--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Successful leaders don't start out…" description: "\"Successful leaders don't start out asking, 'What do I want to do?' They ask, 'What needs to be done?' Then they ask, 'Of those things that would make a..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/05a/peter-drucker-393_asking_successful-leaders-don-t-start-out-askin_1863734.png" --- # Successful leaders don't start out asking, 'What do I want… ![“Successful leaders don't start out asking, 'What do I want to do?' They ask, 'What needs to be done?' Then they ask, 'Of those things that would make a difference, which are right for me?'” quote by Peter Drucker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/05a/peter-drucker-393_asking_successful-leaders-don-t-start-out-askin_1863734.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/05a/peter-drucker-393_asking_successful-leaders-don-t-start-out-askin_1863734.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/05a/peter-drucker-393_asking_successful-leaders-don-t-start-out-askin_1863734.png) > “Successful leaders don't start out asking, 'What do I want to do?' They ask, 'What needs to be done?' Then they ask, 'Of those things that would make a difference, which are right for me?'” [Peter Drucker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-drucker/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Effective leaders prioritize needs and impact over personal desire, then align tasks with their strengths. **In simple terms:** Leaders focus on what matters and match it to their abilities. Key Takeaway Identify needs, assess impact, choose fitting tasks. Themes leadership decisionmaking impact selfawareness Mood focused analytical Type advisory motivational When to use this quote - business planning - team management - project prioritization - career development Key Concepts Strategic focus values alignment strengths-based assignment Questions to Reflect On - How do you balance personal goals with organizational needs? - What criteria determine a task’s impact? A Different Perspective May overlook personal fulfillment if over‑emphasized on external demands. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Ask Needs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ask-needs-2526365/) [Ask Things](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ask-things-335581/) [Asking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/asking/) [Asks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/asks/) [Differences](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/differences/) [Done](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/done/) [Leader](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/leader/) [Leadership](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/leadership/) [Making a difference](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/making-a-difference/) [Needs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/needs/) [Needs Ask](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/needs-ask-828097/) [Start Asking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/start-asking-572987/) [Success](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/success/) [Successful](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/successful/) [Successful leaders](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/successful-leaders/) [Want](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/want/) ## Related quotes > [Don't ask what the world needs. Ask what makes you come alive and go do it. Because what the world needs is more people…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/howard-thurman/don-t-ask-what-the-world-needs-ask-what-makes-you-come-alive-and-go/) [Howard Thurman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/howard-thurman/) > [“Don’t ask what the world needs. Ask yourself what makes you come alive and then go do that. Because what the world needs is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-klassen/don-t-ask-what-the-world-needs-ask-yourself-what-makes-you-come-alive/) [Steve Klassen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-klassen/) > [First we need to decide what needs to be done. Then we do it. And then we ask if it is possible.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-hawken/first-we-need-to-decide-what-needs-to-be-done-then-we-do-it-and-then/) [Paul Hawken](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-hawken/) > [“don’t ask yourself what the world needs, ask yourself what makes you come alive, because what the world needs are men who have come…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-eldredge/don-t-ask-yourself-what-the-world-needs-ask-yourself-what-makes-you-2/) [John Eldredge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-eldredge/) > [“The great civil rights leader Howard Thurman once said, “Don’t ask what the world needs. Ask what makes you come alive. Because what the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-kotler/the-great-civil-rights-leader-howard-thurman-once-said-don-t-ask-what/) [Steven Kotler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-kotler/) > [“Don’t ask what the world needs. Ask what makes you come alive, and go do it. Because what the world needs is people who…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cara-alwill-leyba/don-t-ask-what-the-world-needs-ask-what-makes-you-come-alive-and-go-2/) [Cara Alwill Leyba](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cara-alwill-leyba/) > [Don't ask yourself what the world needs. Ask yourself, 'What makes me come alive?' Because what the world - a wife, a child -…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-eldredge/don-t-ask-yourself-what-the-world-needs-ask-yourself-what-makes-me/) [John Eldredge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-eldredge/) > [8. Dont ask what the world needs. Ask what makes you come alive and go do it. Because what the world needs is more…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/howard-thurman/8-dont-ask-what-the-world-needs-ask-what-makes-you-come-alive-and-go/) [Howard Thurman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/howard-thurman/) > [Dont ask yourself what the world needs; ask yourself what makes you come alive. And then go and do that. Because what the world…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/howard-thurman/dont-ask-yourself-what-the-world-needs-ask-yourself-what-makes-you/) [Howard Thurman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/howard-thurman/) > [“You must learn that it is not important for you to ask questions. Nobody needs for you to ask questions. Your job is to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/noah-cicero/you-must-learn-that-it-is-not-important-for-you-to-ask-questions/) [Noah Cicero](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/noah-cicero/) > [Don't ask yourself what the world needs, ask yourself what makes you come alive. And then go do that. Because what the world needs…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/don-t-ask-yourself-what-the-world-needs-ask-yourself-what-makes-you/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [People think, 'Oh my goodness! I have to do something really big.' You don't. Do what you love. There's a great quote from a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maria-shriver/people-think-oh-my-goodness-i-have-to-do-something-really-big-you-don/) [Maria Shriver](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maria-shriver/) > [We are trained to ask "What's wrong and how we fix it?" Instead, start by asking - "What works, what have we got, what's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-kenyon/we-are-trained-to-ask-what-s-wrong-and-how-we-fix-it-instead-start-by/) [Peter Kenyon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-kenyon/) > [It's past time to go when you start asking yourself if it's time to go.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-rotsler/it-s-past-time-to-go-when-you-start-asking-yourself-if-it-s-time-to-go/) [William Rotsler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-rotsler/) > [“Most students have to do some work to resuscitate their childlike curiosity. The best way to do that is to start asking questions again—lots…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hal-gregersen/most-students-have-to-do-some-work-to-resuscitate-their-childlike/) [Hal Gregersen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hal-gregersen/) ## More by Peter Drucker > [One reason for the tremendous increase in health-care costs in the U.S. is managerial neglect of the "hotel services" by the people who dominate…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-drucker/one-reason-for-the-tremendous-increase-in-health-care-costs-in-the-u/) [Peter Drucker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-drucker/) > [No executive has ever suffered because his subordinates were strong and effective.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-drucker/no-executive-has-ever-suffered-because-his-subordinates-were-strong/) [Peter Drucker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-drucker/) > [Results is all that separates one company from another.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-drucker/results-is-all-that-separates-one-company-from-another/) [Peter Drucker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-drucker/) > [“There is nothing so useless as doing efficiently that which should not be done at all. Peter Drucker”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-drucker/there-is-nothing-so-useless-as-doing-efficiently-that-which-should/) [Peter Drucker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-drucker/) > [Our society has become an employee society.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-drucker/our-society-has-become-an-employee-society/) [Peter Drucker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-drucker/) > [Replace your pursuit of success with the pursuit of contribution.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-drucker/replace-your-pursuit-of-success-with-the-pursuit-of-contribution/) [Peter Drucker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-drucker/) > [Management means, in the last analysis, the substitution of thought for brawn and muscle, of knowledge for folkways and superstition, and of cooperation for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-drucker/management-means-in-the-last-analysis-the-substitution-of-thought-for/) [Peter Drucker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-drucker/) > [Don't try to innovate for the future. Innovate for the present!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-drucker/don-t-try-to-innovate-for-the-future-innovate-for-the-present/) [Peter Drucker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-drucker/) > [The critical question is not "How can I achieve?" but "What can I contribute?"](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-drucker/the-critical-question-is-not-how-can-i-achieve-but-what-can-i/) [Peter Drucker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-drucker/) > [We can say with certainty - or 90% probability - that the new industries that are about to be born will have nothing to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-drucker/we-can-say-with-certainty-or-90-probability-that-the-new-industries/) [Peter Drucker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-drucker/) > [When it rains manna from heaven, some people put up an umbrella. Others reach for a big spoon.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-drucker/when-it-rains-manna-from-heaven-some-people-put-up-an-umbrella-others/) [Peter Drucker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-drucker/) > [The enterprise can fulfill its human and social functions only if it prospers as a business.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-drucker/the-enterprise-can-fulfill-its-human-and-social-functions-only-if-it/) [Peter Drucker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-drucker/) > [The computer actually may have aggravated management's degenerative tendency to focus inward on costs.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-drucker/the-computer-actually-may-have-aggravated-management-s-degenerative/) [Peter Drucker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-drucker/) > [Nobody can predict the future; the idea is to have a firm grasp of the present.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-drucker/nobody-can-predict-the-future-the-idea-is-to-have-a-firm-grasp-of-the/) [Peter Drucker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-drucker/) > [An executive should be a realist; and no one is less realistic than the cynic.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-drucker/an-executive-should-be-a-realist-and-no-one-is-less-realistic-than/) [Peter Drucker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-drucker/) [Explore all 603 Peter Drucker quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-drucker/) ## More Asking quotes > [Why did Erich von Stronheim leave Germany? Why did Hitchcock leave England? If you were a director you'd like to work in Hollywood too.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roman-polanski/why-did-erich-von-stronheim-leave-germany-why-did-hitchcock-leave/) [Roman Polanski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roman-polanski/) > [And in your new lives you'll have to live entirely for that one sensation-that of imminent truth. And you're going to have to holler…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/douglas-coupland/and-in-your-new-lives-you-ll-have-to-live-entirely-for-that-one/) [Douglas Coupland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/douglas-coupland/) > [“Stop asking yourself how or why and tell yourself you can." - Charmainism”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charmaine-smith-ladd/stop-asking-yourself-how-or-why-and-tell-yourself-you-can-charmainism/) [Charmaine Smith Ladd](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charmaine-smith-ladd/) > [Closing his eyes, he sent up a prayer to anyone who was listening, asking please, for God's sake, stop sending him signals that they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-r-ward/closing-his-eyes-he-sent-up-a-prayer-to-anyone-who-was-listening/) [J.R. Ward](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-r-ward/) > [People will identify with a persecuted minority without asking themselves what they are identifying with.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hilary-mantel/people-will-identify-with-a-persecuted-minority-without-asking/) [Hilary Mantel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hilary-mantel/) > [If you're having a bad day already and everybody is just asking you petty questions, it drives people to the edge, or something really…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jess-weixler/if-you-re-having-a-bad-day-already-and-everybody-is-just-asking-you/) [Jess Weixler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jess-weixler/) > [You never give away your heart; you lend it from time to time. If it were not so, how could we take it back…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeanette-winterson/you-never-give-away-your-heart-you-lend-it-from-time-to-time-if-it/) [Jeanette Winterson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeanette-winterson/) > [I'm not asking people to feel sorry for me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-abramoff/i-m-not-asking-people-to-feel-sorry-for-me/) [Jack Abramoff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-abramoff/) > [The boldness of asking deep questions may require unforeseen flexibility if we are to accept the answers.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-greene/the-boldness-of-asking-deep-questions-may-require-unforeseen/) [Brian Greene](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-greene/) > [Use Google Before Asking A Stupid Question.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/muskaan/use-google-before-asking-a-stupid-question/) [Muskaan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/muskaan/) > [There were people asking 'Can women be funny?' People still ask that. It's like asking: 'Can women breathe in and out?'](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julie-walters/there-were-people-asking-can-women-be-funny-people-still-ask-that-it/) [Julie Walters](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julie-walters/) > [Whether that's speaking up in your job or asking for a promotion or saying, 'I think I can do that.' Using your voice in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maria-shriver/whether-that-s-speaking-up-in-your-job-or-asking-for-a-promotion-or/) [Maria Shriver](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maria-shriver/) > [Love cannot be had for the asking; it comes only as a gift from the heart of another](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paramahansa-yogananda/love-cannot-be-had-for-the-asking-it-comes-only-as-a-gift-from-the/) [Paramahansa Yogananda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paramahansa-yogananda/) > [The Baseball Hall of Fame is something every player dreams about, but being a member of God's Hall of Fame is the greatest achievement…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gary-carter/the-baseball-hall-of-fame-is-something-every-player-dreams-about-but/) [Gary Carter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gary-carter/) > [“In such a regime, I say you died a good death if your life had inspired someone to come forward and shoot your murdered…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chinua-achebe/in-such-a-regime-i-say-you-died-a-good-death-if-your-life-had/) [Chinua Achebe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chinua-achebe/) [Browse all 3,313 Asking quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/asking/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Successful leaders don't start out asking, 'What do I want to do?' 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