--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Change before you have to.—Jack Welch…" description: "\"“Change before you have to.—Jack Welch Wisdom is the reward for a lifetime of listening when you would have preferred to talk.—Doug Larson Communicatio..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/028/tom-verducci-37149_change_change-before-you-have-to-jack-welch-wis_1291585.jpg" --- # Change before you have to.—Jack Welch Wisdom is the reward… ![“Change before you have to.—Jack Welch Wisdom is the reward for a lifetime of listening when you would have preferred to talk.—Doug Larson Communication creates collaboration. Big ears are better than big egos. When you’re not listening, ask good questions.—Bill Walsh The” quote by Tom Verducci](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/028/tom-verducci-37149_change_change-before-you-have-to-jack-welch-wis_1291585.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/028/tom-verducci-37149_change_change-before-you-have-to-jack-welch-wis_1291585.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/028/tom-verducci-37149_change_change-before-you-have-to-jack-welch-wis_1291585.jpg) > ““Change before you have to.—Jack Welch Wisdom is the reward for a lifetime of listening when you would have preferred to talk.—Doug Larson Communication creates collaboration. Big ears are better than big egos. When you’re not listening, ask good questions.—Bill Walsh The”” [Tom Verducci](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-verducci/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The passage combines several insights: proactive change, listening over speaking, and asking good questions to foster collaboration. **In simple terms:** Change early, listen, ask good questions. Key Takeaway Adopt proactive listening and inquiry. Themes change communication collaboration Mood strategic thoughtful Type advice motivational When to use this quote - business strategy - team management - personal development Key Concepts leadership active listening questioning techniques Questions to Reflect On - How can you ensure listening leads to action? - What questions reveal hidden issues? A Different Perspective Listening alone may not solve deep problems. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Change](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/change/) [Communication](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/communication/) [Wisdom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wisdom/) ## Related quotes > [“Communication creates collaboration. Big ears are better than big egos. When you’re not listening, ask good questions.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-walsh/communication-creates-collaboration-big-ears-are-better-than-big-egos/) [Bill Walsh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-walsh/) > [“Doug Larson, the famous runner and 1924 Olympic Gold Medal winner, said it best 'Life expectancy would grow by leaps and bounds if green…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-mezzapelle/doug-larson-the-famous-runner-and-1924-olympic-gold-medal-winner-said/) David Mezzapelle > [“Some of the world's greatest feats were accomplished by people not smart enough to know they were impossible.” - Doug Larson”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/h-a-weidman/some-of-the-world-s-greatest-feats-were-accomplished-by-people-not/) [H.A. Weidman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/h-a-weidman/) > [“Wisdom is the reward for a lifetime of listening when you would have preferred to talk.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/doug-larson/wisdom-is-the-reward-for-a-lifetime-of-listening-when-you-would-have/) [Doug Larson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/doug-larson/) > [Wisdom is the reward you get for a lifetime of listening when you'd have preferred to talk.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/doug-larson/wisdom-is-the-reward-you-get-for-a-lifetime-of-listening-when-you-d/) [Doug Larson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/doug-larson/) > [“Though a lifetime of listening to the music of the world has passed, even now the tone of the rain on the roof of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kensi-brianne-smith/though-a-lifetime-of-listening-to-the-music-of-the-world-has-passed/) Kensi Brianne Smith > [After a lifetime of listening to every Floyd album pretty much all the time - they're etched - 'Animals' is the one I can…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/timothy-morton/after-a-lifetime-of-listening-to-every-floyd-album-pretty-much-all/) [Timothy Morton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/timothy-morton/) > [As the West Coast offense has spread out among the NFL, as all of Bill Walsh's assistants and all of Mike Holmgren's assistants have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-depodesta/as-the-west-coast-offense-has-spread-out-among-the-nfl-as-all-of-bill/) [Paul DePodesta](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-depodesta/) > [When I was growing up, I was a huge San Francisco 49ers fan. The New England Patriots have a similar mold and plan to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julian-edelman/when-i-was-growing-up-i-was-a-huge-san-francisco-49ers-fan-the-new/) [Julian Edelman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julian-edelman/) > [“What John Ayers was doing seemed routine. But to the few who knew, and watched, it was a thing of beauty. The ball is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-lewis/what-john-ayers-was-doing-seemed-routine-but-to-the-few-who-knew-and/) [Michael Lewis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-lewis/) > [Bill Walsh was a genius in many ways.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-young/bill-walsh-was-a-genius-in-many-ways/) [Steve Young](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-young/) > [Lombardi, Shula, Landry and Gibbs were innovators. Bill Walsh was a visionary . . . .](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-wilbon/lombardi-shula-landry-and-gibbs-were-innovators-bill-walsh-was-a/) [Michael Wilbon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-wilbon/) > [There is a way to practice hard and be physical without pads. You can still be a physical football team and be efficient in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jimmy-johnson/there-is-a-way-to-practice-hard-and-be-physical-without-pads-you-can/) [Jimmy Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jimmy-johnson/) > [“It was like being a fly on the wall at a meeting. JACK WELCH ON HIS JOB AT AGE TWELVE AS A CADDY FOR…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stanley-bing/it-was-like-being-a-fly-on-the-wall-at-a-meeting-jack-welch-on-his/) [Stanley Bing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stanley-bing/) > [Jack Welch is someone who I have always admired. In India, Narayana Murthy is someone who I have great respect for.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kumar-mangalam-birla/jack-welch-is-someone-who-i-have-always-admired-in-india-narayana/) [Kumar Mangalam Birla](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kumar-mangalam-birla/) ## More by Tom Verducci > [“Alex Rodriguez seemed not to fit in with the rest of his Yankee teammates. For instance, he wanted a clubhouse attendant personally assigned to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-verducci/alex-rodriguez-seemed-not-to-fit-in-with-the-rest-of-his-yankee/) [Tom Verducci](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-verducci/) > [“Force, in overabundance, is the enemy of artistry.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-verducci/force-in-overabundance-is-the-enemy-of-artistry/) [Tom Verducci](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-verducci/) > [Anytime you do a story that has an impact beyond that day's headlines and in what I regard as a very positive direction there…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-verducci/anytime-you-do-a-story-that-has-an-impact-beyond-that-day-s-headlines/) [Tom Verducci](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-verducci/) > [“On Alex Rodriguez's difficulty performing in clutch situations, Joe Torre writes, "In key situations, he can't get himself to concern himself with getting the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-verducci/on-alex-rodriguez-s-difficulty-performing-in-clutch-situations-joe/) [Tom Verducci](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-verducci/) > [I'm still the kid who grew up with ink on his hands from delivering newspapers.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-verducci/i-m-still-the-kid-who-grew-up-with-ink-on-his-hands-from-delivering/) [Tom Verducci](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-verducci/) > [My responsibility is to get the story right. I can't predict or be concerned with the consequences.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-verducci/my-responsibility-is-to-get-the-story-right-i-can-t-predict-or-be/) [Tom Verducci](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-verducci/) > [“The power of a boy's dream is one of life's little miracles, the way it wraps itself around the heart and remains through old…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-verducci/the-power-of-a-boy-s-dream-is-one-of-life-s-little-miracles-the-way/) [Tom Verducci](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-verducci/) > [“The beauty of baseball is multidimensional, appealing to the eye and the mind. There is beauty, for instance, in its geometry, the space between…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-verducci/the-beauty-of-baseball-is-multidimensional-appealing-to-the-eye-and/) [Tom Verducci](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-verducci/) > [“Why? Why should the bond between a people and their baseball team be so intense? Fenway Park is a part of it, offering a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-verducci/why-why-should-the-bond-between-a-people-and-their-baseball-team-be/) [Tom Verducci](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-verducci/) > [I just want the viewer to have a very informative and entertaining listen. I want them to feel like they've pulled up a chair…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-verducci/i-just-want-the-viewer-to-have-a-very-informative-and-entertaining/) [Tom Verducci](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-verducci/) > [“Researchers measure that the average major-league pitcher puts 40 pounds of pressure on his shoulder by cocking and releasing the baseball. Curious how much…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-verducci/researchers-measure-that-the-average-major-league-pitcher-puts-40/) [Tom Verducci](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-verducci/) [Explore all 12 Tom Verducci quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-verducci/) ## More Change quotes > [Only within yourself exists the other reality for which you long. I can give you nothing that has not already its being within yourself.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hermann-hesse/only-within-yourself-exists-the-other-reality-for-which-you-long-i/) [Hermann Hesse](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hermann-hesse/) > [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/) > [I can't believe that I'm sitting in meetings with Steven Spielberg, Tom Hanks, and Annette Bening. I want to take on that responsibility to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roger-ross-williams/i-can-t-believe-that-i-m-sitting-in-meetings-with-steven-spielberg/) [Roger Ross Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roger-ross-williams/) > [“…progress isn't necessarily about change but about things turning out as we want them to”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/phil-hogan/progress-isn-t-necessarily-about-change-but-about-things-turning-out/) Phil Hogan > [Nobody can tell me that no changes are necessary in Washington.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-weld/nobody-can-tell-me-that-no-changes-are-necessary-in-washington/) [William Weld](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-weld/) > [If my campaign is not in the debate, we will not be talking about how we really fix this problem of endless and expanding…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jill-stein/if-my-campaign-is-not-in-the-debate-we-will-not-be-talking-about-how/) [Jill Stein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jill-stein/) > [When you walk down the street of Kabul your values for life changes, they do change.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marco-pierre-white/when-you-walk-down-the-street-of-kabul-your-values-for-life-changes/) [Marco Pierre White](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marco-pierre-white/) > [Your world will change whether or not you choose to change, but you have the power to choose it's direction.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/napoleon-hill/your-world-will-change-whether-or-not-you-choose-to-change-but-you/) [Napoleon Hill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/napoleon-hill/) > [I hope I continue to evolve.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charlotte-flair/i-hope-i-continue-to-evolve/) [Charlotte Flair](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charlotte-flair/) > [“Stay focused on bringing people together and more on positive messaging so that you can be the change you wish to see in the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/germany-kent/stay-focused-on-bringing-people-together-and-more-on-positive/) [Germany Kent](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/germany-kent/) > [The biggest change for me as a mom was realizing I needed to put someone else before me. Now the hardest part about the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kim-alexis/the-biggest-change-for-me-as-a-mom-was-realizing-i-needed-to-put/) [Kim Alexis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kim-alexis/) > [“After the funeral, my life changed. I felt as if time were suddenly precious, water going down an open drain, and I could not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mitch-albom/after-the-funeral-my-life-changed-i-felt-as-if-time-were-suddenly/) [Mitch Albom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mitch-albom/) > [You practice mindfulness, on the one hand, to be calm and peaceful. On the other hand, as you practice mindfulness and live a life…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/you-practice-mindfulness-on-the-one-hand-to-be-calm-and-peaceful-on/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Irish research will contribute to global progress and have the potential to help all countries realise the potential of their land sectors in addressing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/enda-kenny/irish-research-will-contribute-to-global-progress-and-have-the/) [Enda Kenny](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/enda-kenny/) > [No man can change himself into anything from sheer reason; he can only change into what he potentially is.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carl-jung/no-man-can-change-himself-into-anything-from-sheer-reason-he-can-only/) [Carl Jung](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carl-jung/) [Browse all 33,920 Change quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/change/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“Change before you have to.—Jack Welch Wisdom is the reward for a lifetime of listening when you would have preferred to talk.—Doug Larson Communication creates collaboration. 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