--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Don't wait to be picked. Pick yourself." description: "\"Don't wait to be picked. Pick yourself.\" — Seth Godin" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2e0/seth-godin-152_inspirational_don-t-wait-to-be-picked-pick-yourself-14_1427829.png" --- # Don't wait to be picked. Pick yourself. ![“Don't wait to be picked. Pick yourself.” quote by Seth Godin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2e0/seth-godin-152_inspirational_don-t-wait-to-be-picked-pick-yourself-14_1427829.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2e0/seth-godin-152_inspirational_don-t-wait-to-be-picked-pick-yourself-14_1427829.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2e0/seth-godin-152_inspirational_don-t-wait-to-be-picked-pick-yourself-14_1427829.png) > “Don't wait to be picked. Pick yourself.” [Seth Godin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/seth-godin/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Self‑initiative beats waiting for external validation; take charge of your own success. **In simple terms:** Take charge of your own success. Key Takeaway Act now, don’t wait. Themes self‑reliance initiative empowerment Mood determined optimistic Type motivational inspirational When to use this quote - career advancement - entrepreneurship - personal growth - job hunting Key Concepts personal agency motivation Questions to Reflect On - What can you do today to advance your goals? - How does self‑reliance change your mindset? A Different Perspective External factors may still limit opportunities despite effort. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Don Wait](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/don-wait/) [Inspirational](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/inspirational/) [Love](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/love/) [Pick](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/pick/) [Picked](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/picked/) [Picked Pick](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/picked-pick-5074883/) [Picks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/picks/) [Proactive](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/proactive/) [Wait Picked](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wait-picked-4668145/) [Waiting](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/waiting/) ## Related quotes > [The question isn’t whether or not you should wait to be picked, the question is whether you care enough to pick yourself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/seth-godin/the-question-isn-t-whether-or-not-you-should-wait-to-be-picked-the/) [Seth Godin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/seth-godin/) > [If I had to wait around for somebody to pick me for lieutenant governor, I never would have been picked.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mazie-hirono/if-i-had-to-wait-around-for-somebody-to-pick-me-for-lieutenant/) [Mazie Hirono](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mazie-hirono/) > [I never really wanted to be a writer. I know it sounds strange, but I honestly believe that I didn't pick the story; the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amish-tripathi/i-never-really-wanted-to-be-a-writer-i-know-it-sounds-strange-but-i/) [Amish Tripathi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amish-tripathi/) > [In the film industry, we tend to pick up where others have left off, and I'd like to think the influences I picked up…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scott-adkins/in-the-film-industry-we-tend-to-pick-up-where-others-have-left-off/) [Scott Adkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scott-adkins/) > [People get good gigs because they stand up…You don't get picked. Reject the tyranny of picked. Pick yourself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/seth-godin/people-get-good-gigs-because-they-stand-up-you-don-t-get-picked/) [Seth Godin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/seth-godin/) > [Reject the tyranny of picked. Pick yourself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/seth-godin/reject-the-tyranny-of-picked-pick-yourself/) [Seth Godin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/seth-godin/) > [Getting picked is fine if it happens to you. But it's not a plan. It's a version of waiting and hoping.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/seth-godin/getting-picked-is-fine-if-it-happens-to-you-but-it-s-not-a-plan-it-s/) [Seth Godin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/seth-godin/) > [The security world needs to take a more proactive approach. A lot of companies will know an exploit exists and they'll release the software…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-demon-calce/the-security-world-needs-to-take-a-more-proactive-approach-a-lot-of/) [Michael Demon Calce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-demon-calce/) > [To be a proactive person, you must learn to say no to most ideas and opportunities so you have the mental and physical bandwidth…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/clay-clark/to-be-a-proactive-person-you-must-learn-to-say-no-to-most-ideas-and/) [Clay Clark](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/clay-clark/) > [I am proactive in every duty, except that which requires action.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wes-fesler/i-am-proactive-in-every-duty-except-that-which-requires-action/) [Wes Fesler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wes-fesler/) > [Especially in the world of comedy, it feels like you have to be proactive, in terms of pitching and trying to sell and being…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anna-faris/especially-in-the-world-of-comedy-it-feels-like-you-have-to-be/) [Anna Faris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anna-faris/) > [Never aim to be proactive with your day. That way, if you end up getting stuff done, you’re never disappointed.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-blagden/never-aim-to-be-proactive-with-your-day-that-way-if-you-end-up/) [George Blagden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-blagden/) > [A proactive person needs no pressure to perform and an ineffective person offloads his pressure onto others to deform the positive work culture of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anuj/a-proactive-person-needs-no-pressure-to-perform-and-an-ineffective/) [Anuj](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anuj/) > [Highly proactive people don't blame circumstances, conditions, or conditioning for their behavior. Their behavior is a product of their own conscious choice.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-covey/highly-proactive-people-don-t-blame-circumstances-conditions-or/) [Stephen Covey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-covey/) > [“Idleness is seductive. Just relax and do nothing, it says.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/innocent-mwatsikesimbe/idleness-is-seductive-just-relax-and-do-nothing-it-says/) [Innocent Mwatsikesimbe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/innocent-mwatsikesimbe/) ## More by Seth Godin > [“You weren't born to be a cog in the giant industrial machine. You were trained to become a cog. There's an alternative available to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/seth-godin/you-weren-t-born-to-be-a-cog-in-the-giant-industrial-machine-you-were/) [Seth Godin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/seth-godin/) > [Forgive yourself for not being the richest, the thinnest, the tallest, the one with the best hair. Forgive yourself for not being the most…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/seth-godin/forgive-yourself-for-not-being-the-richest-the-thinnest-the-tallest/) [Seth Godin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/seth-godin/) > [The easier it is to quantify, the less it's worth.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/seth-godin/the-easier-it-is-to-quantify-the-less-it-s-worth/) [Seth Godin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/seth-godin/) > [Developing expertise or assets that are not easily copied is essential; otherwise you're just a middleman.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/seth-godin/developing-expertise-or-assets-that-are-not-easily-copied-is/) [Seth Godin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/seth-godin/) > [Leadership is a choice. It's the choice not to do nothing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/seth-godin/leadership-is-a-choice-it-s-the-choice-not-to-do-nothing/) [Seth Godin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/seth-godin/) > [The next thing you do today will be the most important thing on your agenda, because, after all, you're doing it next. Well, perhaps…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/seth-godin/the-next-thing-you-do-today-will-be-the-most-important-thing-on-your/) [Seth Godin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/seth-godin/) > [I look at Starbucks, Howard Schultz has made many brilliant decisions, and one of the things that they did was they invented the third…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/seth-godin/i-look-at-starbucks-howard-schultz-has-made-many-brilliant-decisions/) [Seth Godin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/seth-godin/) > [Be relentlessly generous, without focusing on when it will come back to you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/seth-godin/be-relentlessly-generous-without-focusing-on-when-it-will-come-back/) [Seth Godin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/seth-godin/) > [The public square is more public than ever, but minds are rarely changed in 140 character bursts and by selfies.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/seth-godin/the-public-square-is-more-public-than-ever-but-minds-are-rarely/) [Seth Godin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/seth-godin/) > [Making an average pitch to average people, or having an average gala for average people isn't going to scale anymore. You've got to find…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/seth-godin/making-an-average-pitch-to-average-people-or-having-an-average-gala/) [Seth Godin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/seth-godin/) > [Our job is to make change. Our job is to connect to people, to interact with them in a way that leaves them better…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/seth-godin/our-job-is-to-make-change-our-job-is-to-connect-to-people-to-interact/) [Seth Godin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/seth-godin/) > [“Life is actually far better than it is in the movies. And it takes longer.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/seth-godin/life-is-actually-far-better-than-it-is-in-the-movies-and-it-takes/) [Seth Godin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/seth-godin/) > [I don't think there's a shortage of remarkable ideas. I think your business has plenty of great opportunities to do great things. Nope, what's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/seth-godin/i-don-t-think-there-s-a-shortage-of-remarkable-ideas-i-think-your/) [Seth Godin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/seth-godin/) > [The mirror we hold up to the person next to us is one of the most important pictures she will ever see.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/seth-godin/the-mirror-we-hold-up-to-the-person-next-to-us-is-one-of-the-most/) [Seth Godin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/seth-godin/) > [If you're a marketer who doesn't know how to invent, design, influence, adapt, and ultimately discard products, then you're no longer a marketer. You're…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/seth-godin/if-you-re-a-marketer-who-doesn-t-know-how-to-invent-design-influence/) [Seth Godin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/seth-godin/) [Explore all 1,110 Seth Godin quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/seth-godin/) ## More Inspirational quotes > [Life is full of change. That's how we learn and grow.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/life-is-full-of-change-that-s-how-we-learn-and-grow/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [We talk to God--that is prayer; God talks to us--that is inspiration.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/h-emilie-cady/we-talk-to-god-that-is-prayer-god-talks-to-us-that-is-inspiration/) [H. Emilie Cady](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/h-emilie-cady/) > [You cant be controlling in improv.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matt-walsh/you-cant-be-controlling-in-improv/) [Matt Walsh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matt-walsh/) > [The man who can master his time can master nearly anything.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/winston-churchill/the-man-who-can-master-his-time-can-master-nearly-anything/) [Winston Churchill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/winston-churchill/) > [You'll seldom experience regret for anything that you've done. It is what you haven't done that will torment you. The message, therefore, is clear.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/you-ll-seldom-experience-regret-for-anything-that-you-ve-done-it-is/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Just understand that the good that you want is already here. All you have to do is get in harmony with it. And you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bob-proctor/just-understand-that-the-good-that-you-want-is-already-here-all-you/) [Bob Proctor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bob-proctor/) > [“If you want to build a ship, don’t drum up the men to gather wood, divide the work, and give orders. Instead, teach them…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/antoine-de-saint-exup-ry/if-you-want-to-build-a-ship-don-t-drum-up-the-men-to-gather-wood/) [Antoine de Saint-Exupéry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/antoine-de-saint-exup-ry/) > [Obviously, if you don't love life, you can't enjoy an oyster.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eleanor-clark/obviously-if-you-don-t-love-life-you-can-t-enjoy-an-oyster/) [Eleanor Clark](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eleanor-clark/) > [It's not the method, it's the mindset.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andy-gilbert/it-s-not-the-method-it-s-the-mindset/) [Andy Gilbert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andy-gilbert/) > [It's a hard thing to describe. It's just this sense that you got something to say.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonah-lehrer/it-s-a-hard-thing-to-describe-it-s-just-this-sense-that-you-got/) [Jonah Lehrer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonah-lehrer/) > [Too much familiarity breeds contempt.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vikrant-parsai/too-much-familiarity-breeds-contempt/) [Vikrant Parsai](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vikrant-parsai/) > [We never really perceive what color is physically!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/josef-albers/we-never-really-perceive-what-color-is-physically/) [Josef Albers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/josef-albers/) > [Politics is not an issue whether you like or dislike , but every citizen must involve.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/khem-veasna/politics-is-not-an-issue-whether-you-like-or-dislike-but-every/) [Khem Veasna](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/khem-veasna/) > [God reveals Himself through surprises.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pope-francis/god-reveals-himself-through-surprises/) [Pope Francis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pope-francis/) > [Never underestimate the power of the human mind to believe what it wants to believe, no matter the conflicting evidence.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-herbert/never-underestimate-the-power-of-the-human-mind-to-believe-what-it/) [Brian Herbert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-herbert/) [Browse all 114,561 Inspirational quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/inspirational/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Don't wait to be picked. 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