--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Focused, hard work is the real key to…" description: "\"Focused, hard work is the real key to success. Keep your eyes on the goal, and just keep taking the next step towards completing it. If you aren't sure..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/022/john-carmack-15030_completing_focused-hard-work-is-the-real-key-to-suc_2307513.jpg" --- # Focused, hard work is the real key to success. Keep your… ![“Focused, hard work is the real key to success. Keep your eyes on the goal, and just keep taking the next step towards completing it. If you aren't sure which way to do something, do it both ways and see which works better.” quote by John Carmack](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/022/john-carmack-15030_completing_focused-hard-work-is-the-real-key-to-suc_2307513.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/022/john-carmack-15030_completing_focused-hard-work-is-the-real-key-to-suc_2307513.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/022/john-carmack-15030_completing_focused-hard-work-is-the-real-key-to-suc_2307513.jpg) > “Focused, hard work is the real key to success. Keep your eyes on the goal, and just keep taking the next step towards completing it. If you aren't sure which way to do something, do it both ways and see which works better.” [John Carmack](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-carmack/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Consistent, focused effort and iterative experimentation lead to achievement; avoid overthinking and test multiple approaches. **In simple terms:** Hard work and testing ideas bring success. Key Takeaway Work hard, test both ways. Themes productivity goal‑setting experimentation Mood determined pragmatic Type motivational practical When to use this quote - project management - software development - personal goals - skill acquisition Key Concepts growth mindset iterative learning Questions to Reflect On - How do you balance focus with flexibility? - When should you stop testing both ways? A Different Perspective Only hard work without reflection can lead to burnout. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Completing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/completing/) [Eye](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/eye/) [Focus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/focus/) [Focused](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/focused/) [Focused Hard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/focused-hard-828904/) [Goal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/goal/) [Goals](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/goals/) [Hard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hard/) [Hard work](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hard-work/) [Inspirational](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/inspirational/) [Key Success](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/key-success-238129/) [Key to success](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/key-to-success/) [Keys](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/keys/) [Motivational work](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/motivational-work/) [Next](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/next/) [Next step](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/next-step/) [Next steps](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/next-steps/) [Real](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/real/) [Steps](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/steps/) [Success](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/success/) [Success Eyes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/success-eyes-5168165/) [Ur Eyes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ur-eyes/) [Way](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/way/) [Work](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/work/) ## Related quotes > [Focused, hard work is the real key to success.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-carmack/focused-hard-work-is-the-real-key-to-success/) [John Carmack](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-carmack/) > [If you aren't sure which way to do something, do it both ways and see which works better.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-carmack/if-you-aren-t-sure-which-way-to-do-something-do-it-both-ways-and-see/) [John Carmack](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-carmack/) > [Success through the eyes of one once defeated, is true VICTORY.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-cramer/success-through-the-eyes-of-one-once-defeated-is-true-victory/) [Jim Cramer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-cramer/) > [I'm 32 this year so I'm experienced, I know how it is: sometimes you do very easy things and sometimes you can do crazy…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcus-berg/i-m-32-this-year-so-i-m-experienced-i-know-how-it-is-sometimes-you-do/) [Marcus Berg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcus-berg/) > [“I focused as hard as I could on our fingers. On curling them. On bending our elbows to prop up our body.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kat-zhang/i-focused-as-hard-as-i-could-on-our-fingers-on-curling-them-on/) [Kat Zhang](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kat-zhang/) > [Staying focused is hard work and staying married is even harder.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/crystal-gayle/staying-focused-is-hard-work-and-staying-married-is-even-harder/) [Crystal Gayle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/crystal-gayle/) > [“He was utterly focused, so hard on the outside. But he handled the bomb the way he handled her, every movement gentle, every touch…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kit-rocha/he-was-utterly-focused-so-hard-on-the-outside-but-he-handled-the-bomb/) [Kit Rocha](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kit-rocha/) > [I focused so hard on what I WANTED that I lost sight of what I DESERVED!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abhishek-tiwari/i-focused-so-hard-on-what-i-wanted-that-i-lost-sight-of-what-i/) [Abhishek Tiwari](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abhishek-tiwari/) > [Goodness and hard work are rewarded with respect.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/luther-campbell/goodness-and-hard-work-are-rewarded-with-respect/) [Luther Campbell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/luther-campbell/) > [Success in business requires training and discipline and hard work. But if you're not frightened by these things, the opportunities are just as great…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-rockefeller/success-in-business-requires-training-and-discipline-and-hard-work/) [David Rockefeller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-rockefeller/) > [There are so many people that use 'following your dreams' as an excuse to not work. When in reality, following your dreams, successfully, is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brandon-stanton/there-are-so-many-people-that-use-following-your-dreams-as-an-excuse/) [Brandon Stanton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brandon-stanton/) > [What is the most important thing you could be working on in the world right now? ... And if you're not working on that,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aaron-swartz/what-is-the-most-important-thing-you-could-be-working-on-in-the-world/) [Aaron Swartz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aaron-swartz/) > [Whatever work you undertake, do it seriously, thoroughly and well; never leave it half-done or undone, never feel yourself satisfied unless and until you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/syama-prasad-mukherjee/whatever-work-you-undertake-do-it-seriously-thoroughly-and-well-never/) [Syama Prasad Mukherjee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/syama-prasad-mukherjee/) > [People have been known to achieve more as a result of working with others than against them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/allan-fromme/people-have-been-known-to-achieve-more-as-a-result-of-working-with/) [Allan Fromme](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/allan-fromme/) > [I have learned that real angels don't have gossamer white robes and Cherubic skin, they have calloused hands and smell of the days' sweat.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-paul-evans/i-have-learned-that-real-angels-don-t-have-gossamer-white-robes-and/) [Richard Paul Evans](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-paul-evans/) ## More by John Carmack > [The idea that I can be presented with a problem, set out to logically solve it with the tools at hand, and wind up…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-carmack/the-idea-that-i-can-be-presented-with-a-problem-set-out-to-logically/) [John Carmack](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-carmack/) > [The situation is so much better for programmers today - a cheap used PC, a linux CD, and an internet account, and you have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-carmack/the-situation-is-so-much-better-for-programmers-today-a-cheap-used-pc/) [John Carmack](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-carmack/) > [ In the information age, the barriers \[to entry into programming\] just aren't there. The barriers are self imposed. If you want to set off… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-carmack/in-the-information-age-the-barriers-to-entry-into-programming-just/) [John Carmack](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-carmack/) > [It's nice to have a game that sells a million copies.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-carmack/it-s-nice-to-have-a-game-that-sells-a-million-copies/) [John Carmack](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-carmack/) > [I've said before that I'm a remarkably unsentimental person.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-carmack/i-ve-said-before-that-i-m-a-remarkably-unsentimental-person/) [John Carmack](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-carmack/) > [Programming in the abstract sense is what I really enjoy. I enjoy lots of different areas of it... I'm taking a great deal of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-carmack/programming-in-the-abstract-sense-is-what-i-really-enjoy-i-enjoy-lots/) [John Carmack](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-carmack/) > [I really think, if anything, there is more evidence to show that the violent games reduce aggression and violence. There have actually been some…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-carmack/i-really-think-if-anything-there-is-more-evidence-to-show-that-the/) [John Carmack](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-carmack/) > [I recognize that I possess a very special intellect, but at the same time, I recognize that I'm lacking in a lot of areas.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-carmack/i-recognize-that-i-possess-a-very-special-intellect-but-at-the-same/) [John Carmack](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-carmack/) > [Some cynical people think that every activity must revolve around the mighty dollar, and that anyone saying otherwise is just attempting to delude the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-carmack/some-cynical-people-think-that-every-activity-must-revolve-around-the/) [John Carmack](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-carmack/) > [The speed of light sucks.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-carmack/the-speed-of-light-sucks/) [John Carmack](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-carmack/) > [You can prematurely optimize maintainability, flexibility, security, and robustness just like you can performance.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-carmack/you-can-prematurely-optimize-maintainability-flexibility-security-and/) [John Carmack](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-carmack/) > [Honestly, I spend very little time thinking about past events, and I certainly don't have them ranked in any way. I look back and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-carmack/honestly-i-spend-very-little-time-thinking-about-past-events-and-i/) [John Carmack](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-carmack/) > [I have fond memories of the development work that led to a lot of great things in modern gaming - the intensity of the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-carmack/i-have-fond-memories-of-the-development-work-that-led-to-a-lot-of/) [John Carmack](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-carmack/) > [Focused, hard work is the real key to success.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-carmack/focused-hard-work-is-the-real-key-to-success/) [John Carmack](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-carmack/) > [If you're willing to restrict the flexibility of your approach, you can almost always do something better](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-carmack/if-you-re-willing-to-restrict-the-flexibility-of-your-approach-you/) [John Carmack](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-carmack/) [Explore all 44 John Carmack quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-carmack/) ## More Completing quotes > [Once you start something don't stop until you complete it. Don't let excuses, problems, hard work or anything stop you from completing it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sonya-parker/once-you-start-something-don-t-stop-until-you-complete-it-don-t-let/) [Sonya Parker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sonya-parker/) > [For the last few years I've tried to force myself to write at least one page every day, which doesn't sound like much but…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-chaon/for-the-last-few-years-i-ve-tried-to-force-myself-to-write-at-least/) [Dan Chaon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dan-chaon/) > [Indeed it is better to postpone, lest either we complete too little by hurrying, or wander too long in completing it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tertullian/indeed-it-is-better-to-postpone-lest-either-we-complete-too-little-by/) [Tertullian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tertullian/) > [United Features had given me a development contract, which meant I was to work exclusively with them and rather than completing everything on my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-watterson/united-features-had-given-me-a-development-contract-which-meant-i-was/) [Bill Watterson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-watterson/) > [Frequently, we busily search for group service projects, which are surely needed and commendable, when quiet, personal service is also urgently needed. Sometimes the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neal-a-maxwell/frequently-we-busily-search-for-group-service-projects-which-are/) [Neal A. Maxwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neal-a-maxwell/) > [Many times we seek completion in what we should be completing...timz..](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/melchor-lim/many-times-we-seek-completion-in-what-we-should-be-completing-timz/) [Melchor Lim](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/melchor-lim/) > [In completing one discovery we never fail to get an imperfect knowledge of others of which we could have no idea before, so that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-priestley/in-completing-one-discovery-we-never-fail-to-get-an-imperfect/) [Joseph Priestley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-priestley/) > [“How sad, how strange, we make companions out of air and hurt them, so they will defy us, completing creation.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-updike/how-sad-how-strange-we-make-companions-out-of-air-and-hurt-them-so/) [John Updike](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-updike/) > [Although the optimist may be a little giddy when foreseeing the future, telling himself that it will all work out in the end when…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matthieu-ricard/although-the-optimist-may-be-a-little-giddy-when-foreseeing-the/) [Matthieu Ricard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matthieu-ricard/) > [We all like to look forward to things. Incentivize yourself with a reward—a massage, dinner with a friend, a night watching your favorite show,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samantha-ettus/we-all-like-to-look-forward-to-things-incentivize-yourself-with-a/) [Samantha Ettus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samantha-ettus/) > [As a kid, Terry Bradshaw didn't amaze me. My hero was Steelers backup Terry Hanratty, who nabbed two Super Bowl rings while completing three…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-rodrick/as-a-kid-terry-bradshaw-didn-t-amaze-me-my-hero-was-steelers-backup/) [Stephen Rodrick](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-rodrick/) > [Completing a recovery session the day after a game is just as important. I like to go for a walk or a swim and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rebecca-bulley/completing-a-recovery-session-the-day-after-a-game-is-just-as/) [Rebecca Bulley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rebecca-bulley/) > [I tend to over extend myself without really thinking throughthe realities of completing so many projects in a year, which generally means I'm going…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-dyer-baizley/i-tend-to-over-extend-myself-without-really-thinking-throughthe/) [John Dyer Baizley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-dyer-baizley/) > [At last, after completing year 12, I failed the great final examination, repeated the following year and failed again even more dismally than before.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-leunig/at-last-after-completing-year-12-i-failed-the-great-final-examination/) [Michael Leunig](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-leunig/) > [In Washington, I found myself as a 31-year-old in a room with the president, vice president, and secretaries of state and defense, and I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-scarborough/in-washington-i-found-myself-as-a-31-year-old-in-a-room-with-the/) [Joe Scarborough](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-scarborough/) [Browse all 109 Completing quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/completing/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Focused, hard work is the real key to success. 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