--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The key choices you make-apart from the…" description: "\"The key choices you make-apart from the natural talent you already have-will set you apart from others who have talent alone.\" — John C. Maxwell" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/014/john-c-maxwell-113_choices_the-key-choices-you-make-apart-from-the_1503056.jpg" --- # The key choices you make-apart from the natural talent you… ![“The key choices you make-apart from the natural talent you already have-will set you apart from others who have talent alone.” quote by John C. Maxwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/014/john-c-maxwell-113_choices_the-key-choices-you-make-apart-from-the_1503056.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/014/john-c-maxwell-113_choices_the-key-choices-you-make-apart-from-the_1503056.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/014/john-c-maxwell-113_choices_the-key-choices-you-make-apart-from-the_1503056.jpg) > “The key choices you make-apart from the natural talent you already have-will set you apart from others who have talent alone.” [John C. Maxwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-c-maxwell/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Your decisions, not innate ability, determine long‑term success and distinction. **In simple terms:** Choices shape success more than talent alone. Key Takeaway Focus on making deliberate choices. Themes leadership personal development achievement Mood determined optimistic Type motivational inspirational When to use this quote - career planning - team building - skill development - entrepreneurship Key Concepts decision‑making growth mindset Questions to Reflect On - What decisions could you improve today? - How do you balance talent with effort? A Different Perspective Talent alone cannot guarantee success without strategic choices. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Choices](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/choices/) [Choices you make](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/choices-you-make/) [Natural talent](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/natural-talent/) [Nature](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/nature/) [Talent](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/talent/) ## Related quotes > [Character is the result of hundreds and hundreds of choices you make that gradually turn who you are, at any given moment, into who…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-rohn/character-is-the-result-of-hundreds-and-hundreds-of-choices-you-make/) [Jim Rohn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-rohn/) > [The choices you make in your life will make your life. Choose wisely.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-josephson/the-choices-you-make-in-your-life-will-make-your-life-choose-wisely/) [Michael Josephson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-josephson/) > [The most important choices you make are the choices about how you see yourself, the Universe, and your relationship to the Universe.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gary-zukav/the-most-important-choices-you-make-are-the-choices-about-how-you-see/) [Gary Zukav](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gary-zukav/) > [You are free to choose, but the choices you make today will determine what you have, be, and do in the tomorrow of your…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zig-ziglar/you-are-free-to-choose-but-the-choices-you-make-today-will-determine/) [Zig Ziglar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zig-ziglar/) > [The choices you make will make all of the difference in what you want to achieve.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/l-tom-perry/the-choices-you-make-will-make-all-of-the-difference-in-what-you-want/) [L. Tom Perry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/l-tom-perry/) > [People believe in you more after you've won an Oscar, but it's up to you what choices you make.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rachel-weisz/people-believe-in-you-more-after-you-ve-won-an-oscar-but-it-s-up-to/) [Rachel Weisz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rachel-weisz/) > [Wisdom is exercised in the choices you make.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joyce-meyer/wisdom-is-exercised-in-the-choices-you-make/) [Joyce Meyer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joyce-meyer/) > [The choices you make today design your future](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/deepak-chopra/the-choices-you-make-today-design-your-future/) [Deepak Chopra](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/deepak-chopra/) > [Life is about where you are right now, and the choices you make.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cory-booker/life-is-about-where-you-are-right-now-and-the-choices-you-make/) [Cory Booker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cory-booker/) > [The message was, the choices you make can have bad consequences. Everyone has the power of choice. Just like this kid had the power…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-vaughan/the-message-was-the-choices-you-make-can-have-bad-consequences/) [Bill Vaughan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-vaughan/) > [Sometimes the choices you make are good and other times it goes the other way. I take full responsibility as coach.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roberto-mancini/sometimes-the-choices-you-make-are-good-and-other-times-it-goes-the/) [Roberto Mancini](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roberto-mancini/) > [You can’t let your current circumstances dictate what kind of choices you make.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kelly-clark/you-can-t-let-your-current-circumstances-dictate-what-kind-of-choices/) [Kelly Clark](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kelly-clark/) > [Remember this, the choices you make in life, make you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-wooden/remember-this-the-choices-you-make-in-life-make-you/) [John Wooden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-wooden/) > [“Your life is determined by the sum of the choices that YOU make.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frank-sonnenberg/your-life-is-determined-by-the-sum-of-the-choices-that-you-make/) [Frank Sonnenberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frank-sonnenberg/) > [I like to imagine that all the choices you make during the day that you're doing a particular scene are going to feed into…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-jane/i-like-to-imagine-that-all-the-choices-you-make-during-the-day-that/) [Thomas Jane](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-jane/) ## More by John C. Maxwell > [“Why do so many people do nothing? I think it’s because most of us look at the evils and injustice around us, and we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-c-maxwell/why-do-so-many-people-do-nothing-i-think-it-s-because-most-of-us-look/) [John C. Maxwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-c-maxwell/) > [You cannot have growth without change.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-c-maxwell/you-cannot-have-growth-without-change/) [John C. Maxwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-c-maxwell/) > [Change is inevitable. Growth is optional.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-c-maxwell/change-is-inevitable-growth-is-optional/) [John C. Maxwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-c-maxwell/) > [Goals not only help you develop initial motivation by making your dreams obtainable, but they also help you continue to be motivated and that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-c-maxwell/goals-not-only-help-you-develop-initial-motivation-by-making-your/) [John C. Maxwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-c-maxwell/) > [Vision is a picture of a desired future; a picture of something that I don't possess right now, but it is something I want…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-c-maxwell/vision-is-a-picture-of-a-desired-future-a-picture-of-something-that-i/) [John C. Maxwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-c-maxwell/) > [If you want to make your mother happy, talk to her. If you want to make your father happy, listen.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-c-maxwell/if-you-want-to-make-your-mother-happy-talk-to-her-if-you-want-to-make/) [John C. Maxwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-c-maxwell/) > [Experiences isn't the best teacher - evaluated experience is.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-c-maxwell/experiences-isn-t-the-best-teacher-evaluated-experience-is/) [John C. Maxwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-c-maxwell/) > [A big man is one who makes us feel bigger when we are with him.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-c-maxwell/a-big-man-is-one-who-makes-us-feel-bigger-when-we-are-with-him/) [John C. Maxwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-c-maxwell/) > [Passion gives you an advantage over others, because one person with passion is greater than ninety-nine who have only an interest!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-c-maxwell/passion-gives-you-an-advantage-over-others-because-one-person-with/) [John C. Maxwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-c-maxwell/) > [I thought if I was open and honest, it would help the reader to get open and honest, and they also would realize sometimes…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-c-maxwell/i-thought-if-i-was-open-and-honest-it-would-help-the-reader-to-get/) [John C. Maxwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-c-maxwell/) > [A person who has a dream knows what he is willing to give up in order to go up.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-c-maxwell/a-person-who-has-a-dream-knows-what-he-is-willing-to-give-up-in-order/) [John C. Maxwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-c-maxwell/) > [The bottom line on attitude is that a good one helps to increase your possibilities. Pessimists usually get what they expect. So do optimists.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-c-maxwell/the-bottom-line-on-attitude-is-that-a-good-one-helps-to-increase-your/) [John C. Maxwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-c-maxwell/) > [Working together precedes winning together...collaboration is multiplication.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-c-maxwell/working-together-precedes-winning-together-collaboration-is/) [John C. Maxwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-c-maxwell/) > [Leaders don't rise to the pinnacle of success without developing the right set of attitudes and habits; they make every day a masterpiece.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-c-maxwell/leaders-don-t-rise-to-the-pinnacle-of-success-without-developing-the/) [John C. Maxwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-c-maxwell/) > [Your leadership skills determine the level of your success, and the success of those who work around you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-c-maxwell/your-leadership-skills-determine-the-level-of-your-success-and-the/) [John C. Maxwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-c-maxwell/) [Explore all 1,233 John C. Maxwell quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-c-maxwell/) ## More Choices quotes > [Of all the people who have affected my life and influenced the choices I've made, none has been more important than my father. I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/teddy-atlas/of-all-the-people-who-have-affected-my-life-and-influenced-the/) [Teddy Atlas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/teddy-atlas/) > [“Don’t allow anyone to pressure you into taking a job in a field that doesn’t feel right in your gut. You are the one…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alison-james/don-t-allow-anyone-to-pressure-you-into-taking-a-job-in-a-field-that/) Alison James > [When you have a choice, choose happy!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pancho-barnes/when-you-have-a-choice-choose-happy/) Pancho Barnes > [By making conscious choices in our behavior and where we focus our attention, we can transform our experience of our body, decrease our biological…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/deepak-chopra/by-making-conscious-choices-in-our-behavior-and-where-we-focus-our/) [Deepak Chopra](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/deepak-chopra/) > [Movies have power. Power to impact society and the choices we make. I want to entertain, but I also want to say something to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gina-prince-bythewood/movies-have-power-power-to-impact-society-and-the-choices-we-make-i/) [Gina Prince-Bythewood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gina-prince-bythewood/) > [If you have a different mindset, you will have a different outcome: if you make different choices from your peers, your life will then…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-ma/if-you-have-a-different-mindset-you-will-have-a-different-outcome-if/) [Jack Ma](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-ma/) > [Personally, I prefer contemporary films, but the market calls for more period choices, especially since China opened up a cinema market in Hong Kong.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donnie-yen/personally-i-prefer-contemporary-films-but-the-market-calls-for-more/) [Donnie Yen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donnie-yen/) > [Clarissa," he said, "here with the vampire, I see. When things have settled a bit, we really must discuss you choice in pets..](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cassandra-clare/clarissa-he-said-here-with-the-vampire-i-see-when-things-have-settled/) [Cassandra Clare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cassandra-clare/) > [Change is inevitable but personal growth is a choice.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bob-proctor/change-is-inevitable-but-personal-growth-is-a-choice/) [Bob Proctor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bob-proctor/) > [Time hath not yet so dried this blood of mine, Nor age so eat up my invention, Nor fortune made such havoc of my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-shakespeare/time-hath-not-yet-so-dried-this-blood-of-mine-nor-age-so-eat-up-my/) [William Shakespeare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-shakespeare/) > [If you choose to draw from the inner well of free will, then you can make choices that are outside your current karmic patterns.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-lenz/if-you-choose-to-draw-from-the-inner-well-of-free-will-then-you-can/) [Frederick Lenz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-lenz/) > [Act always so as to increase the number of choices](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/heinz-von-foerster/act-always-so-as-to-increase-the-number-of-choices/) [Heinz von Foerster](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/heinz-von-foerster/) > [Give me a platter of choice finnan haddie, freshly cooked in its bath of water and milk, add melted butter, a slice or two…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/craig-claiborne/give-me-a-platter-of-choice-finnan-haddie-freshly-cooked-in-its-bath/) [Craig Claiborne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/craig-claiborne/) > [I don't know that any woman could ever not think about that at some point - even making the choice not to do it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/naomi-watts/i-don-t-know-that-any-woman-could-ever-not-think-about-that-at-some/) [Naomi Watts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/naomi-watts/) > [In this choice of inheritance we have given to our frame of polity the image of a relation in blood; binding up the constitution…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edmund-burke/in-this-choice-of-inheritance-we-have-given-to-our-frame-of-polity/) [Edmund Burke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edmund-burke/) [Browse all 11,466 Choices quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/choices/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "The key choices you make-apart from the natural talent you already have-will set you apart from others who have talent alone.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "John C. 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