--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: If you don't look ahead, you'll always be…" description: "\"If you don't look ahead, you'll always be behind.\" — Harvey Mackay" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/240/harvey-mackay-1775_ahead_if-you-don-t-look-ahead-you-ll-always-be_1845252.png" --- # If you don't look ahead, you'll always be behind. ![“If you don't look ahead, you'll always be behind.” quote by Harvey Mackay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/240/harvey-mackay-1775_ahead_if-you-don-t-look-ahead-you-ll-always-be_1845252.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/240/harvey-mackay-1775_ahead_if-you-don-t-look-ahead-you-ll-always-be_1845252.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/240/harvey-mackay-1775_ahead_if-you-don-t-look-ahead-you-ll-always-be_1845252.png) > “If you don't look ahead, you'll always be behind.” [Harvey Mackay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harvey-mackay/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Emphasizes foresight as essential to avoid lagging behind, urging proactive planning. **In simple terms:** Look ahead, stay ahead. Key Takeaway Plan proactively to avoid falling behind. Themes future planning proactivity leadership Mood motivational pragmatic Type business self-help When to use this quote - career planning - financial budgeting - project management - personal development Key Concepts strategic foresight goal setting Questions to Reflect On - What steps can you take today for tomorrow? - How do you balance present enjoyment with future goals? A Different Perspective Overemphasis on future may cause anxiety. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Ahead](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ahead/) [Ahead Ll](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ahead-ll-2381427/) [Behinds](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/behinds/) [Don Look](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/don-look/) [Ifs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ifs/) [Look](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/look/) [Look Ahead](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/look-ahead/) [Looks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/looks/) ## Related quotes > [You always look ahead to what you'll do next.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/annie-wersching/you-always-look-ahead-to-what-you-ll-do-next/) [Annie Wersching](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/annie-wersching/) > [Go ahead without me, I'll find my own way.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/geoff-tate/go-ahead-without-me-i-ll-find-my-own-way/) [Geoff Tate](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/geoff-tate/) > [The farther you look back, the farther you can look ahead.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-ford/the-farther-you-look-back-the-farther-you-can-look-ahead/) [Henry Ford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-ford/) > [It is important to look ahead to the next game.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hansi-flick/it-is-important-to-look-ahead-to-the-next-game/) [Hansi Flick](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hansi-flick/) > [Our eyes are placed in front because it is more important to look ahead than to look back](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/our-eyes-are-placed-in-front-because-it-is-more-important-to-look/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I don't look ahead. I just worry about today.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/davis-webb/i-don-t-look-ahead-i-just-worry-about-today/) [Davis Webb](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/davis-webb/) > [When you're 20 or 30, looking ahead, you see these benchmarks for relationships, career, ambition, sexuality, and they went off into infinity. When you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tracey-emin/when-you-re-20-or-30-looking-ahead-you-see-these-benchmarks-for/) [Tracey Emin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tracey-emin/) > [Surfing's one of the few sports that you look ahead to see what's behind.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laird-hamilton/surfing-s-one-of-the-few-sports-that-you-look-ahead-to-see-what-s/) [Laird Hamilton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laird-hamilton/) > [Perhaps you need to look back before you can move ahead.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-brennert/perhaps-you-need-to-look-back-before-you-can-move-ahead/) [Alan Brennert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-brennert/) > [I look one move ahead... the best!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/siegbert-tarrasch/i-look-one-move-ahead-the-best/) [Siegbert Tarrasch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/siegbert-tarrasch/) > [“We look back and we look ahead, but we live in the time we are allowed.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-dinerstein/we-look-back-and-we-look-ahead-but-we-live-in-the-time-we-are-allowed/) [Eric Dinerstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-dinerstein/) > [I'm going to do everything I can, so that I don't look back and say I didn't do everything.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scott-haze/i-m-going-to-do-everything-i-can-so-that-i-don-t-look-back-and-say-i/) [Scott Haze](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scott-haze/) > [As you schedule individual tasks, give yourself a cushion. Mark the due date a few days ahead of the actual deadline so you have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harvey-mackay/as-you-schedule-individual-tasks-give-yourself-a-cushion-mark-the-due/) [Harvey Mackay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harvey-mackay/) > [The future is neither ahead nor behind, on one side or another. Nor is it dark or light. It is contained within ourselves; its…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/loren-eiseley/the-future-is-neither-ahead-nor-behind-on-one-side-or-another-nor-is/) [Loren Eiseley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/loren-eiseley/) > [Bill, don’t look at me — I’m ’ideous.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/bill-don-t-look-at-me-i-m-ideous/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) ## More by Harvey Mackay > [It doesn't matter if they say you can't do it. It only matters if you say you can't.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harvey-mackay/it-doesn-t-matter-if-they-say-you-can-t-do-it-it-only-matters-if-you/) [Harvey Mackay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harvey-mackay/) > [Life is too short to wake up with regrets. So love the people who treat you right. Forget about those who don’t. Believe everything…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harvey-mackay/life-is-too-short-to-wake-up-with-regrets-so-love-the-people-who/) [Harvey Mackay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harvey-mackay/) > [Be like the turtle. If he didn't stick his neck out, he wouldn't get anywhere at all.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harvey-mackay/be-like-the-turtle-if-he-didn-t-stick-his-neck-out-he-wouldn-t-get/) [Harvey Mackay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harvey-mackay/) > [Keep the customer actively involved throughout your presentation, and watch your results improve.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harvey-mackay/keep-the-customer-actively-involved-throughout-your-presentation-and/) [Harvey Mackay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harvey-mackay/) > [Your workforce is your most valuable asset. The knowledge and skills they have represent the fuel that drives the engine of business - and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harvey-mackay/your-workforce-is-your-most-valuable-asset-the-knowledge-and-skills/) [Harvey Mackay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harvey-mackay/) > [I've learned that people will seldom let you down if they understand that your destiny is in their hands, and vice versa.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harvey-mackay/i-ve-learned-that-people-will-seldom-let-you-down-if-they-understand/) [Harvey Mackay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harvey-mackay/) > [People begin to become successful the minute they decide to be.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harvey-mackay/people-begin-to-become-successful-the-minute-they-decide-to-be/) [Harvey Mackay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harvey-mackay/) > [I have ten marathons under my belt, including four New York races and one Boston.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harvey-mackay/i-have-ten-marathons-under-my-belt-including-four-new-york-races-and/) [Harvey Mackay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harvey-mackay/) > [Southwest Airlines is successful because the company understands it's a customer service company. It also happens to be an airline.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harvey-mackay/southwest-airlines-is-successful-because-the-company-understands-it-s/) [Harvey Mackay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harvey-mackay/) > [Pay attention to those employees who respectfully ask why. They are demonstrating an interest in their jobs and exhibiting a curiosity that could eventually…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harvey-mackay/pay-attention-to-those-employees-who-respectfully-ask-why-they-are/) [Harvey Mackay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harvey-mackay/) > [The employees who share innovative ideas may also be the folks who have some hidden talents that would help incorporate their suggestions.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harvey-mackay/the-employees-who-share-innovative-ideas-may-also-be-the-folks-who/) [Harvey Mackay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harvey-mackay/) > [Leadership does not mean getting people to do their job. It means getting people to do their best.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harvey-mackay/leadership-does-not-mean-getting-people-to-do-their-job-it-means/) [Harvey Mackay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harvey-mackay/) > [It's only lonely at the top if you forget all the people you met along the way and fail to acknowledge their contributions to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harvey-mackay/it-s-only-lonely-at-the-top-if-you-forget-all-the-people-you-met/) [Harvey Mackay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harvey-mackay/) > [If you walk backwards, you will never stub your toe.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harvey-mackay/if-you-walk-backwards-you-will-never-stub-your-toe/) [Harvey Mackay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harvey-mackay/) > [As you schedule individual tasks, give yourself a cushion. Mark the due date a few days ahead of the actual deadline so you have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harvey-mackay/as-you-schedule-individual-tasks-give-yourself-a-cushion-mark-the-due/) [Harvey Mackay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harvey-mackay/) [Explore all 209 Harvey Mackay quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harvey-mackay/) ## More Ahead quotes > [Anybody who thinks that they should lead the country should go ahead and put their hat in the ring. I am not among them.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-schatz/anybody-who-thinks-that-they-should-lead-the-country-should-go-ahead/) [Brian Schatz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-schatz/) > [If I have a problem with somebody, I go ahead and say what's on my mind.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nico-hulkenberg/if-i-have-a-problem-with-somebody-i-go-ahead-and-say-what-s-on-my-mind/) [Nico Hulkenberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nico-hulkenberg/) > [I once invested in a risky business. Quite a few people warned me not to do so, but I still went ahead and invested…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gautam-rode/i-once-invested-in-a-risky-business-quite-a-few-people-warned-me-not/) [Gautam Rode](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gautam-rode/) > [“What lies behind us is nothing compared to what lies within us and ahead of us.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-r-covey/what-lies-behind-us-is-nothing-compared-to-what-lies-within-us-and/) [Stephen R. Covey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-r-covey/) > [In Life, We May Never Get The Same Opportunity Again, But There's Always Something Better Ahead...](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pacifiersucker/in-life-we-may-never-get-the-same-opportunity-again-but-there-s/) [Pacifiersucker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pacifiersucker/) > [Makeup is only fun if it's occasional and capricious - just like it's a treat to have an empty day ahead, but it wouldn't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/victoria-coren-mitchell/makeup-is-only-fun-if-it-s-occasional-and-capricious-just-like-it-s-a/) [Victoria Coren Mitchell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/victoria-coren-mitchell/) > [There is no such thing as disposable time if you want to stay ahead of the game](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/there-is-no-such-thing-as-disposable-time-if-you-want-to-stay-ahead/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I'm the kind of guy who comes home and checks scores for everything. I'm a sports fan in general, so I pretty much keep…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chadwick-boseman/i-m-the-kind-of-guy-who-comes-home-and-checks-scores-for-everything-i/) [Chadwick Boseman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chadwick-boseman/) > [People are flying you places in business class. Everyone wants to take pictures of you and find out information about you. It's a freak-out.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/yolandi-visser/people-are-flying-you-places-in-business-class-everyone-wants-to-take/) [Yolandi Visser](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/yolandi-visser/) > [I wasn't putting my all into it and I was still managing to score goals, and that gave me something to dream about, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andre-gray/i-wasn-t-putting-my-all-into-it-and-i-was-still-managing-to-score/) [Andre Gray](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andre-gray/) > [There's no limit to what you can accomplish, but there's always someone one step ahead of you, so it's a constant uphill battle.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/catherine-mary-stewart/there-s-no-limit-to-what-you-can-accomplish-but-there-s-always/) [Catherine Mary Stewart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/catherine-mary-stewart/) > [I was never bothered about my position in the industry. If I had believed in it, I wouldn't have allowed anyone to get ahead…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dharmendra/i-was-never-bothered-about-my-position-in-the-industry-if-i-had/) [Dharmendra](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dharmendra/) > [I don't want to look too far ahead.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jofra-archer/i-don-t-want-to-look-too-far-ahead/) [Jofra Archer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jofra-archer/) > [“one who takes the first step always remains one step ahead”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rabi-shaheen/one-who-takes-the-first-step-always-remains-one-step-ahead/) [Rabi Shaheen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rabi-shaheen/) > [I am not interested to sing in Bollywood. I sing for only those actors whom I admire. I sing free of cost for them.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/yo-yo-honey-singh/i-am-not-interested-to-sing-in-bollywood-i-sing-for-only-those-actors/) [Yo Yo Honey Singh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/yo-yo-honey-singh/) [Browse all 1,773 Ahead quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ahead/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "If you don't look ahead, you'll always be behind.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Harvey Mackay" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harvey-mackay/if-you-don-t-look-ahead-you-ll-always-be-behind/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Ahead" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harvey-mackay/if-you-don-t-look-ahead-you-ll-always-be-behind/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/240/harvey-mackay-1775_ahead_if-you-don-t-look-ahead-you-ll-always-be_1845252.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/240/harvey-mackay-1775_ahead_if-you-don-t-look-ahead-you-ll-always-be_1845252.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/240/harvey-mackay-1775_ahead_if-you-don-t-look-ahead-you-ll-always-be_1845252.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“If you don't look ahead, you'll always be behind.” — Harvey Mackay", "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": "Harvey Mackay", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harvey-mackay/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "If you don't look ahead, you'll...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harvey-mackay/if-you-don-t-look-ahead-you-ll-always-be-behind/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harvey-mackay/if-you-don-t-look-ahead-you-ll-always-be-behind/#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 } } ] } ```