---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: If you make a mistake, you have to step…"
description: "\"If you make a mistake, you have to step up and you have to take responsibility.\" — Ron Rivera"
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4db/ron-rivera-9037_failure_if-you-make-a-mistake-you-have-to-step-u_599717.jpg"
---

#  If you make a mistake, you have to step up and you have to…

![“If you make a mistake, you have to step up and you have to take responsibility.” quote by Ron Rivera](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4db/ron-rivera-9037_failure_if-you-make-a-mistake-you-have-to-step-u_599717.jpg)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4db/ron-rivera-9037_failure_if-you-make-a-mistake-you-have-to-step-u_599717.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4db/ron-rivera-9037_failure_if-you-make-a-mistake-you-have-to-step-u_599717.jpg)

> “If you make a mistake, you have to step up and you have to take responsibility.”

[Ron Rivera](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ron-rivera/)

## About This Quote

This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.

Acknowledging errors requires owning them and acting to fix them.

**In simple terms:** Own mistakes and fix them.

Key Takeaway

Take responsibility immediately.

Themes

accountability leadership growth

Mood

reflective determined

Type

advice leadership

When to use this quote

- team meetings
- project management
- personal relationships
- public statements

Key Concepts

self-awareness integrity remediation

Questions to Reflect On

- How can you turn a mistake into a learning opportunity?
- What steps ensure accountability without blame?

A Different Perspective

Admitting fault may damage reputation if not handled carefully.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Failure](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/failure/) [Mistake](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mistake/) [Responsibility](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/responsibility/)

## Related quotes

> [Everybody says Mistake is the first step of success but the real fact is CORRECTION of mistake is the first step of success.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bilal-zahoor/everybody-says-mistake-is-the-first-step-of-success-but-the-real-fact/)

[Bilal Zahoor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bilal-zahoor/)

> [Your mistake is a step to success, never give up.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/your-mistake-is-a-step-to-success-never-give-up/)

[Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/)

> [Mistake is not the first step of success but the correction of mistake is the first step of success.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anurag-prakash-ray/mistake-is-not-the-first-step-of-success-but-the-correction-of/)

[Anurag Prakash Ray](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anurag-prakash-ray/)

> [Everybody says mistake is first step to success, but correcting the mistake is the ladder to it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/biman-gandhi/everybody-says-mistake-is-first-step-to-success-but-correcting-the/)

[Biman Gandhi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/biman-gandhi/)

> [“Every woman should make one mistake matrimonially. - Alex Restarick”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/agatha-christie/every-woman-should-make-one-mistake-matrimonially-alex-restarick/)

[Agatha Christie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/agatha-christie/)

> [If you make a mistake, it doesn't mean you're a mistake.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joyce-meyer/if-you-make-a-mistake-it-doesn-t-mean-you-re-a-mistake/)

[Joyce Meyer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joyce-meyer/)

> [No one knows anything. You're going to make mistakes and you're going to do things that people think are stupid. You can't sit there…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-hader/no-one-knows-anything-you-re-going-to-make-mistakes-and-you-re-going/)

[Bill Hader](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-hader/)

> [Don't make the mistake of thinking you're Facebook's customer, you're not – you're the product,](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bruce-schneier/don-t-make-the-mistake-of-thinking-you-re-facebook-s-customer-you-re/)

[Bruce Schneier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bruce-schneier/)

> [If I make a mistake, I’m going to make a mistake aggressively and I’m going to make it quickly. I don’t believe in sleeping…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bo/if-i-make-a-mistake-i-m-going-to-make-a-mistake-aggressively-and-i-m/)

Bo

> [When you make a mistake, you have to admit it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/petr-cech/when-you-make-a-mistake-you-have-to-admit-it/)

[Petr Cech](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/petr-cech/)

> [My mother taught me this trick: if you repeat something over and over again it loses its meaning, for example homework homework homework homework…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/my-mother-taught-me-this-trick-if-you-repeat-something-over-and-over/)

[Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/)

> [“To make a mistake is only human; to persist in a mistake is idiotic.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cicero/to-make-a-mistake-is-only-human-to-persist-in-a-mistake-is-idiotic/)

[Cicero](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cicero/)

> [If loving you is a big mistake, I will never ever want to be right,i will always make the same mistake over and over…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/horla/if-loving-you-is-a-big-mistake-i-will-never-ever-want-to-be-right-i/)

[Horla](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/horla/)

> [The responsibility and the blessing in many ways of a Sunday show is being able to step back and give context.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/margaret-brennan/the-responsibility-and-the-blessing-in-many-ways-of-a-sunday-show-is/)

[Margaret Brennan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/margaret-brennan/)

> [“I saw the errors I had made and assumed full responsibility for everything.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-miller/i-saw-the-errors-i-had-made-and-assumed-full-responsibility-for/)

[Henry Miller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-miller/)

## More by Ron Rivera

> [I've always felt it's very important to try to give back to the community.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ron-rivera/i-ve-always-felt-it-s-very-important-to-try-to-give-back-to-the/)

[Ron Rivera](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ron-rivera/)

> [I don't go into any conversations not prepared.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ron-rivera/i-don-t-go-into-any-conversations-not-prepared/)

[Ron Rivera](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ron-rivera/)

> [I know I sound overly optimistic, but you know me, I've always been an optimistic guy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ron-rivera/i-know-i-sound-overly-optimistic-but-you-know-me-i-ve-always-been-an/)

[Ron Rivera](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ron-rivera/)

> [I always feel like I'm coaching for my job. Just like when I was a player for nine years in Chicago. I came in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ron-rivera/i-always-feel-like-i-m-coaching-for-my-job-just-like-when-i-was-a/)

[Ron Rivera](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ron-rivera/)

> [But, you know, I'm just somebody that's from a different era that when football wasn't such a big part of the political scene. You…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ron-rivera/but-you-know-i-m-just-somebody-that-s-from-a-different-era-that-when/)

[Ron Rivera](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ron-rivera/)

> [When you get into playing you strive for one thing, that's to be a Super Bowl champion. When you get into coaching, you strive…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ron-rivera/when-you-get-into-playing-you-strive-for-one-thing-that-s-to-be-a/)

[Ron Rivera](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ron-rivera/)

> [To have two separate game plans, you're asking for way too much of your team. That's why it's important to have quarterbacks that know…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ron-rivera/to-have-two-separate-game-plans-you-re-asking-for-way-too-much-of/)

[Ron Rivera](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ron-rivera/)

> [One thing I've learned is you have to treat everybody fair but you're not going to be able to treat everybody the same.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ron-rivera/one-thing-i-ve-learned-is-you-have-to-treat-everybody-fair-but-you-re/)

[Ron Rivera](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ron-rivera/)

> [After Mickey passed, I was talking to my mom on the phone. She was talking about how we were such good brothers and we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ron-rivera/after-mickey-passed-i-was-talking-to-my-mom-on-the-phone-she-was/)

[Ron Rivera](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ron-rivera/)

> [I feel that I have to succeed to the highest level I can.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ron-rivera/i-feel-that-i-have-to-succeed-to-the-highest-level-i-can/)

[Ron Rivera](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ron-rivera/)

> [I'm fortunate I landed on my feet in Washington.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ron-rivera/i-m-fortunate-i-landed-on-my-feet-in-washington/)

[Ron Rivera](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ron-rivera/)

> [That's part of my prerogative as a head coach is that I can change my mind because if I'm wrong, I'll admit it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ron-rivera/that-s-part-of-my-prerogative-as-a-head-coach-is-that-i-can-change-my/)

[Ron Rivera](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ron-rivera/)

> [I want to be able to coach people, impact people, win football games and hopefully win a Super Bowl.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ron-rivera/i-want-to-be-able-to-coach-people-impact-people-win-football-games/)

[Ron Rivera](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ron-rivera/)

> [Somebody will say, 'Oh, if you go 19-0 you win the Super Bowl.' And I'm like, 'Yeah it does, but let's take it one…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ron-rivera/somebody-will-say-oh-if-you-go-19-0-you-win-the-super-bowl-and-i-m/)

[Ron Rivera](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ron-rivera/)

> [It's a lot of fun watching Kelvin Benjamin out there grow and develop as a football player.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ron-rivera/it-s-a-lot-of-fun-watching-kelvin-benjamin-out-there-grow-and-develop/)

[Ron Rivera](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ron-rivera/)

[Explore all 75 Ron Rivera quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ron-rivera/)

## More Failure quotes

> [When you do things they're absolutely right at that time for you and it can always teach you something about yourself. You can take…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kym-marsh/when-you-do-things-they-re-absolutely-right-at-that-time-for-you-and/)

[Kym Marsh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kym-marsh/)

> [Failures happen. You can't cry over them. You just take it in your stride because you know that you have done your best... Sometimes,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/divya-dutta/failures-happen-you-can-t-cry-over-them-you-just-take-it-in-your/)

[Divya Dutta](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/divya-dutta/)

> [No one is completely unhappy at the failure of his best friend.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/groucho-marx/no-one-is-completely-unhappy-at-the-failure-of-his-best-friend/)

[Groucho Marx](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/groucho-marx/)

> [“Rhiannon's Law #28: If you're going to fuck up, be sure to fuck up good and proper. Nothing makes failure acceptable, so you might…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/rhiannon-s-law-28-if-you-re-going-to-fuck-up-be-sure-to-fuck-up-good/)

[Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/)

> [Failure is a part of life and you have to learn to deal with it. Failure is something that is part of life's cycle…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/colin-powell/failure-is-a-part-of-life-and-you-have-to-learn-to-deal-with-it/)

[Colin Powell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/colin-powell/)

> [If my child had prejudice in his head, I'd be ashamed. I would see it as my failure as a parent.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/salman-rushdie/if-my-child-had-prejudice-in-his-head-i-d-be-ashamed-i-would-see-it/)

[Salman Rushdie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/salman-rushdie/)

> [First action was a mistake. What about the second? third? fourth and fifth?...Mehn you are bad...](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/first-action-was-a-mistake-what-about-the-second-third-fourth-and/)

[Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/)

> [God's love never fail :)](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/god-s-love-never-fail/)

[Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/)

> [Don’t you just hate nights like that, when you think over every mistake you’ve made, every hurt you’ve received, every bit of meanness you’ve…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charlaine-harris/don-t-you-just-hate-nights-like-that-when-you-think-over-every/)

[Charlaine Harris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charlaine-harris/)

> [“Our failure to understand another being's inner reality doesn't make that reality any less real, or any less valuable to that being. (p.255)”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kathryn-schulz/our-failure-to-understand-another-being-s-inner-reality-doesn-t-make/)

[Kathryn Schulz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kathryn-schulz/)

> [I hope that the Palestinians don't make the mistake of unleashing a new intifada. They've tried it twice before, and the consequences were bad…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-segev/i-hope-that-the-palestinians-don-t-make-the-mistake-of-unleashing-a/)

[Tom Segev](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-segev/)

> [Don't take too much comfort in the fact that you're successful today because tomorrow could bring failure. There's no surety in life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-savage/don-t-take-too-much-comfort-in-the-fact-that-you-re-successful-today/)

[Michael Savage](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-savage/)

> [“It took me years to learn to sit at my desk for more than two minutes at a time, to put up with the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erica-jong/it-took-me-years-to-learn-to-sit-at-my-desk-for-more-than-two-minutes/)

[Erica Jong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erica-jong/)

> [failure in the theater is more public, more brilliant, more unreal than in any other field.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lillian-hellman/failure-in-the-theater-is-more-public-more-brilliant-more-unreal-than/)

[Lillian Hellman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lillian-hellman/)

> [As we are coming to the end of the year, I want you to forget about the past, the failure, the negative thoughts or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/as-we-are-coming-to-the-end-of-the-year-i-want-you-to-forget-about/)

[Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/)

[Browse all 27,498 Failure quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/failure/)

```json
{
    "@context": "https://schema.org",
    "@graph": [
        {
            "@type": "Quotation",
            "text": "If you make a mistake, you have to step up and you have to take responsibility.",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "Ron Rivera"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ron-rivera/if-you-make-a-mistake-you-have-to-step-up-and-you-have-to-take/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "Failure"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ron-rivera/if-you-make-a-mistake-you-have-to-step-up-and-you-have-to-take/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4db/ron-rivera-9037_failure_if-you-make-a-mistake-you-have-to-step-u_599717.jpg",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4db/ron-rivera-9037_failure_if-you-make-a-mistake-you-have-to-step-u_599717.jpg",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4db/ron-rivera-9037_failure_if-you-make-a-mistake-you-have-to-step-u_599717.jpg",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“If you make a mistake, you have to step up and you have to take responsibility.” — Ron Rivera",
                "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": "Ron Rivera",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ron-rivera/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 4,
                    "name": "If you make a mistake, you...",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ron-rivera/if-you-make-a-mistake-you-have-to-step-up-and-you-have-to-take/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ron-rivera/if-you-make-a-mistake-you-have-to-step-up-and-you-have-to-take/#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
            }
        }
    ]
}
```
