--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Each of us found pleasure, whenever…" description: "\"“Each of us found pleasure, whenever possible, in focusing on one small task. One task, we often said, clears the mind.”\" — Phil Knight" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/093/phil-knight-3238_focusing_each-of-us-found-pleasure-whenever-possi_1462940.png" --- # Each of us found pleasure, whenever possible, in focusing… ![“Each of us found pleasure, whenever possible, in focusing on one small task. One task, we often said, clears the mind.” quote by Phil Knight](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/093/phil-knight-3238_focusing_each-of-us-found-pleasure-whenever-possi_1462940.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/093/phil-knight-3238_focusing_each-of-us-found-pleasure-whenever-possi_1462940.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/093/phil-knight-3238_focusing_each-of-us-found-pleasure-whenever-possi_1462940.png) > ““Each of us found pleasure, whenever possible, in focusing on one small task. One task, we often said, clears the mind.”” [Phil Knight](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/phil-knight/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Focusing on a single, manageable task brings clarity and mental relief, promoting productivity through simplicity. **In simple terms:** Small tasks clear the mind. Key Takeaway Prioritize one task at a time. Themes focus productivity mindfulness Mood motivational practical Type advice philosophical When to use this quote - workday planning - study sessions - creative projects Key Concepts task management psychology of flow Questions to Reflect On - How to integrate small tasks into big plans? - What prevents task overload? A Different Perspective May neglect larger goals. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Psychology](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/psychology/) ## Related quotes > [Somebody said 'I've got a task here, can you give it to my girlfriend?' And in the task it said 'Marry me'. It was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alex-horne/somebody-said-i-ve-got-a-task-here-can-you-give-it-to-my-girlfriend/) [Alex Horne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alex-horne/) > [When someone does a small task beautifully, their whole environment is affected by it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jerry-seinfeld/when-someone-does-a-small-task-beautifully-their-whole-environment-is/) [Jerry Seinfeld](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jerry-seinfeld/) > [I gave myself the small task of writing honestly about the kind of life I knew. I believe there is some value in carrying…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sally-rooney/i-gave-myself-the-small-task-of-writing-honestly-about-the-kind-of/) [Sally Rooney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sally-rooney/) > [Better to complete a small task well, than to do much imperfectly.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/plato/better-to-complete-a-small-task-well-than-to-do-much-imperfectly/) [Plato](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/plato/) > [“A small task if it be really daily will beat the efforts of a spasmodic Hercules.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francis-bacon/a-small-task-if-it-be-really-daily-will-beat-the-efforts-of-a/) [Francis Bacon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francis-bacon/) > [“Today I will do one small task that will contribute toward the achievement of a life goal.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kitt-weagant/today-i-will-do-one-small-task-that-will-contribute-toward-the/) [Kitt Weagant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kitt-weagant/) > [Tomorrow becomes never. No matter how small the task, take the first step now!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/tomorrow-becomes-never-no-matter-how-small-the-task-take-the-first/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Running clears my mind, and gives me a reason to get out of bed in the morning.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ronnie-o-sullivan/running-clears-my-mind-and-gives-me-a-reason-to-get-out-of-bed-in-the/) [Ronnie O'Sullivan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ronnie-o-sullivan/) > [Garden work clears the mind.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joanne-harris/garden-work-clears-the-mind/) [Joanne Harris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joanne-harris/) > [The absence of alternatives clears the mind marvelously.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/the-absence-of-alternatives-clears-the-mind-marvelously/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Running is very spiritual for me. It is therapeutic; it clears my mind and helps me to focus.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amy-locane/running-is-very-spiritual-for-me-it-is-therapeutic-it-clears-my-mind/) [Amy Locane](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amy-locane/) > [If I don't have to work, I exercise every morning. It really clears my mind.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lily-aldridge/if-i-don-t-have-to-work-i-exercise-every-morning-it-really-clears-my/) [Lily Aldridge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lily-aldridge/) > [George W. Bush says he spends sixty to ninety minutes a day working out. He says he works out because it clears his mind.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jay-leno/george-w-bush-says-he-spends-sixty-to-ninety-minutes-a-day-working/) [Jay Leno](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jay-leno/) > [Because the pot takes the edge off the adrenaline, and it also clears your mind of it, and then you can see things a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tommy-chong/because-the-pot-takes-the-edge-off-the-adrenaline-and-it-also-clears/) [Tommy Chong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tommy-chong/) > [I started walking at night with my sister in law which has been amazing. It really does something for you. It just kind of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ashley-scott/i-started-walking-at-night-with-my-sister-in-law-which-has-been/) [Ashley Scott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ashley-scott/) ## More by Phil Knight > [A shoe dog is somebody that really loves shoes, and that was me. I was a runner... that became important to me, and it's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/phil-knight/a-shoe-dog-is-somebody-that-really-loves-shoes-and-that-was-me-i-was/) [Phil Knight](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/phil-knight/) > [Perception can be changed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/phil-knight/perception-can-be-changed/) [Phil Knight](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/phil-knight/) > [Dare to take chances, lest you leave your talent buried in the ground.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/phil-knight/dare-to-take-chances-lest-you-leave-your-talent-buried-in-the-ground/) [Phil Knight](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/phil-knight/) > [“Why is it always so hard to get started?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/phil-knight/why-is-it-always-so-hard-to-get-started/) [Phil Knight](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/phil-knight/) > [Play by the rules, but be ferocious.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/phil-knight/play-by-the-rules-but-be-ferocious/) [Phil Knight](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/phil-knight/) > [“Life is growth, You grow or you die.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/phil-knight/life-is-growth-you-grow-or-you-die/) [Phil Knight](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/phil-knight/) > [“If my life was to be all work no play, I wanted my work to be play.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/phil-knight/if-my-life-was-to-be-all-work-no-play-i-wanted-my-work-to-be-play/) [Phil Knight](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/phil-knight/) > [“he was all the colors of an Easter egg.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/phil-knight/he-was-all-the-colors-of-an-easter-egg/) [Phil Knight](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/phil-knight/) > [“what I knew that morning in March 1977 as we settled around the conference table. I wasn’t even sure how these guys reached us,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/phil-knight/what-i-knew-that-morning-in-march-1977-as-we-settled-around-the/) [Phil Knight](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/phil-knight/) > [“When you make something, when you improve something, when you deliver something, when you add some service or product to the lives of strangers…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/phil-knight/when-you-make-something-when-you-improve-something-when-you-deliver/) [Phil Knight](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/phil-knight/) > [“It’s possible that we were never closer, maybe because our relationship had been reduced to its primal essence. He was my dad, I was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/phil-knight/it-s-possible-that-we-were-never-closer-maybe-because-our/) [Phil Knight](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/phil-knight/) > [“Oneness—in some way, shape, or form, it’s what every person I’ve ever met has been seeking.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/phil-knight/oneness-in-some-way-shape-or-form-it-s-what-every-person-i-ve-ever/) [Phil Knight](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/phil-knight/) > [We wanted Nike to be the world's best sports and fitness company. Once you say that, you have a focus. You don't end up…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/phil-knight/we-wanted-nike-to-be-the-world-s-best-sports-and-fitness-company-once/) [Phil Knight](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/phil-knight/) > [“You tell yourself that you’re running toward some goal, chasing some rush, but really you run because the alternative, stopping, scares you to death.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/phil-knight/you-tell-yourself-that-you-re-running-toward-some-goal-chasing-some/) [Phil Knight](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/phil-knight/) > [“I wanted to win. No, that’s not right. I simply didn’t want to lose. And”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/phil-knight/i-wanted-to-win-no-that-s-not-right-i-simply-didn-t-want-to-lose-and/) [Phil Knight](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/phil-knight/) [Explore all 120 Phil Knight quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/phil-knight/) ## More Focusing quotes > [Try to help people rather than focusing on what's in it for me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-brogan/try-to-help-people-rather-than-focusing-on-what-s-in-it-for-me/) [Chris Brogan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-brogan/) > [Focusing on the long term and building a great product that is scalable ultimately leads to a great company.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/craig-sherman/focusing-on-the-long-term-and-building-a-great-product-that-is/) Craig Sherman > [Now I am just focusing on my daughter, my wife, religion, and training.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sonny-bill-williams/now-i-am-just-focusing-on-my-daughter-my-wife-religion-and-training/) [Sonny Bill Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sonny-bill-williams/) > [I remember being shocked when I came out from under the focusing cloth after a minute or two being submerged within that, at the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-sexton/i-remember-being-shocked-when-i-came-out-from-under-the-focusing/) [John Sexton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-sexton/) > [“So how about this,” he said, focusing on the pan. “The next time we get the chance, you”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/c-l-stone/so-how-about-this-he-said-focusing-on-the-pan-the-next-time-we-get/) [C.L. Stone](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/c-l-stone/) > [“Once taken off one task without completing the transaction, the mind continues to seek closure. Fight to stay focused on the task at hand.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeff-davidson/once-taken-off-one-task-without-completing-the-transaction-the-mind/) [Jeff Davidson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeff-davidson/) > [As soon as you start focusing on the negative you're dead.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/libbie-hickman/as-soon-as-you-start-focusing-on-the-negative-you-re-dead/) Libbie Hickman > [I didnt pay attention to times or distance, instead focusing on how it felt just to be in motion, knowing it wasn't about the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-dessen/i-didnt-pay-attention-to-times-or-distance-instead-focusing-on-how-it/) [Sarah Dessen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-dessen/) > [Baseball shaded my entire outlook on life, because that's how I first saw the world. I looked at everything, even today, through what I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kurt-russell/baseball-shaded-my-entire-outlook-on-life-because-that-s-how-i-first/) [Kurt Russell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kurt-russell/) > [“Stop focusing on the bad stuff because life is too damn short.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/simone-elkeles/stop-focusing-on-the-bad-stuff-because-life-is-too-damn-short/) [Simone Elkeles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/simone-elkeles/) > [I think the right way to work is by focusing on each task at hand and then move forward.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lance-stroll/i-think-the-right-way-to-work-is-by-focusing-on-each-task-at-hand-and/) [Lance Stroll](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lance-stroll/) > [“Focus on your work. Do what you're great at. Don't compare yourself to others and or waste time criticizing the lives and work of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/germany-kent/focus-on-your-work-do-what-you-re-great-at-don-t-compare-yourself-to/) [Germany Kent](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/germany-kent/) > [Yoga is really the practice of seeing what's most important. Focusing on that first. Then it helps everything else sort of fall into alignment.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mc-yogi/yoga-is-really-the-practice-of-seeing-what-s-most-important-focusing/) MC Yogi > [I don't really look at any other thing but focusing on how I perform, what I can do in the game.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mason-mount/i-don-t-really-look-at-any-other-thing-but-focusing-on-how-i-perform/) [Mason Mount](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mason-mount/) > [I've mostly been focusing on writing, and I've really enjoyed not playing music. It will always be part of my life, but I don't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carrie-brownstein/i-ve-mostly-been-focusing-on-writing-and-i-ve-really-enjoyed-not/) [Carrie Brownstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carrie-brownstein/) Browse all 332 Focusing quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“Each of us found pleasure, whenever possible, in focusing on one small task. 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