--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Step one is to take ownership of figuring…" description: "\"Step one is to take ownership of figuring strengths ans weaknesses out. It starts with writing them down but, to take ownership, you have got to seek f..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/766/robert-s-kaplan-14993_feedback_step-one-is-to-take-ownership-of-figurin_1819426.jpg" --- # Step one is to take ownership of figuring strengths ans… ![“Step one is to take ownership of figuring strengths ans weaknesses out. It starts with writing them down but, to take ownership, you have got to seek feedback of those who directly observe you - this is scary and uncomfortable for many people. It's no fun to hear negative feedback and most people…” quote by Robert S. Kaplan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/766/robert-s-kaplan-14993_feedback_step-one-is-to-take-ownership-of-figurin_1819426.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/766/robert-s-kaplan-14993_feedback_step-one-is-to-take-ownership-of-figurin_1819426.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/766/robert-s-kaplan-14993_feedback_step-one-is-to-take-ownership-of-figurin_1819426.jpg) > “Step one is to take ownership of figuring strengths ans weaknesses out. It starts with writing them down but, to take ownership, you have got to seek feedback of those who directly observe you - this is scary and uncomfortable for many people. It's no fun to hear negative feedback and most people don't want to stick their necks out to give it to you. So, you have to ask.” [Robert S. Kaplan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-s-kaplan/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Taking responsibility for personal development requires honest self‑assessment and seeking candid feedback, even when it feels uncomfortable. **In simple terms:** Own your strengths and weaknesses by writing them down and asking trusted observers for feedback. Key Takeaway Write down strengths, ask for honest feedback. Themes self‑improvement accountability growth feedback Mood reflective motivational Type advice self‑help When to use this quote - career planning - team performance - personal coaching - skill development Key Concepts self‑awareness psychology leadership Questions to Reflect On - How can you create a safe space for honest feedback? - What steps help you process negative comments constructively? A Different Perspective People may resist giving blunt feedback, limiting its usefulness. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Fun](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fun/) [Giving](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/giving/) [Negative feedback](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/negative-feedback/) [Ownership](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ownership/) [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) [Strength](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/strength/) [Uncomfortable](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/uncomfortable/) [Weakness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/weakness/) [Weaknesses](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/weaknesses/) [Writing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/writing/) ## Related quotes > [It's something that as you go on in your career you make little changes and little adjustments and that's part of the fun of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-lee/it-s-something-that-as-you-go-on-in-your-career-you-make-little/) [David Lee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-lee/) > [“experts hungrily seek feedback on how they did. Necessarily, much of that feedback is negative. This means that experts are more interested in what…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/angela-duckworth/experts-hungrily-seek-feedback-on-how-they-did-necessarily-much-of/) [Angela Duckworth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/angela-duckworth/) > [It takes humility to seek feedback. It takes wisdom to understand it, analyze it and appropriately act on it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-covey/it-takes-humility-to-seek-feedback-it-takes-wisdom-to-understand-it/) [Stephen Covey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-covey/) > [I actually got a lot of negative feedback about my hair on 'The Bachelor' because I like to just wash it and go.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kaitlyn-bristowe/i-actually-got-a-lot-of-negative-feedback-about-my-hair-on-the/) [Kaitlyn Bristowe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kaitlyn-bristowe/) > [I was 'Little Ty,' 'Little Tyrone.' I always got this negative feedback from the game of basketball.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/muggsy-bogues/i-was-little-ty-little-tyrone-i-always-got-this-negative-feedback/) [Muggsy Bogues](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/muggsy-bogues/) > [Negative feedback can make people feel inferior.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adam-grant/negative-feedback-can-make-people-feel-inferior/) [Adam Grant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adam-grant/) > [“Discouragement has a more powerful negative impact on your behavior than the positive impact of encouragement because we pay more attention to the negative…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-meadows/discouragement-has-a-more-powerful-negative-impact-on-your-behavior/) [Martin Meadows](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-meadows/) > [Negative feedback effected amplifier performance significantly.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harold-stephen-black/negative-feedback-effected-amplifier-performance-significantly/) Harold Stephen Black > [“To help the conversations go well, I reminded everyone that feedback should always go both ways. I talked about how a single sentence can…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sheryl-sandberg/to-help-the-conversations-go-well-i-reminded-everyone-that-feedback/) [Sheryl Sandberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sheryl-sandberg/) > [No man, everybody liked that f\*\*\*in' record. I didn't get any negative feedback. Not one person said, Why did you touch Big? When Foolish…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/irv-gotti/no-man-everybody-liked-that-f-in-record-i-didn-t-get-any-negative/) [Irv Gotti](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/irv-gotti/) > [I can't remember one bad time I had in Boston as far as where I got negative feedback from fans, no matter the first…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rajon-rondo/i-can-t-remember-one-bad-time-i-had-in-boston-as-far-as-where-i-got/) [Rajon Rondo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rajon-rondo/) > [“Paul Harvey, a University of New Hampshire professor and GYPSY expert, has researched this, finding that Gen Y has "unrealistic expectations and a strong…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/waitbutwhy-blog/paul-harvey-a-university-of-new-hampshire-professor-and-gypsy-expert/) Waitbutwhy Blog > [“Conformity is a problem for many small groups. Members put a higher priority on cohesion than on coming up with a well-reasoned choice. They…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/conformity-is-a-problem-for-many-small-groups-members-put-a-higher/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [To a pitcher, a base hit is the perfect example of negative feedback.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-hovley/to-a-pitcher-a-base-hit-is-the-perfect-example-of-negative-feedback/) Steve Hovley > [“For years, she had a debilitating habit. She would sit on the bus on the way home from her lab creating a long list…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/katty-kay/for-years-she-had-a-debilitating-habit-she-would-sit-on-the-bus-on/) [Katty Kay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/katty-kay/) ## More by Robert S. Kaplan > [“To improve your skills, you need to be receptive to constructive criticism and open to feeling uncomfortable.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-s-kaplan/to-improve-your-skills-you-need-to-be-receptive-to-constructive/) [Robert S. Kaplan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-s-kaplan/) > [I like films about people who figured out what they believed and had the guts to act on it in a way that added…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-s-kaplan/i-like-films-about-people-who-figured-out-what-they-believed-and-had/) [Robert S. Kaplan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-s-kaplan/) > [“If you want to reach your potential, you must be willing to figure out what you believe and have the courage to act on…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-s-kaplan/if-you-want-to-reach-your-potential-you-must-be-willing-to-figure-out/) [Robert S. Kaplan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-s-kaplan/) > [Leadership is a team sport - learning to work with others is a critical skill. This means articulating a clear vision, setting priorities, giving…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-s-kaplan/leadership-is-a-team-sport-learning-to-work-with-others-is-a-critical/) [Robert S. Kaplan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-s-kaplan/) > [Consistent alignment of capabilities and internal processes with the customer value proposition is the core of any strategy execution.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-s-kaplan/consistent-alignment-of-capabilities-and-internal-processes-with-the/) [Robert S. Kaplan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-s-kaplan/) > [Managing risk is very different from managing strategy. Risk management focuses on the negative-threats and failures rather than opportunities and successes.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-s-kaplan/managing-risk-is-very-different-from-managing-strategy-risk/) [Robert S. Kaplan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-s-kaplan/) > [Reaching your potential is a disciplined process. Like losing weight or getting in shape - there is no final destination and it requires you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-s-kaplan/reaching-your-potential-is-a-disciplined-process-like-losing-weight/) [Robert S. Kaplan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-s-kaplan/) > [In my opinion, you have to have a vision for how you add value to others through your product or service. Why do you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-s-kaplan/in-my-opinion-you-have-to-have-a-vision-for-how-you-add-value-to/) [Robert S. Kaplan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-s-kaplan/) > [You never do arrive at a destination. You have to work at it and take ownership of the process. What resonates at age 25…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-s-kaplan/you-never-do-arrive-at-a-destination-you-have-to-work-at-it-and-take/) [Robert S. Kaplan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-s-kaplan/) > [To help people with the struggle, I have to reveal my own struggles.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-s-kaplan/to-help-people-with-the-struggle-i-have-to-reveal-my-own-struggles/) [Robert S. Kaplan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-s-kaplan/) > [If you're the smartest person in the room, it can sometimes be hard to learn to delegate - the person to whom you're delegating…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-s-kaplan/if-you-re-the-smartest-person-in-the-room-it-can-sometimes-be-hard-to/) [Robert S. Kaplan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-s-kaplan/) > [Rather than the word career, I prefer to discuss how you make a positive I pact on the world. This could mean raising your…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-s-kaplan/rather-than-the-word-career-i-prefer-to-discuss-how-you-make-a/) [Robert S. Kaplan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-s-kaplan/) > [Screening out peer pressure and conventional wisdom. It is so powerful, that most of us aren't even aware of how much it is influencing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-s-kaplan/screening-out-peer-pressure-and-conventional-wisdom-it-is-so-powerful/) [Robert S. Kaplan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-s-kaplan/) > [Change efforts happen when a firm is out of alignment with achieving its vision. If the organization has broad buy-in on a clear vision,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-s-kaplan/change-efforts-happen-when-a-firm-is-out-of-alignment-with-achieving/) [Robert S. Kaplan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-s-kaplan/) > [Why do leaders fail? Isolation and inability to learn. They are afraid to express doubt, admit vulnerability or seek advice from subordinates. Leaders must…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-s-kaplan/why-do-leaders-fail-isolation-and-inability-to-learn-they-are-afraid/) [Robert S. Kaplan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-s-kaplan/) [Explore all 44 Robert S. Kaplan quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-s-kaplan/) ## More Feedback quotes > [There's nothing like getting feedback that's positive and supportive. That's what I'm all about. I'm really just genuinely doing good music. I'm not looking…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tiffany-villarreal/there-s-nothing-like-getting-feedback-that-s-positive-and-supportive/) [Tiffany Villarreal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tiffany-villarreal/) > [My writing process is very feedback-based. When I do stand-up, I listen to the audience. I try to understand what's connecting, what's not connecting,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-birbiglia/my-writing-process-is-very-feedback-based-when-i-do-stand-up-i-listen/) [Mike Birbiglia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-birbiglia/) > [A lot of the kids gave a lot of positive feedback about if I ever became a coach, they would love to play in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/penny-hardaway/a-lot-of-the-kids-gave-a-lot-of-positive-feedback-about-if-i-ever/) [Penny Hardaway](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/penny-hardaway/) > [Most enjoyable activities are not natural; they demand an effort that initially one is reluctant to make. But once the interaction starts to provide…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mihaly-csikszentmihalyi/most-enjoyable-activities-are-not-natural-they-demand-an-effort-that/) [Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mihaly-csikszentmihalyi/) > [Go to a playground: Little girls get called 'bossy' all the time, a word that's almost never used for boys. And that leads directly…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sheryl-sandberg/go-to-a-playground-little-girls-get-called-bossy-all-the-time-a-word/) [Sheryl Sandberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sheryl-sandberg/) > [I have to thank batting coach Sanjay Bangar for providing valuable inputs. He gave me honest feedback about how poorly I was batting and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ravichandran-ashwin/i-have-to-thank-batting-coach-sanjay-bangar-for-providing-valuable/) [Ravichandran Ashwin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ravichandran-ashwin/) > [The feedback that I get from my association with Gomez is heartwarming. It is very difficult for me to take anything but a positive…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-astin/the-feedback-that-i-get-from-my-association-with-gomez-is/) [John Astin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-astin/) > [I love Twitter, you know? I try to read everything I can on Twitter. You get so much nice feedback about stuff, you know…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tiesto/i-love-twitter-you-know-i-try-to-read-everything-i-can-on-twitter-you/) [Tiesto](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tiesto/) > [Real writers-that is, capital W Writers-rarely make much money. Their biggest reward is the occasional reader's response… Commentators-in-print voicing big fat opinions-you might call…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/malcolm-forbes/real-writers-that-is-capital-w-writers-rarely-make-much-money-their/) [Malcolm Forbes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/malcolm-forbes/) > [Twitter is a very powerful platform for adversarial feedback.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kenneth-cole/twitter-is-a-very-powerful-platform-for-adversarial-feedback/) [Kenneth Cole](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kenneth-cole/) > [When you're writing a novel, you spend four years sitting in your basement and a year waiting for the book to come out and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-green/when-you-re-writing-a-novel-you-spend-four-years-sitting-in-your/) [John Green](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-green/) > [The 'Pro-Sim' is pretty much the best simulator you can buy, because of the steering motor and the pedals. The force feedback we get…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lando-norris/the-pro-sim-is-pretty-much-the-best-simulator-you-can-buy-because-of/) [Lando Norris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lando-norris/) > [What I like about the internet, what I see there is that its much more democratic. I have much more control, and if what…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-greene/what-i-like-about-the-internet-what-i-see-there-is-that-its-much-more/) [Robert Greene](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-greene/) > [ \[Hunt for the Wilderpeople\] people seem to be just finding it hilarious in Sundance. I would think that judging on the feedback I get;… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sam-neill/hunt-for-the-wilderpeople-people-seem-to-be-just-finding-it-hilarious/) [Sam Neill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sam-neill/) > [If you get honest feedback and do nothing about it, then the feedback will stop.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-mulally/if-you-get-honest-feedback-and-do-nothing-about-it-then-the-feedback/) [Alan Mulally](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-mulally/) Browse all 745 Feedback quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Step one is to take ownership of figuring strengths ans weaknesses out. It starts with writing them down but, to take ownership, you have got to seek feedback of those who directly observe you - this is scary and uncomfortable for many people. It's no fun to hear negative feedback and most people don't want to stick their necks out to give it to you. 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