--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: If the only way you can do well is…" description: "\"If the only way you can do well is working more hours than someone else, you're going to lose out because there's always going to be someone who is goi..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e49/henry-paulson-2282_lose_if-the-only-way-you-can-do-well-is-worki_1925648.png" --- # If the only way you can do well is working more hours than… ![“If the only way you can do well is working more hours than someone else, you're going to lose out because there's always going to be someone who is going to work more.” quote by Henry Paulson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e49/henry-paulson-2282_lose_if-the-only-way-you-can-do-well-is-worki_1925648.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e49/henry-paulson-2282_lose_if-the-only-way-you-can-do-well-is-worki_1925648.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e49/henry-paulson-2282_lose_if-the-only-way-you-can-do-well-is-worki_1925648.png) > “If the only way you can do well is working more hours than someone else, you're going to lose out because there's always going to be someone who is going to work more.” [Henry Paulson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-paulson/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Competing on hours worked is unsustainable; someone will always work more, making it a losing strategy. **In simple terms:** Working longer hours isn’t a winning strategy. Key Takeaway Focus on efficiency, not just hours. Themes workplace competition productivity Mood analytical pragmatic Type advisory motivational When to use this quote - project deadlines - team performance reviews - career advancement Key Concepts time management efficiency career strategy Questions to Reflect On - How can you improve output without extra hours? - What metrics better reflect productivity? A Different Perspective More hours don’t guarantee success. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Going Lose](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/going-lose/) [Going Work](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/going-work/) [Hours Going](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hours-going-533411/) [Lose](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/lose/) [More](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/more/) [Only](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/only/) [Way](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/way/) [Way Working](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/way-working-392006/) [Work](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/work/) ## Related quotes > [If you don't enjoy it, then putting in the long hours is going to take their toll. If you don't enjoy it, then putting…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karrie-webb/if-you-don-t-enjoy-it-then-putting-in-the-long-hours-is-going-to-take-2/) [Karrie Webb](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karrie-webb/) > [Everybody else has the same 24 hours, but I'm going to make the most of my 24 hours.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bobby-lashley/everybody-else-has-the-same-24-hours-but-i-m-going-to-make-the-most/) [Bobby Lashley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bobby-lashley/) > [If you don't enjoy it, then putting in the long hours is going to take their toll.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karrie-webb/if-you-don-t-enjoy-it-then-putting-in-the-long-hours-is-going-to-take/) [Karrie Webb](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karrie-webb/) > [“The next time we fuck, it’s going to be for a few hours, and you’re going to need to be wheeled out.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/the-next-time-we-fuck-it-s-going-to-be-for-a-few-hours-and-you-re/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [It's about putting in the hours and going through the paces.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shawn-johnson/it-s-about-putting-in-the-hours-and-going-through-the-paces/) [Shawn Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shawn-johnson/) > [I keep vampire hours, going to bed at 2 A.M. and waking up at about 10:30-11 A.M.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/douglas-coupland/i-keep-vampire-hours-going-to-bed-at-2-a-m-and-waking-up-at-about-10/) [Douglas Coupland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/douglas-coupland/) > [In football winning games is all that matters, but a team like West Ham and every team apart from Man City are going to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-noble/in-football-winning-games-is-all-that-matters-but-a-team-like-west/) [Mark Noble](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-noble/) > [There were so many times I was afraid I was going to lose everything.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kendra-scott/there-were-so-many-times-i-was-afraid-i-was-going-to-lose-everything/) [Kendra Scott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kendra-scott/) > [I mean, I'm never going to be perfect, because you're always going to lose matches. It's impossible to win all of them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/coco-gauff/i-mean-i-m-never-going-to-be-perfect-because-you-re-always-going-to/) [Coco Gauff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/coco-gauff/) > [If you are playing bad you are going to lose here, on clay, on ice, or on the beach.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rafael-nadal/if-you-are-playing-bad-you-are-going-to-lose-here-on-clay-on-ice-or/) [Rafael Nadal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rafael-nadal/) > [I have a very haute couture way of working.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-galliano/i-have-a-very-haute-couture-way-of-working/) [John Galliano](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-galliano/) > [My way of working was different years ago. I used to wait until an idea came to me. Now I go half-way to meet…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sigmund-freud/my-way-of-working-was-different-years-ago-i-used-to-wait-until-an/) [Sigmund Freud](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sigmund-freud/) > [Every professional has their way of working.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/willian/every-professional-has-their-way-of-working/) [Willian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/willian/) > [“God has a way of working things out according to His will.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shana-burton/god-has-a-way-of-working-things-out-according-to-his-will/) [Shana Burton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shana-burton/) > [“Life has a way of working itself out. You’ll see.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lang-leav/life-has-a-way-of-working-itself-out-you-ll-see/) [Lang Leav](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lang-leav/) ## More by Henry Paulson > [If a financial institution has business operations in the United States, hires people in the United States, if they are clogged with illiquid assets,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-paulson/if-a-financial-institution-has-business-operations-in-the-united/) [Henry Paulson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-paulson/) > [It is the policy of the federal government to use all resources at its disposal to make our financial system stronger.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-paulson/it-is-the-policy-of-the-federal-government-to-use-all-resources-at/) [Henry Paulson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-paulson/) > [A state-based regulatory system is quite burdensome. It allows price controls to create market distortions. It can hinder development of national products and can…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-paulson/a-state-based-regulatory-system-is-quite-burdensome-it-allows-price/) [Henry Paulson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-paulson/) > [Well, as you know, we're working through a difficult period in our financial markets right now as we work off some of the past…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-paulson/well-as-you-know-we-re-working-through-a-difficult-period-in-our/) [Henry Paulson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-paulson/) > [I look forward to the day when China has a truly market-determined solution... To get there, you need to have a currency that is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-paulson/i-look-forward-to-the-day-when-china-has-a-truly-market-determined/) [Henry Paulson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-paulson/) > [Indian-Americans are physicians, engineers, CEOs, professors, teachers, entrepreneurs. They are a vital part of the United States' economic and social fabric. Because of this…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-paulson/indian-americans-are-physicians-engineers-ceos-professors-teachers/) [Henry Paulson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-paulson/) > [When it comes to the presidency, I will not vote for Donald Trump.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-paulson/when-it-comes-to-the-presidency-i-will-not-vote-for-donald-trump/) [Henry Paulson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-paulson/) > [America is the land of opportunity. We need to be vigilant in ensuring that each and every American has the opportunity to acquire the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-paulson/america-is-the-land-of-opportunity-we-need-to-be-vigilant-in-ensuring/) [Henry Paulson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-paulson/) > [An open, competitive, and liberalized financial market can effectively allocate scarce resources in a manner that promotes stability and prosperity far better than governmental…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-paulson/an-open-competitive-and-liberalized-financial-market-can-effectively/) [Henry Paulson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-paulson/) > [I do not believe the United States and the Americans are going to let Donald Trump become president... I think the challenge is Donald…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-paulson/i-do-not-believe-the-united-states-and-the-americans-are-going-to-let/) [Henry Paulson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-paulson/) > [Too often, we restrict trade that would create U.S. jobs and is in our national interest.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-paulson/too-often-we-restrict-trade-that-would-create-u-s-jobs-and-is-in-our/) [Henry Paulson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-paulson/) > [Our overriding goal in restructuring our financial architecture should be that taxpayers never again have to save a failing financial institution.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-paulson/our-overriding-goal-in-restructuring-our-financial-architecture/) [Henry Paulson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-paulson/) > [I think history shows that countries have to have some kind of a threshold level of economic success before they begin to have the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-paulson/i-think-history-shows-that-countries-have-to-have-some-kind-of-a/) [Henry Paulson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-paulson/) > [We don't have the necessary laws or powers to deal with failing non-bank institutions. If they're a big bank, the depositor has deposit insurance,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-paulson/we-don-t-have-the-necessary-laws-or-powers-to-deal-with-failing-non/) [Henry Paulson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-paulson/) > [U.S. exports to China have more than quintupled since China entered the WTO and have grown more quickly than imports. In fact, China is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-paulson/u-s-exports-to-china-have-more-than-quintupled-since-china-entered/) [Henry Paulson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-paulson/) [Explore all 174 Henry Paulson quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-paulson/) ## More Lose quotes > [If you take your eye off the ball or lose focus for even a minute you can lose a game against any team.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/felipe-anderson/if-you-take-your-eye-off-the-ball-or-lose-focus-for-even-a-minute-you/) [Felipe Anderson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/felipe-anderson/) > [At the very beginning, I was a page at Letterman, and I freelanced for any place that would let me write any word. I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-schwartz/at-the-very-beginning-i-was-a-page-at-letterman-and-i-freelanced-for/) [Ben Schwartz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ben-schwartz/) > [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/) > [Who wants a stylus. You have to get em and put em away, and you lose em. Yuck. Nobody wants a stylus.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-jobs/who-wants-a-stylus-you-have-to-get-em-and-put-em-away-and-you-lose-em/) [Steve Jobs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-jobs/) > [I still have to unify my division and basically become the undefeated welterweight champion of the world. I can't lose. It is more added…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/errol-spence-jr/i-still-have-to-unify-my-division-and-basically-become-the-undefeated/) [Errol Spence Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/errol-spence-jr/) > [“Do you fear to lose me? Have I become so essential to you that you will treasure me always and never take me for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cameron-dokey/do-you-fear-to-lose-me-have-i-become-so-essential-to-you-that-you/) [Cameron Dokey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cameron-dokey/) > [When the dollar collapses, it's not doing it in a vacuum. If the dollar loses value, it's doing so relative to some other currency.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-schiff/when-the-dollar-collapses-it-s-not-doing-it-in-a-vacuum-if-the-dollar/) [Peter Schiff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-schiff/) > [Lose one friend, lose all friend, lose yourself. A little manifesto.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/uknown/lose-one-friend-lose-all-friend-lose-yourself-a-little-manifesto/) [Uknown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/uknown/) > [When you lose a person you love so much, surviving the loss is difficult.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cristiano-ronaldo/when-you-lose-a-person-you-love-so-much-surviving-the-loss-is/) [Cristiano Ronaldo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cristiano-ronaldo/) > [Win or lose or draw, you always go back and critique your performance and say you could have done things better. Even if I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dustin-poirier/win-or-lose-or-draw-you-always-go-back-and-critique-your-performance/) [Dustin Poirier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dustin-poirier/) > [When You Lose Someone You Love, You Never Get Over It. You Just Get Used To It.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bernajoy-vaal/when-you-lose-someone-you-love-you-never-get-over-it-you-just-get/) [Bernajoy Vaal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bernajoy-vaal/) > [Some lose yet gain, others gain and yet lose](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/some-lose-yet-gain-others-gain-and-yet-lose/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [It's similar to basketball: when you go to different gyms and win or lose, you learn something new. So when kids get out of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andre-iguodala/it-s-similar-to-basketball-when-you-go-to-different-gyms-and-win-or/) [Andre Iguodala](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andre-iguodala/) > [To accomplish much you must first lose everything.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/che-guevara/to-accomplish-much-you-must-first-lose-everything/) [Che Guevara](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/che-guevara/) > [Some things are sacred. Until you act like they're not. Then you lose them](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karen-marie-moning/some-things-are-sacred-until-you-act-like-they-re-not-then-you-lose/) [Karen Marie Moning](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karen-marie-moning/) [Browse all 6,442 Lose quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/lose/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "If the only way you can do well is working more hours than someone else, you're going to lose out because there's always going to be someone who is going to work more.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Henry Paulson" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-paulson/if-the-only-way-you-can-do-well-is-working-more-hours-than-someone/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Lose" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-paulson/if-the-only-way-you-can-do-well-is-working-more-hours-than-someone/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e49/henry-paulson-2282_lose_if-the-only-way-you-can-do-well-is-worki_1925648.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e49/henry-paulson-2282_lose_if-the-only-way-you-can-do-well-is-worki_1925648.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e49/henry-paulson-2282_lose_if-the-only-way-you-can-do-well-is-worki_1925648.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“If the only way you can do well is working more hours than someone else, you're going to lose out because…” — Henry Paulson", "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": "Henry Paulson", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-paulson/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "If the only way you can...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-paulson/if-the-only-way-you-can-do-well-is-working-more-hours-than-someone/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-paulson/if-the-only-way-you-can-do-well-is-working-more-hours-than-someone/#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 } } ] } ```