--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Face reality as it is, not as it was, or…" description: "\"Face reality as it is, not as it was, or as you wish it were. Be candid with everyone. Don't manage, lead. Change before you have to. If you don't have..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b0c/jack-welch-1195_advantage_face-reality-as-it-is-not-as-it-was-or-a_2206100.png" --- # Face reality as it is, not as it was, or as you wish it… ![“Face reality as it is, not as it was, or as you wish it were. Be candid with everyone. Don't manage, lead. Change before you have to. If you don't have a competitive advantage, don't compete. Control your own destiny, or someone else will.” quote by Jack Welch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b0c/jack-welch-1195_advantage_face-reality-as-it-is-not-as-it-was-or-a_2206100.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b0c/jack-welch-1195_advantage_face-reality-as-it-is-not-as-it-was-or-a_2206100.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b0c/jack-welch-1195_advantage_face-reality-as-it-is-not-as-it-was-or-a_2206100.png) > “Face reality as it is, not as it was, or as you wish it were. Be candid with everyone. Don't manage, lead. Change before you have to. If you don't have a competitive advantage, don't compete. Control your own destiny, or someone else will.” [Jack Welch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-welch/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Advocates facing truth, leading proactively, and taking control of one’s destiny rather than reacting to competition or external forces. **In simple terms:** Face truth, lead, control destiny. Key Takeaway Lead proactively, avoid complacency. Themes leadership strategy self‑determination Mood motivational pragmatic Type leadership strategic When to use this quote - team meetings - career planning - market analysis - personal goal setting Key Concepts proactivity competition control Questions to Reflect On - When should you wait for data? - How do you balance proactivity with prudence? A Different Perspective Changing before necessity can be risky. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Advantage](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/advantage/) [Candid](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/candid/) [Change](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/change/) [Competitive advantage](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/competitive-advantage/) [Destiny](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/destiny/) [Faces](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/faces/) [Reality](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/reality/) [Wish](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wish/) ## Related quotes > [Don't manage - lead change before you have to.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-welch/don-t-manage-lead-change-before-you-have-to/) [Jack Welch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-welch/) > [“A free economy cannot exist without competition. Therefore, men must be forced to compete. Therefore, we must control men in order to force them…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ayn-rand/a-free-economy-cannot-exist-without-competition-therefore-men-must-be/) [Ayn Rand](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ayn-rand/) > [I feel like I have the experience to go out there and compete and keep everything until control. I think that's something I'm going…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patrick-corbin/i-feel-like-i-have-the-experience-to-go-out-there-and-compete-and/) [Patrick Corbin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patrick-corbin/) > [“‎10 SUGGESTIONS FOR LIVING A MORE MEANINGFUL LIFE 1. Be honest with everyone. 2. Change before you have to. 3. Control your own destiny…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jos-n-harris/10-suggestions-for-living-a-more-meaningful-life-1-be-honest-with/) [José N. Harris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jos-n-harris/) > [To manage one must lead. To lead, one must understand the work that he and his people are responsible for](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/w-edwards-deming/to-manage-one-must-lead-to-lead-one-must-understand-the-work-that-he/) [W. Edwards Deming](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/w-edwards-deming/) > [Each of us was created to rule, govern, control, master, manage, and lead our environments. You are in essence a leader, no matter who…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/myles-munroe/each-of-us-was-created-to-rule-govern-control-master-manage-and-lead/) [Myles Munroe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/myles-munroe/) > [You must manage yourself before you can lead someone else.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/you-must-manage-yourself-before-you-can-lead-someone-else/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Control your own destiny or someone else will.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-welch/control-your-own-destiny-or-someone-else-will/) [Jack Welch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-welch/) > [Control your destiny or somebody will.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-welch/control-your-destiny-or-somebody-will/) [Jack Welch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-welch/) > [“Control your own Destiny or somebody else will”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-welch/control-your-own-destiny-or-somebody-else-will/) [Jack Welch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-welch/) > [Be candid with everyone.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-welch/be-candid-with-everyone/) [Jack Welch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-welch/) > [Trying to get people to face reality and see the world the way it really is is an absolutely critical aspect of leadership, in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-welch/trying-to-get-people-to-face-reality-and-see-the-world-the-way-it/) [Jack Welch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-welch/) > [Face reality as it is, not as it was or as you wish it to be.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-welch/face-reality-as-it-is-not-as-it-was-or-as-you-wish-it-to-be/) [Jack Welch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-welch/) > [An organization's ability to learn, and translate that learning into action rapidly, is the ultimate competitive advantage.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-welch/an-organization-s-ability-to-learn-and-translate-that-learning-into/) [Jack Welch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-welch/) > [Our behavior is driven by a fundamental core belief: the desire, and the ability, of an organization to continuously learn from any source, anywhere;…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-welch/our-behavior-is-driven-by-a-fundamental-core-belief-the-desire-and/) [Jack Welch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-welch/) ## More by Jack Welch > [When the amount of change externally exceeds the amount of change internally, the end is in sight.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-welch/when-the-amount-of-change-externally-exceeds-the-amount-of-change/) [Jack Welch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-welch/) > [I think the move by Mr. Greenspan was welcomed by everyone here.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-welch/i-think-the-move-by-mr-greenspan-was-welcomed-by-everyone-here/) [Jack Welch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-welch/) > [Take lack of candor. ... I'm not talking about boldface lying, but a tendency to withhold information. That behavior is far more common, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-welch/take-lack-of-candor-i-m-not-talking-about-boldface-lying-but-a/) [Jack Welch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-welch/) > [Failing to differentiate among employees — and holding on to bottom-tier performers — is actually the cruelest form of management there is.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-welch/failing-to-differentiate-among-employees-and-holding-on-to-bottom/) [Jack Welch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-welch/) > [We know where most of the creativity, the innovation, the stuff that drives productivity lies - in the minds of those closest to the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-welch/we-know-where-most-of-the-creativity-the-innovation-the-stuff-that/) [Jack Welch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-welch/) > [Simple messages travel faster, simpler designs reach the market faster and the elimination of clutter allows faster decision making.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-welch/simple-messages-travel-faster-simpler-designs-reach-the-market-faster/) [Jack Welch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-welch/) > [So every time you think about your work-life balance issue, remember what your boss is thinking about - and that's winning. Your needs may…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-welch/so-every-time-you-think-about-your-work-life-balance-issue-remember/) [Jack Welch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-welch/) > [Wright is a visionary with a great strategic mind, and he's a strong business leader with outstanding people skills, ... He's a terrific guy…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-welch/wright-is-a-visionary-with-a-great-strategic-mind-and-he-s-a-strong/) [Jack Welch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-welch/) > [In order to lead a country or a company, you've got to get everybody on the same page and you've got to be able…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-welch/in-order-to-lead-a-country-or-a-company-you-ve-got-to-get-everybody/) [Jack Welch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-welch/) > [Real communication is an attitude, an environment. It is the most interactive of all processes. It requires countless hours of eyeball to eyeball, back…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-welch/real-communication-is-an-attitude-an-environment-it-is-the-most/) [Jack Welch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-welch/) > [No one is doing something in your business - getting a sale, having a key customer, working on an R&D project - doing anything…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-welch/no-one-is-doing-something-in-your-business-getting-a-sale-having-a/) [Jack Welch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-welch/) > [Some people have better ideas than others; some are smarter or more experienced or more creative. But everyone should be heard and respected.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-welch/some-people-have-better-ideas-than-others-some-are-smarter-or-more/) [Jack Welch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-welch/) > [ Innovation is not a big breakthrough invention every time. Innovation is a constant thing. But if you don't have an innovative company \[team\], coming… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-welch/innovation-is-not-a-big-breakthrough-invention-every-time-innovation/) [Jack Welch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-welch/) > [Shareholder value is a result, not a strategy . . . Your main constituencies are your employees, your customers and your products.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-welch/shareholder-value-is-a-result-not-a-strategy-your-main-constituencies/) [Jack Welch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-welch/) > [The essence of competitiveness is liberated when we make people believe that what they think and do is important - and then get out…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-welch/the-essence-of-competitiveness-is-liberated-when-we-make-people/) [Jack Welch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-welch/) [Explore all 275 Jack Welch quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-welch/) ## More Advantage quotes > [Dogmatists have one advantage: they are poor listeners.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frans-de-waal/dogmatists-have-one-advantage-they-are-poor-listeners/) [Frans de Waal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frans-de-waal/) > [ Next came the Patent laws. These began in England in 1624; and, in this country, with the adoption of our constitution. Before then \[these?\],… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abraham-lincoln/next-came-the-patent-laws-these-began-in-england-in-1624-and-in-this/) [Abraham Lincoln](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abraham-lincoln/) > [Talented people can predict with great accuracy what's about to happen just a tiny bit ahead of their competitors. It might be two seconds…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kevin-maney/talented-people-can-predict-with-great-accuracy-what-s-about-to/) [Kevin Maney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kevin-maney/) > [All I ever wanted was an unfair advantage](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/garrison-wynn/all-i-ever-wanted-was-an-unfair-advantage/) [Garrison Wynn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/garrison-wynn/) > [Part of the advantage, and part of the result of trying to be a producer and director, are the practical things, you find. It's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/campbell-scott/part-of-the-advantage-and-part-of-the-result-of-trying-to-be-a/) [Campbell Scott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/campbell-scott/) > [I was born with a silver microphone in my mouth, and that was an advantage. My father wrote books and was also a great…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-dimbleby/i-was-born-with-a-silver-microphone-in-my-mouth-and-that-was-an/) [Jonathan Dimbleby](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-dimbleby/) > [Like funny men, skilled diners are apparently perceived to have an evolutionary advantage.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dana-goodyear/like-funny-men-skilled-diners-are-apparently-perceived-to-have-an/) [Dana Goodyear](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dana-goodyear/) > [For some reason when I decide to pursue something, I never have any fear that it won't happen. I think it's just ingrained in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kelly-blatz/for-some-reason-when-i-decide-to-pursue-something-i-never-have-any/) [Kelly Blatz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kelly-blatz/) > [I think I have good hands, so I try to use them to my advantage.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bianca-andreescu/i-think-i-have-good-hands-so-i-try-to-use-them-to-my-advantage/) [Bianca Andreescu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bianca-andreescu/) > [My influences are jazz, blues, European classical music; they are rock music and pop music. So many kinds of music. World music from different…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rokia-traore/my-influences-are-jazz-blues-european-classical-music-they-are-rock/) [Rokia Traore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rokia-traore/) > [Baseball needs to put the steroids era behind it by having and enforcing tough rules against all kinds of artificial advantages, so that spring…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marvin-olasky/baseball-needs-to-put-the-steroids-era-behind-it-by-having-and/) [Marvin Olasky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marvin-olasky/) > [Daily contact with some teachers is itself all-sided ethical education for the child without a spoken precept. Here, too, the real advantage of male…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/g-stanley-hall/daily-contact-with-some-teachers-is-itself-all-sided-ethical/) [G. Stanley Hall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/g-stanley-hall/) > [ If \[Donald\] Trump throws 20 million off of health care, that's going to be - if he handles this badly - and it's very… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/van-jones/if-donald-trump-throws-20-million-off-of-health-care-that-s-going-to/) [Van Jones](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/van-jones/) > [Live in the world you inhabit. Look upon things as they are. Take them as you find them. Make the best of them. Turn…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-e-lee/live-in-the-world-you-inhabit-look-upon-things-as-they-are-take-them/) [Robert E. Lee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-e-lee/) > [I always tell women that the fact that you're different and that you're noticed, because there are few of us in the tech industry,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/padmasree-warrior/i-always-tell-women-that-the-fact-that-you-re-different-and-that-you/) [Padmasree Warrior](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/padmasree-warrior/) [Browse all 3,503 Advantage quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/advantage/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Face reality as it is, not as it was, or as you wish it were. Be candid with everyone. Don't manage, lead. Change before you have to. If you don't have a competitive advantage, don't compete. Control your own destiny, or someone else will.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Jack Welch" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-welch/face-reality-as-it-is-not-as-it-was-or-as-you-wish-it-were-be-candid/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Advantage" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-welch/face-reality-as-it-is-not-as-it-was-or-as-you-wish-it-were-be-candid/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b0c/jack-welch-1195_advantage_face-reality-as-it-is-not-as-it-was-or-a_2206100.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b0c/jack-welch-1195_advantage_face-reality-as-it-is-not-as-it-was-or-a_2206100.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b0c/jack-welch-1195_advantage_face-reality-as-it-is-not-as-it-was-or-a_2206100.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Face reality as it is, not as it was, or as you wish it were. Be candid with everyone. Don't manage, lead…” — Jack Welch", "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": "Jack Welch", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-welch/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "Face reality as it is, not...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-welch/face-reality-as-it-is-not-as-it-was-or-as-you-wish-it-were-be-candid/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-welch/face-reality-as-it-is-not-as-it-was-or-as-you-wish-it-were-be-candid/#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 } } ] } ```