--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Whatever you do, it's over when you do it…" description: "\"Whatever you do, it's over when you do it - but first you have to do it.\" — Ornette Coleman" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/58d/ornette-coleman-12578_firsts_whatever-you-do-it-s-over-when-you-do-it_952035.jpg" --- # Whatever you do, it's over when you do it - but first you… ![“Whatever you do, it's over when you do it - but first you have to do it.” quote by Ornette Coleman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/58d/ornette-coleman-12578_firsts_whatever-you-do-it-s-over-when-you-do-it_952035.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/58d/ornette-coleman-12578_firsts_whatever-you-do-it-s-over-when-you-do-it_952035.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/58d/ornette-coleman-12578_firsts_whatever-you-do-it-s-over-when-you-do-it_952035.jpg) > “Whatever you do, it's over when you do it - but first you have to do it.” [Ornette Coleman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ornette-coleman/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Action must be taken before completion; execution precedes conclusion. **In simple terms:** You must act before it ends. Key Takeaway Act before you finish. Themes initiative execution timing Mood determined urgent Type motivational practical When to use this quote - project deadlines - performance arts - personal goals Key Concepts decision making cause and effect Questions to Reflect On - What must you start before you can finish? - How do you know when to act? A Different Perspective Without action, nothing concludes, but premature action can cause failure. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet ## Related 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/) > [Meanwhile someone is shining my head to get it dry to attach my top-hat to my head with toupee tape. I get into microphone…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tituss-burgess/meanwhile-someone-is-shining-my-head-to-get-it-dry-to-attach-my-top/) [Tituss Burgess](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tituss-burgess/) > [The U.S.-Mexican border es un herida abierta where the Third World grates against the first and bleeds. And before a scab forms it hemorrhages…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gloria-e-anzald-a/the-u-s-mexican-border-es-un-herida-abierta-where-the-third-world/) [Gloria E. Anzaldúa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gloria-e-anzald-a/) > [We need a system that serves our needs, not the needs of others. Remember, under a Trump administration it's called America first. Remember that.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donald-trump/we-need-a-system-that-serves-our-needs-not-the-needs-of-others/) [Donald Trump](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donald-trump/) > [I have lifted my plane . . . for perhaps a thousand flights and I have never felt her wheels glide from the Earth…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/beryl-markham/i-have-lifted-my-plane-for-perhaps-a-thousand-flights-and-i-have/) [Beryl Markham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/beryl-markham/) > [I'm very used to working with first time actors - you can just look back at 'E.T.' with Drew Barrymore, and Christian Bale from…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-spielberg/i-m-very-used-to-working-with-first-time-actors-you-can-just-look/) [Steven Spielberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-spielberg/) > [When I first started, my message was about joy, but I didn't really have the vocabulary and life experience to fully deliver it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jason-mraz/when-i-first-started-my-message-was-about-joy-but-i-didn-t-really/) [Jason Mraz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jason-mraz/) > [The biggest change for me as a mom was realizing I needed to put someone else before me. Now the hardest part about the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kim-alexis/the-biggest-change-for-me-as-a-mom-was-realizing-i-needed-to-put/) [Kim Alexis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kim-alexis/) > [I did not know that the planning for biological and chemical warfare was so widespread in England, and even in France before France fell.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nicholson-baker/i-did-not-know-that-the-planning-for-biological-and-chemical-warfare/) [Nicholson Baker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nicholson-baker/) > [A man walks down the street. It's a street in a strange world. Maybe it's the third world. Maybe it's his first time around.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-simon/a-man-walks-down-the-street-it-s-a-street-in-a-strange-world-maybe-it/) [Paul Simon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-simon/) > [I'm a business first and foremost so whatever my business is, it's separate from my personal. It's like whatever I do business wise, it's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/snoop-dogg/i-m-a-business-first-and-foremost-so-whatever-my-business-is-it-s/) [Snoop Dogg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/snoop-dogg/) > [You sort of can't talk about the post production unless you talk about what comes first.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-greengrass/you-sort-of-can-t-talk-about-the-post-production-unless-you-talk/) [Paul Greengrass](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-greengrass/) > [Since I worked with Danny Boyle before on Slumdog Millionaire, we have great success and everything. So, when I first got the script and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/a-r-rahman/since-i-worked-with-danny-boyle-before-on-slumdog-millionaire-we-have/) [A. R. Rahman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/a-r-rahman/) > [My first ever job after college was as a flight attendant. I wanted to travel and could not afford it, so I decided to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jacqueline-winspear/my-first-ever-job-after-college-was-as-a-flight-attendant-i-wanted-to/) [Jacqueline Winspear](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jacqueline-winspear/) > [Peace is the first thing the angels sang. Peace is the mark of the children of God. Peace is the nurse of love. Peace…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pope-leo-i/peace-is-the-first-thing-the-angels-sang-peace-is-the-mark-of-the/) [Pope Leo I](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pope-leo-i/) ## More by Ornette Coleman > [Jerry Garcia was one of the original American icons. He played naturally and beautifully.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ornette-coleman/jerry-garcia-was-one-of-the-original-american-icons-he-played/) [Ornette Coleman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ornette-coleman/) > [That's why I haven't been so anxious. But now, lots of people write and say, 'I want to find out what you're doing.' So…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ornette-coleman/that-s-why-i-haven-t-been-so-anxious-but-now-lots-of-people-write-and/) [Ornette Coleman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ornette-coleman/) > [No one has to learn to spell to talk, right? You see a little kid holding a conversation with an adult. He probably doesn't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ornette-coleman/no-one-has-to-learn-to-spell-to-talk-right-you-see-a-little-kid/) [Ornette Coleman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ornette-coleman/) > [I've never had a relationship with a record executive. I always went to the record company by someone that liked my playing. Then they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ornette-coleman/i-ve-never-had-a-relationship-with-a-record-executive-i-always-went/) [Ornette Coleman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ornette-coleman/) > [Music has many uses and I think the most perfected use that music has is one of a healing quality.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ornette-coleman/music-has-many-uses-and-i-think-the-most-perfected-use-that-music-has/) [Ornette Coleman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ornette-coleman/) > [Musicians tell me, if what I'm doing is right, they should never have gone to school.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ornette-coleman/musicians-tell-me-if-what-i-m-doing-is-right-they-should-never-have/) [Ornette Coleman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ornette-coleman/) > [I'm interested in music, not in my image. If someone plays something fantastic, that I could never have thought of, it makes me happy…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ornette-coleman/i-m-interested-in-music-not-in-my-image-if-someone-plays-something/) [Ornette Coleman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ornette-coleman/) > [When I have them working together, it's like a beautiful kaleidoscope.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ornette-coleman/when-i-have-them-working-together-it-s-like-a-beautiful-kaleidoscope/) [Ornette Coleman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ornette-coleman/) > [It was when I found out I could make mistakes that I knew I was on to something.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ornette-coleman/it-was-when-i-found-out-i-could-make-mistakes-that-i-knew-i-was-on-to/) [Ornette Coleman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ornette-coleman/) > [After I left Texas and went to California, I had a hard time getting anyone to play anything that I was writing, so I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ornette-coleman/after-i-left-texas-and-went-to-california-i-had-a-hard-time-getting/) [Ornette Coleman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ornette-coleman/) > [I think that those elements - light and sound - are beyond democratic. They're into the creative part of life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ornette-coleman/i-think-that-those-elements-light-and-sound-are-beyond-democratic/) [Ornette Coleman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ornette-coleman/) > [I don't really live like a musician myself. I think music is just something that I do, but I'd like to be doing lots…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ornette-coleman/i-don-t-really-live-like-a-musician-myself-i-think-music-is-just/) [Ornette Coleman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ornette-coleman/) > [I remember once I read a book on mental illness and there was a nurse that had gotten sick. Do you know what she…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ornette-coleman/i-remember-once-i-read-a-book-on-mental-illness-and-there-was-a-nurse/) [Ornette Coleman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ornette-coleman/) > [Most of my relationships have been like that - with record companies. I've never had a legitimate business relationship with a company. I've always…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ornette-coleman/most-of-my-relationships-have-been-like-that-with-record-companies-i/) [Ornette Coleman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ornette-coleman/) > [I would like to play for audiences who are not using my music to stimulate their sex organs.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ornette-coleman/i-would-like-to-play-for-audiences-who-are-not-using-my-music-to/) [Ornette Coleman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ornette-coleman/) [Explore all 54 Ornette Coleman quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ornette-coleman/) ## More Firsts 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/) > [My first ever job after college was as a flight attendant. I wanted to travel and could not afford it, so I decided to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jacqueline-winspear/my-first-ever-job-after-college-was-as-a-flight-attendant-i-wanted-to/) [Jacqueline Winspear](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jacqueline-winspear/) > [Since I worked with Danny Boyle before on Slumdog Millionaire, we have great success and everything. So, when I first got the script and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/a-r-rahman/since-i-worked-with-danny-boyle-before-on-slumdog-millionaire-we-have/) [A. R. Rahman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/a-r-rahman/) > [You sort of can't talk about the post production unless you talk about what comes first.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-greengrass/you-sort-of-can-t-talk-about-the-post-production-unless-you-talk/) [Paul Greengrass](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-greengrass/) > [I'm a business first and foremost so whatever my business is, it's separate from my personal. It's like whatever I do business wise, it's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/snoop-dogg/i-m-a-business-first-and-foremost-so-whatever-my-business-is-it-s/) [Snoop Dogg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/snoop-dogg/) > [A man walks down the street. It's a street in a strange world. Maybe it's the third world. Maybe it's his first time around.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-simon/a-man-walks-down-the-street-it-s-a-street-in-a-strange-world-maybe-it/) [Paul Simon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-simon/) > [I did not know that the planning for biological and chemical warfare was so widespread in England, and even in France before France fell.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nicholson-baker/i-did-not-know-that-the-planning-for-biological-and-chemical-warfare/) [Nicholson Baker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nicholson-baker/) > [The biggest change for me as a mom was realizing I needed to put someone else before me. Now the hardest part about the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kim-alexis/the-biggest-change-for-me-as-a-mom-was-realizing-i-needed-to-put/) [Kim Alexis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kim-alexis/) > [When I first started, my message was about joy, but I didn't really have the vocabulary and life experience to fully deliver it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jason-mraz/when-i-first-started-my-message-was-about-joy-but-i-didn-t-really/) [Jason Mraz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jason-mraz/) > [I'm very used to working with first time actors - you can just look back at 'E.T.' with Drew Barrymore, and Christian Bale from…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-spielberg/i-m-very-used-to-working-with-first-time-actors-you-can-just-look/) [Steven Spielberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-spielberg/) > [I have lifted my plane . . . for perhaps a thousand flights and I have never felt her wheels glide from the Earth…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/beryl-markham/i-have-lifted-my-plane-for-perhaps-a-thousand-flights-and-i-have/) [Beryl Markham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/beryl-markham/) > [We need a system that serves our needs, not the needs of others. Remember, under a Trump administration it's called America first. Remember that.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donald-trump/we-need-a-system-that-serves-our-needs-not-the-needs-of-others/) [Donald Trump](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donald-trump/) > [The U.S.-Mexican border es un herida abierta where the Third World grates against the first and bleeds. And before a scab forms it hemorrhages…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gloria-e-anzald-a/the-u-s-mexican-border-es-un-herida-abierta-where-the-third-world/) [Gloria E. Anzaldúa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gloria-e-anzald-a/) > [Meanwhile someone is shining my head to get it dry to attach my top-hat to my head with toupee tape. I get into microphone…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tituss-burgess/meanwhile-someone-is-shining-my-head-to-get-it-dry-to-attach-my-top/) [Tituss Burgess](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tituss-burgess/) > [Peace is the first thing the angels sang. Peace is the mark of the children of God. Peace is the nurse of love. Peace…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pope-leo-i/peace-is-the-first-thing-the-angels-sang-peace-is-the-mark-of-the/) [Pope Leo I](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pope-leo-i/) Browse all 32,432 Firsts quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Whatever you do, it's over when you do it - but first you have to do it.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Ornette Coleman" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ornette-coleman/whatever-you-do-it-s-over-when-you-do-it-but-first-you-have-to-do-it/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Firsts" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ornette-coleman/whatever-you-do-it-s-over-when-you-do-it-but-first-you-have-to-do-it/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/58d/ornette-coleman-12578_firsts_whatever-you-do-it-s-over-when-you-do-it_952035.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/58d/ornette-coleman-12578_firsts_whatever-you-do-it-s-over-when-you-do-it_952035.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/58d/ornette-coleman-12578_firsts_whatever-you-do-it-s-over-when-you-do-it_952035.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Whatever you do, it's over when you do it - but first you have to do it.” — Ornette Coleman", "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": "Ornette Coleman", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ornette-coleman/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "Whatever you do, it's over when...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ornette-coleman/whatever-you-do-it-s-over-when-you-do-it-but-first-you-have-to-do-it/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ornette-coleman/whatever-you-do-it-s-over-when-you-do-it-but-first-you-have-to-do-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 } } ] } ```