--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The only thing tougher than developing…" description: "\"The only thing tougher than developing leadership skills is attempting to be successful without them.\" — Orrin Woodward" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/269/orrin-woodward-1907_attempting_the-only-thing-tougher-than-developing-l_3132926.png" --- # The only thing tougher than developing leadership skills… ![“The only thing tougher than developing leadership skills is attempting to be successful without them.” quote by Orrin Woodward](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/269/orrin-woodward-1907_attempting_the-only-thing-tougher-than-developing-l_3132926.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/269/orrin-woodward-1907_attempting_the-only-thing-tougher-than-developing-l_3132926.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/269/orrin-woodward-1907_attempting_the-only-thing-tougher-than-developing-l_3132926.png) > “The only thing tougher than developing leadership skills is attempting to be successful without them.” [Orrin Woodward](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/orrin-woodward/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Leadership skills are essential; trying to succeed without them is harder than developing them. **In simple terms:** Success without leadership is tougher than learning leadership. Key Takeaway Develop leadership to ease success. Themes leadership success self‑improvement challenge Mood motivational pragmatic Type business self‑help When to use this quote - career advancement - entrepreneurship - team management Key Concepts skill acquisition personal growth Questions to Reflect On - What leadership skill will most impact your goals? - How can you balance leadership with technical expertise? A Different Perspective May underestimate the value of other competencies. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Being successful](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/being-successful/) [Developing Leaders](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/developing-leaders/) [Leader](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/leader/) [Leadership](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/leadership/) [Leadership skills](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/leadership-skills/) [Skills](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/skills/) [Successful](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/successful/) ## Related quotes > [I have always thought that what is needed is the development of people who are interested not in being leaders as much as in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ella-baker/i-have-always-thought-that-what-is-needed-is-the-development-of/) [Ella Baker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ella-baker/) > [“Corporations that do a better-than-average job of developing leaders put an emphasis on creating challenging opportunities for relatively young employees.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harvard-business-school-press/corporations-that-do-a-better-than-average-job-of-developing-leaders/) Harvard Business School Press > [“Good leaders know who they are—their strengths, weaknesses, passions, talents, and values. And, developing leaders always starts with self-awareness.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lee-ellis/good-leaders-know-who-they-are-their-strengths-weaknesses-passions/) [Lee Ellis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lee-ellis/) > [The more attention we can devote to helping developing leaders tune in to their core values - drawing on their real experience and their…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stewart-d-friedman/the-more-attention-we-can-devote-to-helping-developing-leaders-tune/) [Stewart D. Friedman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stewart-d-friedman/) > [The majority of America's colossal fortunes have been made by entering industries in their early stages and developing leadership in them… Think of what…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/b-c-forbes/the-majority-of-america-s-colossal-fortunes-have-been-made-by/) [B. C. Forbes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/b-c-forbes/) > [Today, financial capital is no longer the key asset. It is human capital. 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Wayne Calloway > [Unless you want to carry the whole load yourself, you need to be developing leaders.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-c-maxwell/unless-you-want-to-carry-the-whole-load-yourself-you-need-to-be/) [John C. Maxwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-c-maxwell/) > [I was always interested in politics and I had great leadership skills from a young age.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/demi-leigh-nel-peters/i-was-always-interested-in-politics-and-i-had-great-leadership-skills/) [Demi-Leigh Nel-Peters](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/demi-leigh-nel-peters/) > [He who has never learned to obey cannot be a good commander.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aristotle/he-who-has-never-learned-to-obey-cannot-be-a-good-commander/) [Aristotle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aristotle/) > [“Great leaders have three things; inner light, inner vision, and inner strength.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amit-ray/great-leaders-have-three-things-inner-light-inner-vision-and-inner/) [Amit Ray](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amit-ray/) > [My mother was in the Army Reserve for six years. She taught me the importance of following rules, finishing what I start, never giving…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laurie-hernandez/my-mother-was-in-the-army-reserve-for-six-years-she-taught-me-the/) [Laurie Hernandez](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laurie-hernandez/) > [Your leadership skills determine the level of your success, and the success of those who work around you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-c-maxwell/your-leadership-skills-determine-the-level-of-your-success-and-the/) [John C. Maxwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-c-maxwell/) > [Sourav's greatest asset is his ability to communicate. He is a naturally very confident person. He encourages his team, is a great motivator and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ravi-shastri/sourav-s-greatest-asset-is-his-ability-to-communicate-he-is-a/) [Ravi Shastri](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ravi-shastri/) ## More by Orrin Woodward > [The only place where compensation comes before service is in the dictionary or anywhere the government meddles.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/orrin-woodward/the-only-place-where-compensation-comes-before-service-is-in-the/) [Orrin Woodward](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/orrin-woodward/) > [“Most people overestimate others' talents and underestimate their own.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/orrin-woodward/most-people-overestimate-others-talents-and-underestimate-their-own/) [Orrin Woodward](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/orrin-woodward/) > [You will never realize success on the outside until you can see it clearly o the inside. Success is inside out.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/orrin-woodward/you-will-never-realize-success-on-the-outside-until-you-can-see-it/) [Orrin Woodward](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/orrin-woodward/) > [“Successful people achieve because they think beforehand when it works & think afterwards when it doesn't work.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/orrin-woodward/successful-people-achieve-because-they-think-beforehand-when-it-works/) [Orrin Woodward](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/orrin-woodward/) > [Licking your wounds will not stop the bleeding, but applying pressure will.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/orrin-woodward/licking-your-wounds-will-not-stop-the-bleeding-but-applying-pressure/) [Orrin Woodward](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/orrin-woodward/) > [“Liberty was paid for by past sacrifices and given to us as a present gift.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/orrin-woodward/liberty-was-paid-for-by-past-sacrifices-and-given-to-us-as-a-present/) [Orrin Woodward](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/orrin-woodward/) > [“People forget what you kept, but they will never forget what you gave.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/orrin-woodward/people-forget-what-you-kept-but-they-will-never-forget-what-you-gave/) [Orrin Woodward](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/orrin-woodward/) > [“Those who serve deserve.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/orrin-woodward/those-who-serve-deserve/) [Orrin Woodward](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/orrin-woodward/) > [If the only thing that you are good at is convincing others that you are good, then being in biz with you is bad…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/orrin-woodward/if-the-only-thing-that-you-are-good-at-is-convincing-others-that-you/) [Orrin Woodward](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/orrin-woodward/) > [Leaders know that the fruit of life is out on a limb.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/orrin-woodward/leaders-know-that-the-fruit-of-life-is-out-on-a-limb/) [Orrin Woodward](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/orrin-woodward/) > [A mentor's role is to help people discover where they are ignorant of their own ignorance.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/orrin-woodward/a-mentor-s-role-is-to-help-people-discover-where-they-are-ignorant-of/) [Orrin Woodward](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/orrin-woodward/) > [Our culture says Status is more important than Wealth, but we teach the opposite.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/orrin-woodward/our-culture-says-status-is-more-important-than-wealth-but-we-teach/) [Orrin Woodward](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/orrin-woodward/) > [Leaders who won't own failures become failures.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/orrin-woodward/leaders-who-won-t-own-failures-become-failures/) [Orrin Woodward](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/orrin-woodward/) > [Never complain about what you permit to be.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/orrin-woodward/never-complain-about-what-you-permit-to-be/) [Orrin Woodward](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/orrin-woodward/) > [Many people surrender what is possible for what is comfortable.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/orrin-woodward/many-people-surrender-what-is-possible-for-what-is-comfortable/) [Orrin Woodward](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/orrin-woodward/) [Explore all 200 Orrin Woodward quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/orrin-woodward/) ## More Attempting quotes > [Each man is capable of doing one thing well. 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(Devyn) I would respond to that, but I don’t want to distract you while you’re attempting to drive and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sherrilyn-kenyon/i-swear-you-re-a-woman-devyn-i-would-respond-to-that-but-i-don-t-want/) [Sherrilyn Kenyon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sherrilyn-kenyon/) > [To approach a city, or even a city neighborhood, as if it were a larger architectural problem, capable of being given order by converting…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jane-jacobs/to-approach-a-city-or-even-a-city-neighborhood-as-if-it-were-a-larger/) [Jane Jacobs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jane-jacobs/) > [I have told you of the Spaniard who always put on his spectacles when about to eat cherries, that they might look bigger and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-southey/i-have-told-you-of-the-spaniard-who-always-put-on-his-spectacles-when/) [Robert Southey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-southey/) > [The danger to which the success of revolutions is most exposed, is that of attempting them before the principles on which they proceed, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-paine/the-danger-to-which-the-success-of-revolutions-is-most-exposed-is/) [Thomas Paine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-paine/) > [Politics resemble religion; attempting to divest either of ceremony is the most certain mode of bringing either into contempt.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oliver-goldsmith/politics-resemble-religion-attempting-to-divest-either-of-ceremony-is/) [Oliver Goldsmith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oliver-goldsmith/) > [“failure is not an outcome, but involves a lack of trying—not stretching yourself far enough out of your comfort zone and attempting to be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/liz-wiseman/failure-is-not-an-outcome-but-involves-a-lack-of-trying-not/) [Liz Wiseman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/liz-wiseman/) > [It is strange to reflect how much energy is thrown away in attempting to know the unknowable.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-barber-lightfoot/it-is-strange-to-reflect-how-much-energy-is-thrown-away-in-attempting/) [Joseph Barber Lightfoot](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-barber-lightfoot/) > [I am not attempting to preserve culture, or record actual events or stories. 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