--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I do think we can be honest and upfront…" description: "\"I do think we can be honest and upfront that certain organizations haven't gotten the job done. That's the approach we took in Boston. We identified ce..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/92d/theo-epstein-7214_done_i-do-think-we-can-be-honest-and-upfront_2408704.jpg" --- # I do think we can be honest and upfront that certain… ![“I do think we can be honest and upfront that certain organizations haven't gotten the job done. That's the approach we took in Boston. We identified certain things that we hadn't been doing well, that might have gotten in the way of a World Series, and eradicated them.” quote by Theo Epstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/92d/theo-epstein-7214_done_i-do-think-we-can-be-honest-and-upfront_2408704.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/92d/theo-epstein-7214_done_i-do-think-we-can-be-honest-and-upfront_2408704.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/92d/theo-epstein-7214_done_i-do-think-we-can-be-honest-and-upfront_2408704.jpg) > “I do think we can be honest and upfront that certain organizations haven't gotten the job done. That's the approach we took in Boston. We identified certain things that we hadn't been doing well, that might have gotten in the way of a World Series, and eradicated them.” [Theo Epstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/theo-epstein/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. He acknowledges past failures, identifies obstacles, and removes them to achieve success in baseball. **In simple terms:** Admitting problems and fixing them leads to victory. Key Takeaway Identify and eliminate barriers. Themes accountability leadership performance improvement Mood determined reflective Type motivational strategic When to use this quote - team building - sports management - strategic planning - goal achievement Key Concepts Organizational change process optimization Questions to Reflect On - What hidden issues might still exist? - How can we sustain improvements? A Different Perspective Fixing issues may not guarantee success if deeper cultural problems remain. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Boston Identified](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/boston-identified-6056419/) [Certain Organizations](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/certain-organizations-5795159/) [Done](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/done/) [Honest](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/honest/) [Honest Upfront](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/honest-upfront-2292399/) [Job](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/job/) [Job Done](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/job-done/) [Things](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/things/) [Think Honest](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/think-honest-264723/) [Way](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/way/) [World](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/world/) [World series](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/world-series/) ## Related quotes > [I am saying that I am trying to minimize the donations to these groups by talking to diplomats. The transparency bill also has the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ayelet-shaked/i-am-saying-that-i-am-trying-to-minimize-the-donations-to-these/) [Ayelet Shaked](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ayelet-shaked/) > [Individuals who have a sarcastic personality tend to be more honest & upfront, the type of people you want as friends.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/individuals-who-have-a-sarcastic-personality-tend-to-be-more-honest/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I have only hated men at those moments when I realized that I was doing all the giving and they the taking. At least…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/xaviera-hollander/i-have-only-hated-men-at-those-moments-when-i-realized-that-i-was/) [Xaviera Hollander](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/xaviera-hollander/) > [To win the World Series, you have to be able to do a lot of things well.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/theo-epstein/to-win-the-world-series-you-have-to-be-able-to-do-a-lot-of-things-well/) [Theo Epstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/theo-epstein/) > [The fact that guys adjusted really quickly to the big leagues, developed really quickly, faced adversity under the brightest spotlights, played great baseball, overcame…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/theo-epstein/the-fact-that-guys-adjusted-really-quickly-to-the-big-leagues/) [Theo Epstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/theo-epstein/) > [I think everyone deserves more than one World Series every 108 years so.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/theo-epstein/i-think-everyone-deserves-more-than-one-world-series-every-108-years/) [Theo Epstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/theo-epstein/) > [The Cubs, we built one of best farm systems - I think for a while there, it was the best farm system in baseball.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/theo-epstein/the-cubs-we-built-one-of-best-farm-systems-i-think-for-a-while-there/) [Theo Epstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/theo-epstein/) > [The Cubs - with their passionate fans, dedicated ownership, tradition, and World Series drought - represented the ultimate new challenge and the one team…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/theo-epstein/the-cubs-with-their-passionate-fans-dedicated-ownership-tradition-and/) [Theo Epstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/theo-epstein/) > [When we build that foundation for sustained success, and it ultimately results in a World Series, it's going to be more than just a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/theo-epstein/when-we-build-that-foundation-for-sustained-success-and-it-ultimately/) [Theo Epstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/theo-epstein/) > [“My honesty now is merely a long-term investment in my own plausibility. Because there may come a day when I really need to lie,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jo-nesb/my-honesty-now-is-merely-a-long-term-investment-in-my-own/) [Jo Nesbø](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jo-nesb/) > [“He has been talking to you. I'm glad, but surprised he told you that stuff. Still, I'll take it as a good sign considering…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samantha-towle/he-has-been-talking-to-you-i-m-glad-but-surprised-he-told-you-that/) [Samantha Towle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samantha-towle/) > [I think we should be honest about who is working in our kitchens.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anthony-bourdain/i-think-we-should-be-honest-about-who-is-working-in-our-kitchens/) [Anthony Bourdain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anthony-bourdain/) > [I just think I'm very honest and I say how I feel. Some people like that about me. Some people hate that about me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sonya-deville/i-just-think-i-m-very-honest-and-i-say-how-i-feel-some-people-like/) [Sonya Deville](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sonya-deville/) > [Can a bank that is part of this society be sure that it has no bad apples? No, because, like in all other industries…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sergio-ermotti/can-a-bank-that-is-part-of-this-society-be-sure-that-it-has-no-bad/) [Sergio Ermotti](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sergio-ermotti/) > [“He had a weakness, though. All of us do, and those of us who think they do not are not being honest.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-r-ward/he-had-a-weakness-though-all-of-us-do-and-those-of-us-who-think-they/) [J.R. Ward](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-r-ward/) ## More by Theo Epstein > [I still wake up thinking about draft choices we should have made that would have impacted the franchise for a long time, but I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/theo-epstein/i-still-wake-up-thinking-about-draft-choices-we-should-have-made-that/) [Theo Epstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/theo-epstein/) > [I used to follow people home. I just like being anonymous so much that I would follow people home because they didn't know who…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/theo-epstein/i-used-to-follow-people-home-i-just-like-being-anonymous-so-much-that/) [Theo Epstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/theo-epstein/) > [When we build that foundation for sustained success, and it ultimately results in a World Series, it's going to be more than just a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/theo-epstein/when-we-build-that-foundation-for-sustained-success-and-it-ultimately/) [Theo Epstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/theo-epstein/) > [If you're trying to avoid one move that you don't think is going to work out, don't then settle for a different move that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/theo-epstein/if-you-re-trying-to-avoid-one-move-that-you-don-t-think-is-going-to/) [Theo Epstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/theo-epstein/) > [You're not always going to get the outcomes you feel like your talent deserves, that you feel like the big picture deserves. And what's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/theo-epstein/you-re-not-always-going-to-get-the-outcomes-you-feel-like-your-talent/) [Theo Epstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/theo-epstein/) > [We try to do a great job of understanding the opposing hitter and his tendencies. Maybe understand the hitter better than he knows himself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/theo-epstein/we-try-to-do-a-great-job-of-understanding-the-opposing-hitter-and-his/) [Theo Epstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/theo-epstein/) > [If I let my brain follow its path unfettered, it would be kinda ugly.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/theo-epstein/if-i-let-my-brain-follow-its-path-unfettered-it-would-be-kinda-ugly/) [Theo Epstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/theo-epstein/) > [Sometimes, on the business side, it's important to sort of have something with some sizzle in an offseason. It's the baseball operations department's job…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/theo-epstein/sometimes-on-the-business-side-it-s-important-to-sort-of-have/) [Theo Epstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/theo-epstein/) > [When I was writing or competing in individual sports, it felt unfulfilling and lonely. When I was able to find a group of people…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/theo-epstein/when-i-was-writing-or-competing-in-individual-sports-it-felt/) [Theo Epstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/theo-epstein/) > [I believe in our players. That's why they're here. I also know slumping is part of baseball. What's surprising is sometimes when it lasts…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/theo-epstein/i-believe-in-our-players-that-s-why-they-re-here-i-also-know-slumping/) [Theo Epstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/theo-epstein/) > [I believe in the First Amendment. But I also believe we should be mindful of how other people feel.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/theo-epstein/i-believe-in-the-first-amendment-but-i-also-believe-we-should-be/) [Theo Epstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/theo-epstein/) > [Scouting and player development is the key to year-in and year-out success, not the occasional lucky hit. There are no definitive answers in this…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/theo-epstein/scouting-and-player-development-is-the-key-to-year-in-and-year-out/) [Theo Epstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/theo-epstein/) > [You have years where most things go your way, and you have years where more things than usual seem like a challenge.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/theo-epstein/you-have-years-where-most-things-go-your-way-and-you-have-years-where/) [Theo Epstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/theo-epstein/) > [The only time I think about my contract is when I'm asked about it by the media.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/theo-epstein/the-only-time-i-think-about-my-contract-is-when-i-m-asked-about-it-by/) [Theo Epstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/theo-epstein/) > [There has to be active, hands-on management in concert with the manager to lead the organization and make sure that the standards that we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/theo-epstein/there-has-to-be-active-hands-on-management-in-concert-with-the/) [Theo Epstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/theo-epstein/) [Explore all 93 Theo Epstein quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/theo-epstein/) ## More Done quotes > [Entertainment is a sacred pursuit when done well. 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