--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Rule number one in adapting—control the…" description: "\"“Rule number one in adapting—control the situation at hand before it has a chance to control you.”\" — Maggi Myers" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/de3/maggi-myers-17643_adapting_rule-number-one-in-adapting-control-the_2671392.jpg" --- # Rule number one in adapting—control the situation at hand… ![“Rule number one in adapting—control the situation at hand before it has a chance to control you.” quote by Maggi Myers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/de3/maggi-myers-17643_adapting_rule-number-one-in-adapting-control-the_2671392.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/de3/maggi-myers-17643_adapting_rule-number-one-in-adapting-control-the_2671392.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/de3/maggi-myers-17643_adapting_rule-number-one-in-adapting-control-the_2671392.jpg) > ““Rule number one in adapting—control the situation at hand before it has a chance to control you.”” [Maggi Myers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maggi-myers/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Control the immediate situation before it overwhelms you, emphasizing proactive management. **In simple terms:** Take charge before problems grow. Key Takeaway Act early to manage challenges. Themes control proactivity self‑regulation Mood determined focused Type advice motivational When to use this quote - crisis response - daily planning - stress management Key Concepts situational awareness decision making Questions to Reflect On - What steps can you take now to gain control? - When is it better to adapt than control? A Different Perspective Control may be limited by external forces beyond your influence. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Control](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/control/) [Power](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/power/) ## Related quotes > [“We cannot wish our worlds into being. Much depends on chance, on what we can't control, on others.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/siri-hustvedt/we-cannot-wish-our-worlds-into-being-much-depends-on-chance-on-what/) [Siri Hustvedt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/siri-hustvedt/) > [Think of success as a game of chance in which you have control over the odds. As you begin to master concepts in personal…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/think-of-success-as-a-game-of-chance-in-which-you-have-control-over/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“God is always in control, even when you lose control of yourself or any situation; nothing changes His position.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gift-gugu-mona/god-is-always-in-control-even-when-you-lose-control-of-yourself-or/) [Gift Gugu Mona](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gift-gugu-mona/) > [Stand-up is an amazing art form, I think, because it's all about you having complete control of the situation, but absolutely none.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-gaffigan/stand-up-is-an-amazing-art-form-i-think-because-it-s-all-about-you/) [Jim Gaffigan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-gaffigan/) > [Unfortunately, we can never truly know if we're making the right decision. What we do know is that wherever we are, that's where the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/yehuda-berg/unfortunately-we-can-never-truly-know-if-we-re-making-the-right/) [Yehuda Berg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/yehuda-berg/) > [It's inevitable that you feel scared when you don't have control of a situation.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ronaldo/it-s-inevitable-that-you-feel-scared-when-you-don-t-have-control-of-a/) [Ronaldo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ronaldo/) > [That is always our problem, not how to get control of people, but how all together we can get control of a situation.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-parker-follett/that-is-always-our-problem-not-how-to-get-control-of-people-but-how/) [Mary Parker Follett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-parker-follett/) > [“It was typical of her character that she simply assumed she would, eventually, gain control over the situation.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gail-carriger/it-was-typical-of-her-character-that-she-simply-assumed-she-would/) [Gail Carriger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gail-carriger/) > [“You don’t control the situation, but you control what you think about it.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ryan-holiday/you-don-t-control-the-situation-but-you-control-what-you-think-about/) [Ryan Holiday](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ryan-holiday/) > [You may not be able to control every situation and its outcome, but you can control your attitude and how you deal with it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/you-may-not-be-able-to-control-every-situation-and-its-outcome-but/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [As an athlete, I feel like I have a little bit of control - or a lot of control - of the situation. When…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zach-ertz/as-an-athlete-i-feel-like-i-have-a-little-bit-of-control-or-a-lot-of/) [Zach Ertz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zach-ertz/) > [“IF YOU CAN’T CONTROL PEOPLE, THEN CONTROL YOUR REACTION TO THEM. IF YOU CAN’T CONTROL A SITUATION, THEN PREPARE FOR IT.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lilly-singh/if-you-can-t-control-people-then-control-your-reaction-to-them-if-you/) [Lilly Singh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lilly-singh/) > [I call myself taking control of a situation, but sometimes you really have to learn to humble yourself and to submit yourself. I'm not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tichina-arnold/i-call-myself-taking-control-of-a-situation-but-sometimes-you-really/) [Tichina Arnold](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tichina-arnold/) > [The only thing you sometimes have control over is perspective. You don't have control over your situation. But you have a choice about how…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-pine/the-only-thing-you-sometimes-have-control-over-is-perspective-you-don/) [Chris Pine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-pine/) > [“Baby, this is who I am. I'm hardwired this way. And if I'm trying to take control over the situation, please understand that I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/meredith-wild/baby-this-is-who-i-am-i-m-hardwired-this-way-and-if-i-m-trying-to/) [Meredith Wild](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/meredith-wild/) ## More by Maggi Myers > [“about us just clicks.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maggi-myers/about-us-just-clicks/) [Maggi Myers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maggi-myers/) > [Together forever, never apart. Maybe in distance, but never in heart.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maggi-myers/together-forever-never-apart-maybe-in-distance-but-never-in-heart/) [Maggi Myers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maggi-myers/) > [“Where only a fool would build a house on shifting sand, the same goes for those who would build their lives on a lie…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maggi-myers/where-only-a-fool-would-build-a-house-on-shifting-sand-the-same-goes/) [Maggi Myers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maggi-myers/) > [“A year has taught me that really great people make stupid mistakes sometimes.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maggi-myers/a-year-has-taught-me-that-really-great-people-make-stupid-mistakes/) [Maggi Myers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maggi-myers/) > [“It’s tough to be intimidated by a clown in a Dr. Who t-shirt,” I snicker. Jack is pretty cool; I could do worse for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maggi-myers/it-s-tough-to-be-intimidated-by-a-clown-in-a-dr-who-t-shirt-i-snicker/) [Maggi Myers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maggi-myers/) > [“I mourn the piece of myself that I gave away and will never get back”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maggi-myers/i-mourn-the-piece-of-myself-that-i-gave-away-and-will-never-get-back/) [Maggi Myers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maggi-myers/) > [“Hell bent and beautiful, you're my heart.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maggi-myers/hell-bent-and-beautiful-you-re-my-heart/) [Maggi Myers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maggi-myers/) > [“How can it be better to feel something when everything I feel hurts so much? I want to smack ever person who has told…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maggi-myers/how-can-it-be-better-to-feel-something-when-everything-i-feel-hurts/) [Maggi Myers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maggi-myers/) > [“It took a long time for me to accept that I was never going to find that something I’m really good at. I spent…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maggi-myers/it-took-a-long-time-for-me-to-accept-that-i-was-never-going-to-find/) [Maggi Myers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maggi-myers/) > [“He still feels like home.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maggi-myers/he-still-feels-like-home/) [Maggi Myers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maggi-myers/) > [“Hindsight is a coldhearted bitch. We can never go back and change those moments that take us off course; we just have to learn…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maggi-myers/hindsight-is-a-coldhearted-bitch-we-can-never-go-back-and-change/) [Maggi Myers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maggi-myers/) > [“Life sucks. Hard. I don’t care how melodramatic that sounds, it’s the truth and I’m living it.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maggi-myers/life-sucks-hard-i-don-t-care-how-melodramatic-that-sounds-it-s-the/) [Maggi Myers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maggi-myers/) > [“You make me want to taste life the way you do. You live with your heart wide-open, and give of yourself, even when no…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maggi-myers/you-make-me-want-to-taste-life-the-way-you-do-you-live-with-your/) [Maggi Myers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maggi-myers/) > [“I am the kind of broken they can't fix. I am no longer the same little girl they loved.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maggi-myers/i-am-the-kind-of-broken-they-can-t-fix-i-am-no-longer-the-same-little/) [Maggi Myers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maggi-myers/) > [“You’re my dream girl, remember?” he teases back. “How could I forget?” I sigh dramatically. “It’s not every day a boy tells you that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maggi-myers/you-re-my-dream-girl-remember-he-teases-back-how-could-i-forget-i/) [Maggi Myers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maggi-myers/) [Explore all 34 Maggi Myers quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maggi-myers/) ## More Adapting quotes > [For a struggling filmmaker running low on ideas, public domain is all we have for adapting books.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lee-isaac-chung/for-a-struggling-filmmaker-running-low-on-ideas-public-domain-is-all/) [Lee Isaac Chung](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lee-isaac-chung/) > [If I can do concert recitals, adapting the repertoire to my needs, then no problem, that's good enough. But with operas, unless the right…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jose-carreras/if-i-can-do-concert-recitals-adapting-the-repertoire-to-my-needs-then/) [Jose Carreras](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jose-carreras/) > [Firmino is a player who is really good at adapting to different positions. He is a No. 9, but he helps a lot in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fabinho/firmino-is-a-player-who-is-really-good-at-adapting-to-different/) [Fabinho](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fabinho/) > [Martial arts is not about picking your fights and picking how things go; it's about adapting to the how things are.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gunnar-nelson/martial-arts-is-not-about-picking-your-fights-and-picking-how-things/) [Gunnar Nelson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gunnar-nelson/) > [I'm not in the business of adapting things that are popular for the sake of just getting it on the screen. I think there…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sam-esmail/i-m-not-in-the-business-of-adapting-things-that-are-popular-for-the/) [Sam Esmail](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sam-esmail/) > [I am like the fish in the aquarium, thinking in a different language, adapting to a life that’s not my natural habitat. I am…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-levithan/i-am-like-the-fish-in-the-aquarium-thinking-in-a-different-language/) [David Levithan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-levithan/) > [I'm always a big advocate for adapting to your new team, your new country and your new team-mates.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ronald-koeman/i-m-always-a-big-advocate-for-adapting-to-your-new-team-your-new/) [Ronald Koeman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ronald-koeman/) > [Cinema reflects culture and there is no harm in adapting technology, but not at the cost of losing your originality.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jackie-chan/cinema-reflects-culture-and-there-is-no-harm-in-adapting-technology/) [Jackie Chan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jackie-chan/) > [The fact that I made a special movie with an old-fashioned style - even if it's a mix between with modern and old-fashioned things…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michel-hazanavicius/the-fact-that-i-made-a-special-movie-with-an-old-fashioned-style-even/) [Michel Hazanavicius](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michel-hazanavicius/) > [I believe in having a few pupils at one time as it requires a constant alert observation of each individual in order to establish…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bruce-lee/i-believe-in-having-a-few-pupils-at-one-time-as-it-requires-a/) [Bruce Lee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bruce-lee/) > [The brain is constantly adapting.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maryanne-wolf/the-brain-is-constantly-adapting/) [Maryanne Wolf](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maryanne-wolf/) > [One of the most difficult things for people who have been successful in sports is adapting to the daily world where you can't get…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-spitz/one-of-the-most-difficult-things-for-people-who-have-been-successful/) [Mark Spitz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-spitz/) > [“(T)his is precisely the importance of the world-view described in the Book of Changes: there is no situation without a way out. All situations…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-and-hellmut-wilhelm/t-his-is-precisely-the-importance-of-the-world-view-described-in-the/) Richard and Hellmut Wilhelm > [Man is a shrewd inventor, and is ever taking the hint of a new machine from his own structure, adapting some secret of his…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/man-is-a-shrewd-inventor-and-is-ever-taking-the-hint-of-a-new-machine/) [Ralph Waldo Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-waldo-emerson/) > [Sport is not about being wrapped up in cotton wool. Sport as about adapting to the unexpected and being able to modify plans at…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roger-bannister/sport-is-not-about-being-wrapped-up-in-cotton-wool-sport-as-about/) [Roger Bannister](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roger-bannister/) Browse all 251 Adapting quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“Rule number one in adapting—control the situation at hand before it has a chance to control you.”", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Maggi Myers" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maggi-myers/rule-number-one-in-adapting-control-the-situation-at-hand-before-it/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Adapting" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maggi-myers/rule-number-one-in-adapting-control-the-situation-at-hand-before-it/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/de3/maggi-myers-17643_adapting_rule-number-one-in-adapting-control-the_2671392.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/de3/maggi-myers-17643_adapting_rule-number-one-in-adapting-control-the_2671392.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/de3/maggi-myers-17643_adapting_rule-number-one-in-adapting-control-the_2671392.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Rule number one in adapting—control the situation at hand before it has a chance to control you.” — Maggi Myers", "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": "Maggi Myers", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maggi-myers/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "“Rule number one in adapting—control the...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maggi-myers/rule-number-one-in-adapting-control-the-situation-at-hand-before-it/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maggi-myers/rule-number-one-in-adapting-control-the-situation-at-hand-before-it/#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 } } ] } ```