--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Everything looks like a failure in the…" description: "\"Everything looks like a failure in the middle. In neary every change project, doubt is cast on the original vision because problems are mounting and th..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8ed/rosabeth-moss-kanter-4386_casts_everything-looks-like-a-failure-in-the-m_379218.png" --- # Everything looks like a failure in the middle. In neary… ![“Everything looks like a failure in the middle. In neary every change project, doubt is cast on the original vision because problems are mounting and the end is nowhere in sight.” quote by Rosabeth Moss Kanter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8ed/rosabeth-moss-kanter-4386_casts_everything-looks-like-a-failure-in-the-m_379218.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8ed/rosabeth-moss-kanter-4386_casts_everything-looks-like-a-failure-in-the-m_379218.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8ed/rosabeth-moss-kanter-4386_casts_everything-looks-like-a-failure-in-the-m_379218.png) > “Everything looks like a failure in the middle. In neary every change project, doubt is cast on the original vision because problems are mounting and the end is nowhere in sight.” [Rosabeth Moss Kanter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rosabeth-moss-kanter/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Mid‑project doubts arise as challenges mount, obscuring the original vision and making success seem distant. **In simple terms:** Doubt grows in the middle of change. Key Takeaway Stay resilient and revisit the vision. Themes change uncertainty vision Mood reflective cautious Type advice inspirational When to use this quote - organizational change - startup pivots - personal transformation Key Concepts project management psychology of doubt Questions to Reflect On - What evidence supports your vision now? - How can you break the problem into manageable parts? A Different Perspective Overcoming doubt requires concrete milestones. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Change](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/change/) [Doubt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/doubt/) [Failure](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/failure/) [Problem](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/problem/) [Vision](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/vision/) ## Related quotes > [A basic truth of management - if not of life - is that nearly everything looks like a failure in the middle.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rosabeth-moss-kanter/a-basic-truth-of-management-if-not-of-life-is-that-nearly-everything/) [Rosabeth Moss Kanter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rosabeth-moss-kanter/) > [Everything looks like a failure in the middle.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/everything-looks-like-a-failure-in-the-middle/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“So, start every change project with a clear and compelling statement of the goal you’re trying to achieve. Measure your progress. Don’t leave it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-grenny/so-start-every-change-project-with-a-clear-and-compelling-statement/) [Joseph Grenny](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-grenny/) > [When I was growing up, I always felt there was an expectation that I would do one of two things: be great at something,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marya-hornbacher/when-i-was-growing-up-i-always-felt-there-was-an-expectation-that-i/) [Marya Hornbacher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marya-hornbacher/) > [The 'I' casts off the illusion of the 'I' and yet remains 'I'. Such is the paradox of Self-realization. The Realized do not see…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ramana-maharshi/the-i-casts-off-the-illusion-of-the-i-and-yet-remains-i-such-is-the/) [Ramana Maharshi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ramana-maharshi/) > [She knows there's no success like failure, and that failure's no success at all.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bob-dylan/she-knows-there-s-no-success-like-failure-and-that-failure-s-no/) [Bob Dylan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bob-dylan/) > [Success is like failure, It's how you perceive it, It's what you do with it, not how you achieve it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-sondheim/success-is-like-failure-it-s-how-you-perceive-it-it-s-what-you-do/) [Stephen Sondheim](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-sondheim/) > [I failed first grade, which is my biggest problem. You always feel like a failure, like you're stupid.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amy-sedaris/i-failed-first-grade-which-is-my-biggest-problem-you-always-feel-like/) [Amy Sedaris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amy-sedaris/) > [“There's nothing like failure and humiliation to make you teachable.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gary-heavin/there-s-nothing-like-failure-and-humiliation-to-make-you-teachable/) Gary Heavin > [“By 19oo, anybody could end up "a 'Nobody,"' plodding down the "many paths leading to the Land of 'Nowhere."' Failure had become what it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scott-a-sandage/by-19oo-anybody-could-end-up-a-nobody-plodding-down-the-many-paths/) [Scott A. Sandage](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scott-a-sandage/) > [What looks like a failure teaches us what not to do, what does not work. We have lessons to learn from our experiences.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/iyanla-vanzant/what-looks-like-a-failure-teaches-us-what-not-to-do-what-does-not/) [Iyanla Vanzant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/iyanla-vanzant/) > [Nothing succeeds, they say, like success. And certainly nothing fails like failure.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/margaret-drabble/nothing-succeeds-they-say-like-success-and-certainly-nothing-fails/) [Margaret Drabble](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/margaret-drabble/) > [“I feel like a failure." The expression comes so naturally that we forget it is a figure of speech: the language of business applied…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scott-a-sandage/i-feel-like-a-failure-the-expression-comes-so-naturally-that-we/) [Scott A. Sandage](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scott-a-sandage/) > [“How is feeling like a failure supposed to help me? The way I see it, they should invent some pill that just makes you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amy-reed/how-is-feeling-like-a-failure-supposed-to-help-me-the-way-i-see-it/) [Amy Reed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amy-reed/) > [In our business, things look like a failure until they're not. It's pretty binary transitions.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/satya-nadella/in-our-business-things-look-like-a-failure-until-they-re-not-it-s/) [Satya Nadella](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/satya-nadella/) ## More by Rosabeth Moss Kanter > [Not everyone in an organization is in a position to accumulate power through competent performance because most people are just carrying out the ordinary…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rosabeth-moss-kanter/not-everyone-in-an-organization-is-in-a-position-to-accumulate-power/) [Rosabeth Moss Kanter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rosabeth-moss-kanter/) > [I wonder whether there has been too much emphasis on teaching women to conform, to fit into the system. Certainly that suits conservative organizations…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rosabeth-moss-kanter/i-wonder-whether-there-has-been-too-much-emphasis-on-teaching-women/) [Rosabeth Moss Kanter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rosabeth-moss-kanter/) > [After years of telling corporate citizens to 'trust the system,' many companies must relearn instead to trust their people - and encourage their people…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rosabeth-moss-kanter/after-years-of-telling-corporate-citizens-to-trust-the-system-many/) [Rosabeth Moss Kanter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rosabeth-moss-kanter/) > [Creativity is a lot like looking at the world through a kaleidoscope. You look at a set of elements, the same ones everyone else…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rosabeth-moss-kanter/creativity-is-a-lot-like-looking-at-the-world-through-a-kaleidoscope/) [Rosabeth Moss Kanter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rosabeth-moss-kanter/) > [The difference between "winners" and "losers" is not whether they face obstacles and setbacks - we all do, and it is inevitable that plans…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rosabeth-moss-kanter/the-difference-between-winners-and-losers-is-not-whether-they-face/) [Rosabeth Moss Kanter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rosabeth-moss-kanter/) > [Friendly people are caring people, eager to provide encouragement and support when needed most.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rosabeth-moss-kanter/friendly-people-are-caring-people-eager-to-provide-encouragement-and/) [Rosabeth Moss Kanter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rosabeth-moss-kanter/) > [Power is the ability to get things done](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rosabeth-moss-kanter/power-is-the-ability-to-get-things-done/) [Rosabeth Moss Kanter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rosabeth-moss-kanter/) > [I've been looking at companies that are on a positive path vs. a negative path and I've come to use the language of sports,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rosabeth-moss-kanter/i-ve-been-looking-at-companies-that-are-on-a-positive-path-vs-a/) [Rosabeth Moss Kanter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rosabeth-moss-kanter/) > [Power stems from 'rainmaking,' as law firms put it: the ability to bring resources into the company.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rosabeth-moss-kanter/power-stems-from-rainmaking-as-law-firms-put-it-the-ability-to-bring/) [Rosabeth Moss Kanter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rosabeth-moss-kanter/) > [Leaders must pick causes they won't abandon easily, remain committed despite setbacks, and communicate their big ideas over and over again in every encounter.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rosabeth-moss-kanter/leaders-must-pick-causes-they-won-t-abandon-easily-remain-committed/) [Rosabeth Moss Kanter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rosabeth-moss-kanter/) > [Companies used to be able to function with autocratic bosses. We don't live in that world anymore.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rosabeth-moss-kanter/companies-used-to-be-able-to-function-with-autocratic-bosses-we-don-t/) [Rosabeth Moss Kanter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rosabeth-moss-kanter/) > [Confidence is not lodged in people's brains, it comes from the support system that surrounds them. Let's not confuse confidence overall with just self-confidence.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rosabeth-moss-kanter/confidence-is-not-lodged-in-people-s-brains-it-comes-from-the-support/) [Rosabeth Moss Kanter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rosabeth-moss-kanter/) > [During the Boom Years, it was so easy to lose sight of basic values. For example, there was lots of nonsense said and written…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rosabeth-moss-kanter/during-the-boom-years-it-was-so-easy-to-lose-sight-of-basic-values/) [Rosabeth Moss Kanter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rosabeth-moss-kanter/) > [Winning becomes easier over time as the cornerstones of confidence become habits.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rosabeth-moss-kanter/winning-becomes-easier-over-time-as-the-cornerstones-of-confidence/) [Rosabeth Moss Kanter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rosabeth-moss-kanter/) > [Throughout human history, people have developed strong loyalties to traditions, rituals, and symbols. In the most effective organizations, they are not only respected but…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rosabeth-moss-kanter/throughout-human-history-people-have-developed-strong-loyalties-to/) [Rosabeth Moss Kanter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rosabeth-moss-kanter/) [Explore all 111 Rosabeth Moss Kanter quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rosabeth-moss-kanter/) ## More Casts quotes > [Everything comes home, my mother used to say; every word spoken, every shadow cast, every footprint in the sand. 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We all just focused…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nina-jacobson/i-was-focused-on-the-hunger-games-movie-with-my-director-with-the/) [Nina Jacobson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nina-jacobson/) > [All my life I've been involved with racial politics. I was a Freedom Rider in the South. I was the author of books on…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-hayden/all-my-life-i-ve-been-involved-with-racial-politics-i-was-a-freedom/) [Tom Hayden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-hayden/) > [God hath work to do in this world; and to desert it because of its difficulties and entanglements, is to cast off His authority.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-owen/god-hath-work-to-do-in-this-world-and-to-desert-it-because-of-its/) [John Owen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-owen/) > [The bullet that will kill me is not yet cast.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/napoleon-bonaparte/the-bullet-that-will-kill-me-is-not-yet-cast/) [Napoleon Bonaparte](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/napoleon-bonaparte/) > [All progress in literary style lies in the heroic resolve to cast aside accretions and exuberances, all the conventions of a past age that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/havelock-ellis/all-progress-in-literary-style-lies-in-the-heroic-resolve-to-cast/) [Havelock Ellis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/havelock-ellis/) > [And as regards Adam and Eve we must maintain that before the fall they were virgins in Paradise: but after they sinned, and were…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/st-jerome/and-as-regards-adam-and-eve-we-must-maintain-that-before-the-fall/) [St. Jerome](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/st-jerome/) > [I think that people who stand up for what they believe in, no matter how unpopular, should be celebrated, not cast aside.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/craig-lancaster/i-think-that-people-who-stand-up-for-what-they-believe-in-no-matter/) [Craig Lancaster](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/craig-lancaster/) > [Unless a man gives himself entirely to the Cross, in a spirit of humility and self-abasement; unless he casts himself down to be trampled…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-the-evangelist/unless-a-man-gives-himself-entirely-to-the-cross-in-a-spirit-of/) [Mark the Evangelist](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-the-evangelist/) > [Now, we are agreed, I and my destinies. 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