--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: We are not just our behavior. We are the…" description: "\"We are not just our behavior. We are the person managing our behavior.\" — Ken Blanchard" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/058/ken-blanchard-3099_behavior_we-are-not-just-our-behavior-we-are-the_2159701.png" --- # We are not just our behavior. We are the person managing… ![“We are not just our behavior. We are the person managing our behavior.” quote by Ken Blanchard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/058/ken-blanchard-3099_behavior_we-are-not-just-our-behavior-we-are-the_2159701.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/058/ken-blanchard-3099_behavior_we-are-not-just-our-behavior-we-are-the_2159701.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/058/ken-blanchard-3099_behavior_we-are-not-just-our-behavior-we-are-the_2159701.png) > “We are not just our behavior. We are the person managing our behavior.” [Ken Blanchard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ken-blanchard/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Identity is defined by self‑management, not merely by observable actions. **In simple terms:** We are more than our actions; we manage them. Key Takeaway Cultivate self‑awareness and intentional behavior. Themes self‑growth mindfulness leadership Mood motivational thoughtful Type psychological inspirational When to use this quote - personal development - team leadership - habit formation - stress management Key Concepts self‑regulation identity formation Questions to Reflect On - What habits help you manage your behavior? - How does self‑management affect your identity? A Different Perspective Self‑management can be hindered by external pressures. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Behavior](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/behavior/) [Habits](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/habits/) [Management](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/management/) ## Related quotes > [“Secret #3 : One minute Reprimand "We are not just our behavior. We are the person managing our behavior”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ken-blanchard-spencer-johnson/secret-3-one-minute-reprimand-we-are-not-just-our-behavior-we-are-the/) Ken Blanchard, Spencer Johnson > [The most important thing in changing human behavior is the person's motivation.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/milton-h-erickson/the-most-important-thing-in-changing-human-behavior-is-the-person-s/) [Milton H. Erickson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/milton-h-erickson/) > [Grace-driven effort wants to get to the bottom of behavior, not just manage behavior. If you're simply managing behavior but not removing the roots…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matt-chandler/grace-driven-effort-wants-to-get-to-the-bottom-of-behavior-not-just/) [Matt Chandler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matt-chandler/) > [Unable to understand how or why the person we see behaves as he does, we attribute his behavior to a person we cannot see,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/b-f-skinner/unable-to-understand-how-or-why-the-person-we-see-behaves-as-he-does/) [B. F. Skinner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/b-f-skinner/) > [“Most bad behavior is about that person’s core fears about themselves; it is rarely about you.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kimberly-giles/most-bad-behavior-is-about-that-person-s-core-fears-about-themselves/) [Kimberly Giles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kimberly-giles/) > [Since emotions are few and reasons are many (said the robot Giscard) the behavior of a crowd can be more easily predicted than the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/isaac-asimov/since-emotions-are-few-and-reasons-are-many-said-the-robot-giscard/) [Isaac Asimov](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/isaac-asimov/) > [I cannot tolerate my bad behavior in another person for 10 seconds](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/garrison-wynn/i-cannot-tolerate-my-bad-behavior-in-another-person-for-10-seconds/) [Garrison Wynn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/garrison-wynn/) > [It’s all in the genes”: an explanation for the way things are that does not threaten the way things are. Why should someone feel…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/louis-menand/it-s-all-in-the-genes-an-explanation-for-the-way-things-are-that-does/) [Louis Menand](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/louis-menand/) > [I won't be managing the Mets. I am closing the door on managing the Mets and probably everybody else.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-torre/i-won-t-be-managing-the-mets-i-am-closing-the-door-on-managing-the/) [Joe Torre](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-torre/) > [The secret of successful managing is to keep the five guys who hate you away from the four guys who haven't made up their…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/casey-stengel/the-secret-of-successful-managing-is-to-keep-the-five-guys-who-hate/) [Casey Stengel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/casey-stengel/) > [Football management is about managing people.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sean-dyche/football-management-is-about-managing-people/) [Sean Dyche](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sean-dyche/) > [Managing a league club is like making love to a mermaid... you should always be aiming for a top half finish](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ian-holloway/managing-a-league-club-is-like-making-love-to-a-mermaid-you-should/) [Ian Holloway](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ian-holloway/) > [The world isn't fast-paced, it's frenetic. People have to be managers of themselves. Time has been managing itself for 15 billion years; we have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tony-buzan/the-world-isn-t-fast-paced-it-s-frenetic-people-have-to-be-managers/) [Tony Buzan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tony-buzan/) > [Many American TV actors employ agents, managers, business managers, publicists and stylists, and are now adding digital media manager to the list. Their job…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gina-bellman/many-american-tv-actors-employ-agents-managers-business-managers/) [Gina Bellman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gina-bellman/) > [Leadership is anytime you seek to influence the thinking, behavior, or development of others.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ken-blanchard/leadership-is-anytime-you-seek-to-influence-the-thinking-behavior-or/) [Ken Blanchard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ken-blanchard/) ## More by Ken Blanchard > [Good thoughts not delivered mean squat.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ken-blanchard/good-thoughts-not-delivered-mean-squat/) [Ken Blanchard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ken-blanchard/) > [People who produce good results feel good about themselves.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ken-blanchard/people-who-produce-good-results-feel-good-about-themselves/) [Ken Blanchard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ken-blanchard/) > [Start your day with good intentions and set yourself up for a good attitude. It's not what happens to you that matters but how…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ken-blanchard/start-your-day-with-good-intentions-and-set-yourself-up-for-a-good/) [Ken Blanchard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ken-blanchard/) > [All good performance starts with clear goals.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ken-blanchard/all-good-performance-starts-with-clear-goals/) [Ken Blanchard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ken-blanchard/) > [Anything worth doing does not have to be done perfectly - at first.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ken-blanchard/anything-worth-doing-does-not-have-to-be-done-perfectly-at-first/) [Ken Blanchard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ken-blanchard/) > [Positive thinkers get positive results because they are not afraid of problems.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ken-blanchard/positive-thinkers-get-positive-results-because-they-are-not-afraid-of/) [Ken Blanchard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ken-blanchard/) > [Empowering means helping teams develop their skills and knowledge and supporting them to use their talents.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ken-blanchard/empowering-means-helping-teams-develop-their-skills-and-knowledge-and/) [Ken Blanchard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ken-blanchard/) > [Your role as a leader is even more important than you might imagine. You have the power to help people become winners.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ken-blanchard/your-role-as-a-leader-is-even-more-important-than-you-might-imagine/) [Ken Blanchard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ken-blanchard/) > [Catch people in the act of doing something right.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ken-blanchard/catch-people-in-the-act-of-doing-something-right/) [Ken Blanchard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ken-blanchard/) > [It never hurts to toot your own horn once in a while.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ken-blanchard/it-never-hurts-to-toot-your-own-horn-once-in-a-while/) [Ken Blanchard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ken-blanchard/) > [Too often in business, only financial data is gathered - and then it is distributed only to management. Other key indicators that relate to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ken-blanchard/too-often-in-business-only-financial-data-is-gathered-and-then-it-is/) [Ken Blanchard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ken-blanchard/) > [The biggest obstacle that stalls leaders' growth is the human ego. When leaders start to think they know it all, they stop growing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ken-blanchard/the-biggest-obstacle-that-stalls-leaders-growth-is-the-human-ego-when/) [Ken Blanchard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ken-blanchard/) > [Everyday do something in relation to everything that's important to you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ken-blanchard/everyday-do-something-in-relation-to-everything-that-s-important-to/) [Ken Blanchard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ken-blanchard/) > [Leadership is anytime you seek to influence the thinking, behavior, or development of others.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ken-blanchard/leadership-is-anytime-you-seek-to-influence-the-thinking-behavior-or/) [Ken Blanchard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ken-blanchard/) > [The only job security you have today os your commitment to continuous personal improvement.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ken-blanchard/the-only-job-security-you-have-today-os-your-commitment-to-continuous/) [Ken Blanchard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ken-blanchard/) [Explore all 140 Ken Blanchard quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ken-blanchard/) ## More Behavior quotes > [The vision of the left, full of envy and resentment, takes its worst toll on those at the bottom - whether black or white…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-sowell/the-vision-of-the-left-full-of-envy-and-resentment-takes-its-worst/) [Thomas Sowell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-sowell/) > [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/) > [As you begin changing your thinking, start immediately to change your behaviour. Begin to act the part of the person you would like to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/as-you-begin-changing-your-thinking-start-immediately-to-change-your/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“I now know that deep within the human concept is something dark, selfish, and completely willing to do whatever is necessary to support the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/melissa-west/i-now-know-that-deep-within-the-human-concept-is-something-dark/) [Melissa West](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/melissa-west/) > [“We are endowed with genes which code out our reaction to beavers and otters, maybe our reaction to each other as well. We are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lewis-thomas/we-are-endowed-with-genes-which-code-out-our-reaction-to-beavers-and/) [Lewis Thomas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lewis-thomas/) > [The number of poor, and poorly prepared, students who succeed in college and beyond undercuts the simplistic notion that economic or educational disadvantage is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roland-merullo/the-number-of-poor-and-poorly-prepared-students-who-succeed-in/) [Roland Merullo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roland-merullo/) > [To behave creatively in art means behavior with skill; and skill comes from discipline, not derangement. The artist who knows the rules -and proportion…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/burne-hogarth/to-behave-creatively-in-art-means-behavior-with-skill-and-skill-comes/) Burne Hogarth > [You don't put milk in chamomile tea - that's disgusting behavior! That's not right.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laura-fraser/you-don-t-put-milk-in-chamomile-tea-that-s-disgusting-behavior-that-s/) [Laura Fraser](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laura-fraser/) > [The laws of thermodynamics, as empirically determined, express the approximate and probable behavior of systems of a great number of particles, or, more precisely,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-willard-gibbs/the-laws-of-thermodynamics-as-empirically-determined-express-the/) J. Willard Gibbs > [I started with the belief that every person who came to the laboratory was free to accept or to reject the dictates of authority.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stanley-milgram/i-started-with-the-belief-that-every-person-who-came-to-the/) [Stanley Milgram](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stanley-milgram/) > [The tipping point is that magic moment when an idea, trend, or social behavior crosses a threshold, tips, and spreads like wildfire.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/malcolm-gladwell/the-tipping-point-is-that-magic-moment-when-an-idea-trend-or-social/) [Malcolm Gladwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/malcolm-gladwell/) > [I think we've told a lot of lies about human behavior through film.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patricia-arquette/i-think-we-ve-told-a-lot-of-lies-about-human-behavior-through-film/) [Patricia Arquette](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patricia-arquette/) > [The strongest rebellion may be expressed in quiet, undramatic behavior.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-spock/the-strongest-rebellion-may-be-expressed-in-quiet-undramatic-behavior/) [Benjamin Spock](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-spock/) > [The behavior of any bureaucratic organization can best be understood by assuming that it is controlled by a secret cabal of its enemies.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-conquest/the-behavior-of-any-bureaucratic-organization-can-best-be-understood/) [Robert Conquest](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-conquest/) > [If you want good behavior, don't pay on a commission basis. Our judges aren't paid so much a case. We keep them pretty well…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charlie-munger/if-you-want-good-behavior-don-t-pay-on-a-commission-basis-our-judges/) [Charlie Munger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charlie-munger/) [Browse all 4,218 Behavior quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/behavior/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "We are not just our behavior. 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