--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: If I had some idea of a finish line…" description: "\"If I had some idea of a finish line, don't you think I would have crossed it years ago?\" — Richard M. DeVos" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/129/richard-m-devos-27521_finish_if-i-had-some-idea-of-a-finish-line-don_2370321.jpg" --- # If I had some idea of a finish line, don't you think I… ![“If I had some idea of a finish line, don't you think I would have crossed it years ago?” quote by Richard M. DeVos](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/129/richard-m-devos-27521_finish_if-i-had-some-idea-of-a-finish-line-don_2370321.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/129/richard-m-devos-27521_finish_if-i-had-some-idea-of-a-finish-line-don_2370321.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/129/richard-m-devos-27521_finish_if-i-had-some-idea-of-a-finish-line-don_2370321.jpg) > “If I had some idea of a finish line, don't you think I would have crossed it years ago?” [Richard M. DeVos](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-m-devos/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Without a clear goal, one cannot assess progress or success. **In simple terms:** Know your destination to measure achievement. Key Takeaway Define clear objectives. Themes goal‑setting motivation self‑assessment Mood determined inquisitive Type motivational strategic When to use this quote - career planning - personal development - project management - fitness training Key Concepts vision milestones performance tracking Questions to Reflect On - What is your personal finish line? - How does defining a goal change your actions? A Different Perspective Lack of a finish line can cause aimlessness. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Finish line](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/finish-line/) [Idea](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/idea/) ## Related quotes > [If I'd had some set idea of a finish line, don't you think I would have crossed it years ago?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-gates/if-i-d-had-some-set-idea-of-a-finish-line-don-t-you-think-i-would/) [Bill Gates](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-gates/) > [It is strange to think that we might have crossed paths, and still not have known what we were missing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jodi-picoult/it-is-strange-to-think-that-we-might-have-crossed-paths-and-still-not/) [Jodi Picoult](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jodi-picoult/) > [“There will always be someone trying to beat you first in line, and also the finish line.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anthony-liccione/there-will-always-be-someone-trying-to-beat-you-first-in-line-and/) [Anthony Liccione](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anthony-liccione/) > [A lot of young players relax a bit when they reach the first-team, thinking they have reached the finish line, but really, it's just…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/manuel-pellegrini/a-lot-of-young-players-relax-a-bit-when-they-reach-the-first-team/) [Manuel Pellegrini](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/manuel-pellegrini/) > [I should just stay composed and run to the finish line.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/asafa-powell/i-should-just-stay-composed-and-run-to-the-finish-line/) [Asafa Powell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/asafa-powell/) > [In that he didn't die at the finish line, he could have run faster](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tim-noakes/in-that-he-didn-t-die-at-the-finish-line-he-could-have-run-faster/) [Tim Noakes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tim-noakes/) > [You know what's fun about basketball? It keeps evolving, and it keeps changing a little bit. And the older guys want to try to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-d-antoni/you-know-what-s-fun-about-basketball-it-keeps-evolving-and-it-keeps/) [Mike D'Antoni](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-d-antoni/) > [“Beyond ‘done’ is where difference is made—the finish line for most is the starting line for greatness.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/farshad-asl/beyond-done-is-where-difference-is-made-the-finish-line-for-most-is/) [Farshad Asl](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/farshad-asl/) > [“You wouldn’t train for a marathon & then give up a mile before the finish line. Same goes with your life & dreams.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dawn-gluskin/you-wouldn-t-train-for-a-marathon-then-give-up-a-mile-before-the/) [Dawn Gluskin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dawn-gluskin/) > [“As your training integrates Mind, Body and Spirit, enjoy the process. Your journey to the marathon finish will last a few hours. Your journey…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gina-greenlee/as-your-training-integrates-mind-body-and-spirit-enjoy-the-process/) [Gina Greenlee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gina-greenlee/) > [“You’re not a pit stop. You’re my finish line. There’s no one after you... “I want you for eternity, not for a brief moment…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/krista-ritchie/you-re-not-a-pit-stop-you-re-my-finish-line-there-s-no-one-after-you/) [Krista Ritchie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/krista-ritchie/) > [“Don't worry about the finish line. Don't question what you're doing. Just quiet your mind and keep up the pace.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dana-reinhardt/don-t-worry-about-the-finish-line-don-t-question-what-you-re-doing/) [Dana Reinhardt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dana-reinhardt/) > [I am not the kind of designer who is racing to the finish line, so while collaborations are important for our growth, each and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/prabal-gurung/i-am-not-the-kind-of-designer-who-is-racing-to-the-finish-line-so/) [Prabal Gurung](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/prabal-gurung/) > [“Winners run through the finish line. End your day with passion and enthusiasm.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/butch-bellah/winners-run-through-the-finish-line-end-your-day-with-passion-and/) [Butch Bellah](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/butch-bellah/) > [Every Finish Line is the beginning of a new race](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/every-finish-line-is-the-beginning-of-a-new-race/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) ## More by Richard M. DeVos > [If the auto plants in Detroit would just sit around the table and say, 'What do we gotta do to make this thing work?'…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-m-devos/if-the-auto-plants-in-detroit-would-just-sit-around-the-table-and-say/) [Richard M. DeVos](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-m-devos/) > [I've by and large been a positive person ever since I can remember.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-m-devos/i-ve-by-and-large-been-a-positive-person-ever-since-i-can-remember/) [Richard M. DeVos](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-m-devos/) > [Delivering the 'Grand Rapids Press' taught me responsibility, accountability, and all the principles of the rewards of hard work.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-m-devos/delivering-the-grand-rapids-press-taught-me-responsibility/) [Richard M. DeVos](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-m-devos/) > [A positive attitude is a choice, like walking to the other side of a street to avoid trouble or making a 180-degree turn when…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-m-devos/a-positive-attitude-is-a-choice-like-walking-to-the-other-side-of-a/) [Richard M. DeVos](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-m-devos/) > [People who achieve the highest levels of success - whether in business or in raising families or simply in discovering fulfillment and satisfaction and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-m-devos/people-who-achieve-the-highest-levels-of-success-whether-in-business/) [Richard M. DeVos](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-m-devos/) > [I've learned that positive thinking and encouragement are essential for leadership and progress.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-m-devos/i-ve-learned-that-positive-thinking-and-encouragement-are-essential/) [Richard M. DeVos](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-m-devos/) > [Every society needs people who can encourage and stimulate and cheer. They are the ones who make the world run. You can be one…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-m-devos/every-society-needs-people-who-can-encourage-and-stimulate-and-cheer/) [Richard M. DeVos](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-m-devos/) > [I still refer to myself as a 'cheerleader' because I keep encouraging others to have confidence and to use their talents to follow their…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-m-devos/i-still-refer-to-myself-as-a-cheerleader-because-i-keep-encouraging/) [Richard M. DeVos](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-m-devos/) > [I give God the glory for the people I've worked with who have helped me along the way.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-m-devos/i-give-god-the-glory-for-the-people-i-ve-worked-with-who-have-helped/) [Richard M. DeVos](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-m-devos/) > [A positive impact stems from our admission that we were wrong or our thinking was wrong. 'I'm wrong' are two little words that can…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-m-devos/a-positive-impact-stems-from-our-admission-that-we-were-wrong-or-our/) [Richard M. DeVos](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-m-devos/) > [A positive atmosphere nurtures a positive attitude, which is required to take positive action.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-m-devos/a-positive-atmosphere-nurtures-a-positive-attitude-which-is-required/) [Richard M. DeVos](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-m-devos/) > [If a negative atmosphere pervades where you live or work, go elsewhere. Seek out friends, business associates, and mentors with positive attitudes who share…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-m-devos/if-a-negative-atmosphere-pervades-where-you-live-or-work-go-elsewhere/) [Richard M. DeVos](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-m-devos/) > [I believe we are more a product of our homes than of any other single influence.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-m-devos/i-believe-we-are-more-a-product-of-our-homes-than-of-any-other-single/) [Richard M. DeVos](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-m-devos/) > [I learned that you appreciate what you earn much more than what is given you. I also learned that decisions have consequences.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-m-devos/i-learned-that-you-appreciate-what-you-earn-much-more-than-what-is/) [Richard M. DeVos](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-m-devos/) > [Jay and I used to talk about this: we never had a goal of making a lot of money. We had a goal of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-m-devos/jay-and-i-used-to-talk-about-this-we-never-had-a-goal-of-making-a-lot/) [Richard M. DeVos](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-m-devos/) [Explore all 20 Richard M. DeVos quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-m-devos/) ## More Finish quotes > [My first Olympics memory was watching Haile Gebrselassie in Sydney 2000. His sprint finish to defend his title really moved me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mo-farah/my-first-olympics-memory-was-watching-haile-gebrselassie-in-sydney/) [Mo Farah](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mo-farah/) > [Children should finish school and even go to college if they can.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-fuller/children-should-finish-school-and-even-go-to-college-if-they-can/) [Robert Fuller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-fuller/) > [Every Finish Line is the beginning of a new race](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/every-finish-line-is-the-beginning-of-a-new-race/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“It doesn't matter where you start but how you finish that matters!”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/valerie-irick-rainford/it-doesn-t-matter-where-you-start-but-how-you-finish-that-matters/) Valerie Irick Rainford > [Whenever I finish a film, I feel that this is the worst film that I have made. This is bound to happen because while…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rajkumar-hirani/whenever-i-finish-a-film-i-feel-that-this-is-the-worst-film-that-i/) [Rajkumar Hirani](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rajkumar-hirani/) > [When I finish my career, I can look back and then decide if it was good or not.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jordan-henderson/when-i-finish-my-career-i-can-look-back-and-then-decide-if-it-was/) [Jordan Henderson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jordan-henderson/) > [I've enjoyed my time at every club I have worked at, I've been lucky, but I won't jump in and finish up working with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harry-redknapp/i-ve-enjoyed-my-time-at-every-club-i-have-worked-at-i-ve-been-lucky/) [Harry Redknapp](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harry-redknapp/) > [“Do it well, finish it properly, and move on.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eunice-kennedy-shriver/do-it-well-finish-it-properly-and-move-on/) [Eunice Kennedy Shriver](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eunice-kennedy-shriver/) > [Not everyone who started with you will finish with you. Be willing to go without them if you have to.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tony-gaskins/not-everyone-who-started-with-you-will-finish-with-you-be-willing-to/) [Tony Gaskins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tony-gaskins/) > [Finish what you're writing. Whatever you have to do to finish it, finish it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-gaiman/finish-what-you-re-writing-whatever-you-have-to-do-to-finish-it/) [Neil Gaiman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-gaiman/) > [Call me old-fashioned, but it's always been my firm belief that a teacher's job should be for each of his or her students to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-crowder/call-me-old-fashioned-but-it-s-always-been-my-firm-belief-that-a/) [Steven Crowder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-crowder/) > [If it is possible I want to finish my career at Manchester United.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/park-ji-sung/if-it-is-possible-i-want-to-finish-my-career-at-manchester-united/) [Park Ji-sung](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/park-ji-sung/) > [A lot of times, you finish a movie, and you're either going, 'Oh, thank God, that's over,' or 'Oh, my God, it's over, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wyck-godfrey/a-lot-of-times-you-finish-a-movie-and-you-re-either-going-oh-thank/) [Wyck Godfrey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wyck-godfrey/) > [I used to review games on 'The Totally Rad Show,' and the best thing about that was I would finish games. Now, it's become…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-trachtenberg/i-used-to-review-games-on-the-totally-rad-show-and-the-best-thing/) [Dan Trachtenberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dan-trachtenberg/) > [“Winners run through the finish line. End your day with passion and enthusiasm.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/butch-bellah/winners-run-through-the-finish-line-end-your-day-with-passion-and/) [Butch Bellah](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/butch-bellah/) Browse all 1,526 Finish quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "If I had some idea of a finish line, don't you think I would have crossed it years ago?", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Richard M. DeVos" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-m-devos/if-i-had-some-idea-of-a-finish-line-don-t-you-think-i-would-have/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Finish" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-m-devos/if-i-had-some-idea-of-a-finish-line-don-t-you-think-i-would-have/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/129/richard-m-devos-27521_finish_if-i-had-some-idea-of-a-finish-line-don_2370321.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/129/richard-m-devos-27521_finish_if-i-had-some-idea-of-a-finish-line-don_2370321.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/129/richard-m-devos-27521_finish_if-i-had-some-idea-of-a-finish-line-don_2370321.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“If I had some idea of a finish line, don't you think I would have crossed it years ago?” — Richard M. DeVos", "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": "Richard M. DeVos", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-m-devos/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "If I had some idea of...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-m-devos/if-i-had-some-idea-of-a-finish-line-don-t-you-think-i-would-have/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-m-devos/if-i-had-some-idea-of-a-finish-line-don-t-you-think-i-would-have/#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 } } ] } ```