---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: September 11 was horrific, but I've been…"
description: "\"September 11 was horrific, but I've been through enough crises before that I had my own pattern as to how to collect facts, what a leader should do, ho..."
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f00/jeffrey-r-immelt-13924_been_september-11-was-horrific-but-i-ve-been_2139481.png"
---

#  September 11 was horrific, but I've been through enough…

![“September 11 was horrific, but I've been through enough crises before that I had my own pattern as to how to collect facts, what a leader should do, how to communicate with people, how to set up operating mechanisms to work our way through it.” quote by Jeffrey R. Immelt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f00/jeffrey-r-immelt-13924_been_september-11-was-horrific-but-i-ve-been_2139481.png)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f00/jeffrey-r-immelt-13924_been_september-11-was-horrific-but-i-ve-been_2139481.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f00/jeffrey-r-immelt-13924_been_september-11-was-horrific-but-i-ve-been_2139481.png)

> “September 11 was horrific, but I've been through enough crises before that I had my own pattern as to how to collect facts, what a leader should do, how to communicate with people, how to set up operating mechanisms to work our way through it.”

[Jeffrey R. Immelt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeffrey-r-immelt/)

## About This Quote

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

A leader must develop systematic ways to gather information, act decisively, and communicate clearly during crises.

**In simple terms:** Leaders need clear facts and communication in emergencies.

Key Takeaway

Build structured crisis response plans.

Themes

leadership crisis management communication decision‑making

Mood

determined analytical

Type

instructional practical

When to use this quote

- corporate emergencies
- natural disasters
- public health crises
- political upheavals

Key Concepts

systems thinking resilience situational awareness

Questions to Reflect On

- How do you balance established protocols with novel challenges?
- When should you deviate from your usual fact‑collection method?

A Different Perspective

Over‑reliance on patterns can blind leaders to unique aspects of each crisis.

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