--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: When those with ability at their job get…" description: "\"When those with ability at their job get to thinking they can't be done without, they're already on their way out.\" — Malcolm Forbes" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/989/malcolm-forbes-1510_ability_when-those-with-ability-at-their-job-get_218710.jpg" --- # When those with ability at their job get to thinking they… ![“When those with ability at their job get to thinking they can't be done without, they're already on their way out.” quote by Malcolm Forbes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/989/malcolm-forbes-1510_ability_when-those-with-ability-at-their-job-get_218710.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/989/malcolm-forbes-1510_ability_when-those-with-ability-at-their-job-get_218710.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/989/malcolm-forbes-1510_ability_when-those-with-ability-at-their-job-get_218710.jpg) > “When those with ability at their job get to thinking they can't be done without, they're already on their way out.” [Malcolm Forbes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/malcolm-forbes/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. When skilled employees think they’re irreplaceable, they become complacent and risk being ousted. **In simple terms:** Overconfidence leads to downfall. Key Takeaway Stay humble and adaptable. Themes humility career adaptability leadership complacency Mood cautious motivational Type leadership career When to use this quote - career planning - team management - performance reviews Key Concepts Organizational dynamics self‑awareness Questions to Reflect On - How to recognize when you’re becoming indispensable? - What steps prevent complacency? A Different Perspective May underestimate genuine expertise. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Ability](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ability/) [Jobs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/jobs/) [Thinking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thinking/) [Work](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/work/) ## Related quotes > [I learned that, "Mike, you get your first job on your ability and every job after that on your dependability."](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-royer/i-learned-that-mike-you-get-your-first-job-on-your-ability-and-every/) [Mike Royer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-royer/) > [My mental health has negatively impacted my ability to do my job.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/liz-cambage/my-mental-health-has-negatively-impacted-my-ability-to-do-my-job/) [Liz Cambage](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/liz-cambage/) > [Maturity is the ability to do a job whether you're supervised or not; finish a job once it's started; carry money without spending it;…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abigail-van-buren/maturity-is-the-ability-to-do-a-job-whether-you-re-supervised-or-not/) [Abigail Van Buren](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abigail-van-buren/) > [It's not my job thinking about the future because I have a manager. I have a team.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/islam-makhachev/it-s-not-my-job-thinking-about-the-future-because-i-have-a-manager-i/) [Islam Makhachev](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/islam-makhachev/) > [For me, I never take a job thinking it's going to grab ratings or that it's even going to be a success. I don't.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kate-del-castillo/for-me-i-never-take-a-job-thinking-it-s-going-to-grab-ratings-or-that/) [Kate del Castillo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kate-del-castillo/) > [I don't tend to go into any job thinking about the audience reaction.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zawe-ashton/i-don-t-tend-to-go-into-any-job-thinking-about-the-audience-reaction/) [Zawe Ashton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zawe-ashton/) > [I really hope that I can be as good as some people think I can be. But I may never work again... and that's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aisling-loftus/i-really-hope-that-i-can-be-as-good-as-some-people-think-i-can-be-but/) [Aisling Loftus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aisling-loftus/) > [It is the job of thinking people not to be on the side of the executioners.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-camus/it-is-the-job-of-thinking-people-not-to-be-on-the-side-of-the/) [Albert Camus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-camus/) > [You can't do your job thinking about the money. I didn't go to college for that.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/greg-hardy/you-can-t-do-your-job-thinking-about-the-money-i-didn-t-go-to-college/) [Greg Hardy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/greg-hardy/) > [I have never taken a job or done a job where I felt I needed to leave my conscience at the door. One of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/deval-patrick/i-have-never-taken-a-job-or-done-a-job-where-i-felt-i-needed-to-leave/) [Deval Patrick](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/deval-patrick/) > [I always get scared doing a job. To this day, I start every job thinking, I really can't do this. And what I do…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-sorel/i-always-get-scared-doing-a-job-to-this-day-i-start-every-job/) [Edward Sorel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-sorel/) > [If you put someone in a job who is thinking for even a moment about the next job, you have the wrong person.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-callahan-erdoes/if-you-put-someone-in-a-job-who-is-thinking-for-even-a-moment-about/) [Mary Callahan Erdoes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-callahan-erdoes/) > [The conventional view serves to protect us from the painful job of thinking.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-kenneth-galbraith/the-conventional-view-serves-to-protect-us-from-the-painful-job-of/) [John Kenneth Galbraith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-kenneth-galbraith/) > [I always start a job thinking 'why am I here?', I feel very very lucky, I still pinch myself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michelle-keegan/i-always-start-a-job-thinking-why-am-i-here-i-feel-very-very-lucky-i/) [Michelle Keegan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michelle-keegan/) > [The answer to religion is not no religion, but another way of thinking of it. Another way of being in it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/salman-rushdie/the-answer-to-religion-is-not-no-religion-but-another-way-of-thinking/) [Salman Rushdie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/salman-rushdie/) ## More by Malcolm Forbes > [Once in a while there's wisdom in recognizing that the Boss is.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/malcolm-forbes/once-in-a-while-there-s-wisdom-in-recognizing-that-the-boss-is/) [Malcolm Forbes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/malcolm-forbes/) > [Can you understand why the Congress, most states and most cities refuse to pass legislation requiring the registration and licensing of any and all…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/malcolm-forbes/can-you-understand-why-the-congress-most-states-and-most-cities/) [Malcolm Forbes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/malcolm-forbes/) > [ I don't think anybody can be a success who doesn't like what they do. \[But it's\] no job if it has no challenge; there's… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/malcolm-forbes/i-don-t-think-anybody-can-be-a-success-who-doesn-t-like-what-they-do/) [Malcolm Forbes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/malcolm-forbes/) > [Why, just a couple of economic seasons ago, was idle cash considered an indication of bad management or lazy management? Because it meant that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/malcolm-forbes/why-just-a-couple-of-economic-seasons-ago-was-idle-cash-considered-an/) [Malcolm Forbes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/malcolm-forbes/) > [Real writers-that is, capital W Writers-rarely make much money. Their biggest reward is the occasional reader's response… Commentators-in-print voicing big fat opinions-you might call…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/malcolm-forbes/real-writers-that-is-capital-w-writers-rarely-make-much-money-their/) [Malcolm Forbes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/malcolm-forbes/) > [When things are bad, we take comfort in the thought that they could always be worse. And when they are, we find hope in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/malcolm-forbes/when-things-are-bad-we-take-comfort-in-the-thought-that-they-could/) [Malcolm Forbes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/malcolm-forbes/) > [Some people as a result of adversity are sadder, wiser, kinder, more human. Most of us are better, though, when things go better. Knowing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/malcolm-forbes/some-people-as-a-result-of-adversity-are-sadder-wiser-kinder-more/) [Malcolm Forbes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/malcolm-forbes/) > [The best vision is insight.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/malcolm-forbes/the-best-vision-is-insight/) [Malcolm Forbes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/malcolm-forbes/) > [When you don't understand, it's sometimes easier to look like you do.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/malcolm-forbes/when-you-don-t-understand-it-s-sometimes-easier-to-look-like-you-do/) [Malcolm Forbes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/malcolm-forbes/) > [It's so much easier to suggest solutions when you don't know too much about the problem.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/malcolm-forbes/it-s-so-much-easier-to-suggest-solutions-when-you-don-t-know-too-much/) [Malcolm Forbes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/malcolm-forbes/) > [Security isn't securities. It's knowing that someone cares whether you are or cease to be.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/malcolm-forbes/security-isn-t-securities-it-s-knowing-that-someone-cares-whether-you/) [Malcolm Forbes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/malcolm-forbes/) > [It is unfortunate we can't buy many business executives for what they are worth and sell them for what they think they are worth.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/malcolm-forbes/it-is-unfortunate-we-can-t-buy-many-business-executives-for-what-they/) [Malcolm Forbes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/malcolm-forbes/) > [It is all one to me if a man comes from Sing Sing Prison or Harvard. We hire a man, not his history.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/malcolm-forbes/it-is-all-one-to-me-if-a-man-comes-from-sing-sing-prison-or-harvard/) [Malcolm Forbes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/malcolm-forbes/) > [Compliment others on the virtues they have; and they're not half as pleased as being complimented for the ones they don't have.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/malcolm-forbes/compliment-others-on-the-virtues-they-have-and-they-re-not-half-as/) [Malcolm Forbes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/malcolm-forbes/) > [. . . the most difficult thing asked by our young is not our earnings but our ears.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/malcolm-forbes/the-most-difficult-thing-asked-by-our-young-is-not-our-earnings-but/) [Malcolm Forbes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/malcolm-forbes/) [Explore all 232 Malcolm Forbes quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/malcolm-forbes/) ## More Ability quotes > [I don't think there's a direct correlation between my sexuality and my skiing ability. But I think because I was so concerned about it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gus-kenworthy/i-don-t-think-there-s-a-direct-correlation-between-my-sexuality-and/) [Gus Kenworthy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gus-kenworthy/) > [“the importance of ability. The things that make a great job great, I discovered, are rare and valuable. If you want them in your…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cal-newport/the-importance-of-ability-the-things-that-make-a-great-job-great-i/) [Cal Newport](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cal-newport/) > [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/) > [The ability of the gospel to unite us on common strengths and common truths is one of the great miracles . . . of the gospel.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeffrey-r-holland/the-ability-of-the-gospel-to-unite-us-on-common-strengths-and-common/) [Jeffrey R. Holland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeffrey-r-holland/) > [Maybe law enforcement would like the ability to turn on the camera on your Mac.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tim-cook/maybe-law-enforcement-would-like-the-ability-to-turn-on-the-camera-on/) [Tim Cook](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tim-cook/) > [I've seen guys come along with more ability - they've been faster or bigger or stronger - but they never worked hard to develop…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-largent/i-ve-seen-guys-come-along-with-more-ability-they-ve-been-faster-or/) [Steve Largent](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-largent/) > [The youth of India has the strength to move the entire World with a click of a mouse, we have generated that ability!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/narendra-modi/the-youth-of-india-has-the-strength-to-move-the-entire-world-with-a/) [Narendra Modi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/narendra-modi/) > [Time hath not yet so dried this blood of mine, Nor age so eat up my invention, Nor fortune made such havoc of my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-shakespeare/time-hath-not-yet-so-dried-this-blood-of-mine-nor-age-so-eat-up-my/) [William Shakespeare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-shakespeare/) > [An absolutely necessary part of a writer's equipment, almost as necessary as talent, is the ability to stand up under punishment, both the punishment…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/irwin-shaw/an-absolutely-necessary-part-of-a-writer-s-equipment-almost-as/) [Irwin Shaw](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/irwin-shaw/) > [I'd be more frightened by not using whatever abilities I'd been given. I'd be more frightened by procrastination and laziness.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/denzel-washington/i-d-be-more-frightened-by-not-using-whatever-abilities-i-d-been-given/) [Denzel Washington](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/denzel-washington/) > [Bring into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ. Take what I cannot give: my heart, body, thoughts, time, abilities, money, health, strength,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-prentiss/bring-into-captivity-every-thought-to-the-obedience-of-christ-take/) [Elizabeth Prentiss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-prentiss/) > [You can only do the work to the very best of your ability.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christine-baranski/you-can-only-do-the-work-to-the-very-best-of-your-ability/) [Christine Baranski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christine-baranski/) > [Judge a person not by his ability to make money but by his ability to retain it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vikrant-parsai/judge-a-person-not-by-his-ability-to-make-money-but-by-his-ability-to/) [Vikrant Parsai](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vikrant-parsai/) > [Balance is the ability to be happy in the midst of the most chaotic or even boring or transient circumstance.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-lenz/balance-is-the-ability-to-be-happy-in-the-midst-of-the-most-chaotic/) [Frederick Lenz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-lenz/) > [Bobby had faith in my ability as a singer.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julie-london/bobby-had-faith-in-my-ability-as-a-singer/) [Julie London](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julie-london/) [Browse all 9,990 Ability quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ability/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "When those with ability at their job get to thinking they can't be done without, they're already on their way out.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Malcolm Forbes" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/malcolm-forbes/when-those-with-ability-at-their-job-get-to-thinking-they-can-t-be/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Ability" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/malcolm-forbes/when-those-with-ability-at-their-job-get-to-thinking-they-can-t-be/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/989/malcolm-forbes-1510_ability_when-those-with-ability-at-their-job-get_218710.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/989/malcolm-forbes-1510_ability_when-those-with-ability-at-their-job-get_218710.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/989/malcolm-forbes-1510_ability_when-those-with-ability-at-their-job-get_218710.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“When those with ability at their job get to thinking they can't be done without, they're already on their…” — Malcolm Forbes", "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": "Malcolm Forbes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/malcolm-forbes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "When those with ability at their...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/malcolm-forbes/when-those-with-ability-at-their-job-get-to-thinking-they-can-t-be/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/malcolm-forbes/when-those-with-ability-at-their-job-get-to-thinking-they-can-t-be/#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 } } ] } ```