--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: You can't learn anything if you are doing…" description: "\"You can't learn anything if you are doing all the talking. Sales people should always be developing their earQ, not their IQ. The only way to create a ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7d8/harvey-mackay-1775_action_you-can-t-learn-anything-if-you-are-doin_2402654.png" --- # You can't learn anything if you are doing all the talking… ![“You can't learn anything if you are doing all the talking. Sales people should always be developing their earQ, not their IQ. The only way to create a successful sale is to understand that knowledge from listening does not become power until it is used. And ideas without action are worthless.” quote by Harvey Mackay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7d8/harvey-mackay-1775_action_you-can-t-learn-anything-if-you-are-doin_2402654.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7d8/harvey-mackay-1775_action_you-can-t-learn-anything-if-you-are-doin_2402654.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7d8/harvey-mackay-1775_action_you-can-t-learn-anything-if-you-are-doin_2402654.png) > “You can't learn anything if you are doing all the talking. Sales people should always be developing their earQ, not their IQ. The only way to create a successful sale is to understand that knowledge from listening does not become power until it is used. And ideas without action are worthless.” [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. Listening builds knowledge; action converts it to power; sales succeed through ear, not just intellect. **In simple terms:** Listen, then act. Key Takeaway Develop listening, apply ideas. Themes sales communication learning Mood practical motivational Type business inspirational When to use this quote - client meetings - team training - networking Key Concepts active listening knowledge application Questions to Reflect On - How can you improve listening in sales? - What actions turn ideas into results? ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Action](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/action/) [Customer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/customer/) [Developing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/developing/) [Developing Earq](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/developing-earq-6022772/) [Doe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/doe/) [Ideas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ideas/) [Ifs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ifs/) [Knowledge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/knowledge/) [Knowledge Listening](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/knowledge-listening-2839546/) [Listening](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/listening/) [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) [Sale Understand](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sale-understand-3770759/) [Sales people](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sales-people/) [Should](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/should/) [Successful](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/successful/) [Talking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/talking/) [Talking Sales](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/talking-sales-6022771/) [Used](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/used/) [Way](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/way/) [Worthless](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/worthless/) ## Related quotes > [“Empathy is an essential working and leadership capacity. If you are going to build strong relationships with your direct reports, peers, bosses, customers, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bob-wall/empathy-is-an-essential-working-and-leadership-capacity-if-you-are/) [Bob Wall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bob-wall/) > [“Become keenly aware of these three layers to discover whether you're listening with interest and intent for excellent communication and understanding—or are you unintentionally…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susan-c-young/become-keenly-aware-of-these-three-layers-to-discover-whether-you-re/) [Susan C. Young](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susan-c-young/) > [Ideas without action are worthless.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harvey-mackay/ideas-without-action-are-worthless/) [Harvey Mackay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harvey-mackay/) > [Don't sell life insurance. Sell what life insurance can do.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-feldman/don-t-sell-life-insurance-sell-what-life-insurance-can-do/) [Ben Feldman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ben-feldman/) > [Try to sell cold callers something and be very insistent. Works well. Also good for door-to-door sales people, especially if they're wearing poor shoes.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sean-o-grady/try-to-sell-cold-callers-something-and-be-very-insistent-works-well/) [Sean O'Grady](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sean-o-grady/) > [The wise man puts himself last and finds himself first.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laozi/the-wise-man-puts-himself-last-and-finds-himself-first/) [Laozi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laozi/) > [What populates a comic-book convention? Well there's actors, and there's dealers, and there's comic-book artists and writers, and there's cosplay people, toy sales people,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neal-adams/what-populates-a-comic-book-convention-well-there-s-actors-and-there/) [Neal Adams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neal-adams/) > [Positive, optimistic sales people sell more than pessimistic sales people.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-seligman/positive-optimistic-sales-people-sell-more-than-pessimistic-sales/) [Martin Seligman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-seligman/) > [“The growing sensitivity of people to any sort of open and frank discussion of important issues is no service to civilisation, let alone law…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arthur-miller/the-growing-sensitivity-of-people-to-any-sort-of-open-and-frank/) [Arthur Miller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arthur-miller/) > [Internalize the Golden Rule of sales that says: All things being equal, people will do business with, and refer business to, those people they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bob-burg/internalize-the-golden-rule-of-sales-that-says-all-things-being-equal/) [Bob Burg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bob-burg/) > [A smart salesperson listens to emotions not facts.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zig-ziglar/a-smart-salesperson-listens-to-emotions-not-facts/) [Zig Ziglar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zig-ziglar/) > [Prospecting - Find the man with the problem.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-m-friedman/prospecting-find-the-man-with-the-problem/) [Benjamin M. Friedman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-m-friedman/) > [“It is the responsibility of sales management to make the job of the sales people as easy as possible. The easiest way to do…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-b-black/it-is-the-responsibility-of-sales-management-to-make-the-job-of-the/) [David B. Black](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-b-black/) > [Often in companies, you'll see tensions between sales and marketing. Sales people will want to give discounts to clients because they often get paid…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-duhigg/often-in-companies-you-ll-see-tensions-between-sales-and-marketing/) [Charles Duhigg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-duhigg/) > [Day by day, what you do is who you become.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/heraclitus/day-by-day-what-you-do-is-who-you-become/) [Heraclitus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/heraclitus/) ## 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 Action quotes > [I always say there are two things to be successful. The first is decide exactly what you want - set your goals - and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-tracy/i-always-say-there-are-two-things-to-be-successful-the-first-is/) [Brian Tracy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-tracy/) > [You'd be surprised how hard it can often be to translate an action into an idea.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karl-kraus/you-d-be-surprised-how-hard-it-can-often-be-to-translate-an-action/) [Karl Kraus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karl-kraus/) > [Gratitude isn't just a feeling, it's an action. Expressing gratitude by writing in a journal, taking a photo, or shooting a video creates a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/janice-kaplan/gratitude-isn-t-just-a-feeling-it-s-an-action-expressing-gratitude-by/) [Janice Kaplan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/janice-kaplan/) > [Nothing is so powerful as an insight into human nature... what compulsions drive a man, what instincts dominate his action. If you know these…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-bernbach/nothing-is-so-powerful-as-an-insight-into-human-nature-what/) [William Bernbach](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-bernbach/) > [Every thought I have imprisioned in expression I must free by my deeds](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kahlil-gibran/every-thought-i-have-imprisioned-in-expression-i-must-free-by-my-deeds/) [Kahlil Gibran](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kahlil-gibran/) > [It took me 20 years to buy an electric typewriter, because I was afraid it would be too sensitive. I like to bang the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elmore-leonard/it-took-me-20-years-to-buy-an-electric-typewriter-because-i-was/) [Elmore Leonard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elmore-leonard/) > [Every action that helps us manifest our divine nature more and more is good; every action that retards it is evil.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/swami-vivekananda/every-action-that-helps-us-manifest-our-divine-nature-more-and-more/) [Swami Vivekananda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/swami-vivekananda/) > [As you begin changing your thinking, start immediately to change your behaviour. Begin to act the part of the person you would like to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/as-you-begin-changing-your-thinking-start-immediately-to-change-your/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [It's easy to say, let's go in and get the bad guys. But you have a divided country of Sunnis and Shias. The United…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tulsi-gabbard/it-s-easy-to-say-let-s-go-in-and-get-the-bad-guys-but-you-have-a/) [Tulsi Gabbard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tulsi-gabbard/) > [For comedy action, I must know the language.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sammo-hung/for-comedy-action-i-must-know-the-language/) [Sammo Hung](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sammo-hung/) > [Believing with you that religion is a matter which lies solely between man and his God, that he owes account to none other for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-jefferson/believing-with-you-that-religion-is-a-matter-which-lies-solely/) [Thomas Jefferson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-jefferson/) > [“Action is a powerful thing. When you smile through your sadness, it can completely change your outlook. Try it! Smile :) Now hold onto…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leticia-rae/action-is-a-powerful-thing-when-you-smile-through-your-sadness-it-can/) [Leticia Rae](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leticia-rae/) > [I reject criticism because the last thing I wanted was to sit there and look at people talking. I think people are conditioned to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matt-tyrnauer/i-reject-criticism-because-the-last-thing-i-wanted-was-to-sit-there/) [Matt Tyrnauer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matt-tyrnauer/) > [“I take my actions because of my passion not because of compulsion.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amit-kalantri/i-take-my-actions-because-of-my-passion-not-because-of-compulsion/) [Amit Kalantri](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amit-kalantri/) > [When the first Superman movie came out I was frequently asked "What is a hero?" ...My answer was that a hero is someone who…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-reeve/when-the-first-superman-movie-came-out-i-was-frequently-asked-what-is/) [Christopher Reeve](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-reeve/) [Browse all 14,940 Action quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/action/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "You can't learn anything if you are doing all the talking. Sales people should always be developing their earQ, not their IQ. The only way to create a successful sale is to understand that knowledge from listening does not become power until it is used. And ideas without action are worthless.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Harvey Mackay" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harvey-mackay/you-can-t-learn-anything-if-you-are-doing-all-the-talking-sales/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Action" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harvey-mackay/you-can-t-learn-anything-if-you-are-doing-all-the-talking-sales/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7d8/harvey-mackay-1775_action_you-can-t-learn-anything-if-you-are-doin_2402654.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7d8/harvey-mackay-1775_action_you-can-t-learn-anything-if-you-are-doin_2402654.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7d8/harvey-mackay-1775_action_you-can-t-learn-anything-if-you-are-doin_2402654.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“You can't learn anything if you are doing all the talking. Sales people should always be developing their…” — 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": "You can't learn anything if you...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harvey-mackay/you-can-t-learn-anything-if-you-are-doing-all-the-talking-sales/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harvey-mackay/you-can-t-learn-anything-if-you-are-doing-all-the-talking-sales/#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 } } ] } ```