--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The whole endeavor becomes less about a…" description: "\"The whole endeavor becomes less about a constraint on action and rather about helping us to be more of who we would actually like to be, at our best an..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7ae/mary-c-gentile-29901_action_the-whole-endeavor-becomes-less-about-a_1558857.jpg" --- # The whole endeavor becomes less about a constraint on… ![“The whole endeavor becomes less about a constraint on action and rather about helping us to be more of who we would actually like to be, at our best and if we felt it were possible. Rather than positioning effort as being about "thou shalt not," it becomes all about "can do!"” quote by Mary C. Gentile](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7ae/mary-c-gentile-29901_action_the-whole-endeavor-becomes-less-about-a_1558857.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7ae/mary-c-gentile-29901_action_the-whole-endeavor-becomes-less-about-a_1558857.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7ae/mary-c-gentile-29901_action_the-whole-endeavor-becomes-less-about-a_1558857.jpg) > “The whole endeavor becomes less about a constraint on action and rather about helping us to be more of who we would actually like to be, at our best and if we felt it were possible. Rather than positioning effort as being about "thou shalt not," it becomes all about "can do!"” [Mary C. Gentile](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-c-gentile/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. True empowerment shifts focus from restrictions to possibilities, encouraging self‑actualization. **In simple terms:** Focus on what you can do. Key Takeaway Embrace a can‑do mindset. Themes self‑empowerment motivation growth psychology Mood inspirational motivational Type psychological practical When to use this quote - career planning - goal setting - personal development - coaching Key Concepts positive psychology self‑determination agency Questions to Reflect On - What constraints can you reframe as opportunities? - How does a can‑do attitude affect your actions? A Different Perspective May overlook external constraints that limit feasibility. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Action](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/action/) [Effort](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/effort/) [Hard work](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hard-work/) ## Related quotes > [Be a teacher. If someone is acting hurtful toward you, chances are high that they're doing the same to others. By speaking up and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/doreen-virtue/be-a-teacher-if-someone-is-acting-hurtful-toward-you-chances-are-high/) [Doreen Virtue](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/doreen-virtue/) > [Just take one thing out and the whole palace, the whole edifice of the human mind collapses. Take effort out of it and desiring…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rajneesh/just-take-one-thing-out-and-the-whole-palace-the-whole-edifice-of-the/) [Rajneesh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rajneesh/) > [When you're a little different than others, it takes a little more time to fit in. If you really want to be there, there…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julie-payette/when-you-re-a-little-different-than-others-it-takes-a-little-more/) [Julie Payette](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julie-payette/) > [Painting my nails is the easiest way to look as though I've made an effort.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jane-fallon/painting-my-nails-is-the-easiest-way-to-look-as-though-i-ve-made-an/) [Jane Fallon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jane-fallon/) > [I realize there are a lot of people putting in a lot of time and effort for me, and I want to do well…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mardy-fish/i-realize-there-are-a-lot-of-people-putting-in-a-lot-of-time-and/) [Mardy Fish](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mardy-fish/) > [Success lies not in the result but in the effort. BEING the Best is not at all important. DOING the Best is all that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/prabin-shrestha/success-lies-not-in-the-result-but-in-the-effort-being-the-best-is/) [Prabin Shrestha](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/prabin-shrestha/) > [Prescribing hard work for the soft, or easy work for the hardy, is generally nonsense. What is always needed in any aim is right…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/idries-shah/prescribing-hard-work-for-the-soft-or-easy-work-for-the-hardy-is/) [Idries Shah](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/idries-shah/) > [Success is less interesting than struggle. There is great pleasure in the effort.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/willa-cather/success-is-less-interesting-than-struggle-there-is-great-pleasure-in/) [Willa Cather](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/willa-cather/) > [It is an error common to many artists, who strive merely to avoid mistakes, when all our efforts should be to create positive and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-steichen/it-is-an-error-common-to-many-artists-who-strive-merely-to-avoid/) [Edward Steichen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-steichen/) > [What I've talked about the entire series and throughout this playoffs is about intensity and effort, desire and will of our players.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-laimbeer/what-i-ve-talked-about-the-entire-series-and-throughout-this-playoffs/) [Bill Laimbeer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-laimbeer/) > [Effort is the one strictly undervalued and original contribution we make to this world.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-james/effort-is-the-one-strictly-undervalued-and-original-contribution-we/) [William James](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-james/) > [One of the most important rules for success is this: Every great success is the result of hundreds and thousands of small efforts and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-tracy/one-of-the-most-important-rules-for-success-is-this-every-great/) [Brian Tracy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-tracy/) > [What I do know is I'm going to give absolute 100 percent effort any time I'm on the court.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/trevor-ariza/what-i-do-know-is-i-m-going-to-give-absolute-100-percent-effort-any/) [Trevor Ariza](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/trevor-ariza/) > [Now I try to make efforts, you know, I'm just, the best effort I can do is just stay sober myself. I can at…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andy-dick/now-i-try-to-make-efforts-you-know-i-m-just-the-best-effort-i-can-do/) [Andy Dick](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andy-dick/) > [I value the experiences that come with life too much to sit by and not put my full effort into them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-miller/i-value-the-experiences-that-come-with-life-too-much-to-sit-by-and/) [Jim Miller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-miller/) ## More by Mary C. Gentile > [Throughout history we have seen the tyranny of the powerful over the less powerful - think of the history of colonialism or of slavery…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-c-gentile/throughout-history-we-have-seen-the-tyranny-of-the-powerful-over-the/) [Mary C. Gentile](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-c-gentile/) > [We try to effectively free ourselves up to be creative, to think about what might be possible, to come up with truly innovative ways…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-c-gentile/we-try-to-effectively-free-ourselves-up-to-be-creative-to-think-about/) [Mary C. Gentile](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-c-gentile/) > [I am most comfortable in a "learner" role, I may raise my values-related concerns by asking the well-crafted and well-timed question, rather than by…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-c-gentile/i-am-most-comfortable-in-a-learner-role-i-may-raise-my-values-related/) [Mary C. Gentile](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-c-gentile/) > [Time pressures are a reality of business life that cannot be eliminated entirely and that even can create a beneficial focus at times, it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-c-gentile/time-pressures-are-a-reality-of-business-life-that-cannot-be/) [Mary C. Gentile](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-c-gentile/) > [Often we fail to voice and act on our values because, before we even apply our best thinking to developing an action plan, we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-c-gentile/often-we-fail-to-voice-and-act-on-our-values-because-before-we-even/) [Mary C. Gentile](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-c-gentile/) > [As for my interest in diversity, I believe it is closely aligned with my work on the project, Giving Voice To Values. That is,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-c-gentile/as-for-my-interest-in-diversity-i-believe-it-is-closely-aligned-with/) [Mary C. Gentile](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-c-gentile/) > [It seems that simply being willing to express our views clearly, persuasively and without malice, can be a powerful invitation to others who may…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-c-gentile/it-seems-that-simply-being-willing-to-express-our-views-clearly/) [Mary C. Gentile](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-c-gentile/) > [In short, we needed to shift our thinking and teaching about values-driven leadership from asking the question "What is the right thing to do?"…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-c-gentile/in-short-we-needed-to-shift-our-thinking-and-teaching-about-values/) [Mary C. Gentile](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-c-gentile/) > [Interestingly, many of the organizational characteristics that have been identified as conducive to effectively managing diversity and as conducive to fostering innovation and creativity…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-c-gentile/interestingly-many-of-the-organizational-characteristics-that-have/) [Mary C. Gentile](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-c-gentile/) > [I have to think that we all have - at one time or another - felt that our own voice was silenced or under-valued.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-c-gentile/i-have-to-think-that-we-all-have-at-one-time-or-another-felt-that-our/) [Mary C. Gentile](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-c-gentile/) > [I believed that we would all come to better decisions and we would create more humane and ultimately more livable and more sustainably productive…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-c-gentile/i-believed-that-we-would-all-come-to-better-decisions-and-we-would/) [Mary C. Gentile](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-c-gentile/) > [Perhaps sometimes we have self-serving sense that we often experience when we believe we know better than our boss, our teacher, our spouse or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-c-gentile/perhaps-sometimes-we-have-self-serving-sense-that-we-often-experience/) [Mary C. Gentile](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-c-gentile/) > [Typically efforts to address values and ethics in business education and leadership development tend to focus on building Awareness and teaching Analysis. That is,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-c-gentile/typically-efforts-to-address-values-and-ethics-in-business-education/) [Mary C. Gentile](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-c-gentile/) > [When leaders are willing to talk through their own decision-making process, making visible that values are an important consideration, this sends a powerful signal…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-c-gentile/when-leaders-are-willing-to-talk-through-their-own-decision-making/) [Mary C. Gentile](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-c-gentile/) > [We are better able to bring the same sort of pragmatic planning and analytical pre-work to our values scripts that we would bring to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-c-gentile/we-are-better-able-to-bring-the-same-sort-of-pragmatic-planning-and/) [Mary C. Gentile](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-c-gentile/) [Explore all 18 Mary C. Gentile quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-c-gentile/) ## More Action 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/) > [You'd be surprised how hard it can often be to translate an action into an idea.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karl-kraus/you-d-be-surprised-how-hard-it-can-often-be-to-translate-an-action/) [Karl Kraus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karl-kraus/) > [Gratitude isn't just a feeling, it's an action. Expressing gratitude by writing in a journal, taking a photo, or shooting a video creates a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/janice-kaplan/gratitude-isn-t-just-a-feeling-it-s-an-action-expressing-gratitude-by/) [Janice Kaplan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/janice-kaplan/) > [Nothing is so powerful as an insight into human nature... what compulsions drive a man, what instincts dominate his action. If you know these…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-bernbach/nothing-is-so-powerful-as-an-insight-into-human-nature-what/) [William Bernbach](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-bernbach/) > [Every thought I have imprisioned in expression I must free by my deeds](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kahlil-gibran/every-thought-i-have-imprisioned-in-expression-i-must-free-by-my-deeds/) [Kahlil Gibran](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kahlil-gibran/) > [It took me 20 years to buy an electric typewriter, because I was afraid it would be too sensitive. I like to bang the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elmore-leonard/it-took-me-20-years-to-buy-an-electric-typewriter-because-i-was/) [Elmore Leonard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elmore-leonard/) > [Every action that helps us manifest our divine nature more and more is good; every action that retards it is evil.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/swami-vivekananda/every-action-that-helps-us-manifest-our-divine-nature-more-and-more/) [Swami Vivekananda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/swami-vivekananda/) > [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/) > [It's easy to say, let's go in and get the bad guys. But you have a divided country of Sunnis and Shias. The United…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tulsi-gabbard/it-s-easy-to-say-let-s-go-in-and-get-the-bad-guys-but-you-have-a/) [Tulsi Gabbard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tulsi-gabbard/) > [For comedy action, I must know the language.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sammo-hung/for-comedy-action-i-must-know-the-language/) [Sammo Hung](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sammo-hung/) > [Believing with you that religion is a matter which lies solely between man and his God, that he owes account to none other for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-jefferson/believing-with-you-that-religion-is-a-matter-which-lies-solely/) [Thomas Jefferson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-jefferson/) > [“Action is a powerful thing. When you smile through your sadness, it can completely change your outlook. Try it! Smile :) Now hold onto…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leticia-rae/action-is-a-powerful-thing-when-you-smile-through-your-sadness-it-can/) [Leticia Rae](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leticia-rae/) > [I reject criticism because the last thing I wanted was to sit there and look at people talking. I think people are conditioned to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matt-tyrnauer/i-reject-criticism-because-the-last-thing-i-wanted-was-to-sit-there/) [Matt Tyrnauer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matt-tyrnauer/) > [“I take my actions because of my passion not because of compulsion.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amit-kalantri/i-take-my-actions-because-of-my-passion-not-because-of-compulsion/) [Amit Kalantri](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amit-kalantri/) > [When the first Superman movie came out I was frequently asked "What is a hero?" ...My answer was that a hero is someone who…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-reeve/when-the-first-superman-movie-came-out-i-was-frequently-asked-what-is/) [Christopher Reeve](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-reeve/) [Browse all 14,940 Action quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/action/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "The whole endeavor becomes less about a constraint on action and rather about helping us to be more of who we would actually like to be, at our best and if we felt it were possible. 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