--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I try to create an environment where it's…" description: "\"I try to create an environment where it's okay to make a mistake, though it's not okay to be unfocused or come in unprepared. I'm challenging and deman..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/481/ruben-santiago-hudson-31369_ask_i-try-to-create-an-environment-where-it_2204064.jpg" --- # I try to create an environment where it's okay to make a… ![“I try to create an environment where it's okay to make a mistake, though it's not okay to be unfocused or come in unprepared. I'm challenging and demanding, but very patient. I don't tell you how to get there and I don't show you what to do, though I'll ask leading questions.” quote by Ruben Santiago-Hudson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/481/ruben-santiago-hudson-31369_ask_i-try-to-create-an-environment-where-it_2204064.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/481/ruben-santiago-hudson-31369_ask_i-try-to-create-an-environment-where-it_2204064.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/481/ruben-santiago-hudson-31369_ask_i-try-to-create-an-environment-where-it_2204064.jpg) > “I try to create an environment where it's okay to make a mistake, though it's not okay to be unfocused or come in unprepared. I'm challenging and demanding, but very patient. I don't tell you how to get there and I don't show you what to do, though I'll ask leading questions.” [Ruben Santiago-Hudson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ruben-santiago-hudson/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Creates a high‑expectation environment that tolerates mistakes but not lack of preparation, using guided questioning. **In simple terms:** Encourages learning through mistakes while demanding focus. Key Takeaway Balance support with accountability. Themes leadership learning discipline Mood thoughtful instructive Type leadership coaching When to use this quote - team meetings - training sessions - project planning Key Concepts Mentorship coaching psychology Questions to Reflect On - How do you foster focus without fear? - When is patience insufficient? A Different Perspective Too much pressure can stifle creativity. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Ask](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ask/) [Ask Leading](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ask-leading-4853456/) [Challenging](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/challenging/) [Challenging Demanding](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/challenging-demanding-4420661/) [Come](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/come/) [Create](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/create/) [Demanding](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/demanding/) [Environment](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/environment/) [Failure](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/failure/) [Get](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/get/) [How](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/how/) [Leading](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/leading/) [Make](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/make/) [Mistake](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mistake/) [Okay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/okay/) [Okay Unfocused](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/okay-unfocused-4853450/) [Patient](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/patient/) [Questions](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/questions/) [Show](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/show/) [Tell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/tell/) [Though](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/though/) [Try](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/try/) [Unfocused Come](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/unfocused-come-4853454/) [Unprepared](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/unprepared/) [Unprepared Challenging](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/unprepared-challenging-4853453/) [Very](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/very/) [Where](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/where/) [You](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/you/) ## Related quotes > [Marriage is a lot more challenging when you have a demanding career.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carrie-anne-moss/marriage-is-a-lot-more-challenging-when-you-have-a-demanding-career/) [Carrie-Anne Moss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carrie-anne-moss/) > [In order to grow, you must accept new responsibilities, no matter how uncertain you may feel or how unprepared you are to deal with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pat-summitt/in-order-to-grow-you-must-accept-new-responsibilities-no-matter-how/) [Pat Summitt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pat-summitt/) > [You can't go into the cage and not love it, and you can't go in there unprepared. You have to prepare.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paige-vanzant/you-can-t-go-into-the-cage-and-not-love-it-and-you-can-t-go-in-there/) [Paige VanZant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paige-vanzant/) > [When I began modelling I was completely unprepared for the onslaught of curiosity it carried with it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sophie-dahl/when-i-began-modelling-i-was-completely-unprepared-for-the-onslaught/) [Sophie Dahl](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sophie-dahl/) > [The unprepared mind cannot see the outstretched hand of opportunity.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-fleming/the-unprepared-mind-cannot-see-the-outstretched-hand-of-opportunity/) [Alexander Fleming](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexander-fleming/) > [I think what scares me is feeling unprepared.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/esther-povitsky/i-think-what-scares-me-is-feeling-unprepared/) [Esther Povitsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/esther-povitsky/) > [But we cannot live the afternoon of life according to the programme of life's morning — for what was great in the morning will…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carl-jung/but-we-cannot-live-the-afternoon-of-life-according-to-the-programme/) [Carl Jung](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carl-jung/) > [I will not go into a story unprepared. I will do my homework, and that's something I learned at an early age.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ed-bradley/i-will-not-go-into-a-story-unprepared-i-will-do-my-homework-and-that/) [Ed Bradley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ed-bradley/) > [If someone takes you out, and you're wearing sweatpants and a T-shirt, and they take you to a fancy place and you're unprepared, that's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/yvonne-strahovski/if-someone-takes-you-out-and-you-re-wearing-sweatpants-and-a-t-shirt/) [Yvonne Strahovski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/yvonne-strahovski/) > [“Well, it's a choice like any other, even though it's stupid to believe we can control the world and to allow ourselves to be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paulo-coelho/well-it-s-a-choice-like-any-other-even-though-it-s-stupid-to-believe/) [Paulo Coelho](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paulo-coelho/) > [You always have to prepare for the obstacles that are going to come. Consequently, when they do come, it doesn't affect you mentally near…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lou-holtz/you-always-have-to-prepare-for-the-obstacles-that-are-going-to-come/) [Lou Holtz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lou-holtz/) > [“But I guess it never is what you worry over that comes to pass in the end. The real catastrophes are always different -…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karen-thompson-walker/but-i-guess-it-never-is-what-you-worry-over-that-comes-to-pass-in-the/) [Karen Thompson Walker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karen-thompson-walker/) > [Those who are unprepared to demonstrate tolerance cannot expect or even demand tolerance for themselves.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walter-kasper/those-who-are-unprepared-to-demonstrate-tolerance-cannot-expect-or/) [Walter Kasper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walter-kasper/) > [Sunday morning, before we go to hear the Word of God preached...let us not rush into God’s presence careless, reckless, and unprepared, as if…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-c-ryle/sunday-morning-before-we-go-to-hear-the-word-of-god-preached-let-us/) [J. C. Ryle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-c-ryle/) > [I don't think people ever were free of fear of death, but clinging to life and being so unprepared for it is a modern…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/katy-butler/i-don-t-think-people-ever-were-free-of-fear-of-death-but-clinging-to/) [Katy Butler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/katy-butler/) ## More by Ruben Santiago-Hudson > [I don't have to research humanity, I just have to be courageous enough to share that part of myself with everybody.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ruben-santiago-hudson/i-don-t-have-to-research-humanity-i-just-have-to-be-courageous-enough/) [Ruben Santiago-Hudson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ruben-santiago-hudson/) > [Some of the young kids look for one hit to be a star; that what they're known for the rest of their life... I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ruben-santiago-hudson/some-of-the-young-kids-look-for-one-hit-to-be-a-star-that-what-they/) [Ruben Santiago-Hudson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ruben-santiago-hudson/) > [You know, I'm a father. I'm a brother. I'm a son. And I'm a grandfather. So many times I have to be the intermediary,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ruben-santiago-hudson/you-know-i-m-a-father-i-m-a-brother-i-m-a-son-and-i-m-a-grandfather/) [Ruben Santiago-Hudson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ruben-santiago-hudson/) > [I'm an infant with Shakespeare; I'm kind of learning how to walk. I am trying to decipher the code, you know? I do my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ruben-santiago-hudson/i-m-an-infant-with-shakespeare-i-m-kind-of-learning-how-to-walk-i-am/) [Ruben Santiago-Hudson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ruben-santiago-hudson/) > [I live in New York City. Since 1983, this is my home. It is my heart, it is my home, and it is the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ruben-santiago-hudson/i-live-in-new-york-city-since-1983-this-is-my-home-it-is-my-heart-it/) [Ruben Santiago-Hudson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ruben-santiago-hudson/) > [I have to be invested spiritually, emotionally, and psychologically to do theater. I can't do it to make a living. I have four kids,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ruben-santiago-hudson/i-have-to-be-invested-spiritually-emotionally-and-psychologically-to/) [Ruben Santiago-Hudson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ruben-santiago-hudson/) > [Television is a different challenge; it is not a stage. But each opportunity that I have to learn I learn, and I take the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ruben-santiago-hudson/television-is-a-different-challenge-it-is-not-a-stage-but-each/) [Ruben Santiago-Hudson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ruben-santiago-hudson/) > [I am always going to be in the hood in my heart, but what I did was added on the masters of arts, fine…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ruben-santiago-hudson/i-am-always-going-to-be-in-the-hood-in-my-heart-but-what-i-did-was/) [Ruben Santiago-Hudson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ruben-santiago-hudson/) > [I've never considered being a cop. I could be a teacher, I could be a minister, a social worker or a professor. As long…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ruben-santiago-hudson/i-ve-never-considered-being-a-cop-i-could-be-a-teacher-i-could-be-a/) [Ruben Santiago-Hudson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ruben-santiago-hudson/) > [One day, I looked up and saw I had an extensive resume and saw how I did that and did not realize it because…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ruben-santiago-hudson/one-day-i-looked-up-and-saw-i-had-an-extensive-resume-and-saw-how-i/) [Ruben Santiago-Hudson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ruben-santiago-hudson/) > [My knowledge and thirst for knowledge has no expiration date... It goes until I'm dead. I will be learning and studying from youth, as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ruben-santiago-hudson/my-knowledge-and-thirst-for-knowledge-has-no-expiration-date-it-goes/) [Ruben Santiago-Hudson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ruben-santiago-hudson/) > [Whether I'm acting, writing, or directing, I want to tell the truth about human beings, especially my folk.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ruben-santiago-hudson/whether-i-m-acting-writing-or-directing-i-want-to-tell-the-truth/) [Ruben Santiago-Hudson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ruben-santiago-hudson/) > [With Shakespeare, the hard work is to find out why he said it and how it can relate to the audience.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ruben-santiago-hudson/with-shakespeare-the-hard-work-is-to-find-out-why-he-said-it-and-how/) [Ruben Santiago-Hudson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ruben-santiago-hudson/) > [I'm not a method actor, but I'm a big research kind of actor.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ruben-santiago-hudson/i-m-not-a-method-actor-but-i-m-a-big-research-kind-of-actor/) [Ruben Santiago-Hudson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ruben-santiago-hudson/) > [Even here in America, people are fighting for civil rights 45 years after the civil rights movement.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ruben-santiago-hudson/even-here-in-america-people-are-fighting-for-civil-rights-45-years/) [Ruben Santiago-Hudson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ruben-santiago-hudson/) [Explore all 16 Ruben Santiago-Hudson quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ruben-santiago-hudson/) ## More Ask quotes > [If you ask an introvert a question, wait until she thinks about it. Introverts think before speaking, not through speaking. If you want to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laurie-helgoe/if-you-ask-an-introvert-a-question-wait-until-she-thinks-about-it/) [Laurie Helgoe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laurie-helgoe/) > [I ask to be judged on the issue of unemployment.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francois-hollande/i-ask-to-be-judged-on-the-issue-of-unemployment/) [Francois Hollande](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francois-hollande/) > [When the only people in mainstream discourse who care about the working class are Wall Street investors, it really is time to ask where…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/timothy-noah/when-the-only-people-in-mainstream-discourse-who-care-about-the/) [Timothy Noah](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/timothy-noah/) > [I used to sit in front of McDonald's and ask people for dollars to get me a cheeseburger. It was bad.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/t-pain/i-used-to-sit-in-front-of-mcdonald-s-and-ask-people-for-dollars-to/) [T-Pain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/t-pain/) > [If you ask why I do what I do - I want to make a difference. I don't just want to maintain the status…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eli-broad/if-you-ask-why-i-do-what-i-do-i-want-to-make-a-difference-i-don-t/) [Eli Broad](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eli-broad/) > [Every morning when I pick up the newspaper and read about an earthquake in Japan or problems in European financial institutions, the first question…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-schapiro/every-morning-when-i-pick-up-the-newspaper-and-read-about-an/) [Mary Schapiro](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-schapiro/) > [I follow a simple formula when I compose. I ask myself, 'What would the audience want to hear?' and 'Why would they buy my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/a-r-rahman/i-follow-a-simple-formula-when-i-compose-i-ask-myself-what-would-the/) [A. R. Rahman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/a-r-rahman/) > [If you ask an actor what he'd prefer to act on, he'd probably say a tangible, real set, or even better, a real location…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/luke-evans/if-you-ask-an-actor-what-he-d-prefer-to-act-on-he-d-probably-say-a/) [Luke Evans](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/luke-evans/) > [It turns out that this part of the brain is one of the first areas that's attacked by Alzheimer's disease. So we can now…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-o-keefe/it-turns-out-that-this-part-of-the-brain-is-one-of-the-first-areas/) [John O'Keefe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-o-keefe/) > [I prefer department stores. In boutiques, they come up and ask you if you need help. I can't get lost in the experience.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anna-netrebko/i-prefer-department-stores-in-boutiques-they-come-up-and-ask-you-if/) [Anna Netrebko](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anna-netrebko/) > [A lot of people ask: 'Will you play a psycho to really change your image and prove you can act?' But that's not what…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zac-efron/a-lot-of-people-ask-will-you-play-a-psycho-to-really-change-your/) [Zac Efron](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zac-efron/) > [I'm not in the movie business anymore, and hardly any 70 year olds are. I always ask the producers: 'Are there no 70-year old…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-dennehy/i-m-not-in-the-movie-business-anymore-and-hardly-any-70-year-olds-are/) [Brian Dennehy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-dennehy/) > [I would ask my mum to feed my dolls and make sure they were tucked in when I went to school.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gayle-rankin/i-would-ask-my-mum-to-feed-my-dolls-and-make-sure-they-were-tucked-in/) [Gayle Rankin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gayle-rankin/) > [I certainly know that on our first tour of America in 1968, David Crosby came to see us backstage at the Fillmore East in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/justin-hayward/i-certainly-know-that-on-our-first-tour-of-america-in-1968-david/) [Justin Hayward](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/justin-hayward/) > [For the most part, if somebody approaches me and says, 'I'd like to interview you,' who am I to say no, when I spend…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-roach/for-the-most-part-if-somebody-approaches-me-and-says-i-d-like-to/) [Mary Roach](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-roach/) [Browse all 1,306 Ask quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ask/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "I try to create an environment where it's okay to make a mistake, though it's not okay to be unfocused or come in unprepared. 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