--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: If the elevator of success is out, use…" description: "\"If the elevator of success is out, use the stairs, one step at time.\" — John Reyes" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/92a/john-reyes-15876_ambition_if-the-elevator-of-success-is-out-use-th_1199198.jpg" --- # If the elevator of success is out, use the stairs, one… ![“If the elevator of success is out, use the stairs, one step at time.” quote by John Reyes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/92a/john-reyes-15876_ambition_if-the-elevator-of-success-is-out-use-th_1199198.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/92a/john-reyes-15876_ambition_if-the-elevator-of-success-is-out-use-th_1199198.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/92a/john-reyes-15876_ambition_if-the-elevator-of-success-is-out-use-th_1199198.jpg) > “If the elevator of success is out, use the stairs, one step at time.” [John Reyes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-reyes/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. When usual paths are blocked, pursue alternative routes step by step. **In simple terms:** Take the stairs when the elevator’s broken. Key Takeaway Find alternative paths. Themes perse adaptability problem‑solving Mood hopeful steady Type inspirational advice When to use this quote - job search - project deadlines - personal challenges Key Concepts resilience goal‑setting incremental progress Questions to Reflect On - What “stairs” can you climb today? - How do you stay patient on a longer path? A Different Perspective Alternative routes may be slower and less direct. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Ambition](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ambition/) [Change of plans](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/change-of-plans/) [Determination](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/determination/) [Effort](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/effort/) [Elevator](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/elevator/) [Elevator Success](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/elevator-success-277017/) [Ladder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ladder/) [Life lesson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/life-lesson/) [Stairs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/stairs/) [Stairs Step](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/stairs-step-277015/) [Success](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/success/) [Time](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/time/) [Use Stairs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/use-stairs-277016/) [Work ethic](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/work-ethic/) ## Related quotes > [The elevator to success is out of order. You'll have to use the stairs... one step at a time.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-girard/the-elevator-to-success-is-out-of-order-you-ll-have-to-use-the-stairs/) [Joe Girard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-girard/) > [The elevator to success is out of order. Youll have to use the stairs ¦ one step at a time.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patience/the-elevator-to-success-is-out-of-order-youll-have-to-use-the-stairs/) [Patience](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patience/) > [“The elevator to success broke a long time ago, the problem is too many people are too lazy to take the stairs.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jacob-maldonado/the-elevator-to-success-broke-a-long-time-ago-the-problem-is-too-many/) [Jacob Maldonado](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jacob-maldonado/) > [There is no elevator to success ; you have to take stairs .](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/there-is-no-elevator-to-success-you-have-to-take-stairs/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [There is no elevator to success, you have to take step by step.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/there-is-no-elevator-to-success-you-have-to-take-step-by-step/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [There is no elevator to success, you have to take the stairs.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/there-is-no-elevator-to-success-you-have-to-take-the-stairs/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“The elevator to success is out of order, as you climb; you re-arrange to suit your own call.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anikor-daniel/the-elevator-to-success-is-out-of-order-as-you-climb-you-re-arrange/) [ANIKOR Daniel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anikor-daniel/) > [The elevator to success is broken. Take the stairs.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jenifer-lewis/the-elevator-to-success-is-broken-take-the-stairs/) [Jenifer Lewis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jenifer-lewis/) > [No elevator to success. Appreciation for the journey makes the destiny more rewarding. Step UP use the stairs!~](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bobby-compton/no-elevator-to-success-appreciation-for-the-journey-makes-the-destiny/) [Bobby Compton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bobby-compton/) > [A few push-ups during breaks at work, walking to the grocery store, and opting to use the stairs instead of the elevator are all…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-kirsch/a-few-push-ups-during-breaks-at-work-walking-to-the-grocery-store-and/) [David Kirsch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-kirsch/) > [Nothing good comes easy, and there's no elevator to success. You've got to take the stairs.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carlos-correa/nothing-good-comes-easy-and-there-s-no-elevator-to-success-you-ve-got/) [Carlos Correa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carlos-correa/) > [The elevator to success is out of order, but the stairs are always open.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zig-ziglar/the-elevator-to-success-is-out-of-order-but-the-stairs-are-always-open/) [Zig Ziglar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zig-ziglar/) > [“There's no elevator to be success, take a stairs.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/iskandar-amirul-asri/there-s-no-elevator-to-be-success-take-a-stairs/) [Iskandar Amirul Asri](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/iskandar-amirul-asri/) > [There is no detour, neither is there an elevator to success. You need to learn to take the stairs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edore-e-eyakodevu/there-is-no-detour-neither-is-there-an-elevator-to-success-you-need/) [Edore E Eyakodevu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edore-e-eyakodevu/) > [“Tis no good looking up the stairs, One step at a time and you will get there, Hop skip miss a step, You will…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/baytrees-bark/tis-no-good-looking-up-the-stairs-one-step-at-a-time-and-you-will-get/) [Baytrees Bark](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/baytrees-bark/) ## More by John Reyes > [Don't reach for the sky, when there are footprints on the moon...](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-reyes/don-t-reach-for-the-sky-when-there-are-footprints-on-the-moon/) [JOHN REYES](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-reyes/) > [A person is master to those words they don't say, and slave to the ones they do.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-reyes/a-person-is-master-to-those-words-they-don-t-say-and-slave-to-the/) [John Reyes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-reyes/) > [Inspiration is the fuel which optimism runs on...](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-reyes/inspiration-is-the-fuel-which-optimism-runs-on/) [JOHN REYES](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-reyes/) > [Don't Measure your day on what you didn't do...Measure your day on what you did. And Build on that for tomorrow.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-reyes/don-t-measure-your-day-on-what-you-didn-t-do-measure-your-day-on-what/) [John Reyes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-reyes/) > [When faced with a difficult challenge or problem, and you have exhausted all possible actions- there is nothing left except to leave it to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-reyes/when-faced-with-a-difficult-challenge-or-problem-and-you-have/) [John Reyes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-reyes/) > [Let it go. Grudges are a waste of perfect happiness. Holding one is like letting unwanted company live rent free in your head.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-reyes/let-it-go-grudges-are-a-waste-of-perfect-happiness-holding-one-is/) [JOHN REYES](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-reyes/) > [The truth requres less stress and energy than trying to covering up one's lies.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-reyes/the-truth-requres-less-stress-and-energy-than-trying-to-covering-up/) [John Reyes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-reyes/) > [Ultimately, your happiness depends on your self-reliance your unshakable willingness to take responsibility for your life from this moment forward, regardless of who had…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-reyes/ultimately-your-happiness-depends-on-your-self-reliance-your/) [John Reyes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-reyes/) > [Grudges are for those who insist that they are owed something. Forgiveness is for those who are confident enough to stand up and move…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-reyes/grudges-are-for-those-who-insist-that-they-are-owed-something/) [John Reyes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-reyes/) > [Judgement without knowledge is one peoples greatest flaws.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-reyes/judgement-without-knowledge-is-one-peoples-greatest-flaws/) [John Reyes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-reyes/) > [Happiness is not station you arrive, but the way you travel.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-reyes/happiness-is-not-station-you-arrive-but-the-way-you-travel/) [John Reyes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-reyes/) > [Patience is not about waiting, but the ability to keep a good attitude while working hard for what you believe in.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-reyes/patience-is-not-about-waiting-but-the-ability-to-keep-a-good-attitude/) [John Reyes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-reyes/) > [The only 'normal' people that you may know are the people you really don't know very well.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-reyes/the-only-normal-people-that-you-may-know-are-the-people-you-really/) [John Reyes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-reyes/) > [The greatest cause of our insecurity is that we compare our behind-the-scenes life, with others highlights reel.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-reyes/the-greatest-cause-of-our-insecurity-is-that-we-compare-our-behind/) [John Reyes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-reyes/) > [Those who speak the loudest often have nothing to say...](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-reyes/those-who-speak-the-loudest-often-have-nothing-to-say/) [John Reyes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-reyes/) [Explore all 41 John Reyes quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-reyes/) ## More Ambition quotes > [Ambition drives you on, ability certainly helps, but the fickle finger of fate and luck are great things.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fergus-henderson/ambition-drives-you-on-ability-certainly-helps-but-the-fickle-finger/) [Fergus Henderson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fergus-henderson/) > [One needs more than ambition and talent to make a success of anything, really. There must be love and a vocation.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jessye-norman/one-needs-more-than-ambition-and-talent-to-make-a-success-of-anything/) [Jessye Norman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jessye-norman/) > [I just think my own ambition would not allow me to sit on the gifts that my creator had given me. And so that's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/janelle-monae/i-just-think-my-own-ambition-would-not-allow-me-to-sit-on-the-gifts/) [Janelle Monae](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/janelle-monae/) > [A man's worth is no greater than the worth of his ambitions](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/a-man-s-worth-is-no-greater-than-the-worth-of-his-ambitions/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I'm hungry and ambitious.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julen-lopetegui/i-m-hungry-and-ambitious/) [Julen Lopetegui](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julen-lopetegui/) > [“I was ambitious and desperate to direct my first film, so I capitulated and blew it. Never again. Never fucking again.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/craig-ferguson/i-was-ambitious-and-desperate-to-direct-my-first-film-so-i/) [Craig Ferguson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/craig-ferguson/) > [I was always attracted most to joining City, and I am pleased to be at such a good club with such a big ambition…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edin-dzeko/i-was-always-attracted-most-to-joining-city-and-i-am-pleased-to-be-at/) [Edin Dzeko](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edin-dzeko/) > [Work towards your goal and dont watch the post size,its either they hate,or like you.there is no room for both sides.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/isaac-buabeng/work-towards-your-goal-and-dont-watch-the-post-size-its-either-they/) [Isaac Buabeng](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/isaac-buabeng/) > [“But young men have not only this frivolous ambition of being thought masters of execution, inciting them on the one hand, but also their…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/but-young-men-have-not-only-this-frivolous-ambition-of-being-thought/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I almost never have a plan for myself... I'm not ambitious in that way.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martha-plimpton/i-almost-never-have-a-plan-for-myself-i-m-not-ambitious-in-that-way/) [Martha Plimpton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martha-plimpton/) > [I play for high stakes and given an audience - there is no act too daring or too noble.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/winston-churchill/i-play-for-high-stakes-and-given-an-audience-there-is-no-act-too/) [Winston Churchill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/winston-churchill/) > [There's nothing worse than a leader who lacks ambition.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/there-s-nothing-worse-than-a-leader-who-lacks-ambition/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [If i can't even protect my captain's dream, then whatever ambition i have is nothing but talk..](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zoro/if-i-can-t-even-protect-my-captain-s-dream-then-whatever-ambition-i/) [Zoro](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zoro/) > [It may seem unattainable but if you put actions, your heart and your mind into it, you will prevail.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/london-mond/it-may-seem-unattainable-but-if-you-put-actions-your-heart-and-your/) [London Mond](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/london-mond/) > [Obligation is what's leading us to toward successful, and what keeps us moving towards the future.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wazim-shaw/obligation-is-what-s-leading-us-to-toward-successful-and-what-keeps/) [Wazim Shaw](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wazim-shaw/) [Browse all 4,601 Ambition quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ambition/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "If the elevator of success is out, use the stairs, one step at time.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "John Reyes" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-reyes/if-the-elevator-of-success-is-out-use-the-stairs-one-step-at-time/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Ambition" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-reyes/if-the-elevator-of-success-is-out-use-the-stairs-one-step-at-time/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/92a/john-reyes-15876_ambition_if-the-elevator-of-success-is-out-use-th_1199198.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/92a/john-reyes-15876_ambition_if-the-elevator-of-success-is-out-use-th_1199198.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/92a/john-reyes-15876_ambition_if-the-elevator-of-success-is-out-use-th_1199198.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“If the elevator of success is out, use the stairs, one step at time.” — John Reyes", "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": "John Reyes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-reyes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "If the elevator of success is...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-reyes/if-the-elevator-of-success-is-out-use-the-stairs-one-step-at-time/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-reyes/if-the-elevator-of-success-is-out-use-the-stairs-one-step-at-time/#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 } } ] } ```