--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: In business, what distinguishes leaders…" description: "\"In business, what distinguishes leaders from laggards and greatness from mediocrity is the ability to uniquely imagine what could be.\" — Robert Fritz" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6ab/robert-fritz-18231_ability_in-business-what-distinguishes-leaders-f_1577982.jpg" --- # In business, what distinguishes leaders from laggards and… ![“In business, what distinguishes leaders from laggards and greatness from mediocrity is the ability to uniquely imagine what could be.” quote by Robert Fritz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6ab/robert-fritz-18231_ability_in-business-what-distinguishes-leaders-f_1577982.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6ab/robert-fritz-18231_ability_in-business-what-distinguishes-leaders-f_1577982.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6ab/robert-fritz-18231_ability_in-business-what-distinguishes-leaders-f_1577982.jpg) > “In business, what distinguishes leaders from laggards and greatness from mediocrity is the ability to uniquely imagine what could be.” [Robert Fritz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-fritz/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Great leaders imagine new possibilities uniquely, separating them from average performers. **In simple terms:** Visionary imagination creates greatness. Key Takeaway Cultivate unique imagination. Themes leadership innovation vision Mood optimistic inspired Type strategic philosophical When to use this quote - business planning - product development - career advancement - team brainstorming Key Concepts strategy creativity future thinking Questions to Reflect On - How do you turn imagined possibilities into reality? - What practices sharpen imaginative thinking? A Different Perspective Imagination alone may lack execution. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Ability](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ability/) [Business](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/business/) [Greatness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/greatness/) [Leader](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/leader/) [Leadership](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/leadership/) [Mediocrity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mediocrity/) ## Related quotes > [It is the capacity to develop and improve their skills that distinguishes leaders from followers.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/it-is-the-capacity-to-develop-and-improve-their-skills-that/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“What distinguishes leaders in medicine goes far beyond that knowledge, into interpersonal skills like empathy, conflict resolution, and people development.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-goleman/what-distinguishes-leaders-in-medicine-goes-far-beyond-that-knowledge/) [Daniel Goleman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-goleman/) > [When Americans decry our politicians, we must remember that ultimately, politicians reflect us. When we demand more than mediocrity - and the passing comforts…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-m-strock/when-americans-decry-our-politicians-we-must-remember-that-ultimately/) [James M Strock](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-m-strock/) > [All greatness of character is dependent on individuality.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-f-cooper/all-greatness-of-character-is-dependent-on-individuality/) [James F. Cooper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-f-cooper/) > [Trying to be cool is the easiest path to mediocrity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-crews/trying-to-be-cool-is-the-easiest-path-to-mediocrity/) [Terry Crews](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terry-crews/) > [At independence Kenya's economic indicators were equal to those of South Korea, but 45 years down the road, Korea's economy is 40 times that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/raila-odinga/at-independence-kenya-s-economic-indicators-were-equal-to-those-of/) [Raila Odinga](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/raila-odinga/) > [Once you decide that mediocrity is unthinkable, your only choices are excellence and quitting.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nick-murray/once-you-decide-that-mediocrity-is-unthinkable-your-only-choices-are/) [Nick Murray](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nick-murray/) > [Philadelphians are every whit as mediocre as their neighbors, but they seldom encourage each other in mediocrity by giving it a more agreeable name.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/agnes-repplier/philadelphians-are-every-whit-as-mediocre-as-their-neighbors-but-they/) [Agnes Repplier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/agnes-repplier/) > [There has been an obvious effort to play it safe, to make 'Bonanza' a good family show that would offend no one and hit…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pernell-roberts/there-has-been-an-obvious-effort-to-play-it-safe-to-make-bonanza-a/) [Pernell Roberts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pernell-roberts/) > [If you want to be average, do what others do. If you want to be awesome, do what no one does.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-den-heijer/if-you-want-to-be-average-do-what-others-do-if-you-want-to-be-awesome/) [Alexander Den Heijer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexander-den-heijer/) > [Let America first praise mediocrity even, in her children, before she praises... the best excellence in the children of any other land.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/herman-melville/let-america-first-praise-mediocrity-even-in-her-children-before-she/) [Herman Melville](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/herman-melville/) > [Only mediocrity can be trusted to be always at its best.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/max-beerbohm/only-mediocrity-can-be-trusted-to-be-always-at-its-best/) [Max Beerbohm](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/max-beerbohm/) > [It is an error common to many artists, who strive merely to avoid mistakes, when all our efforts should be to create positive and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-steichen/it-is-an-error-common-to-many-artists-who-strive-merely-to-avoid/) [Edward Steichen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-steichen/) > [Christianity does not oppose debauchery and uncontrollable passions and the like as much as it opposes... flat mediocrity, this nauseating atmosphere, this homey, civil…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/soren-kierkegaard/christianity-does-not-oppose-debauchery-and-uncontrollable-passions/) [Soren Kierkegaard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/soren-kierkegaard/) > [Mediocrity knows nothing higher than itself, but talent instantly recognizes genius.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arthur-conan-doyle/mediocrity-knows-nothing-higher-than-itself-but-talent-instantly/) [Arthur Conan Doyle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arthur-conan-doyle/) ## More by Robert Fritz > [The human spirit will not invest itself in a compromise.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-fritz/the-human-spirit-will-not-invest-itself-in-a-compromise/) [Robert Fritz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-fritz/) > [Creating is no problem - problem solving is not creating.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-fritz/creating-is-no-problem-problem-solving-is-not-creating/) [Robert Fritz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-fritz/) > [“Hector Berlioz’s witty comment, “Time is the great teacher, but unfortunately it kills all of its students.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-fritz/hector-berlioz-s-witty-comment-time-is-the-great-teacher-but/) [Robert Fritz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-fritz/) > [Efforts to reform are often met with resistance because the system always tries to fall back to the status quo and what is comfortable.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-fritz/efforts-to-reform-are-often-met-with-resistance-because-the-system/) [Robert Fritz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-fritz/) > [It is not common for people to think of their own lives as creations. You are not encouraged to have with your own life…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-fritz/it-is-not-common-for-people-to-think-of-their-own-lives-as-creations/) [Robert Fritz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-fritz/) > [Creators start at the end. First they have an idea of what they want to create. Sometimes this is idea is general, and sometimes…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-fritz/creators-start-at-the-end-first-they-have-an-idea-of-what-they-want/) [Robert Fritz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-fritz/) > [If you limit your choices only to what seems possible or reasonable, you disconnect yourself from what you truly want, and all that is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-fritz/if-you-limit-your-choices-only-to-what-seems-possible-or-reasonable/) [Robert Fritz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-fritz/) > [Reality is an acquired taste.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-fritz/reality-is-an-acquired-taste/) [Robert Fritz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-fritz/) > [“Once a structure exists, energy moves through that structure by the path of least resistance. In other words, energy moves where it is easiest…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-fritz/once-a-structure-exists-energy-moves-through-that-structure-by-the/) [Robert Fritz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-fritz/) > [Dreamers only dream, but creators bring their dreams into reality.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-fritz/dreamers-only-dream-but-creators-bring-their-dreams-into-reality/) [Robert Fritz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-fritz/) > [“One basic principle found throughout nature is this: Tension seeks resolution. From the spider web to the human body, from the formation of galaxies…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-fritz/one-basic-principle-found-throughout-nature-is-this-tension-seeks/) [Robert Fritz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-fritz/) > [You cannot create what you want by moving away from what you don't want.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-fritz/you-cannot-create-what-you-want-by-moving-away-from-what-you-don-t/) [Robert Fritz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-fritz/) > [“You got to where you are in your life right now by moving along the path of least resistance.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-fritz/you-got-to-where-you-are-in-your-life-right-now-by-moving-along-the/) [Robert Fritz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-fritz/) > [“Even Mozart, perhaps the most gifted composer in history, developed and grew in his art. The music he wrote in his thirties was far…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-fritz/even-mozart-perhaps-the-most-gifted-composer-in-history-developed-and/) [Robert Fritz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-fritz/) > [Creators understand that their emotions are not necessarily a sign of the circumstances. They understand that in desperate circumstances they may experience joy, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-fritz/creators-understand-that-their-emotions-are-not-necessarily-a-sign-of/) [Robert Fritz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-fritz/) [Explore all 35 Robert Fritz quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-fritz/) ## More Ability quotes > [I don't think there's a direct correlation between my sexuality and my skiing ability. But I think because I was so concerned about it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gus-kenworthy/i-don-t-think-there-s-a-direct-correlation-between-my-sexuality-and/) [Gus Kenworthy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gus-kenworthy/) > [“the importance of ability. The things that make a great job great, I discovered, are rare and valuable. If you want them in your…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cal-newport/the-importance-of-ability-the-things-that-make-a-great-job-great-i/) [Cal Newport](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cal-newport/) > [Ambition drives you on, ability certainly helps, but the fickle finger of fate and luck are great things.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fergus-henderson/ambition-drives-you-on-ability-certainly-helps-but-the-fickle-finger/) [Fergus Henderson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fergus-henderson/) > [The ability of the gospel to unite us on common strengths and common truths is one of the great miracles . . . of the gospel.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeffrey-r-holland/the-ability-of-the-gospel-to-unite-us-on-common-strengths-and-common/) [Jeffrey R. Holland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeffrey-r-holland/) > [Maybe law enforcement would like the ability to turn on the camera on your Mac.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tim-cook/maybe-law-enforcement-would-like-the-ability-to-turn-on-the-camera-on/) [Tim Cook](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tim-cook/) > [I've seen guys come along with more ability - they've been faster or bigger or stronger - but they never worked hard to develop…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-largent/i-ve-seen-guys-come-along-with-more-ability-they-ve-been-faster-or/) [Steve Largent](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-largent/) > [The youth of India has the strength to move the entire World with a click of a mouse, we have generated that ability!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/narendra-modi/the-youth-of-india-has-the-strength-to-move-the-entire-world-with-a/) [Narendra Modi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/narendra-modi/) > [Time hath not yet so dried this blood of mine, Nor age so eat up my invention, Nor fortune made such havoc of my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-shakespeare/time-hath-not-yet-so-dried-this-blood-of-mine-nor-age-so-eat-up-my/) [William Shakespeare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-shakespeare/) > [An absolutely necessary part of a writer's equipment, almost as necessary as talent, is the ability to stand up under punishment, both the punishment…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/irwin-shaw/an-absolutely-necessary-part-of-a-writer-s-equipment-almost-as/) [Irwin Shaw](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/irwin-shaw/) > [I'd be more frightened by not using whatever abilities I'd been given. I'd be more frightened by procrastination and laziness.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/denzel-washington/i-d-be-more-frightened-by-not-using-whatever-abilities-i-d-been-given/) [Denzel Washington](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/denzel-washington/) > [Bring into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ. Take what I cannot give: my heart, body, thoughts, time, abilities, money, health, strength,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-prentiss/bring-into-captivity-every-thought-to-the-obedience-of-christ-take/) [Elizabeth Prentiss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-prentiss/) > [You can only do the work to the very best of your ability.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christine-baranski/you-can-only-do-the-work-to-the-very-best-of-your-ability/) [Christine Baranski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christine-baranski/) > [Judge a person not by his ability to make money but by his ability to retain it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vikrant-parsai/judge-a-person-not-by-his-ability-to-make-money-but-by-his-ability-to/) [Vikrant Parsai](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vikrant-parsai/) > [Balance is the ability to be happy in the midst of the most chaotic or even boring or transient circumstance.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-lenz/balance-is-the-ability-to-be-happy-in-the-midst-of-the-most-chaotic/) [Frederick Lenz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-lenz/) > [Bobby had faith in my ability as a singer.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julie-london/bobby-had-faith-in-my-ability-as-a-singer/) [Julie London](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julie-london/) [Browse all 9,990 Ability quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ability/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "In business, what distinguishes leaders from laggards and greatness from mediocrity is the ability to uniquely imagine what could be.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Robert Fritz" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-fritz/in-business-what-distinguishes-leaders-from-laggards-and-greatness/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Ability" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-fritz/in-business-what-distinguishes-leaders-from-laggards-and-greatness/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6ab/robert-fritz-18231_ability_in-business-what-distinguishes-leaders-f_1577982.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6ab/robert-fritz-18231_ability_in-business-what-distinguishes-leaders-f_1577982.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6ab/robert-fritz-18231_ability_in-business-what-distinguishes-leaders-f_1577982.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“In business, what distinguishes leaders from laggards and greatness from mediocrity is the ability to…” — Robert Fritz", "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": "Robert Fritz", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-fritz/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "In business, what distinguishes leaders from...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-fritz/in-business-what-distinguishes-leaders-from-laggards-and-greatness/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-fritz/in-business-what-distinguishes-leaders-from-laggards-and-greatness/#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 } } ] } ```