---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: What was your greatest challenge? Staying…"
description: "\"What was your greatest challenge? Staying alive as a business, staying ahead of the game, and melding my business life with my personal life.\" — Lillia..."
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/109/lillian-vernon-61673_ahead-of-the-game_what-was-your-greatest-challenge-staying_1758556.jpg"
---

#  What was your greatest challenge? Staying alive as a…

![“What was your greatest challenge? Staying alive as a business, staying ahead of the game, and melding my business life with my personal life.” quote by Lillian Vernon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/109/lillian-vernon-61673_ahead-of-the-game_what-was-your-greatest-challenge-staying_1758556.jpg)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/109/lillian-vernon-61673_ahead-of-the-game_what-was-your-greatest-challenge-staying_1758556.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/109/lillian-vernon-61673_ahead-of-the-game_what-was-your-greatest-challenge-staying_1758556.jpg)

> “What was your greatest challenge? Staying alive as a business, staying ahead of the game, and melding my business life with my personal life.”

[Lillian Vernon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lillian-vernon/)

## About This Quote

This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.

Balancing business survival, staying competitive, and integrating work with personal life is a major challenge.

**In simple terms:** Balancing business, competition, and personal life is tough.

Key Takeaway

Prioritize integration of work and life.

Themes

entrepreneurship balance competition life integration

Mood

determined hopeful

Type

motivational strategic

When to use this quote

- startup growth
- career planning
- family time

Key Concepts

strategy time management

Questions to Reflect On

- How do you define success across domains?
- What boundaries protect personal life?

A Different Perspective

Overemphasis on work can erode personal wellbeing.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Ahead of the game](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ahead-of-the-game/) [Alive](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/alive/) [Business](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/business/) [Business life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/business-life/) [Challenges](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/challenges/) [Games](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/games/) [Life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/life/) [Personal life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/personal-life/) [Staying alive](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/staying-alive/)

## Related quotes

> [Fear will keep you alive in a war. Fear will keep you alive in business. There's nothing wrong with fear.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/norman-schwarzkopf/fear-will-keep-you-alive-in-a-war-fear-will-keep-you-alive-in/)

[Norman Schwarzkopf](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/norman-schwarzkopf/)

> [In some ways, the challenge of staying political is to stay a dreamer at the same time.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amber-hollibaugh/in-some-ways-the-challenge-of-staying-political-is-to-stay-a-dreamer/)

[Amber Hollibaugh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amber-hollibaugh/)

> [“The confirmation bias is alive and well in the business world. One example: An executive team decides on a new strategy. The team enthusiastically”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rolf-dobelli/the-confirmation-bias-is-alive-and-well-in-the-business-world-one/)

[Rolf Dobelli](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rolf-dobelli/)

> [Life is a challenge, and I'm staying in the game to win.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-m-hensel/life-is-a-challenge-and-i-m-staying-in-the-game-to-win/)

[Robert M. Hensel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-m-hensel/)

> [If you can keep your son off the pipe and your daughter off the pole, you're ahead of the game.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-rock/if-you-can-keep-your-son-off-the-pipe-and-your-daughter-off-the-pole/)

[Chris Rock](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-rock/)

> [I always think that a director who knows about the technical side, but cares about the acting performances and casting as well, is ahead…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bob-balaban/i-always-think-that-a-director-who-knows-about-the-technical-side-but/)

[Bob Balaban](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bob-balaban/)

> [GaGa is one of my favourites. Her voice is incredible and she's fearless and she's ahead of the game. She's ahead of the entire…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nas/gaga-is-one-of-my-favourites-her-voice-is-incredible-and-she-s/)

[Nas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nas/)

> [“Michael,” he said, with that wolfish Nicholson grin, “it has been proved that people who are left-handed die earlier than smokers. I am right-handed,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-caine/michael-he-said-with-that-wolfish-nicholson-grin-it-has-been-proved/)

[Michael Caine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-caine/)

> [Children were strangers you loved because you could love. If they gave back love when they were grown you were ahead of the game.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bernard-malamud/children-were-strangers-you-loved-because-you-could-love-if-they-gave/)

[Bernard Malamud](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bernard-malamud/)

> [If you can figure out what their motivation is, then you're ahead of the game. I think that's why a lot of people who…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donald-faison/if-you-can-figure-out-what-their-motivation-is-then-you-re-ahead-of/)

[Donald Faison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donald-faison/)

> [People think your success is just a matter of having a pretty face. But it's easy to be chewed up and spat out. You've…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kate-moss/people-think-your-success-is-just-a-matter-of-having-a-pretty-face/)

[Kate Moss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kate-moss/)

> [“Damn," Crystal sputtered, looking up from the dictionary in disbelief. "Oenophlygia: the state of being dunk. It really is a word". Johnny gloated unabashedly.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cindy-gerard/damn-crystal-sputtered-looking-up-from-the-dictionary-in-disbelief/)

[Cindy Gerard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cindy-gerard/)

> [They always say never trust who you can't see, every time you turn seems as though you always get burned, If you live your…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matthew-sherrill/they-always-say-never-trust-who-you-can-t-see-every-time-you-turn/)

Matthew Sherrill

> [Being ahead of the game is knowing the answer befor the question](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kenzie-ann/being-ahead-of-the-game-is-knowing-the-answer-befor-the-question/)

[Kenzie-ann](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kenzie-ann/)

> [There is no such thing as disposable time if you want to stay ahead of the game](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/there-is-no-such-thing-as-disposable-time-if-you-want-to-stay-ahead/)

[Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/)

## More by Lillian Vernon

> [How do you balance growing the business with raising a family? You just do. I had a business, a lot of orders, and a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lillian-vernon/how-do-you-balance-growing-the-business-with-raising-a-family-you/)

[Lillian Vernon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lillian-vernon/)

> [“Toughness is a good thing, yet it is considered good only in men. When a woman is tough, men can't stand it. I like…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lillian-vernon/toughness-is-a-good-thing-yet-it-is-considered-good-only-in-men-when/)

[Lillian Vernon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lillian-vernon/)

> [The biggest mistake was that I didn't hire all the right people. I should have done better reference checks. I should have defined the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lillian-vernon/the-biggest-mistake-was-that-i-didn-t-hire-all-the-right-people-i/)

[Lillian Vernon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lillian-vernon/)

> [Don't try to be all things to all people. Concentrate on selling something unique that you know there is a need for, offer competitive…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lillian-vernon/don-t-try-to-be-all-things-to-all-people-concentrate-on-selling/)

[Lillian Vernon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lillian-vernon/)

[Explore all 5 Lillian Vernon quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lillian-vernon/)

## More Ahead of the game quotes

> [There is no such thing as disposable time if you want to stay ahead of the game](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/there-is-no-such-thing-as-disposable-time-if-you-want-to-stay-ahead/)

[Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/)

> [Being ahead of the game is knowing the answer befor the question](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kenzie-ann/being-ahead-of-the-game-is-knowing-the-answer-befor-the-question/)

[Kenzie-ann](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kenzie-ann/)

> [They always say never trust who you can't see, every time you turn seems as though you always get burned, If you live your…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matthew-sherrill/they-always-say-never-trust-who-you-can-t-see-every-time-you-turn/)

Matthew Sherrill

> [“Damn," Crystal sputtered, looking up from the dictionary in disbelief. "Oenophlygia: the state of being dunk. It really is a word". Johnny gloated unabashedly.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cindy-gerard/damn-crystal-sputtered-looking-up-from-the-dictionary-in-disbelief/)

[Cindy Gerard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cindy-gerard/)

> [People think your success is just a matter of having a pretty face. But it's easy to be chewed up and spat out. You've…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kate-moss/people-think-your-success-is-just-a-matter-of-having-a-pretty-face/)

[Kate Moss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kate-moss/)

> [If you can figure out what their motivation is, then you're ahead of the game. I think that's why a lot of people who…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donald-faison/if-you-can-figure-out-what-their-motivation-is-then-you-re-ahead-of/)

[Donald Faison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donald-faison/)

> [Children were strangers you loved because you could love. If they gave back love when they were grown you were ahead of the game.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bernard-malamud/children-were-strangers-you-loved-because-you-could-love-if-they-gave/)

[Bernard Malamud](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bernard-malamud/)

> [“Michael,” he said, with that wolfish Nicholson grin, “it has been proved that people who are left-handed die earlier than smokers. I am right-handed,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-caine/michael-he-said-with-that-wolfish-nicholson-grin-it-has-been-proved/)

[Michael Caine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-caine/)

> [GaGa is one of my favourites. Her voice is incredible and she's fearless and she's ahead of the game. She's ahead of the entire…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nas/gaga-is-one-of-my-favourites-her-voice-is-incredible-and-she-s/)

[Nas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nas/)

> [I always think that a director who knows about the technical side, but cares about the acting performances and casting as well, is ahead…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bob-balaban/i-always-think-that-a-director-who-knows-about-the-technical-side-but/)

[Bob Balaban](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bob-balaban/)

> [If you can keep your son off the pipe and your daughter off the pole, you're ahead of the game.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-rock/if-you-can-keep-your-son-off-the-pipe-and-your-daughter-off-the-pole/)

[Chris Rock](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-rock/)

> [If you can get a laugh out of a name, you're ahead of the game.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carl-reiner/if-you-can-get-a-laugh-out-of-a-name-you-re-ahead-of-the-game/)

[Carl Reiner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carl-reiner/)

> [You don't have to always be the smartest person in the room, but if you listen and absorb what you are hearing, you will…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cathy-engelbert/you-don-t-have-to-always-be-the-smartest-person-in-the-room-but-if/)

[Cathy Engelbert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cathy-engelbert/)

> [Remember that most people (those who are not photographers) don't even see the things that you missed. Many don't even look. Ergo, you are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jay-maisel/remember-that-most-people-those-who-are-not-photographers-don-t-even/)

[Jay Maisel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jay-maisel/)

> [I've been a fortunate girl: I grew up in a family that loved me from day one. I feel well grounded and lucky from…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jaclyn-smith/i-ve-been-a-fortunate-girl-i-grew-up-in-a-family-that-loved-me-from/)

[Jaclyn Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jaclyn-smith/)

[Browse all 54 Ahead of the game quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ahead-of-the-game/)

```json
{
    "@context": "https://schema.org",
    "@graph": [
        {
            "@type": "Quotation",
            "text": "What was your greatest challenge? Staying alive as a business, staying ahead of the game, and melding my business life with my personal life.",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "Lillian Vernon"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lillian-vernon/what-was-your-greatest-challenge-staying-alive-as-a-business-staying/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "Ahead of the game"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lillian-vernon/what-was-your-greatest-challenge-staying-alive-as-a-business-staying/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/109/lillian-vernon-61673_ahead-of-the-game_what-was-your-greatest-challenge-staying_1758556.jpg",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/109/lillian-vernon-61673_ahead-of-the-game_what-was-your-greatest-challenge-staying_1758556.jpg",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/109/lillian-vernon-61673_ahead-of-the-game_what-was-your-greatest-challenge-staying_1758556.jpg",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“What was your greatest challenge? Staying alive as a business, staying ahead of the game, and melding my…” — Lillian Vernon",
                "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": "Lillian Vernon",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lillian-vernon/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 4,
                    "name": "What was your greatest challenge? Staying...",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lillian-vernon/what-was-your-greatest-challenge-staying-alive-as-a-business-staying/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lillian-vernon/what-was-your-greatest-challenge-staying-alive-as-a-business-staying/#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
            }
        }
    ]
}
```
