--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Most of the CEO's who fail think they…" description: "\"Most of the CEO's who fail think they will find the solution to their problems in Finance, Marketing, Strategic Planning, etc., but they don't look for..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9ed/patrick-lencioni-1969_ceo_most-of-the-ceo-s-who-fail-think-they-wi_1702250.png" --- # Most of the CEO's who fail think they will find the… ![“Most of the CEO's who fail think they will find the solution to their problems in Finance, Marketing, Strategic Planning, etc., but they don't look for the solution to their problems inside themselves.” quote by Patrick Lencioni](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9ed/patrick-lencioni-1969_ceo_most-of-the-ceo-s-who-fail-think-they-wi_1702250.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9ed/patrick-lencioni-1969_ceo_most-of-the-ceo-s-who-fail-think-they-wi_1702250.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9ed/patrick-lencioni-1969_ceo_most-of-the-ceo-s-who-fail-think-they-wi_1702250.png) > “Most of the CEO's who fail think they will find the solution to their problems in Finance, Marketing, Strategic Planning, etc., but they don't look for the solution to their problems inside themselves.” [Patrick Lencioni](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patrick-lencioni/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Leaders often look outward for fixes, ignoring internal self‑analysis, which limits true problem solving. **In simple terms:** Solutions lie within, not just in departments. Key Takeaway Focus on self‑awareness before external fixes. Themes leadership self‑awareness problem solving Mood analytical motivational Type leadership self‑help When to use this quote - executive coaching - team meetings - strategic retreats Key Concepts psychology organizational behavior Questions to Reflect On - How can you foster internal reflection? - What internal barriers exist? A Different Perspective External solutions can be a distraction. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Ceo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ceo/) [Ceo Fail](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ceo-fail-1160951/) [Company](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/company/) [Etc](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/etc/) [Fail Think](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fail-think-639486/) [Failing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/failing/) [Finance](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/finance/) [Looks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/looks/) [Marketing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/marketing/) [Planning](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/planning/) [Problem](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/problem/) [Problems Finance](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/problems-finance-1160952/) [Problems Inside](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/problems-inside-317263/) [Solutions](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/solutions/) [Strategic](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/strategic/) [Strategic planning](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/strategic-planning/) [Think Solution](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/think-solution-532656/) [Thinking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thinking/) ## Related quotes > [Unsolved problems on the inside of a person stop success more often than problems on the outside of a person.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/orrin-woodward/unsolved-problems-on-the-inside-of-a-person-stop-success-more-often/) [Orrin Woodward](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/orrin-woodward/) > [“Well, a marriage can look healthy on the outside and be loaded with problems inside.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/diane-chamberlain/well-a-marriage-can-look-healthy-on-the-outside-and-be-loaded-with/) [Diane Chamberlain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/diane-chamberlain/) > [That's good. I was worried. Of course, I do have a few things wrong with me, but those are strictly problems I keep inside.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/haruki-murakami/that-s-good-i-was-worried-of-course-i-do-have-a-few-things-wrong-with/) [Haruki Murakami](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/haruki-murakami/) > [“The only permanent solution to your problems is to go inside and let go of the part of you that seems to have so…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-a-singer/the-only-permanent-solution-to-your-problems-is-to-go-inside-and-let/) [Michael A. Singer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-a-singer/) > [I grew up being told to keep my problems inside. And that's what I did. But so many of my problems stemmed from thinking…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karine-jean-pierre/i-grew-up-being-told-to-keep-my-problems-inside-and-that-s-what-i-did/) [Karine Jean-Pierre](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karine-jean-pierre/) > [ \[People\] are trying to - they're trying to create something that solves a series of very complex problems inside of them or in their… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bruce-springsteen/people-are-trying-to-they-re-trying-to-create-something-that-solves-a/) [Bruce Springsteen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bruce-springsteen/) > [“The only permanent solution to your problems is to go inside and let go of the part of you that seems to have so…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-a-singer/the-only-permanent-solution-to-your-problems-is-to-go-inside-and-let-2/) [Michael A. Singer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-a-singer/) > [Think of the solution, not the problem](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-goodkind/think-of-the-solution-not-the-problem/) [Terry Goodkind](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terry-goodkind/) > [I think the solution to making this world better is if we would just be healthy, mentally,](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/howie-mandel/i-think-the-solution-to-making-this-world-better-is-if-we-would-just/) [Howie Mandel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/howie-mandel/) > [If you you think there is a solution, you're part of the problem.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-carlin/if-you-you-think-there-is-a-solution-you-re-part-of-the-problem/) [George Carlin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-carlin/) > [“Have you ever noticed, when things seem to be working against you, that if you focus on fixing things, think about a solution, that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/everett-peacock/have-you-ever-noticed-when-things-seem-to-be-working-against-you-that/) [Everett Peacock](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/everett-peacock/) > [When something goes wrong, fear also gets in the way. You may retreat in your shell. Remember every problem has a solution. Never lament…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anil-sinha/when-something-goes-wrong-fear-also-gets-in-the-way-you-may-retreat/) [Anil Sinha](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anil-sinha/) > [If you think there's a solution, you're part of the problem](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-carlin/if-you-think-there-s-a-solution-you-re-part-of-the-problem/) [George Carlin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-carlin/) > [I think that what will help women get into positions of power - well, day nurseries, equal pay, family-friendly working hours. And I think…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-beard/i-think-that-what-will-help-women-get-into-positions-of-power-well/) [Mary Beard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-beard/) > [If you haven't understood the world you're living in, it's impossible to think that the solution you're coming up with fits.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eddie-obeng/if-you-haven-t-understood-the-world-you-re-living-in-it-s-impossible/) [Eddie Obeng](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eddie-obeng/) ## More by Patrick Lencioni > [The vast majority of organizations today have more than enough intelligence, experience and knowledge to be successful. What they lack is organizational health.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patrick-lencioni/the-vast-majority-of-organizations-today-have-more-than-enough/) [Patrick Lencioni](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patrick-lencioni/) > [Trust is the foundation of real teamwork (there is nothing touchy-feely about this).](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patrick-lencioni/trust-is-the-foundation-of-real-teamwork-there-is-nothing-touchy/) [Patrick Lencioni](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patrick-lencioni/) > [“There is something so powerful about a person who in one moment can be confident enough to confront a client about a sensitive personal…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patrick-lencioni/there-is-something-so-powerful-about-a-person-who-in-one-moment-can/) [Patrick Lencioni](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patrick-lencioni/) > [“The idea is that your clients are looking for good suggestions, and they don’t mind sifting through some not-so-good ones as long as they’re…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patrick-lencioni/the-idea-is-that-your-clients-are-looking-for-good-suggestions-and/) [Patrick Lencioni](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patrick-lencioni/) > [Are your people uncomfortable during meetings and tired at the end? If not, they're probably not mixing it up enough and getting to the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patrick-lencioni/are-your-people-uncomfortable-during-meetings-and-tired-at-the-end-if/) [Patrick Lencioni](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patrick-lencioni/) > [An organization has integrity—is healthy—when it is whole, consistent, and complete, that is, when its management, operations, strategy, and culture fit together and make…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patrick-lencioni/an-organization-has-integrity-is-healthy-when-it-is-whole-consistent/) [Patrick Lencioni](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patrick-lencioni/) > [I've become absolutely convinced that the seminal difference between successful companies and mediocre or unsuccessful ones has little, if anything, to do with what…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patrick-lencioni/i-ve-become-absolutely-convinced-that-the-seminal-difference-between/) [Patrick Lencioni](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patrick-lencioni/) > [Home is most important in the long run.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patrick-lencioni/home-is-most-important-in-the-long-run/) [Patrick Lencioni](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patrick-lencioni/) > [If you don't know what your family stands for and what your life situation is, you're in trouble.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patrick-lencioni/if-you-don-t-know-what-your-family-stands-for-and-what-your-life/) [Patrick Lencioni](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patrick-lencioni/) > [“First, we go figure out how to recognize a real team player, the kind of person who can easily build trust, engage in healthy…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patrick-lencioni/first-we-go-figure-out-how-to-recognize-a-real-team-player-the-kind/) [Patrick Lencioni](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patrick-lencioni/) > [People will walk through fire for a leader that's true and human.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patrick-lencioni/people-will-walk-through-fire-for-a-leader-that-s-true-and-human/) [Patrick Lencioni](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patrick-lencioni/) > [The majority of meetings should be discussions that lead to decisions.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patrick-lencioni/the-majority-of-meetings-should-be-discussions-that-lead-to-decisions/) [Patrick Lencioni](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patrick-lencioni/) > [At its core, all authentic growth depends on more customers wanting more of what your company offers. Any other drivers - pricing gimmicks, heroic…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patrick-lencioni/at-its-core-all-authentic-growth-depends-on-more-customers-wanting/) [Patrick Lencioni](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patrick-lencioni/) > [“ADMIT YOUR WEAKNESSES AND LIMITATIONS”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patrick-lencioni/admit-your-weaknesses-and-limitations/) [Patrick Lencioni](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patrick-lencioni/) > [I have yet to meet members of a leadership team who I thought lacked the intelligence or the domain expertise required to be successful.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patrick-lencioni/i-have-yet-to-meet-members-of-a-leadership-team-who-i-thought-lacked/) [Patrick Lencioni](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patrick-lencioni/) [Explore all 194 Patrick Lencioni quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patrick-lencioni/) ## More Ceo quotes > [When you're young and you have money, you become the CEO, automatically, of life, of your family.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/corey-haim/when-you-re-young-and-you-have-money-you-become-the-ceo-automatically/) [Corey Haim](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/corey-haim/) > [I took on the role of CEO, which involves directing the Management Team and overall day-to-day operations of 500.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christine-tsai/i-took-on-the-role-of-ceo-which-involves-directing-the-management/) [Christine Tsai](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christine-tsai/) > [I learned a lesson that I don't ever want to be a CEO.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/larry-wilcox/i-learned-a-lesson-that-i-don-t-ever-want-to-be-a-ceo/) [Larry Wilcox](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/larry-wilcox/) > [Strategy is not a solo sport, even if you're the CEO.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/max-mckeown/strategy-is-not-a-solo-sport-even-if-you-re-the-ceo/) [Max McKeown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/max-mckeown/) > [For any CEO that is skeptical at all: you have to create a social enterprise today!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/angela-ahrendts/for-any-ceo-that-is-skeptical-at-all-you-have-to-create-a-social/) [Angela Ahrendts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/angela-ahrendts/) > [I draw the line at some things. Some things I won't do for any amount of money. Like for instance, there's a couple of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-crumb/i-draw-the-line-at-some-things-some-things-i-won-t-do-for-any-amount/) [Robert Crumb](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-crumb/) > [I want to share that I had and still do, and a great relationship with Angela Ahrendts. She was the CEO of Burberry. One…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/judith-e-glaser/i-want-to-share-that-i-had-and-still-do-and-a-great-relationship-with/) [Judith E. Glaser](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/judith-e-glaser/) > [If the CEO is not going to give you a fair chance, you're probably not going to win.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marshall-goldsmith/if-the-ceo-is-not-going-to-give-you-a-fair-chance-you-re-probably-not/) [Marshall Goldsmith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marshall-goldsmith/) > [I have always said if there ever came a day when I could no longer meet my duties and expectations as Apple's CEO, I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-jobs/i-have-always-said-if-there-ever-came-a-day-when-i-could-no-longer/) [Steve Jobs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-jobs/) > [Governor Romney may be running for CEO, I'm running for President](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/newt-gingrich/governor-romney-may-be-running-for-ceo-i-m-running-for-president/) [Newt Gingrich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/newt-gingrich/) > [Culture is what happens when the CEO isn't in the room.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-collison/culture-is-what-happens-when-the-ceo-isn-t-in-the-room/) [John Collison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-collison/) > [Political journalists love graduate student intelligence, the ability to make clever allusions in seminars, and in 1999-2000 they hassled George W. Bush for not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marvin-olasky/political-journalists-love-graduate-student-intelligence-the-ability/) [Marvin Olasky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marvin-olasky/) > [The deck is still stacked in favor of those already at the top. And there's something wrong with that. There's something wrong when CEOs…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hillary-clinton/the-deck-is-still-stacked-in-favor-of-those-already-at-the-top-and/) [Hillary Clinton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hillary-clinton/) > [While they're in WWE, we absolutely have a health and wellness policy. I'll probably always say 'we,' even though I've resigned as the CEO.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/linda-mcmahon/while-they-re-in-wwe-we-absolutely-have-a-health-and-wellness-policy/) [Linda McMahon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/linda-mcmahon/) > [It doesn't make much sense and it's nil premium. They're going to have co-CEOs...which is a very uncomfortable structure.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-sorrell/it-doesn-t-make-much-sense-and-it-s-nil-premium-they-re-going-to-have/) [Martin Sorrell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-sorrell/) [Browse all 668 Ceo quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ceo/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Most of the CEO's who fail think they will find the solution to their problems in Finance, Marketing, Strategic Planning, etc., but they don't look for the solution to their problems inside themselves.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Patrick Lencioni" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patrick-lencioni/most-of-the-ceo-s-who-fail-think-they-will-find-the-solution-to-their/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Ceo" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patrick-lencioni/most-of-the-ceo-s-who-fail-think-they-will-find-the-solution-to-their/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9ed/patrick-lencioni-1969_ceo_most-of-the-ceo-s-who-fail-think-they-wi_1702250.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9ed/patrick-lencioni-1969_ceo_most-of-the-ceo-s-who-fail-think-they-wi_1702250.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9ed/patrick-lencioni-1969_ceo_most-of-the-ceo-s-who-fail-think-they-wi_1702250.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Most of the CEO's who fail think they will find the solution to their problems in Finance, Marketing…” — Patrick Lencioni", "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": "Patrick Lencioni", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patrick-lencioni/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "Most of the CEO's who fail...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patrick-lencioni/most-of-the-ceo-s-who-fail-think-they-will-find-the-solution-to-their/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patrick-lencioni/most-of-the-ceo-s-who-fail-think-they-will-find-the-solution-to-their/#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 } } ] } ```