--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: As I say to our own team: 'Never protect…" description: "\"As I say to our own team: 'Never protect your past, never define yourself by a single product, and always continue to steward for the long-term. Keep m..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5e5/ginni-rometty-4640_always_as-i-say-to-our-own-team-never-protect-y_2375022.png" --- # As I say to our own team: 'Never protect your past, never… ![“As I say to our own team: 'Never protect your past, never define yourself by a single product, and always continue to steward for the long-term. Keep moving towards the future.'” quote by Ginni Rometty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5e5/ginni-rometty-4640_always_as-i-say-to-our-own-team-never-protect-y_2375022.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5e5/ginni-rometty-4640_always_as-i-say-to-our-own-team-never-protect-y_2375022.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5e5/ginni-rometty-4640_always_as-i-say-to-our-own-team-never-protect-y_2375022.png) > “As I say to our own team: 'Never protect your past, never define yourself by a single product, and always continue to steward for the long-term. Keep moving towards the future.'” [Ginni Rometty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ginni-rometty/) ## 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 growth rather than past successes, emphasizing long‑term stewardship and continuous progress. **In simple terms:** Prioritize future, not past achievements. Key Takeaway Stay forward‑focused. Themes leadership growth future planning Mood determined optimistic Type motivational strategic When to use this quote - product development - career planning - team motivation - long‑term strategy Key Concepts Strategic vision career resilience Questions to Reflect On - How can you balance learning from the past while staying future‑oriented? - What long‑term goals guide your daily actions? A Different Perspective May overlook valuable lessons from past experiences. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Define yourself](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/define-yourself/) [Future](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/future/) [Long term](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/long-term/) [Past](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/past/) [Steward](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/steward/) [Team](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/team/) [Time](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/time/) ## Related quotes > [I continue to steward what God has given for me for such a time as this.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-cain/i-continue-to-steward-what-god-has-given-for-me-for-such-a-time-as/) [Jonathan Cain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-cain/) > [If there wasn't any business and it was just strictly basketball, then there would be no issue, it would probably be done by now.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jason-kidd/if-there-wasn-t-any-business-and-it-was-just-strictly-basketball-then/) [Jason Kidd](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jason-kidd/) > [Don't protect your past. Don't protect your products.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ginni-rometty/don-t-protect-your-past-don-t-protect-your-products/) [Ginni Rometty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ginni-rometty/) > [Steward for the long term. It's not always easy, but you do it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ginni-rometty/steward-for-the-long-term-it-s-not-always-easy-but-you-do-it/) [Ginni Rometty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ginni-rometty/) > [The tattoo is the mark of the soul, it can act as a window we can see in or it can be our shield…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/the-tattoo-is-the-mark-of-the-soul-it-can-act-as-a-window-we-can-see/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“I’d spent years saving for a future that was never coming to protect myself from a past that had already happened.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/geneen-roth/i-d-spent-years-saving-for-a-future-that-was-never-coming-to-protect/) [Geneen Roth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/geneen-roth/) > [“We protect the past. And the way I see it, that means we need to understand it.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/victoria-schwab/we-protect-the-past-and-the-way-i-see-it-that-means-we-need-to/) [Victoria Schwab](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/victoria-schwab/) > ['To all of those young brave soldiers who have sacrificed their lives to protect us all in the past,...](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/latisha/to-all-of-those-young-brave-soldiers-who-have-sacrificed-their-lives/) [Latisha](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/latisha/) > [“Getting to the future is always held up by those trying to protect the past.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ziad-k-abdelnour/getting-to-the-future-is-always-held-up-by-those-trying-to-protect/) [Ziad K. Abdelnour](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ziad-k-abdelnour/) > [Many people, companies, and organizations are trying to protect the past at any cost. We see this regularly in business as the incumbent vs.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brad-feld/many-people-companies-and-organizations-are-trying-to-protect-the/) [Brad Feld](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brad-feld/) > [You define yourself by either what your clients want or what you believe they'll need for the future. So: Define yourself by your client,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ginni-rometty/you-define-yourself-by-either-what-your-clients-want-or-what-you/) [Ginni Rometty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ginni-rometty/) > [Don't let others define you. You define yourself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ginni-rometty/don-t-let-others-define-you-you-define-yourself/) [Ginni Rometty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ginni-rometty/) > [Don't let others define you. Define yourself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ginni-rometty/don-t-let-others-define-you-define-yourself/) [Ginni Rometty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ginni-rometty/) > [“son of the steward.” As the nicknames make clear, we don’t like to spend a lot of money. But we don’t economize just for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/son-of-the-steward-as-the-nicknames-make-clear-we-don-t-like-to-spend/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [If God was the owner, I was the manager. I needed to adopt a steward's mentality toward the assets He had entrusted - not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/randy-alcorn/if-god-was-the-owner-i-was-the-manager-i-needed-to-adopt-a-steward-s/) [Randy Alcorn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/randy-alcorn/) ## More by Ginni Rometty > [I make time to exercise. It's not being indulgent. I think it's got a lot to do with your ability to manage properly and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ginni-rometty/i-make-time-to-exercise-it-s-not-being-indulgent-i-think-it-s-got-a/) [Ginni Rometty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ginni-rometty/) > [You need to have a great support around you, people that empathise, understand and yet support, because these CEO jobs are all-consuming.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ginni-rometty/you-need-to-have-a-great-support-around-you-people-that-empathise/) [Ginni Rometty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ginni-rometty/) > [I was always surrounded by people that wanted to mentor you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ginni-rometty/i-was-always-surrounded-by-people-that-wanted-to-mentor-you/) [Ginni Rometty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ginni-rometty/) > [Never love something so much that you can't let go of it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ginni-rometty/never-love-something-so-much-that-you-can-t-let-go-of-it/) [Ginni Rometty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ginni-rometty/) > [It will not be a world of man versus machine. It will be a world of man plus machines.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ginni-rometty/it-will-not-be-a-world-of-man-versus-machine-it-will-be-a-world-of/) [Ginni Rometty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ginni-rometty/) > [Clients say, 'What's your strategy,' and I say, 'Ask me what I believe first.' That's a far more enduring answer.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ginni-rometty/clients-say-what-s-your-strategy-and-i-say-ask-me-what-i-believe/) [Ginni Rometty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ginni-rometty/) > [I'm the ninth CEO of IBM. Every one of my predecessors has steered through a technological shift, and every one left the company in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ginni-rometty/i-m-the-ninth-ceo-of-ibm-every-one-of-my-predecessors-has-steered/) [Ginni Rometty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ginni-rometty/) > [Every part of your business will change based on what I consider predictive analytics of the future.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ginni-rometty/every-part-of-your-business-will-change-based-on-what-i-consider/) [Ginni Rometty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ginni-rometty/) > [If you ask me, 'So what is your business model?' Our business model's always about shifting to higher value opportunities.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ginni-rometty/if-you-ask-me-so-what-is-your-business-model-our-business-model-s/) [Ginni Rometty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ginni-rometty/) > [And so when I moved to IBM, I moved because I thought I could apply technology. I didn't actually have to do my engineer…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ginni-rometty/and-so-when-i-moved-to-ibm-i-moved-because-i-thought-i-could-apply/) [Ginni Rometty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ginni-rometty/) > [You can engineer change.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ginni-rometty/you-can-engineer-change/) [Ginni Rometty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ginni-rometty/) > [This century, the 21st century, will be the Indian century - and I really believe that.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ginni-rometty/this-century-the-21st-century-will-be-the-indian-century-and-i-really/) [Ginni Rometty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ginni-rometty/) > [So what it means is when you don't believe in the inevitable, it means you don't expect that that's how things have to turn…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ginni-rometty/so-what-it-means-is-when-you-don-t-believe-in-the-inevitable-it-means/) [Ginni Rometty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ginni-rometty/) > [Growth and comfort do not coexist.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ginni-rometty/growth-and-comfort-do-not-coexist/) [Ginni Rometty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ginni-rometty/) > [Artificial intelligence is one of 50 things that Watson does. There is also machine learning, text-to-speech, speech-to-text, and different analytical engines - they're like…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ginni-rometty/artificial-intelligence-is-one-of-50-things-that-watson-does-there-is/) [Ginni Rometty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ginni-rometty/) [Explore all 108 Ginni Rometty quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ginni-rometty/) ## More Always quotes > [I think performing has pretty much always been a part of me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/isa-briones/i-think-performing-has-pretty-much-always-been-a-part-of-me/) [Isa Briones](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/isa-briones/) > [I always thought if I was born 2000 years earlier, I would be a monk, probably carving a monastery or some giant pantheon buildings.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jenova-chen/i-always-thought-if-i-was-born-2000-years-earlier-i-would-be-a-monk/) [Jenova Chen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jenova-chen/) > [I always like a character who makes me laugh.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rachael-stirling/i-always-like-a-character-who-makes-me-laugh/) [Rachael Stirling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rachael-stirling/) > [It's always great to see old friends, especially those I have not been able to see in 15 months.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-regal/it-s-always-great-to-see-old-friends-especially-those-i-have-not-been/) [William Regal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-regal/) > [When you step out and do a song in a musical, the easier thing to do is make it funny. But when those transitions…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kelli-o-hara/when-you-step-out-and-do-a-song-in-a-musical-the-easier-thing-to-do/) [Kelli O'Hara](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kelli-o-hara/) > [I have really good lateral movement. I've always had quick lateral movement.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/austin-rivers/i-have-really-good-lateral-movement-i-ve-always-had-quick-lateral/) [Austin Rivers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/austin-rivers/) > [There is something magical about being able to feel somebody. And that is something that has always moved me with music.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maria-brink/there-is-something-magical-about-being-able-to-feel-somebody-and-that/) [Maria Brink](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maria-brink/) > [Mythology is something that always has opportunities to explore. 'It' has been on Earth for millions of years. He's been in contact with humans…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andy-muschietti/mythology-is-something-that-always-has-opportunities-to-explore-it/) [Andy Muschietti](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andy-muschietti/) > [It's not writing in the traditional sense, but I've always said that the writing process continues on the set and even into the editing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-b-weide/it-s-not-writing-in-the-traditional-sense-but-i-ve-always-said-that/) [Robert B. Weide](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-b-weide/) > [I always watch my matches back 100 times afterwards because that's how I improve. This is something I've always done, even in NXT.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mandy-rose/i-always-watch-my-matches-back-100-times-afterwards-because-that-s/) [Mandy Rose](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mandy-rose/) > [I've always been of the idea that is doesn't really matter where you are geographically - with 'Lonerism,' we made half the album in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kevin-parker/i-ve-always-been-of-the-idea-that-is-doesn-t-really-matter-where-you/) [Kevin Parker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kevin-parker/) > [It's very easy to fool yourself that you're working, you know, when you're really not working very hard. I mean, I'm very lazy. So…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-caro/it-s-very-easy-to-fool-yourself-that-you-re-working-you-know-when-you/) [Robert Caro](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-caro/) > [Whether it was Little League or playing with your brothers or sisters, that was always a problem. If I would lose - because I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cal-ripken-jr/whether-it-was-little-league-or-playing-with-your-brothers-or-sisters/) [Cal Ripken, Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cal-ripken-jr/) > [I always say if you put someone from a small town into a big city for ten years, then when they go back, they'll…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-colter/i-always-say-if-you-put-someone-from-a-small-town-into-a-big-city-for/) [Mike Colter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-colter/) > [Bayern is always a team that can win the Champions League title in Europe.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lothar-matthaus/bayern-is-always-a-team-that-can-win-the-champions-league-title-in/) [Lothar Matthaus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lothar-matthaus/) Browse all 36,048 Always quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "As I say to our own team: 'Never protect your past, never define yourself by a single product, and always continue to steward for the long-term. 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