--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: In this business, you have so little…" description: "\"In this business, you have so little control over things, but one of the things you can control is who you work with.\" — Jon Tenney" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/461/jon-tenney-28729_business_in-this-business-you-have-so-little-cont_1147419.jpg" --- # In this business, you have so little control over things… ![“In this business, you have so little control over things, but one of the things you can control is who you work with.” quote by Jon Tenney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/461/jon-tenney-28729_business_in-this-business-you-have-so-little-cont_1147419.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/461/jon-tenney-28729_business_in-this-business-you-have-so-little-cont_1147419.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/461/jon-tenney-28729_business_in-this-business-you-have-so-little-cont_1147419.jpg) > “In this business, you have so little control over things, but one of the things you can control is who you work with.” [Jon Tenney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jon-tenney/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Choosing collaborators is a key lever of influence when many variables are uncontrollable. **In simple terms:** Pick the right teammates to shape outcomes. Key Takeaway Select partners who align with your values. Themes collaboration influence control leadership Mood strategic pragmatic Type inspirational realistic When to use this quote - startup teams - project management - career moves Key Concepts social capital network theory Questions to Reflect On - Who truly supports your vision? - How do you handle conflicting personalities? A Different Perspective People may have hidden agendas. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Business](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/business/) [Control](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/control/) [Power](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/power/) [Things you can control](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/things-you-can-control/) [Work](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/work/) ## Related quotes > [Don't worry about things you can't control, work on the things you can control and move on there more things you can handle just…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adrian-rayshawn/don-t-worry-about-things-you-can-t-control-work-on-the-things-you-can/) [Adrian Rayshawn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adrian-rayshawn/) > [“Control the things you can control, maggot. Let everything else take a flying fuck at you and if you must go down, go down…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-king/control-the-things-you-can-control-maggot-let-everything-else-take-a/) [Stephen King](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-king/) > [Control the things you can control. As for the rest - God bless it all.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chuck-palahniuk/control-the-things-you-can-control-as-for-the-rest-god-bless-it-all/) [Chuck Palahniuk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chuck-palahniuk/) > [Control the things you can control .](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samantha-stosur/control-the-things-you-can-control/) [Samantha Stosur](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samantha-stosur/) > [As cliche as it sounds, I've always told myself, 'Don't worry about the things you can't control. Control the things you can control.' That…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/doug-baldwin/as-cliche-as-it-sounds-i-ve-always-told-myself-don-t-worry-about-the/) [Doug Baldwin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/doug-baldwin/) > [I've learned from my time in this sport that you only worry about the things you can control.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ryan-bader/i-ve-learned-from-my-time-in-this-sport-that-you-only-worry-about-the/) [Ryan Bader](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ryan-bader/) > [There's only certain things you can control. I know how hard I work, I know how I take care of myself, and those are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jon-lester/there-s-only-certain-things-you-can-control-i-know-how-hard-i-work-i/) [Jon Lester](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jon-lester/) > [In football, you only work for the things you can control. You cannot control the outside world: you can only control your preparation; you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/petr-cech/in-football-you-only-work-for-the-things-you-can-control-you-cannot/) [Petr Cech](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/petr-cech/) > [Worry about the things you can control; the rest will either work themselves out, or they'll kill you. Either way, no more worries.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laurell-k-hamilton/worry-about-the-things-you-can-control-the-rest-will-either-work/) [Laurell K. Hamilton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laurell-k-hamilton/) > [I learned early on that there are certain things you can control in the press, and things you cannot.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-travolta/i-learned-early-on-that-there-are-certain-things-you-can-control-in/) [John Travolta](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-travolta/) > [Invest your energy in the things you can control.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-backley/invest-your-energy-in-the-things-you-can-control/) [Steve Backley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-backley/) > [Focus on things you can control. Things that are out of control, you can't worry about what the result is going to be, you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frank-vogel/focus-on-things-you-can-control-things-that-are-out-of-control-you/) [Frank Vogel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frank-vogel/) > [You've just got to go out there and try to control the things you can control. Deal with things and stay mentally strong.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-toews/you-ve-just-got-to-go-out-there-and-try-to-control-the-things-you-can/) [Jonathan Toews](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-toews/) > [One of the hard lessons to learn in life is that there are some things you can control and some things you can't. If…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-bytheway/one-of-the-hard-lessons-to-learn-in-life-is-that-there-are-some/) [John Bytheway](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-bytheway/) > [“Wisdom, someone said, is about knowing the difference between the things you can control and the things you can’t.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-brady/wisdom-someone-said-is-about-knowing-the-difference-between-the/) [Tom Brady](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-brady/) ## More by Jon Tenney > [All of a sudden, I was a young kid in my early 20s, and I had a couple of Broadway shows to my credit.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jon-tenney/all-of-a-sudden-i-was-a-young-kid-in-my-early-20s-and-i-had-a-couple/) [Jon Tenney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jon-tenney/) > [Just because you're laughing, it doesn't mean the audience will, necessarily.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jon-tenney/just-because-you-re-laughing-it-doesn-t-mean-the-audience-will/) [Jon Tenney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jon-tenney/) > [You always want to know you have somebody at the helm who knows what they're doing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jon-tenney/you-always-want-to-know-you-have-somebody-at-the-helm-who-knows-what/) [Jon Tenney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jon-tenney/) > [It's always difficult to work out on location, away from home, but that's the actor's life. You go where the work is.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jon-tenney/it-s-always-difficult-to-work-out-on-location-away-from-home-but-that/) [Jon Tenney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jon-tenney/) > [I toured around the country and met all these Broadway producers who put me in all these Neil Simon plays like 'Brighton Beach Memoirs'…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jon-tenney/i-toured-around-the-country-and-met-all-these-broadway-producers-who/) [Jon Tenney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jon-tenney/) > [In between jobs, you think your luck has run out, but they keep on letting me do what I love to do. I really…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jon-tenney/in-between-jobs-you-think-your-luck-has-run-out-but-they-keep-on/) [Jon Tenney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jon-tenney/) > [I experience a high on stage that I get nowhere else. I feel its like going to the gym so I won't lose my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jon-tenney/i-experience-a-high-on-stage-that-i-get-nowhere-else-i-feel-its-like/) [Jon Tenney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jon-tenney/) > [Ten years of character development affords you a lot. You get a chance to dig deeper and deeper and deeper into a person.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jon-tenney/ten-years-of-character-development-affords-you-a-lot-you-get-a-chance/) [Jon Tenney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jon-tenney/) > [Whenever you're working on a film or TV set, the hours are very, very long.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jon-tenney/whenever-you-re-working-on-a-film-or-tv-set-the-hours-are-very-very/) [Jon Tenney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jon-tenney/) > [I think TV, films, and the stage inform each other. It's good to go back and forth.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jon-tenney/i-think-tv-films-and-the-stage-inform-each-other-it-s-good-to-go-back/) [Jon Tenney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jon-tenney/) > [That's something that's really rare and special and what any actor would love - to have somebody that's specifically writing for you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jon-tenney/that-s-something-that-s-really-rare-and-special-and-what-any-actor/) [Jon Tenney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jon-tenney/) > [I think most actors will say they always feel like they'll never work again.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jon-tenney/i-think-most-actors-will-say-they-always-feel-like-they-ll-never-work/) [Jon Tenney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jon-tenney/) > [I feel very, very lucky to have been involved with a project that's gone on as long as 'The Closer' has. You really don't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jon-tenney/i-feel-very-very-lucky-to-have-been-involved-with-a-project-that-s/) [Jon Tenney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jon-tenney/) > [I was close with some of my old professors.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jon-tenney/i-was-close-with-some-of-my-old-professors/) [Jon Tenney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jon-tenney/) > [I feel very connected to New Jersey.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jon-tenney/i-feel-very-connected-to-new-jersey/) [Jon Tenney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jon-tenney/) [Explore all 19 Jon Tenney quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jon-tenney/) ## More Business quotes > [Companies with cultures that celebrate diverse opinions and encourage the exchange of ideas have an advantage when solving difficult problems. A company that doesn't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/doug-mcmillon/companies-with-cultures-that-celebrate-diverse-opinions-and-encourage/) [Doug McMillon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/doug-mcmillon/) > [You can laugh at me, but I understand show business.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ksenia-sobchak/you-can-laugh-at-me-but-i-understand-show-business/) [Ksenia Sobchak](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ksenia-sobchak/) > [“Start a business, not a startup”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/start-a-business-not-a-startup/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“Take some books and read; that’s an immense help; and books are always good company if you have the right sort.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/louisa-may-alcott/take-some-books-and-read-that-s-an-immense-help-and-books-are-always/) [Louisa May Alcott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/louisa-may-alcott/) > [I'm a business first and foremost so whatever my business is, it's separate from my personal. It's like whatever I do business wise, it's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/snoop-dogg/i-m-a-business-first-and-foremost-so-whatever-my-business-is-it-s/) [Snoop Dogg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/snoop-dogg/) > [Many early-stage entrepreneurs make one simple mistake: Describing this 'big picture' in vague concepts and words.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sunil-nagaraj/many-early-stage-entrepreneurs-make-one-simple-mistake-describing/) [Sunil Nagaraj](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sunil-nagaraj/) > [Nobody has a crystal ball, and part of evolving a business plan is to say, 'I might have said we're going left, but I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ryan-kavanaugh/nobody-has-a-crystal-ball-and-part-of-evolving-a-business-plan-is-to/) [Ryan Kavanaugh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ryan-kavanaugh/) > [I think a business guy is different from an artist. They walk different paths. Artists create the best outputs when they're having fun. And…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/g-dragon/i-think-a-business-guy-is-different-from-an-artist-they-walk/) [G-Dragon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/g-dragon/) > [ “\[S\]ometimes, when you are a food person, the possible irrelevance of what you are doing doesn’t cross your mind until it’s too late. (Once,… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nora-ephron/s-ometimes-when-you-are-a-food-person-the-possible-irrelevance-of/) [Nora Ephron](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nora-ephron/) > [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/) > [“Some say the Earth is angry Because he wants no company; I say the Earth is angry Because he lives alone.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/n-k-jemisin/some-say-the-earth-is-angry-because-he-wants-no-company-i-say-the/) [N.K. Jemisin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/n-k-jemisin/) > [ If the State does not acquire supremacy over \[vast private\] enterprises, it becomes their puppet, and they become the real State. ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bertrand-russell/if-the-state-does-not-acquire-supremacy-over-vast-private-enterprises/) [Bertrand Russell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bertrand-russell/) > [It's not just that families can't buy a home or start a business without some savings tucked away.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-cooper/it-s-not-just-that-families-can-t-buy-a-home-or-start-a-business/) [Jim Cooper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-cooper/) > [I'm not into business at all.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/freddie-mercury/i-m-not-into-business-at-all/) [Freddie Mercury](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/freddie-mercury/) > [I've long believed one of the mainsprings of our own liberty has been the widespread ownership of property among our people and the expectation…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ronald-reagan/i-ve-long-believed-one-of-the-mainsprings-of-our-own-liberty-has-been/) [Ronald Reagan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ronald-reagan/) [Browse all 39,016 Business quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/business/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "In this business, you have so little control over things, but one of the things you can control is who you work with.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Jon Tenney" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jon-tenney/in-this-business-you-have-so-little-control-over-things-but-one-of/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Business" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jon-tenney/in-this-business-you-have-so-little-control-over-things-but-one-of/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/461/jon-tenney-28729_business_in-this-business-you-have-so-little-cont_1147419.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/461/jon-tenney-28729_business_in-this-business-you-have-so-little-cont_1147419.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/461/jon-tenney-28729_business_in-this-business-you-have-so-little-cont_1147419.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“In this business, you have so little control over things, but one of the things you can control is who you…” — Jon Tenney", "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": "Jon Tenney", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jon-tenney/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "In this business, you have so...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jon-tenney/in-this-business-you-have-so-little-control-over-things-but-one-of/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jon-tenney/in-this-business-you-have-so-little-control-over-things-but-one-of/#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 } } ] } ```