--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: You want to take action every day, not…" description: "\"You want to take action every day, not sit around waiting for something to happen.\" — Richard Nelson Bolles" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f32/richard-nelson-bolles-32525_action_you-want-to-take-action-every-day-not-si_1696763.png" --- # You want to take action every day, not sit around waiting… ![“You want to take action every day, not sit around waiting for something to happen.” quote by Richard Nelson Bolles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f32/richard-nelson-bolles-32525_action_you-want-to-take-action-every-day-not-si_1696763.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f32/richard-nelson-bolles-32525_action_you-want-to-take-action-every-day-not-si_1696763.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f32/richard-nelson-bolles-32525_action_you-want-to-take-action-every-day-not-si_1696763.png) > “You want to take action every day, not sit around waiting for something to happen.” [Richard Nelson Bolles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-nelson-bolles/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Take proactive daily action instead of waiting for opportunities to appear. **In simple terms:** Act daily, don’t wait. Key Takeaway Act now, create opportunities. Themes action proactivity career Mood motivational practical Type career self‑help When to use this quote - job search - personal projects - skill development Key Concepts self‑efficacy goal setting Questions to Reflect On - What small action can you take today? - How do you balance action with reflection? A Different Perspective Risk of burnout without rest. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Action](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/action/) [Waiting for something](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/waiting-for-something/) ## Related quotes > [Keep busy while you are waiting for something to happen.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-genn/keep-busy-while-you-are-waiting-for-something-to-happen/) [Robert Genn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-genn/) > [“Jinnah proved obdurate: he was determined to obtain Pakistan. The Muslim League leader declared 16 August 1946 as ‘Direct Action Day’ to drive home…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shashi-tharoor/jinnah-proved-obdurate-he-was-determined-to-obtain-pakistan-the/) [Shashi Tharoor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shashi-tharoor/) > [One of the secrets of getting more done is to make a TO DO List every day, keep it visible, and use it as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/one-of-the-secrets-of-getting-more-done-is-to-make-a-to-do-list-every/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Take action once a day to do something that ignites your life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gabrielle-bernstein/take-action-once-a-day-to-do-something-that-ignites-your-life/) [Gabrielle Bernstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gabrielle-bernstein/) > [“Any action is good action; do what you can from where you are and build off of that action each day.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-basevic/any-action-is-good-action-do-what-you-can-from-where-you-are-and/) [Mike Basevic](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-basevic/) > [Take action every day - some small dose at a time.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeffrey-gitomer/take-action-every-day-some-small-dose-at-a-time/) [Jeffrey Gitomer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeffrey-gitomer/) > [It’s always this thing where we’re constantly waiting for something that will come in electronic music that says, ‘Daft Punk sucks!’ That’s actually much…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-bangalter/it-s-always-this-thing-where-we-re-constantly-waiting-for-something/) [Thomas Bangalter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-bangalter/) > [ Andrade \[who was looking after wartime inventions\] is like an inverted Micawber, waiting for something to turn down. ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-tizard/andrade-who-was-looking-after-wartime-inventions-is-like-an-inverted/) Henry Tizard > [I have spent my life waiting for something to happen,’ she said. ‘And I have come to understand that nothing will. Or it already…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tracy-chevalier/i-have-spent-my-life-waiting-for-something-to-happen-she-said-and-i/) [Tracy Chevalier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tracy-chevalier/) > [When I am fighting I am keeping my mind empty for any expectations. I am waiting for something unique, completely new.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rickson-gracie/when-i-am-fighting-i-am-keeping-my-mind-empty-for-any-expectations-i/) [Rickson Gracie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rickson-gracie/) > [Right now, and in every now-moment, you are either closing or opening. You are either stressfully waiting for something - more money, security, affection…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-deida/right-now-and-in-every-now-moment-you-are-either-closing-or-opening/) [David Deida](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-deida/) > [In the long dusks of summer we walked the suburban streets through scents of maple and cut grass, waiting for something to happen.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-millhauser/in-the-long-dusks-of-summer-we-walked-the-suburban-streets-through/) [Steven Millhauser](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-millhauser/) > [The drunk kids, the catholics They're all about the same They're waiting for something Hoping to be saved](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/conor-oberst/the-drunk-kids-the-catholics-they-re-all-about-the-same-they-re/) [Conor Oberst](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/conor-oberst/) > [Who doesn't love Game of Thrones? Sons of Anarchy is funny and thug-ish. I love Shameless. I just sit with my hat tipped, waiting…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gavin-rossdale/who-doesn-t-love-game-of-thrones-sons-of-anarchy-is-funny-and-thug/) [Gavin Rossdale](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gavin-rossdale/) > [I can’t remember that I was ever looking for anything. I was waiting for something to touch me. It’s like, I’ll be open to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-gere/i-can-t-remember-that-i-was-ever-looking-for-anything-i-was-waiting/) [Richard Gere](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-gere/) ## More by Richard Nelson Bolles > [“There is a vast world of work out there in this country, where at least 111 million people are employed in this country alone--many…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-nelson-bolles/there-is-a-vast-world-of-work-out-there-in-this-country-where-at/) [Richard Nelson Bolles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-nelson-bolles/) > [The object is to keep busy being something...as opposed to doing something. We are all sent here to bring more gratitude, more kindness, more…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-nelson-bolles/the-object-is-to-keep-busy-being-something-as-opposed-to-doing/) [Richard Nelson Bolles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-nelson-bolles/) > [One of the saddest lines in the world is, 'Oh come now - be realistic.' The best parts of this world were not fashioned…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-nelson-bolles/one-of-the-saddest-lines-in-the-world-is-oh-come-now-be-realistic-the/) [Richard Nelson Bolles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-nelson-bolles/) > [Not for nothing is their motto TGIF - 'Thank God It's Friday.' They live for the weekends, when they can go do what they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-nelson-bolles/not-for-nothing-is-their-motto-tgif-thank-god-it-s-friday-they-live/) [Richard Nelson Bolles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-nelson-bolles/) > [The person who gets hired is not necessarily the one who can do that job best; but, the one who knows the most about…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-nelson-bolles/the-person-who-gets-hired-is-not-necessarily-the-one-who-can-do-that/) [Richard Nelson Bolles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-nelson-bolles/) > [There is a vast world of work out there in this country, where at least 111 million people are employed in this country alone…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-nelson-bolles/there-is-a-vast-world-of-work-out-there-in-this-country-where-at-2/) [Richard Nelson Bolles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-nelson-bolles/) > [“I like the late Bernard Haldane's definition of an achievement. He says it is: something you yourself feel you have done well, that you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-nelson-bolles/i-like-the-late-bernard-haldane-s-definition-of-an-achievement-he/) [Richard Nelson Bolles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-nelson-bolles/) > [I thank the Lord for the brain He put in my head. Occasionally, I love to just stand to one side and watch how…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-nelson-bolles/i-thank-the-lord-for-the-brain-he-put-in-my-head-occasionally-i-love/) [Richard Nelson Bolles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-nelson-bolles/) > [Youth is like a long weekend on Friday night. Middle age is like a long weekend on Monday afternoon.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-nelson-bolles/youth-is-like-a-long-weekend-on-friday-night-middle-age-is-like-a/) [Richard Nelson Bolles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-nelson-bolles/) > [Keys to Finding Hope: 1. Hope depends upon taking care that we have at least two alternatives, in every situation we find ourselves, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-nelson-bolles/keys-to-finding-hope-1-hope-depends-upon-taking-care-that-we-have-at/) [Richard Nelson Bolles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-nelson-bolles/) > [Hunches are not to be sneezed at.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-nelson-bolles/hunches-are-not-to-be-sneezed-at/) [Richard Nelson Bolles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-nelson-bolles/) > [I have always argued that change becomes stressful and overwhelming only when you've lost any sense of the constancy of your life. You need…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-nelson-bolles/i-have-always-argued-that-change-becomes-stressful-and-overwhelming/) [Richard Nelson Bolles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-nelson-bolles/) > [“So many times you will see people wringing their hands and saying 'I want to know what my mission in life is,' all the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-nelson-bolles/so-many-times-you-will-see-people-wringing-their-hands-and-saying-i/) [Richard Nelson Bolles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-nelson-bolles/) > [Always define WHAT you want to do with your life and WHAT you have to offer to the world, in terms of your favorite…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-nelson-bolles/always-define-what-you-want-to-do-with-your-life-and-what-you-have-to/) [Richard Nelson Bolles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-nelson-bolles/) [Explore all 15 Richard Nelson Bolles quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-nelson-bolles/) ## More Action quotes > [I always say there are two things to be successful. The first is decide exactly what you want - set your goals - and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-tracy/i-always-say-there-are-two-things-to-be-successful-the-first-is/) [Brian Tracy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-tracy/) > [You'd be surprised how hard it can often be to translate an action into an idea.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karl-kraus/you-d-be-surprised-how-hard-it-can-often-be-to-translate-an-action/) [Karl Kraus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karl-kraus/) > [Gratitude isn't just a feeling, it's an action. Expressing gratitude by writing in a journal, taking a photo, or shooting a video creates a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/janice-kaplan/gratitude-isn-t-just-a-feeling-it-s-an-action-expressing-gratitude-by/) [Janice Kaplan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/janice-kaplan/) > [Nothing is so powerful as an insight into human nature... what compulsions drive a man, what instincts dominate his action. If you know these…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-bernbach/nothing-is-so-powerful-as-an-insight-into-human-nature-what/) [William Bernbach](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-bernbach/) > [Every thought I have imprisioned in expression I must free by my deeds](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kahlil-gibran/every-thought-i-have-imprisioned-in-expression-i-must-free-by-my-deeds/) [Kahlil Gibran](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kahlil-gibran/) > [It took me 20 years to buy an electric typewriter, because I was afraid it would be too sensitive. I like to bang the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elmore-leonard/it-took-me-20-years-to-buy-an-electric-typewriter-because-i-was/) [Elmore Leonard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elmore-leonard/) > [Every action that helps us manifest our divine nature more and more is good; every action that retards it is evil.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/swami-vivekananda/every-action-that-helps-us-manifest-our-divine-nature-more-and-more/) [Swami Vivekananda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/swami-vivekananda/) > [As you begin changing your thinking, start immediately to change your behaviour. Begin to act the part of the person you would like to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/as-you-begin-changing-your-thinking-start-immediately-to-change-your/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [It's easy to say, let's go in and get the bad guys. But you have a divided country of Sunnis and Shias. The United…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tulsi-gabbard/it-s-easy-to-say-let-s-go-in-and-get-the-bad-guys-but-you-have-a/) [Tulsi Gabbard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tulsi-gabbard/) > [For comedy action, I must know the language.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sammo-hung/for-comedy-action-i-must-know-the-language/) [Sammo Hung](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sammo-hung/) > [Believing with you that religion is a matter which lies solely between man and his God, that he owes account to none other for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-jefferson/believing-with-you-that-religion-is-a-matter-which-lies-solely/) [Thomas Jefferson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-jefferson/) > [“Action is a powerful thing. When you smile through your sadness, it can completely change your outlook. Try it! Smile :) Now hold onto…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leticia-rae/action-is-a-powerful-thing-when-you-smile-through-your-sadness-it-can/) [Leticia Rae](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leticia-rae/) > [I reject criticism because the last thing I wanted was to sit there and look at people talking. I think people are conditioned to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matt-tyrnauer/i-reject-criticism-because-the-last-thing-i-wanted-was-to-sit-there/) [Matt Tyrnauer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matt-tyrnauer/) > [“I take my actions because of my passion not because of compulsion.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amit-kalantri/i-take-my-actions-because-of-my-passion-not-because-of-compulsion/) [Amit Kalantri](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amit-kalantri/) > [When the first Superman movie came out I was frequently asked "What is a hero?" ...My answer was that a hero is someone who…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-reeve/when-the-first-superman-movie-came-out-i-was-frequently-asked-what-is/) [Christopher Reeve](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-reeve/) [Browse all 14,940 Action quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/action/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "You want to take action every day, not sit around waiting for something to happen.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Richard Nelson Bolles" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-nelson-bolles/you-want-to-take-action-every-day-not-sit-around-waiting-for/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Action" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-nelson-bolles/you-want-to-take-action-every-day-not-sit-around-waiting-for/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f32/richard-nelson-bolles-32525_action_you-want-to-take-action-every-day-not-si_1696763.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f32/richard-nelson-bolles-32525_action_you-want-to-take-action-every-day-not-si_1696763.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f32/richard-nelson-bolles-32525_action_you-want-to-take-action-every-day-not-si_1696763.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“You want to take action every day, not sit around waiting for something to happen.” — Richard Nelson Bolles", "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 Nelson Bolles", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-nelson-bolles/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "You want to take action every...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-nelson-bolles/you-want-to-take-action-every-day-not-sit-around-waiting-for/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-nelson-bolles/you-want-to-take-action-every-day-not-sit-around-waiting-for/#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 } } ] } ```