--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: If I really want to improve my situation…" description: "\"If I really want to improve my situation, I can work on the one thing over which I have control - myself.\" — Stephen Covey" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/991/stephen-covey-339_control_if-i-really-want-to-improve-my-situation_1176495.png" --- # If I really want to improve my situation, I can work on… ![“If I really want to improve my situation, I can work on the one thing over which I have control - myself.” quote by Stephen Covey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/991/stephen-covey-339_control_if-i-really-want-to-improve-my-situation_1176495.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/991/stephen-covey-339_control_if-i-really-want-to-improve-my-situation_1176495.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/991/stephen-covey-339_control_if-i-really-want-to-improve-my-situation_1176495.png) > “If I really want to improve my situation, I can work on the one thing over which I have control - myself.” [Stephen Covey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-covey/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Improvement starts with self‑control; focusing on personal behavior is the only reliable lever for change. **In simple terms:** Improve yourself first. Key Takeaway Control yourself to change your life. Themes self‑improvement personal responsibility control Mood motivational practical Type self‑help leadership When to use this quote - goal setting - career development - health habits - relationship building Key Concepts habit formation self‑mastery Questions to Reflect On - Which habits can you change now? - What supports your self‑discipline? A Different Perspective External factors can limit impact of self‑effort. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Control](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/control/) [Empowerment](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/empowerment/) [Freedom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/freedom/) [Positive thinking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/positive-thinking/) ## Related quotes > [If I really want to improve my situation, I can work on the one thing over which I have control-myself. I can stop trying…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-covey/if-i-really-want-to-improve-my-situation-i-can-work-on-the-one-thing/) [Stephen Covey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-covey/) > [Every area of your life deserves gradual improvement. 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If I can just…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/yani-tseng/i-want-to-improve-my-bunker-fairway-and-putting-status-because-that-s/) [Yani Tseng](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/yani-tseng/) > [I have to give all the solutions and feedback to my players if we want to improve.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marco-silva/i-have-to-give-all-the-solutions-and-feedback-to-my-players-if-we/) [Marco Silva](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marco-silva/) > [“If You and I want to improve the world, You and I have to improve the school.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sumit-dahiya/if-you-and-i-want-to-improve-the-world-you-and-i-have-to-improve-the/) Sumit Dahiya > [If I don't win the match I at least want to improve my game.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rosamund-pike/if-i-don-t-win-the-match-i-at-least-want-to-improve-my-game/) [Rosamund Pike](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rosamund-pike/) > [If you want to improve, you have to set high targets.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paulo-dybala/if-you-want-to-improve-you-have-to-set-high-targets/) [Paulo Dybala](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paulo-dybala/) > [I prefer being able to choose who I want to help or what I want to improve in the world by making a lot…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kim-dotcom/i-prefer-being-able-to-choose-who-i-want-to-help-or-what-i-want-to/) [Kim Dotcom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kim-dotcom/) > [You don't have any days to spare if you want to improve!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hilary-hahn/you-don-t-have-any-days-to-spare-if-you-want-to-improve/) [Hilary Hahn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hilary-hahn/) > [I want to improve for myself, not for other people.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joel-matip/i-want-to-improve-for-myself-not-for-other-people/) [Joel Matip](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joel-matip/) ## More by Stephen Covey > [You can't have the fruits without the roots. It's the principle of sequencing: Private Victories proceed Public Victories. Self-mastery and self-discipline are the foundation…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-covey/you-can-t-have-the-fruits-without-the-roots-it-s-the-principle-of/) [Stephen Covey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-covey/) > [Empathic listening takes time, but it doesn't take anywhere near as much time as it takes to back up and correct misunderstandings when you're…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-covey/empathic-listening-takes-time-but-it-doesn-t-take-anywhere-near-as/) [Stephen Covey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-covey/) > [The fire inside people is like a match; the way to ignite that flame is initially through friction, then other matches are lit through…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-covey/the-fire-inside-people-is-like-a-match-the-way-to-ignite-that-flame/) [Stephen Covey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-covey/) > [In a very real sense, there are only two roles in organisations: customers and suppliers. Everybody functions simultaneously in both roles, whether inside or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-covey/in-a-very-real-sense-there-are-only-two-roles-in-organisations/) [Stephen Covey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-covey/) > [To blame and accuse other people, is to choose to empower them, to control us.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-covey/to-blame-and-accuse-other-people-is-to-choose-to-empower-them-to/) [Stephen Covey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-covey/) > [Be part of the solution, not part of the problem.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-covey/be-part-of-the-solution-not-part-of-the-problem/) [Stephen Covey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-covey/) > [If you are an effective manager of your self, your discipline comes from within; it is a function of your independent will.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-covey/if-you-are-an-effective-manager-of-your-self-your-discipline-comes/) [Stephen Covey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-covey/) > [I believe in Coach Louis Wong. 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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/) > [When it comes to developing character strength, inner security and unique personal and interpersonal talents and skills in a child, no institution can or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-covey/when-it-comes-to-developing-character-strength-inner-security-and/) [Stephen Covey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-covey/) > [Most people define greatness through wealth and popularity and position in the corner office. But what I call everyday greatness comes from character and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-covey/most-people-define-greatness-through-wealth-and-popularity-and/) [Stephen Covey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-covey/) > [Contrary to what most people believe, trust is not some soft, illusive quality that you either have or you don't; rather, trust is a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-covey/contrary-to-what-most-people-believe-trust-is-not-some-soft-illusive/) [Stephen Covey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-covey/) > [We are limited but we can push back the borders of our limitations](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-covey/we-are-limited-but-we-can-push-back-the-borders-of-our-limitations/) [Stephen Covey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-covey/) > [Many people seem to think that success in one area can compensate for failure in other areas. But can it really?... True effectiveness requires…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-covey/many-people-seem-to-think-that-success-in-one-area-can-compensate-for/) [Stephen Covey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-covey/) [Explore all 663 Stephen Covey quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-covey/) ## More Control quotes > [We have to get control of our borders.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-coffman/we-have-to-get-control-of-our-borders/) [Mike Coffman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-coffman/) > [Grit and self-control are related, but they're not the same thing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/angela-duckworth/grit-and-self-control-are-related-but-they-re-not-the-same-thing/) [Angela Duckworth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/angela-duckworth/) > [“You can't control who loves you...you can't let someone love you anymore than you can make someone love you”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amy-harmon/you-can-t-control-who-loves-you-you-can-t-let-someone-love-you/) [Amy Harmon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amy-harmon/) > [I thought I fought a really good Orlando Salido. I never let him get into his fight. I knew what I needed to do…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mikey-garcia/i-thought-i-fought-a-really-good-orlando-salido-i-never-let-him-get/) [Mikey Garcia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mikey-garcia/) > [Don't think you can...know you can! You human body is the most impressive tool you'll ever own. Even if you can't control everything, you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeff-hardy/don-t-think-you-can-know-you-can-you-human-body-is-the-most/) [Jeff Hardy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeff-hardy/) > [If you have everything under control, you're not moving fast enough.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mario-andretti/if-you-have-everything-under-control-you-re-not-moving-fast-enough/) [Mario Andretti](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mario-andretti/) > [“Without time management, you lose control of your life and do what other people tell you to do. You lose control and become a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-miller/without-time-management-you-lose-control-of-your-life-and-do-what/) Thomas Miller > [I started off as a model maker, so the first part of my career was a model maker and then a motion control camera…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-knoll/i-started-off-as-a-model-maker-so-the-first-part-of-my-career-was-a/) [John Knoll](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-knoll/) > [Many of us rely on our own illusion of control. But when God makes it known to you that you're not the one steering…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/yasmin-mogahed/many-of-us-rely-on-our-own-illusion-of-control-but-when-god-makes-it/) [Yasmin Mogahed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/yasmin-mogahed/) > [In Congress, Florida Republicans worked with the Trump administration to secure funding for coastal restoration projects following the devastating impacts of Hurricanes Irma and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-waltz/in-congress-florida-republicans-worked-with-the-trump-administration/) [Michael Waltz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-waltz/) > [“He who can destroy a thing has the real control of it.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frank-herbert/he-who-can-destroy-a-thing-has-the-real-control-of-it/) [Frank Herbert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frank-herbert/) > [Sometimes you have to laugh to keep from crying or getting overly angry or to maintain control.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dennis-haysbert/sometimes-you-have-to-laugh-to-keep-from-crying-or-getting-overly/) [Dennis Haysbert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dennis-haysbert/) > [My sister-in-law works for a group that supports orphanages in Cairo. She and her colleagues take care of children left behind by circumstances beyond…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mohamed-elbaradei/my-sister-in-law-works-for-a-group-that-supports-orphanages-in-cairo/) [Mohamed ElBaradei](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mohamed-elbaradei/) > [Some nights I'm funny with the between-song commentary, some nights I'm not. I have no control over this. I pace the stage a lot…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-berman/some-nights-i-m-funny-with-the-between-song-commentary-some-nights-i/) [David Berman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-berman/) > [“Control never be a means to any practical end. It can never be a means to anything but more control… Like punk.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-s-burroughs/control-never-be-a-means-to-any-practical-end-it-can-never-be-a-means/) [William S. Burroughs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-s-burroughs/) [Browse all 6,032 Control quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/control/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "If I really want to improve my situation, I can work on the one thing over which I have control - myself.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Stephen Covey" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-covey/if-i-really-want-to-improve-my-situation-i-can-work-on-the-one-thing-2/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Control" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-covey/if-i-really-want-to-improve-my-situation-i-can-work-on-the-one-thing-2/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/991/stephen-covey-339_control_if-i-really-want-to-improve-my-situation_1176495.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/991/stephen-covey-339_control_if-i-really-want-to-improve-my-situation_1176495.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/991/stephen-covey-339_control_if-i-really-want-to-improve-my-situation_1176495.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“If I really want to improve my situation, I can work on the one thing over which I have control - myself.” — Stephen Covey", "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": "Stephen Covey", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-covey/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "If I really want to improve...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-covey/if-i-really-want-to-improve-my-situation-i-can-work-on-the-one-thing-2/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-covey/if-i-really-want-to-improve-my-situation-i-can-work-on-the-one-thing-2/#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 } } ] } ```