--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Complacency is almost always the product…" description: "\"Complacency is almost always the product of success or perceived success\" — John P. Kotter" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/044/john-p-kotter-7969_complacency_complacency-is-almost-always-the-product_2194466.png" --- # Complacency is almost always the product of success or… ![“Complacency is almost always the product of success or perceived success” quote by John P. Kotter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/044/john-p-kotter-7969_complacency_complacency-is-almost-always-the-product_2194466.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/044/john-p-kotter-7969_complacency_complacency-is-almost-always-the-product_2194466.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/044/john-p-kotter-7969_complacency_complacency-is-almost-always-the-product_2194466.png) > “Complacency is almost always the product of success or perceived success” [John P. Kotter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-p-kotter/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Success breeds complacency, which can undermine future progress. **In simple terms:** Success can cause complacency, hindering growth. Key Takeaway Stay vigilant and keep improving after success. Themes leadership change management complacency Mood cautionary motivational Type leadership self‑help When to use this quote - business growth - personal achievement - team performance Key Concepts organizational dynamics motivation Questions to Reflect On - How do you recognize complacency in yourself? - What habits prevent stagnation? A Different Perspective Complacency may be justified after genuine success. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Complacency](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/complacency/) [Funny](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/funny/) [Inspirational](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/inspirational/) [Love](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/love/) [Success](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/success/) ## Related quotes > [The amount of response I get, in both a negative and a positive context, is completely related to the amount of books I sell,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chuck-klosterman/the-amount-of-response-i-get-in-both-a-negative-and-a-positive-2/) [Chuck Klosterman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chuck-klosterman/) > [The amount of response I get, in both a negative and a positive context, is completely related to the amount of books I sell,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chuck-klosterman/the-amount-of-response-i-get-in-both-a-negative-and-a-positive/) [Chuck Klosterman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chuck-klosterman/) > [Youre perceived as being a success if you find a job in some big city and work with hundreds of other people and draw…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jerry-moran/youre-perceived-as-being-a-success-if-you-find-a-job-in-some-big-city/) [Jerry Moran](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jerry-moran/) > [“Starting with the customer, market, and price is the only approach for product success.” —”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/madhavan-ramanujam/starting-with-the-customer-market-and-price-is-the-only-approach-for/) [Madhavan Ramanujam](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/madhavan-ramanujam/) > [The most creative and most periods of my life that were, had the most growth, were the ones where I was perceived to be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ethan-hawke/the-most-creative-and-most-periods-of-my-life-that-were-had-the-most/) [Ethan Hawke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ethan-hawke/) > [“The true measure of success is also you maintaining who you are by the time you reach the pinnacle of success. Never compromise who…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/delaine-robins/the-true-measure-of-success-is-also-you-maintaining-who-you-are-by/) Delaine Robins > [“Starbucks considers a product’s success not only in terms of consumer acceptance but also in terms of employee”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fast-company/starbucks-considers-a-product-s-success-not-only-in-terms-of-consumer/) Fast Company > [Fame or perceived success - it all comes from groupthink.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chance-the-rapper/fame-or-perceived-success-it-all-comes-from-groupthink/) [Chance the Rapper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chance-the-rapper/) > [A higher rate of urgency does not imply ever-present panic, anxiety, or fear. It means a state in which complacency is virtually absent.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-p-kotter/a-higher-rate-of-urgency-does-not-imply-ever-present-panic-anxiety-or/) [John P. Kotter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-p-kotter/) > [Overcoming complacency is crucial at the start of any change process, and it often requires a little bit of surprise, something that grabs attention…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-p-kotter/overcoming-complacency-is-crucial-at-the-start-of-any-change-process/) [John P. Kotter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-p-kotter/) > [We are the best the show, others weak hold. Just to get complacency / which does not](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mak-786/we-are-the-best-the-show-others-weak-hold-just-to-get-complacency/) Mak\_786 > [One of the reasons people hate politics is that truth is rarely a politician's objective. Election and power are.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cal-thomas/one-of-the-reasons-people-hate-politics-is-that-truth-is-rarely-a/) [Cal Thomas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cal-thomas/) > [Don't let your success of today lay you into complacency for tomorrow. For that is the worst form of failure.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/og-mandino/don-t-let-your-success-of-today-lay-you-into-complacency-for-tomorrow/) [Og Mandino](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/og-mandino/) > [He who is content with what has been done is an obstacle in the path of progress.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/helen-keller/he-who-is-content-with-what-has-been-done-is-an-obstacle-in-the-path/) [Helen Keller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/helen-keller/) > [“Complacency delivered us into the hands of evil greedy men like Cheney.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sonia-rumzi/complacency-delivered-us-into-the-hands-of-evil-greedy-men-like-cheney/) [Sonia Rumzi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sonia-rumzi/) ## More by John P. Kotter > [At any one time the world has a very limited number of Steve Jobs or Winston Churchills or Thomas Watson the firsts. These are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-p-kotter/at-any-one-time-the-world-has-a-very-limited-number-of-steve-jobs-or/) [John P. Kotter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-p-kotter/) > [In a change effort, culture comes last, not first.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-p-kotter/in-a-change-effort-culture-comes-last-not-first/) [John P. Kotter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-p-kotter/) > [Motivation is not a thinking word; it's a feeling word.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-p-kotter/motivation-is-not-a-thinking-word-it-s-a-feeling-word/) [John P. Kotter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-p-kotter/) > [One of the most common ways to overcome resistance to change is to educate people about it beforehand. Communication of ideas helps people see…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-p-kotter/one-of-the-most-common-ways-to-overcome-resistance-to-change-is-to/) [John P. Kotter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-p-kotter/) > [Producing major change in an organization is not just about signing up one charismatic leader. You need a group - a team - to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-p-kotter/producing-major-change-in-an-organization-is-not-just-about-signing/) [John P. Kotter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-p-kotter/) > [Congress is full of people who get reelected and reelected. How can you have urgency when there are all of those safe seats?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-p-kotter/congress-is-full-of-people-who-get-reelected-and-reelected-how-can/) [John P. Kotter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-p-kotter/) > [Commercial organisations that operate responsibly have benefitted by increased revenues of 682% compared to 166% for those that don't](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-p-kotter/commercial-organisations-that-operate-responsibly-have-benefitted-by/) [John P. Kotter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-p-kotter/) > [I am often asked about the difference between 'change management' and 'change leadership,' and whether it's just a matter of semantics. These terms are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-p-kotter/i-am-often-asked-about-the-difference-between-change-management-and/) [John P. Kotter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-p-kotter/) > [Leadership defines what the future should look like, aligns people with that vision, and inspires them to make it happen despite the obstacles.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-p-kotter/leadership-defines-what-the-future-should-look-like-aligns-people/) [John P. Kotter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-p-kotter/) > [Over the years I have become convinced that we learn best - and change - from hearing stories that strike a chord within us.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-p-kotter/over-the-years-i-have-become-convinced-that-we-learn-best-and-change/) [John P. Kotter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-p-kotter/) > [What's really driving the boom in coaching, is this: as we move from 30 miles an hour to 70 to 120 to 180…as we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-p-kotter/what-s-really-driving-the-boom-in-coaching-is-this-as-we-move-from-30/) [John P. Kotter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-p-kotter/) > [In terms of getting people to experiment more and take more risk, there are at least three things that immediately come to my mind.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-p-kotter/in-terms-of-getting-people-to-experiment-more-and-take-more-risk/) [John P. Kotter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-p-kotter/) > [Great communicators have an appreciation for positioning. They understand the people they're trying to reach and what they can and can't hear. They send…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-p-kotter/great-communicators-have-an-appreciation-for-positioning-they/) [John P. Kotter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-p-kotter/) > [We worry about appearing awkward in a presentation. But up to a point, most people seem to feel more comfortable with less-than-perfect speaking abilities.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-p-kotter/we-worry-about-appearing-awkward-in-a-presentation-but-up-to-a-point/) [John P. Kotter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-p-kotter/) > [Kotter International is about leading large-scale change, not just managing it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-p-kotter/kotter-international-is-about-leading-large-scale-change-not-just/) [John P. Kotter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-p-kotter/) [Explore all 85 John P. Kotter quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-p-kotter/) ## More Complacency quotes > [“Complacency delivered us into the hands of evil greedy men like Cheney.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sonia-rumzi/complacency-delivered-us-into-the-hands-of-evil-greedy-men-like-cheney/) [Sonia Rumzi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sonia-rumzi/) > [He who is content with what has been done is an obstacle in the path of progress.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/helen-keller/he-who-is-content-with-what-has-been-done-is-an-obstacle-in-the-path/) [Helen Keller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/helen-keller/) > [Don't let your success of today lay you into complacency for tomorrow. For that is the worst form of failure.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/og-mandino/don-t-let-your-success-of-today-lay-you-into-complacency-for-tomorrow/) [Og Mandino](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/og-mandino/) > [One of the reasons people hate politics is that truth is rarely a politician's objective. Election and power are.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cal-thomas/one-of-the-reasons-people-hate-politics-is-that-truth-is-rarely-a/) [Cal Thomas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cal-thomas/) > [We are the best the show, others weak hold. Just to get complacency / which does not](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mak-786/we-are-the-best-the-show-others-weak-hold-just-to-get-complacency/) Mak\_786 > [“It’s a fallacy that this generation does not know how to love as its predecessor did. Truth of the matter is, modern love is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lebo-grand/it-s-a-fallacy-that-this-generation-does-not-know-how-to-love-as-its/) [Lebo Grand](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lebo-grand/) > [“To move forward, one need only take the first step,”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chase-neill/to-move-forward-one-need-only-take-the-first-step/) Chase Neill > [Plato calls complacency the companion of loneliness.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/franz-grillparzer/plato-calls-complacency-the-companion-of-loneliness/) [Franz Grillparzer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/franz-grillparzer/) > [“Half the ingratitude and complacency in the world down to how slowly and imperceptibly most good and bad things unfold.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alain-de-botton/half-the-ingratitude-and-complacency-in-the-world-down-to-how-slowly/) [Alain de Botton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alain-de-botton/) > [Don't let your special character and values, the secret that you know and no one else does, the truth - don't let that get…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aesop/don-t-let-your-special-character-and-values-the-secret-that-you-know/) [Aesop](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aesop/) > [In the mind engaged in struggling with hardship, one always finds something delightful. The sorrow of disappointment arises in the complacency of satisfaction.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zicheng-hong/in-the-mind-engaged-in-struggling-with-hardship-one-always-finds/) [Zicheng Hong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zicheng-hong/) > [Complacency is a creeping danger. Unless wisdom sets in, you will never come to your senses.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jey-lopez/complacency-is-a-creeping-danger-unless-wisdom-sets-in-you-will-never/) [Jey Lopez](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jey-lopez/) > [I have spoken about what we can do as citizens, what we can do as a responsive citizenry, and this is where we have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-tempest-williams/i-have-spoken-about-what-we-can-do-as-citizens-what-we-can-do-as-a/) [Terry Tempest Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terry-tempest-williams/) > [“Listen to Mr. Complacency long enough and he'll convince you that what you really, really need is a nap.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alex-and-brett-harris/listen-to-mr-complacency-long-enough-and-he-ll-convince-you-that-what/) Alex and Brett Harris > [I always say, complacency is the kiss of death.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shari-redstone/i-always-say-complacency-is-the-kiss-of-death/) [Shari Redstone](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shari-redstone/) [Browse all 437 Complacency quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/complacency/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Complacency is almost always the product of success or perceived success", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "John P. 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