---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Listening is the hard part. Listening is…"
description: "\"Listening is the hard part. Listening is the important part. The hot button is in the prospect's response.\" — Jeffrey Gitomer"
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e90/jeffrey-gitomer-2442_buttons_listening-is-the-hard-part-listening-is_2422957.png"
---

#  Listening is the hard part. Listening is the important…

![“Listening is the hard part. Listening is the important part. The hot button is in the prospect's response.” quote by Jeffrey Gitomer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e90/jeffrey-gitomer-2442_buttons_listening-is-the-hard-part-listening-is_2422957.png)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e90/jeffrey-gitomer-2442_buttons_listening-is-the-hard-part-listening-is_2422957.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e90/jeffrey-gitomer-2442_buttons_listening-is-the-hard-part-listening-is_2422957.png)

> “Listening is the hard part. Listening is the important part. The hot button is in the prospect's response.”

[Jeffrey Gitomer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeffrey-gitomer/)

## About This Quote

This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.

Effective listening is essential; the real insight comes from the prospect’s reaction.

**In simple terms:** Listen to understand, not just hear.

Key Takeaway

Focus on the prospect’s response.

Themes

communication sales listening

Mood

thoughtful practical

Type

advice business

When to use this quote

- client meetings
- negotiations
- customer service

Key Concepts

active listening empathy

Questions to Reflect On

- What does the prospect’s response reveal?
- How can you improve your listening skills?

A Different Perspective

Listening alone isn’t enough without action.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Communication](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/communication/)

## Related quotes

> [As if it didnt matter what was on, but instead how hard i was listening.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-dessen/as-if-it-didnt-matter-what-was-on-but-instead-how-hard-i-was-listening/)

[Sarah Dessen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-dessen/)

> [“Auntie Yang is not hard of hearing. She is hard of listening.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amy-tan/auntie-yang-is-not-hard-of-hearing-she-is-hard-of-listening/)

[Amy Tan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amy-tan/)

> [It's hard listening to myself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/meg-white/it-s-hard-listening-to-myself/)

[Meg White](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/meg-white/)

> [When I performed the songs in front of an audience at the end of each project and I knew the storytellers were in the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jens-lekman/when-i-performed-the-songs-in-front-of-an-audience-at-the-end-of-each/)

[Jens Lekman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jens-lekman/)

> [Listening to hard rock on the subway doesn't work for me, especially modern hard rock. Driving in L.A. helped me to understand the appeal…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-dano/listening-to-hard-rock-on-the-subway-doesn-t-work-for-me-especially/)

[Paul Dano](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-dano/)

> [I was terribly sure trees and flowers were the same as birds or people. That they thought things and talked among themselves. And we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/truman-capote/i-was-terribly-sure-trees-and-flowers-were-the-same-as-birds-or/)

[Truman Capote](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/truman-capote/)

> [“Listening is hard work. Listen carefully not only with your ears, but also listen with all of your senses. You will understand better.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/debasish-mridha/listening-is-hard-work-listen-carefully-not-only-with-your-ears-but/)

[Debasish Mridha](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/debasish-mridha/)

> [“Her bedroom window overlooked the garden, and now and then, usually when she was "having a bad spell," Mr. Helm had seen her stand…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/truman-capote/her-bedroom-window-overlooked-the-garden-and-now-and-then-usually/)

[Truman Capote](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/truman-capote/)

> [Attentive listening to others is important regardless of their stations and positions. Wise people consider the deep meaning and true values of all suggestions.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chungliang-al-huang/attentive-listening-to-others-is-important-regardless-of-their/)

[Chungliang Al Huang](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chungliang-al-huang/)

> [More and more I've come to understand that listening is one of the most important things we can do for one another. Whether the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fred-rogers/more-and-more-i-ve-come-to-understand-that-listening-is-one-of-the/)

[Fred Rogers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fred-rogers/)

> [Sam Vimes could parallel process. Most husbands can. They learn to follow their own line of thought while at the same time listening to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-pratchett/sam-vimes-could-parallel-process-most-husbands-can-they-learn-to/)

[Terry Pratchett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terry-pratchett/)

> [Is listening important? I can't think of a single walk of life where it wouldn't be.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/morgan-freeman/is-listening-important-i-can-t-think-of-a-single-walk-of-life-where/)

[Morgan Freeman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/morgan-freeman/)

> [Listening is more important than talking. Just hit your mark and believe what you say. Just listen to people and react to what they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jimmy-fallon/listening-is-more-important-than-talking-just-hit-your-mark-and/)

[Jimmy Fallon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jimmy-fallon/)

> [Listening is an important key to HEARING.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joyce-meyer/listening-is-an-important-key-to-hearing/)

[Joyce Meyer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joyce-meyer/)

> [The thing I love most about being famous is people listening to me when I have something important to say.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/madonna-ciccone/the-thing-i-love-most-about-being-famous-is-people-listening-to-me/)

[Madonna Ciccone](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/madonna-ciccone/)

## More by Jeffrey Gitomer

> [If you look deep inside trust, you'll find truth.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeffrey-gitomer/if-you-look-deep-inside-trust-you-ll-find-truth/)

[Jeffrey Gitomer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeffrey-gitomer/)

> [The more a prospective customer clicks on you and your stuff, the easier it is for them to make a buying decision in your…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeffrey-gitomer/the-more-a-prospective-customer-clicks-on-you-and-your-stuff-the/)

[Jeffrey Gitomer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeffrey-gitomer/)

> [If you want to be the best salesperson, first you must be the best person.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeffrey-gitomer/if-you-want-to-be-the-best-salesperson-first-you-must-be-the-best/)

[Jeffrey Gitomer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeffrey-gitomer/)

> [Most salespeople are half prepared. They know everything about their company and their product. They know nothing about their prospect.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeffrey-gitomer/most-salespeople-are-half-prepared-they-know-everything-about-their/)

[Jeffrey Gitomer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeffrey-gitomer/)

> [Use your CRM to retain customers.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeffrey-gitomer/use-your-crm-to-retain-customers/)

[Jeffrey Gitomer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeffrey-gitomer/)

> [What is a positive attitude? The simple definition is the way you dedicate yourself to the way you think. Interestingly, it's also the definition…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeffrey-gitomer/what-is-a-positive-attitude-the-simple-definition-is-the-way-you/)

[Jeffrey Gitomer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeffrey-gitomer/)

> [The love of what you do, combined with your belief in what you do, will not determine your success. It will determine how hard…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeffrey-gitomer/the-love-of-what-you-do-combined-with-your-belief-in-what-you-do-will/)

[Jeffrey Gitomer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeffrey-gitomer/)

> [In business, your positive thoughts and lifestyle choices lead to your personal success and your career success.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeffrey-gitomer/in-business-your-positive-thoughts-and-lifestyle-choices-lead-to-your/)

[Jeffrey Gitomer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeffrey-gitomer/)

> [Take action every day - some small dose at a time.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeffrey-gitomer/take-action-every-day-some-small-dose-at-a-time/)

[Jeffrey Gitomer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeffrey-gitomer/)

> [The reason Trust is requested is because the person seeking Trust realizes that Trust is the key to Yes.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeffrey-gitomer/the-reason-trust-is-requested-is-because-the-person-seeking-trust/)

[Jeffrey Gitomer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeffrey-gitomer/)

> [Being honest when you're dealing with others is easier to do because your honesty is on the table for all to view...Being honest with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeffrey-gitomer/being-honest-when-you-re-dealing-with-others-is-easier-to-do-because/)

[Jeffrey Gitomer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeffrey-gitomer/)

> [Biggest question: Isn't it really 'customer helping' rather than customer service? And wouldn't you deliver better service if you thought of it that way?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeffrey-gitomer/biggest-question-isn-t-it-really-customer-helping-rather-than/)

[Jeffrey Gitomer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeffrey-gitomer/)

> [Sell yourself before you try to sell your company or your product.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeffrey-gitomer/sell-yourself-before-you-try-to-sell-your-company-or-your-product/)

[Jeffrey Gitomer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeffrey-gitomer/)

> [There's no lotion or potion that will make sales faster and easier for you - unless your potion is hard work.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeffrey-gitomer/there-s-no-lotion-or-potion-that-will-make-sales-faster-and-easier/)

[Jeffrey Gitomer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeffrey-gitomer/)

> [Trust is not a request, Trust is earned.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeffrey-gitomer/trust-is-not-a-request-trust-is-earned/)

[Jeffrey Gitomer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeffrey-gitomer/)

[Explore all 166 Jeffrey Gitomer quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeffrey-gitomer/)

## More Buttons quotes

> [J.D. cleared his throat and pushed the button on the intercom. “Uh, Payton, hi. It’s J.D.” Dead silence. Then another crackle. “Sorry. Not interested.”…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julie-james/j-d-cleared-his-throat-and-pushed-the-button-on-the-intercom-uh/)

[Julie James](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julie-james/)

> [Or I could see Fish, Just a button up, Like a Mayor, Like a President, Just demands so much from his teammates, Has played…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kevin-durant/or-i-could-see-fish-just-a-button-up-like-a-mayor-like-a-president/)

[Kevin Durant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kevin-durant/)

> [We are going to die, as is everyone we adore - I hate this! But the question is, how do we live as women…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anne-lamott/we-are-going-to-die-as-is-everyone-we-adore-i-hate-this-but-the/)

[Anne Lamott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anne-lamott/)

> [One thing I like about the United States, and I kind of miss about the United States, is there's an election coming up here…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-sedaris/one-thing-i-like-about-the-united-states-and-i-kind-of-miss-about-the/)

[David Sedaris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-sedaris/)

> [I feel a little more tired than usual, ... Ive had to recover from everything, my illnesses and things this summer. Its not perfect…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/venus-williams/i-feel-a-little-more-tired-than-usual-ive-had-to-recover-from/)

[Venus Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/venus-williams/)

> [I can't really deal with buttons. And that's what I keep saying, "Okay, I can't push buttons, because that means I have to take…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pauline-oliveros/i-can-t-really-deal-with-buttons-and-that-s-what-i-keep-saying-okay-i/)

[Pauline Oliveros](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pauline-oliveros/)

> [Today at school I will learn to read at once; then tomorrow I will begin to write, and the day after tomorrow to cipher.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carlo-collodi/today-at-school-i-will-learn-to-read-at-once-then-tomorrow-i-will/)

[Carlo Collodi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carlo-collodi/)

> [“Some things are governed by common sense. Putting buttons on the front of a shirt is a matter of logic, since it would be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paulo-coelho/some-things-are-governed-by-common-sense-putting-buttons-on-the-front/)

[Paulo Coelho](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paulo-coelho/)

> [Burn a Bush cause for peace he no push no button. Killing over oil and grease, no weapons of destruction, How can we follow…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/common/burn-a-bush-cause-for-peace-he-no-push-no-button-killing-over-oil-and/)

[Common](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/common/)

> [I pray not to be such a whiny, self-obsessed baby, and give thanks that I am not quite as bad as I used to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anne-lamott/i-pray-not-to-be-such-a-whiny-self-obsessed-baby-and-give-thanks-that/)

[Anne Lamott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anne-lamott/)

> [ \[The web\] is going to end up being a tremendous advantage, providing we can work out the financial structure. I think we’ll see newspapers… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harold-evans/the-web-is-going-to-end-up-being-a-tremendous-advantage-providing-we/)

[Harold Evans](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harold-evans/)

> [Any situation that pushes our buttons is a situation where we don't yet have the capacity to be unconditionally loving.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marianne-williamson/any-situation-that-pushes-our-buttons-is-a-situation-where-we-don-t/)

[Marianne Williamson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marianne-williamson/)

> [American views today are weak, confused, and divided. On one side, many progressive liberals still think that we humans are essentially good and getting…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/os-guinness/american-views-today-are-weak-confused-and-divided-on-one-side-many/)

[Os Guinness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/os-guinness/)

> [Nowadays, people shoot digitally and it's all in color, but you press a button and it all goes to black and white. But it's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-lynch/nowadays-people-shoot-digitally-and-it-s-all-in-color-but-you-press-a/)

[David Lynch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-lynch/)

> [The best thing to ever happen to marriage is the pause-live-TV button.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rick-reilly/the-best-thing-to-ever-happen-to-marriage-is-the-pause-live-tv-button/)

[Rick Reilly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rick-reilly/)

Browse all 708 Buttons quotes

```json
{
    "@context": "https://schema.org",
    "@graph": [
        {
            "@type": "Quotation",
            "text": "Listening is the hard part. Listening is the important part. The hot button is in the prospect's response.",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "Jeffrey Gitomer"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeffrey-gitomer/listening-is-the-hard-part-listening-is-the-important-part-the-hot/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "Buttons"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeffrey-gitomer/listening-is-the-hard-part-listening-is-the-important-part-the-hot/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e90/jeffrey-gitomer-2442_buttons_listening-is-the-hard-part-listening-is_2422957.png",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e90/jeffrey-gitomer-2442_buttons_listening-is-the-hard-part-listening-is_2422957.png",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e90/jeffrey-gitomer-2442_buttons_listening-is-the-hard-part-listening-is_2422957.png",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“Listening is the hard part. Listening is the important part. The hot button is in the prospect's response.” — Jeffrey Gitomer",
                "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": "Jeffrey Gitomer",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeffrey-gitomer/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 4,
                    "name": "Listening is the hard part. Listening...",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeffrey-gitomer/listening-is-the-hard-part-listening-is-the-important-part-the-hot/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeffrey-gitomer/listening-is-the-hard-part-listening-is-the-important-part-the-hot/#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
            }
        }
    ]
}
```
