--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Proactive people focus their efforts in…" description: "\"“Proactive people focus their efforts in the Circle of Influence. They work on the things they can do something about.”\" — Stephen R. Covey" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c53/stephen-r-covey-1501_circle-of-influence_proactive-people-focus-their-efforts-in_1472926.jpg" --- # Proactive people focus their efforts in the Circle of… ![“Proactive people focus their efforts in the Circle of Influence. They work on the things they can do something about.” quote by Stephen R. Covey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c53/stephen-r-covey-1501_circle-of-influence_proactive-people-focus-their-efforts-in_1472926.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c53/stephen-r-covey-1501_circle-of-influence_proactive-people-focus-their-efforts-in_1472926.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c53/stephen-r-covey-1501_circle-of-influence_proactive-people-focus-their-efforts-in_1472926.jpg) > ““Proactive people focus their efforts in the Circle of Influence. They work on the things they can do something about.”” [Stephen R. Covey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-r-covey/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Focus on what you can control, not on external worries, to increase influence. **In simple terms:** Control your circle, expand impact. Key Takeaway Prioritize actions within your influence. Themes personal growth leadership productivity mindset Mood inspirational practical Type self‑help leadership When to use this quote - workplace - family decisions - community projects - political activism Key Concepts circle of influence proactive behavior self‑efficacy Questions to Reflect On - What can you change today? - How do you expand your influence? A Different Perspective Influence is limited by external factors. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Circle of influence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/circle-of-influence/) [Power](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/power/) ## Related quotes > [“Proactive people focus their efforts in the Circle of Influence. They work on the things they can do something about. The nature of their…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-r-covey/proactive-people-focus-their-efforts-in-the-circle-of-influence-they/) [Stephen R. Covey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-r-covey/) > [“Sadat was able to use his self-awareness, his imagination and his conscience to exercise personal leadership, to change an essential paradigm, to change the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-r-covey/sadat-was-able-to-use-his-self-awareness-his-imagination-and-his/) [Stephen R. Covey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-r-covey/) > [“Reactive people are driven by feelings, by circumstances, by conditions, by their environment. Proactive people are driven by values—carefully thought about, selected and internalized…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-r-covey/reactive-people-are-driven-by-feelings-by-circumstances-by-conditions/) [Stephen R. Covey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-r-covey/) > [“Be Proactive. People are responsible for their own choices and have the freedom to choose based on principles and values rather than”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-r-covey/be-proactive-people-are-responsible-for-their-own-choices-and-have/) [Stephen R. Covey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-r-covey/) > [“Proactive people can carry their own weather with them. Whether”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-r-covey/proactive-people-can-carry-their-own-weather-with-them-whether/) [Stephen R. Covey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-r-covey/) > [Righteous women in their circle of influence, beginning in the home, can turn the world around.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexis-de-tocqueville/righteous-women-in-their-circle-of-influence-beginning-in-the-home/) [Alexis de Tocqueville](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexis-de-tocqueville/) > [Wherever you are, that’s your stage, your circle of influence. That’s your talk show, that’s where your power lies. ... You have the power…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oprah-winfrey/wherever-you-are-that-s-your-stage-your-circle-of-influence-that-s/) [Oprah Winfrey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oprah-winfrey/) > [There is so much we can do to render service, to make a difference in the world - no matter how large or small…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-covey/there-is-so-much-we-can-do-to-render-service-to-make-a-difference-in/) [Stephen Covey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-covey/) > [“Become skilled in the process of selecting whom you allow into your circle of influence.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mensah-oteh/become-skilled-in-the-process-of-selecting-whom-you-allow-into-your/) [Mensah Oteh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mensah-oteh/) > [Every answer you seek is already somewhere in your circle of influence!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/every-answer-you-seek-is-already-somewhere-in-your-circle-of-influence/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“Select your travel companions carefully. Your life companions create your circle of influence. Invest in the ones that will help you drive forward. http://journeycharms.com/charms-store...…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-j-digeronimo/select-your-travel-companions-carefully-your-life-companions-create/) [J.J. DiGeronimo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-j-digeronimo/) > [“Select carefully and continuously review your circle of influence, and be unapologetic about who you exclude.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mensah-oteh/select-carefully-and-continuously-review-your-circle-of-influence-and/) [Mensah Oteh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mensah-oteh/) > [“Be a solution provider to challenges or issues; the more you proffer solution, the more your circle of influence grows and the more your…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anikor-daniel/be-a-solution-provider-to-challenges-or-issues-the-more-you-proffer/) [ANIKOR Daniel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anikor-daniel/) > [The place to begin building any relationship is inside ourselves, inside our circle of influence, our own character.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-covey/the-place-to-begin-building-any-relationship-is-inside-ourselves/) [Stephen Covey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-covey/) > [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/) ## More by Stephen R. Covey > [“For those filled with regret, perhaps the most needful exercise of proactivity is to realize that past mistakes are also out there in the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-r-covey/for-those-filled-with-regret-perhaps-the-most-needful-exercise-of/) [Stephen R. Covey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-r-covey/) > [“What lies behind us is nothing compared to what lies within us and ahead of us.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-r-covey/what-lies-behind-us-is-nothing-compared-to-what-lies-within-us-and/) [Stephen R. Covey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-r-covey/) > [“Love is something you do: the sacrifices you make, the giving of self, like a mother bringing a newborn into the world. If you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-r-covey/love-is-something-you-do-the-sacrifices-you-make-the-giving-of-self/) [Stephen R. Covey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-r-covey/) > [“Principles are guidelines for human conduct that are proven to have enduring, permanent value. They’re fundamental.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-r-covey/principles-are-guidelines-for-human-conduct-that-are-proven-to-have/) [Stephen R. Covey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-r-covey/) > [“So I recommend reading literature, such as the inspiring biography of Anwar Sadat, In Search of Identity, and seeing movies like Chariots of Fire…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-r-covey/so-i-recommend-reading-literature-such-as-the-inspiring-biography-of/) [Stephen R. Covey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-r-covey/) > [“My experience has been that there are times to teach and times not to teach. When relationships are strained and the air charged with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-r-covey/my-experience-has-been-that-there-are-times-to-teach-and-times-not-to/) [Stephen R. Covey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-r-covey/) > [“Just as faith without works is dead, so also works without faith.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-r-covey/just-as-faith-without-works-is-dead-so-also-works-without-faith/) [Stephen R. Covey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-r-covey/) > [“FRIEND/ENEMY CENTEREDNESS. Young people are particularly, though certainly not exclusively, susceptible to becoming friend-centered. Acceptance and belonging to a peer group can become almost…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-r-covey/friend-enemy-centeredness-young-people-are-particularly-though/) [Stephen R. Covey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-r-covey/) > [“As a principle-centered person, you see things differently. And because you see things differently, you think differently, you act differently. Because you have a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-r-covey/as-a-principle-centered-person-you-see-things-differently-and-because/) [Stephen R. Covey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-r-covey/) > [“We are free to choose our actions, based on our knowledge of correct principles, but we are not free to choose the consequences of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-r-covey/we-are-free-to-choose-our-actions-based-on-our-knowledge-of-correct/) [Stephen R. Covey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-r-covey/) > [“For every thousand hacking at the leaves of evil, there is one striking at the root.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-r-covey/for-every-thousand-hacking-at-the-leaves-of-evil-there-is-one/) [Stephen R. Covey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-r-covey/) > [“Breaking deeply imbedded habitual tendencies such as procrastination, impatience, criticalness, or selfishness that violate basic principles of human effectiveness involves more than a little…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-r-covey/breaking-deeply-imbedded-habitual-tendencies-such-as-procrastination/) [Stephen R. Covey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-r-covey/) > [“man you might like to take her out. If you were”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-r-covey/man-you-might-like-to-take-her-out-if-you-were/) [Stephen R. Covey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-r-covey/) > [“Start with the end in mind. ”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-r-covey/start-with-the-end-in-mind/) [Stephen R. Covey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-r-covey/) > [“the very problem created the opportunity to build a deep relationship that empowered us to work together as a strong complementary team.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-r-covey/the-very-problem-created-the-opportunity-to-build-a-deep-relationship/) [Stephen R. Covey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-r-covey/) [Explore all 230 Stephen R. Covey quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-r-covey/) ## More Circle of influence quotes > [“Love is something you do: the sacrifices you make, the giving of self, like a mother bringing a newborn into the world. If you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-r-covey/love-is-something-you-do-the-sacrifices-you-make-the-giving-of-self/) [Stephen R. Covey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-r-covey/) > [Our character is mainly shaped by our primary social community - the people with whom we eat, play, converse, and study.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/timothy-keller/our-character-is-mainly-shaped-by-our-primary-social-community-the/) [Timothy Keller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/timothy-keller/) > [The place to begin building any relationship is inside ourselves, inside our circle of influence, our own character.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-covey/the-place-to-begin-building-any-relationship-is-inside-ourselves/) [Stephen Covey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-covey/) > [“Be a solution provider to challenges or issues; the more you proffer solution, the more your circle of influence grows and the more your…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anikor-daniel/be-a-solution-provider-to-challenges-or-issues-the-more-you-proffer/) [ANIKOR Daniel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anikor-daniel/) > [“Select carefully and continuously review your circle of influence, and be unapologetic about who you exclude.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mensah-oteh/select-carefully-and-continuously-review-your-circle-of-influence-and/) [Mensah Oteh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mensah-oteh/) > [“Proactive people focus their efforts in the Circle of Influence. They work on the things they can do something about. The nature of their…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-r-covey/proactive-people-focus-their-efforts-in-the-circle-of-influence-they/) [Stephen R. Covey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-r-covey/) > [“Tune your antenna to the highest frequency possible to attract people of substance; increase your circle of influence intentionally.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anikor-daniel/tune-your-antenna-to-the-highest-frequency-possible-to-attract-people/) [ANIKOR Daniel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anikor-daniel/) > [“Select your travel companions carefully. Your life companions create your circle of influence. Invest in the ones that will help you drive forward. http://journeycharms.com/charms-store...…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-j-digeronimo/select-your-travel-companions-carefully-your-life-companions-create/) [J.J. DiGeronimo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-j-digeronimo/) > [God will always bring the right people into your life, but you have to let the wrong people walk away.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joel-osteen/god-will-always-bring-the-right-people-into-your-life-but-you-have-to/) [Joel Osteen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joel-osteen/) > [Habit 7 is taking the time to sharpen the saw. By renewing the four dimensions of your nature - physical, spiritual, mental and social/emotional,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-covey/habit-7-is-taking-the-time-to-sharpen-the-saw-by-renewing-the-four/) [Stephen Covey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-covey/) > [The Genius Pattern = Thy will be done with my talents with my circles of influence with the opportunities that are laid out in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-g-allen/the-genius-pattern-thy-will-be-done-with-my-talents-with-my-circles/) [Robert G. Allen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-g-allen/) > [All things are created twice, but not all first creations are by conscious design. In our personal lives, if we do not develop our…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-covey/all-things-are-created-twice-but-not-all-first-creations-are-by/) [Stephen Covey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-covey/) > [“Become skilled in the process of selecting whom you allow into your circle of influence.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mensah-oteh/become-skilled-in-the-process-of-selecting-whom-you-allow-into-your/) [Mensah Oteh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mensah-oteh/) > [Every woman whether rich or poor, married or single, has a circle of influence within which, according to her character, she is exerting a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-angell-james/every-woman-whether-rich-or-poor-married-or-single-has-a-circle-of/) [John Angell James](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-angell-james/) > [If you want to upgrade your circle of influence, it begins with upgrading yourself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hal-elrod/if-you-want-to-upgrade-your-circle-of-influence-it-begins-with/) [Hal Elrod](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hal-elrod/) [Browse all 25 Circle of influence quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/circle-of-influence/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“Proactive people focus their efforts in the Circle of Influence. 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