--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Every success is built on the ability to…" description: "\"Every success is built on the ability to do better than good enough. As you climb the ladder of success, be sure it's leaning against the right buildin..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d49/woody-allen-176_ability_every-success-is-built-on-the-ability-to_1586408.jpg" --- # Every success is built on the ability to do better than… ![“Every success is built on the ability to do better than good enough. As you climb the ladder of success, be sure it's leaning against the right building. Eighty percent of success is showing up.” quote by Woody Allen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d49/woody-allen-176_ability_every-success-is-built-on-the-ability-to_1586408.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d49/woody-allen-176_ability_every-success-is-built-on-the-ability-to_1586408.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d49/woody-allen-176_ability_every-success-is-built-on-the-ability-to_1586408.jpg) > “Every success is built on the ability to do better than good enough. As you climb the ladder of success, be sure it's leaning against the right building. Eighty percent of success is showing up.” [Woody Allen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/woody-allen/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Success requires more than competence; it demands aligning effort with the right goals. **In simple terms:** Success is about doing better than merely good enough and choosing the right path. Key Takeaway Focus on meaningful goals. Themes success effort alignment Mood thoughtful inspirational Type motivational philosophical When to use this quote - career advancement - personal projects - team leadership Key Concepts goal setting motivation strategic planning Questions to Reflect On - What “building” does your ladder lean against? - How can you ensure your effort matches your true objectives? A Different Perspective Good effort alone isn’t enough if the target is misaligned. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Ability](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ability/) [Ability Better](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ability-better-271720/) [Building](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/building/) [Built](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/built/) [Climbs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/climbs/) [Eighty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/eighty/) [Enough](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/enough/) [Every Success](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/every-success/) [Good enough](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/good-enough/) [Ladder of success](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ladder-of-success/) [Ladder Success](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ladder-success-302528/) [Ladders](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ladders/) [Percent](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/percent/) [Percent Success](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/percent-success-429210/) [Showing up](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/showing-up/) [Success](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/success/) [Success Built](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/success-built-938234/) [Success Showing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/success-showing-2524475/) ## Related quotes > [Eighty percent of success is showing up.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/woody-allen/eighty-percent-of-success-is-showing-up/) [Woody Allen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/woody-allen/) > [“Woody Allen once said that 80 percent of success is showing up. Having written and directed fifty films in almost as many years, Allen…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jocelyn-k-glei/woody-allen-once-said-that-80-percent-of-success-is-showing-up-having/) [Jocelyn K. Glei](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jocelyn-k-glei/) > [Every success is built on the ability to do better than good enough](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/every-success-is-built-on-the-ability-to-do-better-than-good-enough-2/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [99 percent of success is built on failure.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-kettering/99-percent-of-success-is-built-on-failure/) [Charles Kettering](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-kettering/) > [Eighty per cent of success is showing up.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/woody-allen/eighty-per-cent-of-success-is-showing-up/) [Woody Allen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/woody-allen/) > [“The ladder of success is made from nails of patience.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vikrmn-ca-vikram-verma/the-ladder-of-success-is-made-from-nails-of-patience/) [Vikrmn: CA Vikram Verma](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vikrmn-ca-vikram-verma/) > [It is not difficult to climb the ladder of success if your father made it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vikrant-parsai/it-is-not-difficult-to-climb-the-ladder-of-success-if-your-father/) [Vikrant Parsai](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vikrant-parsai/) > [I think there has to be the sense that once you have climbed the ladder of success, that you don't push it away from…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/madeleine-albright/i-think-there-has-to-be-the-sense-that-once-you-have-climbed-the/) [Madeleine Albright](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/madeleine-albright/) > [“A person does not have to be religious to reach the top of the Ladder of Success; but every one that step onto the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ellen-j-barrier/a-person-does-not-have-to-be-religious-to-reach-the-top-of-the-ladder/) [Ellen J. Barrier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ellen-j-barrier/) > [Many people said that 'To be successful in life, you have to climb the ladder of success,' but no bastard told me from where…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vikrant-parsai/many-people-said-that-to-be-successful-in-life-you-have-to-climb-the/) [Vikrant Parsai](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vikrant-parsai/) > [Management is efficiency in climbing the ladder of success](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-covey/management-is-efficiency-in-climbing-the-ladder-of-success/) [Stephen Covey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-covey/) > [The ladder of success is never crowded at the top.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/napoleon-hill/the-ladder-of-success-is-never-crowded-at-the-top/) [Napoleon Hill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/napoleon-hill/) > [The ladder of success isn't a ladder. It's a series of steps with leaps interspersed along the way.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/seth-godin/the-ladder-of-success-isn-t-a-ladder-it-s-a-series-of-steps-with/) [Seth Godin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/seth-godin/) > [No man can climb the ladder of success without first placing his foot on the bottom rung.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-cash-penney/no-man-can-climb-the-ladder-of-success-without-first-placing-his-foot/) [James Cash Penney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-cash-penney/) > [If you can find as much happiness at the bottom of the ladder of success as you can at the top, then you understand…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-krause/if-you-can-find-as-much-happiness-at-the-bottom-of-the-ladder-of/) [Tom Krause](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-krause/) ## More by Woody Allen > [“True, science has conquered many diseases, broken the genetic code, and even placed human beings on the moon, and yet when a man of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/woody-allen/true-science-has-conquered-many-diseases-broken-the-genetic-code-and/) [Woody Allen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/woody-allen/) > [Bisexuality immediately doubles your chances for a date on Saturday night.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/woody-allen/bisexuality-immediately-doubles-your-chances-for-a-date-on-saturday/) [Woody Allen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/woody-allen/) > [In every generation there are a few people who are authentically funny. The cosmetics change. You may not be able to articulate it, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/woody-allen/in-every-generation-there-are-a-few-people-who-are-authentically/) [Woody Allen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/woody-allen/) > [I think Frank Capra was a much craftier filmmaker, a wonderful filmmaker. He had enormous technique, and he knew how to manipulate the public…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/woody-allen/i-think-frank-capra-was-a-much-craftier-filmmaker-a-wonderful/) [Woody Allen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/woody-allen/) > [The food here is terrible, and the portions are too small.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/woody-allen/the-food-here-is-terrible-and-the-portions-are-too-small/) [Woody Allen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/woody-allen/) > [Gauguin flew into a frenzy! He held my head under the X-ray machine for ten straight minutes and for several hours after I could…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/woody-allen/gauguin-flew-into-a-frenzy-he-held-my-head-under-the-x-ray-machine/) [Woody Allen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/woody-allen/) > [What has gotten into you lately? Save a little craziness for menopause!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/woody-allen/what-has-gotten-into-you-lately-save-a-little-craziness-for-menopause/) [Woody Allen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/woody-allen/) > [I enjoy the making of the film and it's something for me to do. If nobody ever comes to my films, if people don't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/woody-allen/i-enjoy-the-making-of-the-film-and-it-s-something-for-me-to-do-if/) [Woody Allen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/woody-allen/) > [Why does man kill? He kills for food. And not only food: frequently there must be a beverage.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/woody-allen/why-does-man-kill-he-kills-for-food-and-not-only-food-frequently/) [Woody Allen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/woody-allen/) > [A stockbroker is someone who invests other people's money until it is all gone.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/woody-allen/a-stockbroker-is-someone-who-invests-other-people-s-money-until-it-is/) [Woody Allen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/woody-allen/) > [Man cannot live by bread alone. Every once in awhile he needs a salad.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/woody-allen/man-cannot-live-by-bread-alone-every-once-in-awhile-he-needs-a-salad/) [Woody Allen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/woody-allen/) > [All literature is a footnote to Faust. I have no idea what I mean by that.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/woody-allen/all-literature-is-a-footnote-to-faust-i-have-no-idea-what-i-mean-by/) [Woody Allen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/woody-allen/) > [There are two important things in the world, the first is sex. The other isn't all that important.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/woody-allen/there-are-two-important-things-in-the-world-the-first-is-sex-the/) [Woody Allen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/woody-allen/) > [You can't ride two horses with one behind.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/woody-allen/you-can-t-ride-two-horses-with-one-behind/) [Woody Allen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/woody-allen/) > [Is old age really so terrible? Not if you've brushed your teeth faithfully.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/woody-allen/is-old-age-really-so-terrible-not-if-you-ve-brushed-your-teeth/) [Woody Allen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/woody-allen/) [Explore all 935 Woody Allen quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/woody-allen/) ## More Ability quotes > [I don't think there's a direct correlation between my sexuality and my skiing ability. But I think because I was so concerned about it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gus-kenworthy/i-don-t-think-there-s-a-direct-correlation-between-my-sexuality-and/) [Gus Kenworthy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gus-kenworthy/) > [“the importance of ability. The things that make a great job great, I discovered, are rare and valuable. If you want them in your…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cal-newport/the-importance-of-ability-the-things-that-make-a-great-job-great-i/) [Cal Newport](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cal-newport/) > [Ambition drives you on, ability certainly helps, but the fickle finger of fate and luck are great things.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fergus-henderson/ambition-drives-you-on-ability-certainly-helps-but-the-fickle-finger/) [Fergus Henderson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fergus-henderson/) > [The ability of the gospel to unite us on common strengths and common truths is one of the great miracles . . . of the gospel.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeffrey-r-holland/the-ability-of-the-gospel-to-unite-us-on-common-strengths-and-common/) [Jeffrey R. Holland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeffrey-r-holland/) > [Maybe law enforcement would like the ability to turn on the camera on your Mac.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tim-cook/maybe-law-enforcement-would-like-the-ability-to-turn-on-the-camera-on/) [Tim Cook](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tim-cook/) > [I've seen guys come along with more ability - they've been faster or bigger or stronger - but they never worked hard to develop…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-largent/i-ve-seen-guys-come-along-with-more-ability-they-ve-been-faster-or/) [Steve Largent](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-largent/) > [The youth of India has the strength to move the entire World with a click of a mouse, we have generated that ability!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/narendra-modi/the-youth-of-india-has-the-strength-to-move-the-entire-world-with-a/) [Narendra Modi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/narendra-modi/) > [Time hath not yet so dried this blood of mine, Nor age so eat up my invention, Nor fortune made such havoc of my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-shakespeare/time-hath-not-yet-so-dried-this-blood-of-mine-nor-age-so-eat-up-my/) [William Shakespeare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-shakespeare/) > [An absolutely necessary part of a writer's equipment, almost as necessary as talent, is the ability to stand up under punishment, both the punishment…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/irwin-shaw/an-absolutely-necessary-part-of-a-writer-s-equipment-almost-as/) [Irwin Shaw](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/irwin-shaw/) > [I'd be more frightened by not using whatever abilities I'd been given. I'd be more frightened by procrastination and laziness.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/denzel-washington/i-d-be-more-frightened-by-not-using-whatever-abilities-i-d-been-given/) [Denzel Washington](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/denzel-washington/) > [Bring into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ. Take what I cannot give: my heart, body, thoughts, time, abilities, money, health, strength,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-prentiss/bring-into-captivity-every-thought-to-the-obedience-of-christ-take/) [Elizabeth Prentiss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-prentiss/) > [You can only do the work to the very best of your ability.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christine-baranski/you-can-only-do-the-work-to-the-very-best-of-your-ability/) [Christine Baranski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christine-baranski/) > [Judge a person not by his ability to make money but by his ability to retain it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vikrant-parsai/judge-a-person-not-by-his-ability-to-make-money-but-by-his-ability-to/) [Vikrant Parsai](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vikrant-parsai/) > [Balance is the ability to be happy in the midst of the most chaotic or even boring or transient circumstance.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-lenz/balance-is-the-ability-to-be-happy-in-the-midst-of-the-most-chaotic/) [Frederick Lenz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-lenz/) > [Bobby had faith in my ability as a singer.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julie-london/bobby-had-faith-in-my-ability-as-a-singer/) [Julie London](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julie-london/) [Browse all 9,990 Ability quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ability/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Every success is built on the ability to do better than good enough. 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