--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Spend the most time with your best…" description: "\"Spend the most time with your best people. ... Talent is the multiplier. THe more energy and attention you invest in it, the greater the yield. The tim..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ddb/marcus-buckingham-3878_achieve_spend-the-most-time-with-your-best-peopl_2610138.png" --- # Spend the most time with your best people. ... Talent is… ![“Spend the most time with your best people. ... Talent is the multiplier. THe more energy and attention you invest in it, the greater the yield. The time you spend with your best is, quite simply, your most productive time. ... Persistence directed primarily toward your non-talents is…” quote by Marcus Buckingham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ddb/marcus-buckingham-3878_achieve_spend-the-most-time-with-your-best-peopl_2610138.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ddb/marcus-buckingham-3878_achieve_spend-the-most-time-with-your-best-peopl_2610138.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ddb/marcus-buckingham-3878_achieve_spend-the-most-time-with-your-best-peopl_2610138.png) > “Spend the most time with your best people. ... Talent is the multiplier. THe more energy and attention you invest in it, the greater the yield. The time you spend with your best is, quite simply, your most productive time. ... Persistence directed primarily toward your non-talents is self-destructive. ... You will reprimand yourself, berate yourself, and put yourself through all manner of contortions in an attempt to achieve the impossible.” [Marcus Buckingham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcus-buckingham/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Spending time with top talent multiplies results; focusing on non‑talents is self‑destructive. **In simple terms:** Invest time with talented people for productivity. Key Takeaway Prioritize collaboration with high‑performers. Themes leadership productivity talent management Mood motivational practical Type advice strategic When to use this quote - business strategy - personal coaching - team building Key Concepts team dynamics resource allocation Questions to Reflect On - How to balance talent focus with inclusive development? - What methods maximize team productivity? A Different Perspective Neglecting development of others can harm morale. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Achieve](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/achieve/) [Achieve The Impossible](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/achieve-the-impossible/) [Attention](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/attention/) [Energy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/energy/) [Impossible](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/impossible/) [Non Talents](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/non-talents-2020230/) [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) [Persistence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/persistence/) [Productive](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/productive/) [Productive Time](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/productive-time-1231783/) [Self](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/self/) [Self destructive](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/self-destructive/) [Talent](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/talent/) [Talents](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/talents/) [Talents Self](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/talents-self-2020229/) [Time](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/time/) [Yield](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/yield/) ## Related quotes > [“If you want to be prosperous begin to sow into your abilities, gifting’s, talents, self-development and self-education”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sunday-adelaja/if-you-want-to-be-prosperous-begin-to-sow-into-your-abilities-gifting/) [Sunday Adelaja](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sunday-adelaja/) > [“By telling you that you can transform your non-talents into talents, these less effective managers are not only setting you up to fail, they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gallup-press/by-telling-you-that-you-can-transform-your-non-talents-into-talents/) [Gallup Press](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gallup-press/) > [The time you spend with your best (employees) is, quite simply, your most productive time.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcus-buckingham/the-time-you-spend-with-your-best-employees-is-quite-simply-your-most/) [Marcus Buckingham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcus-buckingham/) > [Talent is the multiplier. The more energy and attention you invest in it, the greater the yield. The time you spend with your best…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcus-buckingham/talent-is-the-multiplier-the-more-energy-and-attention-you-invest-in/) [Marcus Buckingham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcus-buckingham/) > [“Persistence is useful if you are trying to learn a new skill or acquire particular knowledge...but persistence directed primarily toward your non-talents is self-destructive.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gallup-press/persistence-is-useful-if-you-are-trying-to-learn-a-new-skill-or/) [Gallup Press](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gallup-press/) > [“If you desire to be productive with your time, you should select a maximum of two things that are your highest priority, and plan…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sunday-adelaja/if-you-desire-to-be-productive-with-your-time-you-should-select-a/) [Sunday Adelaja](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sunday-adelaja/) > [“Employment wastes the productive time of our lives”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sunday-adelaja/employment-wastes-the-productive-time-of-our-lives/) [Sunday Adelaja](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sunday-adelaja/) > [If I have a dry spell ... I wait and live harder, eyes, ears, and heart open, and when the productive time comes, it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sylvia-plath/if-i-have-a-dry-spell-i-wait-and-live-harder-eyes-ears-and-heart-open/) [Sylvia Plath](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sylvia-plath/) > [I always had the uncomfortable feeling that if I wasn't sitting in front of a computer typing, I was wasting my time - but…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gretchen-rubin/i-always-had-the-uncomfortable-feeling-that-if-i-wasn-t-sitting-in/) [Gretchen Rubin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gretchen-rubin/) > [No one shuts their laptop after looking at pornography and says, 'What a productive time I just spent connecting with the world!'](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/russell-brand/no-one-shuts-their-laptop-after-looking-at-pornography-and-says-what/) [Russell Brand](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/russell-brand/) > [Like many entrepreneurs, I never have two days that are alike. One thing that's consistent is I wake up early, around 4:30 A.M. It's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sallie-krawcheck/like-many-entrepreneurs-i-never-have-two-days-that-are-alike-one/) [Sallie Krawcheck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sallie-krawcheck/) > [“people have a really bad habit of coming in and checking e-mail first thing in the morning. And for many people, the morning is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jocelyn-k-glei/people-have-a-really-bad-habit-of-coming-in-and-checking-e-mail-first/) [Jocelyn K. Glei](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jocelyn-k-glei/) > [We're all filled with naturally recurring patterns that make us unique - they're called talents. And our charge is to bloody well use them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcus-buckingham/we-re-all-filled-with-naturally-recurring-patterns-that-make-us/) [Marcus Buckingham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcus-buckingham/) > [Infatuated, half through conceit, half through love of my art, I achieve the impossible working as no one else ever works.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexandre-dumas/infatuated-half-through-conceit-half-through-love-of-my-art-i-achieve/) [Alexandre Dumas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexandre-dumas/) > [To achieve the impossible, you need to first develop the mindset that it's probable. Please don't allow the current limits of your life define…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robin-sharma/to-achieve-the-impossible-you-need-to-first-develop-the-mindset-that/) [Robin Sharma](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robin-sharma/) ## More by Marcus Buckingham > [Too many of the organizations I have observed resemble a farm in Kansas. They have lots of fences and silos as well as a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcus-buckingham/too-many-of-the-organizations-i-have-observed-resemble-a-farm-in/) [Marcus Buckingham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcus-buckingham/) > [Most of my work has been in corporations, studying how you build an organization that helps people to identify and work to their strengths.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcus-buckingham/most-of-my-work-has-been-in-corporations-studying-how-you-build-an/) [Marcus Buckingham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcus-buckingham/) > [You can find energizing moments in each aspect of your life, but to do so you must learn how to catch them, hold on…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcus-buckingham/you-can-find-energizing-moments-in-each-aspect-of-your-life-but-to-do/) [Marcus Buckingham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcus-buckingham/) > [“The power of skills and knowledge is that they are transferable from one person to another. 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Effective leaders are clear.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcus-buckingham/clarity-is-the-answer-to-anxiety-effective-leaders-are-clear/) [Marcus Buckingham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcus-buckingham/) > [The corporate world is appallingly bad at capitalizing on the strengths of its people.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcus-buckingham/the-corporate-world-is-appallingly-bad-at-capitalizing-on-the/) [Marcus Buckingham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcus-buckingham/) > [If you want execution, hail only success. If you want creativity, hail risk, and remain neutral about success.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcus-buckingham/if-you-want-execution-hail-only-success-if-you-want-creativity-hail/) [Marcus Buckingham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcus-buckingham/) > [Emphasize your strengths on your resume, in your cover letters and in your interviews. It may sound obvious, but you'd be surprised how many…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcus-buckingham/emphasize-your-strengths-on-your-resume-in-your-cover-letters-and-in/) [Marcus Buckingham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcus-buckingham/) > [In most cases, no matter what it is, if you measure it and reward it, people will try to excel at it](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcus-buckingham/in-most-cases-no-matter-what-it-is-if-you-measure-it-and-reward-it/) [Marcus Buckingham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcus-buckingham/) > [Life's tricky for women because they have to make more choices than men. And yes, choice is good, but boy, you better be an…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcus-buckingham/life-s-tricky-for-women-because-they-have-to-make-more-choices-than/) [Marcus Buckingham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcus-buckingham/) > [Companies don't have one culture. They have as many as they have supervisors or managers. You want to build a strong culture? Hold every…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcus-buckingham/companies-don-t-have-one-culture-they-have-as-many-as-they-have/) [Marcus Buckingham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcus-buckingham/) > [Every time you make a rule you take away a choice, and choice, with all of its illuminating repercussions, is the fuel for learning.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcus-buckingham/every-time-you-make-a-rule-you-take-away-a-choice-and-choice-with-all/) [Marcus Buckingham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcus-buckingham/) > [“to encourage people to take responsibility for who they really are. And it is the only way to show respect for each person. Focusing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcus-buckingham/to-encourage-people-to-take-responsibility-for-who-they-really-are/) [Marcus Buckingham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcus-buckingham/) > [There is no shortage of mechanisms by which to measure almost anything.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcus-buckingham/there-is-no-shortage-of-mechanisms-by-which-to-measure-almost-anything/) [Marcus Buckingham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcus-buckingham/) [Explore all 119 Marcus Buckingham quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcus-buckingham/) ## More Achieve quotes > [I always say there are two things to be successful. The first is decide exactly what you want - set your goals - and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-tracy/i-always-say-there-are-two-things-to-be-successful-the-first-is/) [Brian Tracy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-tracy/) > [I understand that it's the music that keeps me alive... That's my lifeblood. And to give that up for, like, the TV, the cars,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bruce-springsteen/i-understand-that-it-s-the-music-that-keeps-me-alive-that-s-my/) [Bruce Springsteen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bruce-springsteen/) > [I love playing for my country, getting the support. Especially for the kids and everybody, showing my example of what I can achieve so…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maria-sharapova/i-love-playing-for-my-country-getting-the-support-especially-for-the/) [Maria Sharapova](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maria-sharapova/) > [Human beings have an innate inner drive to be autonomous, self-determined, and connected to one another. And when that drive is liberated, people achieve…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-h-pink/human-beings-have-an-innate-inner-drive-to-be-autonomous-self/) [Daniel H. 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