prioritize long-term business health over immediate results. Themes strategy patience growth Mood analytical optimistic Type motivational strategic When to use this quote - product development - financial planning - market entry - organizational change Key Concepts economics risk management Questions to Reflect On - What metrics can track long-term benefits? - How to keep teams motivated during setbacks? A Different Perspective Short-term pain may demotivate teams if not communicated well. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Business](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/business/) [Decision](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/decision/) [Decision making](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/decision-making/) [Decisions](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/decisions/) [Good decision](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/good-decision/) [Long term](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/long-term/) [Short term](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/short-term/) ## Related quotes > [“Being able to discern the good decisions from the bad decisions, in advance, would be priceless.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scott-hildreth/being-able-to-discern-the-good-decisions-from-the-bad-decisions-in/) [Scott Hildreth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scott-hildreth/) > [It's easy to make good decisions when there are no bad options.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-half/it-s-easy-to-make-good-decisions-when-there-are-no-bad-options/) [Robert Half](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-half/) > [It doesn't matter what has Happened to You, it doesn't matter where you Came From or where you were Born. It also doesn't matter…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jenn-jenn/it-doesn-t-matter-what-has-happened-to-you-it-doesn-t-matter-where/) Jenn Jenn > [Human beings have survived for millennia because most of us make good decisions about our health most of the time.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-weil/human-beings-have-survived-for-millennia-because-most-of-us-make-good/) [Andrew Weil](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-weil/) > [Everybody makes bad decisions. I am sure I have made my share of them over 40 years of service. Or I have made good…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/colin-powell/everybody-makes-bad-decisions-i-am-sure-i-have-made-my-share-of-them/) [Colin Powell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/colin-powell/) > [I try to make good decisions as decisions come up.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ashton-kutcher/i-try-to-make-good-decisions-as-decisions-come-up/) [Ashton Kutcher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ashton-kutcher/) > [You're not going to be able to make good decisions without building some relationship of trust between yourself and community.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barack-obama/you-re-not-going-to-be-able-to-make-good-decisions-without-building/) [Barack Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barack-obama/) > [Today make GOOD DECISIONS. Decide to selflessly serve others, to control your thoughts, to eat water-rich foods and to get lots of exercise.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bradford-winters/today-make-good-decisions-decide-to-selflessly-serve-others-to/) [Bradford Winters](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bradford-winters/) > [She squinted up at him. "But I haven't always made good decisions." Pastor Harris smiled. "All that shows is that you're human.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nicholas-sparks/she-squinted-up-at-him-but-i-haven-t-always-made-good-decisions/) [Nicholas Sparks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nicholas-sparks/) > [You can't be 100% perfect, but try to evaluate things and do what's right. If you just make every effort to do the right…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/archie-manning/you-can-t-be-100-perfect-but-try-to-evaluate-things-and-do-what-s/) [Archie Manning](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/archie-manning/) > [Life is simple. Make good decisions and good things happen. Make bad decisions and bad things happen.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dick-vitale/life-is-simple-make-good-decisions-and-good-things-happen-make-bad/) [Dick Vitale](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dick-vitale/) > [Good decisions don't make life easy, but they do make it easier.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gary-cole/good-decisions-don-t-make-life-easy-but-they-do-make-it-easier/) [Gary Cole](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gary-cole/) > [I have faith in the United States and our ability to make good decisions based on the facts.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/al-gore/i-have-faith-in-the-united-states-and-our-ability-to-make-good/) [Al Gore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/al-gore/) > [Everyone wants to make good decisions. But how do you know when you are being guided by the Eck (Holy Spirit) or the mind.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harold-klemp/everyone-wants-to-make-good-decisions-but-how-do-you-know-when-you/) [Harold Klemp](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harold-klemp/) > [Life is full of chances -- and those times when we each trust our own guts and have a terrific outcome reaffirms our ability…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/victoria-laurie/life-is-full-of-chances-and-those-times-when-we-each-trust-our-own/) [Victoria Laurie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/victoria-laurie/) ## More by Gerry Schwartz > [Interestingly, a good undergraduate program does a lot of what an MBA does. I think a really good undergraduate program and some work experience…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gerry-schwartz/interestingly-a-good-undergraduate-program-does-a-lot-of-what-an-mba/) [Gerry Schwartz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gerry-schwartz/) > [We’ve got customers. We’ve got suppliers. We’ve got employees. We’ve got unions. We’ve got communities. We’ve got all of these things that go into…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gerry-schwartz/we-ve-got-customers-we-ve-got-suppliers-we-ve-got-employees-we-ve-got/) [Gerry Schwartz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gerry-schwartz/) > [I enjoy the independence of single-handling a boat. I like controlling the elements, making the wind and the waves and the water work for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gerry-schwartz/i-enjoy-the-independence-of-single-handling-a-boat-i-like-controlling/) [Gerry Schwartz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gerry-schwartz/) > [I have said many times that it's a mistake to bet against the long-term health of the U.S. equity markets because it's a mistake…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gerry-schwartz/i-have-said-many-times-that-it-s-a-mistake-to-bet-against-the-long/) [Gerry Schwartz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gerry-schwartz/) > [I want to grow. I don't want to get stuck doing the same thing over and over and think I'm the best at it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gerry-schwartz/i-want-to-grow-i-don-t-want-to-get-stuck-doing-the-same-thing-over/) [Gerry Schwartz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gerry-schwartz/) > [Helping people getting a great start in life, a great foundation, is an investment.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gerry-schwartz/helping-people-getting-a-great-start-in-life-a-great-foundation-is-an/) [Gerry Schwartz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gerry-schwartz/) > [Just looking at Onex: We hire almost entirely at the most bottom level and bring them through a nine-year training program. We're probably 70/30…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gerry-schwartz/just-looking-at-onex-we-hire-almost-entirely-at-the-most-bottom-level/) [Gerry Schwartz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gerry-schwartz/) > [There is no such thing as high returns without risk.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gerry-schwartz/there-is-no-such-thing-as-high-returns-without-risk/) [Gerry Schwartz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gerry-schwartz/) > [I love the U.S. I love doing business there.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gerry-schwartz/i-love-the-u-s-i-love-doing-business-there/) [Gerry Schwartz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gerry-schwartz/) > [In an undergraduate business environment, the best learning experience is the interaction students have with each other. They need to learn from each other…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gerry-schwartz/in-an-undergraduate-business-environment-the-best-learning-experience/) [Gerry Schwartz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gerry-schwartz/) > [A lot of what I do is running businesses rather than buying stocks. My worst decision is probably when I know I have the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gerry-schwartz/a-lot-of-what-i-do-is-running-businesses-rather-than-buying-stocks-my/) [Gerry Schwartz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gerry-schwartz/) > [Investments are like trains, and if you miss one, don’t worry because another one will come down the line.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gerry-schwartz/investments-are-like-trains-and-if-you-miss-one-don-t-worry-because/) [Gerry Schwartz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gerry-schwartz/) > [I have almost no interest in quarterly reports. Running a business or investing in a business based on quarterly earnings doesn't make any sense…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gerry-schwartz/i-have-almost-no-interest-in-quarterly-reports-running-a-business-or/) [Gerry Schwartz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gerry-schwartz/) > [Private equity does pay very well, and my counterparts, guys that I grew up with who are still working at a number of firms,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gerry-schwartz/private-equity-does-pay-very-well-and-my-counterparts-guys-that-i/) [Gerry Schwartz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gerry-schwartz/) > [It would hurt. But we'll dust ourselves off and we'll come back.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gerry-schwartz/it-would-hurt-but-we-ll-dust-ourselves-off-and-we-ll-come-back/) [Gerry Schwartz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gerry-schwartz/) [Explore all 21 Gerry Schwartz quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gerry-schwartz/) ## More Bad quotes > [If I am going to be phased out by whatever powers, then I want people to know that it is not because I am…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/parvathy/if-i-am-going-to-be-phased-out-by-whatever-powers-then-i-want-people/) [Parvathy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/parvathy/) > [Sometimes I'm in a bad mood, sometimes I'm in a good mood. 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When I argue with him on the kind of music he is listening to, he…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zeenat-aman/i-listen-to-heavy-metal-thanks-to-my-son-when-i-argue-with-him-on-the/) [Zeenat Aman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zeenat-aman/) > [I've said it before, good people are forced to do bad things.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/angus-cloud/i-ve-said-it-before-good-people-are-forced-to-do-bad-things/) [Angus Cloud](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/angus-cloud/) > [“If any woman opens her legs for you, don't feel so lucky to be fed with nonsense, she has been a bitch for a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-bassey-johnson/if-any-woman-opens-her-legs-for-you-don-t-feel-so-lucky-to-be-fed/) [Michael Bassey Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-bassey-johnson/) > [One thing I always tell players is that there are three bad things: Nothing good happens after midnight, nothing good happens when you're around…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nick-saban/one-thing-i-always-tell-players-is-that-there-are-three-bad-things/) [Nick Saban](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nick-saban/) > [Everybody has bad days, but how you respond to it is a testament to whether you are a winner or a loser.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aaron-gordon/everybody-has-bad-days-but-how-you-respond-to-it-is-a-testament-to/) [Aaron Gordon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aaron-gordon/) > [Obviously I'm very grateful 'Bad Guy' is doing so well - it's shocking and surprising and gratifying - but I do think it's important…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/finneas/obviously-i-m-very-grateful-bad-guy-is-doing-so-well-it-s-shocking/) [Finneas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/finneas/) > [I felt pretty good growing up. I didnt feel a lot of prejudice or racism. But I do remember, if there was going to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-henry-hwang/i-felt-pretty-good-growing-up-i-didnt-feel-a-lot-of-prejudice-or/) [David Henry Hwang](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-henry-hwang/) > [If you read 'Lord of the Rings' and dismiss it as a lie because it has orcs and elves, you're missing the whole point…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/doug-tennapel/if-you-read-lord-of-the-rings-and-dismiss-it-as-a-lie-because-it-has/) [Doug TenNapel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/doug-tennapel/) > [My conscience is really active. So I feel bad about spending excess amount of money on things.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/syd/my-conscience-is-really-active-so-i-feel-bad-about-spending-excess/) [Syd](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/syd/) Browse all 7,973 Bad quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Good decisions can have bad short-term outcomes but be great for the business long-term.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Gerry Schwartz" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gerry-schwartz/good-decisions-can-have-bad-short-term-outcomes-but-be-great-for-the/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Bad" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gerry-schwartz/good-decisions-can-have-bad-short-term-outcomes-but-be-great-for-the/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7ab/gerry-schwartz-26646_bad_good-decisions-can-have-bad-short-term-o_1228733.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7ab/gerry-schwartz-26646_bad_good-decisions-can-have-bad-short-term-o_1228733.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7ab/gerry-schwartz-26646_bad_good-decisions-can-have-bad-short-term-o_1228733.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Good decisions can have bad short-term outcomes but be great for the business long-term.” — Gerry Schwartz", "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": "Gerry Schwartz", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gerry-schwartz/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "Good decisions can have bad short-term...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gerry-schwartz/good-decisions-can-have-bad-short-term-outcomes-but-be-great-for-the/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gerry-schwartz/good-decisions-can-have-bad-short-term-outcomes-but-be-great-for-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 } } ] } ```