--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: There is usually a clock in our heads…" description: "\"There is usually a clock in our heads regarding decisions we make and the course of our lives. Sometimes this clock is helpful in that it get us to mov..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6ae/robert-s-kaplan-14993_action_there-is-usually-a-clock-in-our-heads-re_2263998.jpg" --- # There is usually a clock in our heads regarding decisions… ![“There is usually a clock in our heads regarding decisions we make and the course of our lives. Sometimes this clock is helpful in that it get us to move rather than put off key actions. Other times, it creates us false sense of urgency that can cause us to overreact, lost patience and make poor…” quote by Robert S. Kaplan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6ae/robert-s-kaplan-14993_action_there-is-usually-a-clock-in-our-heads-re_2263998.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6ae/robert-s-kaplan-14993_action_there-is-usually-a-clock-in-our-heads-re_2263998.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6ae/robert-s-kaplan-14993_action_there-is-usually-a-clock-in-our-heads-re_2263998.jpg) > “There is usually a clock in our heads regarding decisions we make and the course of our lives. Sometimes this clock is helpful in that it get us to move rather than put off key actions. Other times, it creates us false sense of urgency that can cause us to overreact, lost patience and make poor decisions. In raising this issue in my book, I want people to be aware of the clock in their heads and question whether that clock is helping or hindering the quality of each particular decision.” [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. Our internal decision timer can motivate or mislead, affecting patience and judgment. **In simple terms:** The mind’s timing can help or hinder decisions. Key Takeaway Check if your urgency is useful. Themes decision-making time perception patience Mood analytical cautious Type philosophical motivational When to use this quote - career planning - financial choices - personal relationships - health goals Key Concepts cognitive bias self-regulation Questions to Reflect On - Is your internal clock aligned with reality? - When does urgency improve outcomes? A Different Perspective Urgency may cause rash choices if unchecked. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Action](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/action/) [Book](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/book/) [Clock](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/clock/) [Clock Helpful](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/clock-helpful-5220328/) [Clock Helping](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/clock-helping-5220326/) [Decision](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/decision/) [Helpful](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/helpful/) [Helping](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/helping/) [Moving](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/moving/) [Patience](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/patience/) [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) [Poor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/poor/) [Poor decisions](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/poor-decisions/) [Quality](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/quality/) [Sense of urgency](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sense-of-urgency/) [Sense Urgency](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sense-urgency/) [Sometimes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sometimes/) [Urgency](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/urgency/) [Urgency Cause](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/urgency-cause-5220327/) ## Related quotes > [So many people are on the front lines of this fossil fuel frenzy. It is infused with a sense of urgency.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/avi-lewis/so-many-people-are-on-the-front-lines-of-this-fossil-fuel-frenzy-it/) [Avi Lewis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/avi-lewis/) > [Being constantly the hub of a network of potential interruptions provides the excitement and importance of crisis management. As well as the false sense…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-foley/being-constantly-the-hub-of-a-network-of-potential-interruptions/) [Michael Foley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-foley/) > [You must take action now that will move you towards your goals. Develop a sense of urgency in your life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/h-jackson-brown-jr/you-must-take-action-now-that-will-move-you-towards-your-goals/) [H. Jackson Brown, Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/h-jackson-brown-jr/) > [IBM needed - an enormous sense of urgency.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lou-gerstner/ibm-needed-an-enormous-sense-of-urgency/) [Lou Gerstner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lou-gerstner/) > [You feel a sense of urgency, especially at my advanced age, when you're staring into the grave.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frank-mccourt/you-feel-a-sense-of-urgency-especially-at-my-advanced-age-when-you-re/) [Frank McCourt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frank-mccourt/) > [When I was coming out of the dark places in my life, it's like, 'Man, you've come that close to not being here anymore,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/darren-waller/when-i-was-coming-out-of-the-dark-places-in-my-life-it-s-like-man-you/) [Darren Waller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/darren-waller/) > [The sense of urgency has almost completely vanished.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cleve-jones/the-sense-of-urgency-has-almost-completely-vanished/) [Cleve Jones](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cleve-jones/) > [I'm a little more measured. That sense of urgency I thought accompanied things - it can take a little longer. You have to take…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-arad/i-m-a-little-more-measured-that-sense-of-urgency-i-thought/) [Michael Arad](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-arad/) > [Throughout all of human history we've enjoyed certain benign circumstances: an envelope of atmosphere, an envelope of temperature. A kind of resilience that if…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sylvia-earle/throughout-all-of-human-history-we-ve-enjoyed-certain-benign/) [Sylvia Earle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sylvia-earle/) > [There's a thin line between playing with a sense of urgency and playing a little too tight.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matthew-slater/there-s-a-thin-line-between-playing-with-a-sense-of-urgency-and/) [Matthew Slater](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matthew-slater/) > [There's a sense of urgency in understanding that your body is not really your own. We can control it to a certain extent through…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sufjan-stevens/there-s-a-sense-of-urgency-in-understanding-that-your-body-is-not/) [Sufjan Stevens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sufjan-stevens/) > [I have a sense of urgency, of time. I am a woman and am always running between work, doctors' appointments, school meetings, filling up…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/segolene-royal/i-have-a-sense-of-urgency-of-time-i-am-a-woman-and-am-always-running/) [Segolene Royal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/segolene-royal/) > [Develop a sense of urgency in your life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/h-jackson-brown-jr/develop-a-sense-of-urgency-in-your-life/) [H. Jackson Brown, Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/h-jackson-brown-jr/) > [Without a sense of urgency, desire loses its value.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-rohn/without-a-sense-of-urgency-desire-loses-its-value/) [Jim Rohn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-rohn/) > [I just think we want to stay healthy, and I don't think we think about a sense of urgency. We realize how old we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karl-malone/i-just-think-we-want-to-stay-healthy-and-i-don-t-think-we-think-about/) [Karl Malone](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karl-malone/) ## 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. 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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. 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