--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Success means doing the best we can with…" description: "\"Success means doing the best we can with what we have. Success is the doing, not the getting; in the trying, not the triumph. Success is a personal sta..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/269/zig-ziglar-263_ability_success-means-doing-the-best-we-can-with_755299.png" --- # Success means doing the best we can with what we have… ![“Success means doing the best we can with what we have. Success is the doing, not the getting; in the trying, not the triumph. Success is a personal standard, reaching for the that is in us, becoming all that we can be. If we do our best, we are a success. Success is the maximum utilization of the…” quote by Zig Ziglar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/269/zig-ziglar-263_ability_success-means-doing-the-best-we-can-with_755299.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/269/zig-ziglar-263_ability_success-means-doing-the-best-we-can-with_755299.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/269/zig-ziglar-263_ability_success-means-doing-the-best-we-can-with_755299.png) > “Success means doing the best we can with what we have. Success is the doing, not the getting; in the trying, not the triumph. Success is a personal standard, reaching for the that is in us, becoming all that we can be. If we do our best, we are a success. Success is the maximum utilization of the ability that you have.” [Zig Ziglar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zig-ziglar/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Success is measured by personal effort and growth, not external rewards; it’s about maximizing one’s own abilities. **In simple terms:** Success = doing your best. Key Takeaway Commit to continual self‑improvement. Themes personal development achievement effort Mood motivational reflective Type inspirational philosophical When to use this quote - career advancement - skill building - personal projects - education Key Concepts self‑efficacy goal setting Questions to Reflect On - What does “doing your best” look like for you? - How do you balance effort with wellbeing? A Different Perspective External validation can distract from intrinsic goals. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Ability](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ability/) [Becoming](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/becoming/) [Ifs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ifs/) [Maximum](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/maximum/) [Mean](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mean/) [Reaching](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/reaching/) [Standards](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/standards/) [Success](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/success/) [Success Doing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/success-doing-289848/) [Success Maximum](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/success-maximum-2830784/) [Success Means](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/success-means-249301/) [Success Personal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/success-personal-396857/) [Success Success](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/success-success-249305/) [Triumph](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/triumph/) [Trying](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/trying/) [Utilization](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/utilization/) [Wisdom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wisdom/) ## Related quotes > [Success means doing the best we can with what we have. Success is the doing, not the getting; in the trying, not the triumph.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/success-means-doing-the-best-we-can-with-what-we-have-success-is-the-2/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“Success is the doing, not the getting; in the trying, not the triumph. Success is a personal standard, reaching for the highest that is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zig-ziglar/success-is-the-doing-not-the-getting-in-the-trying-not-the-triumph/) [Zig Ziglar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zig-ziglar/) > [Success is the maximum utilization of the ability that you have.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zig-ziglar/success-is-the-maximum-utilization-of-the-ability-that-you-have/) [Zig Ziglar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zig-ziglar/) > [What does "success" mean to you? Was Mother Teresa a "success"? Was your favorite teacher a "success"? Were your parents, grandparents, your pastor, your…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bob-teague/what-does-success-mean-to-you-was-mother-teresa-a-success-was-your/) [Bob Teague](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bob-teague/) > [There are no secrets of success. Success is doing the things you know you should do. Success is not doing the things you know…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wilferd-peterson/there-are-no-secrets-of-success-success-is-doing-the-things-you-know-2/) [Wilferd Peterson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wilferd-peterson/) > [There are no secrets of success. Success is doing the things you know you should do. Success is not doing the things you know…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wilferd-peterson/there-are-no-secrets-of-success-success-is-doing-the-things-you-know/) [Wilferd Peterson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wilferd-peterson/) > [I do hip-hop music, and I've gotten famous off of hip-hop music, and I know that I'm successful, and I've created my own definition…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hopsin/i-do-hip-hop-music-and-i-ve-gotten-famous-off-of-hip-hop-music-and-i/) [Hopsin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hopsin/) > [Success is a personal standard, reaching for the highest that is in us, becoming all that we can be.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zig-ziglar/success-is-a-personal-standard-reaching-for-the-highest-that-is-in-us/) [Zig Ziglar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zig-ziglar/) > [Success is the doing, not the getting; in the trying, not the triumph.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zig-ziglar/success-is-the-doing-not-the-getting-in-the-trying-not-the-triumph-2/) [Zig Ziglar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zig-ziglar/) > [“Success is personal ownership of the dream, and responsibility for its desired outcome.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johnnie-dent-jr/success-is-personal-ownership-of-the-dream-and-responsibility-for-its/) [Johnnie Dent Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johnnie-dent-jr/) > [Personal success or personal satisfaction are not worth another thought if one does achieve them, or worth worrying about if they evade one or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pierre-teilhard-de-chardin/personal-success-or-personal-satisfaction-are-not-worth-another/) [Pierre Teilhard de Chardin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pierre-teilhard-de-chardin/) > [I'm very ambitious. I live in reality but I have dreams I want to fulfill - I want to be a director, and I've…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alex-pettyfer/i-m-very-ambitious-i-live-in-reality-but-i-have-dreams-i-want-to/) [Alex Pettyfer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alex-pettyfer/) > [The thing is, when I had my first success it did coincide with the end of my first marriage, and because I went on…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rob-brydon/the-thing-is-when-i-had-my-first-success-it-did-coincide-with-the-end/) [Rob Brydon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rob-brydon/) > [I define success by personal growth; if you don’t continue to grow, you can’t continue to succeed.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tabatha-coffey/i-define-success-by-personal-growth-if-you-don-t-continue-to-grow-you/) [Tabatha Coffey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tabatha-coffey/) > [I put a lot of emphasis on how to treat people. The reason for this is simple. The real success of our personal lives…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-kay-ash/i-put-a-lot-of-emphasis-on-how-to-treat-people-the-reason-for-this-is/) [Mary Kay Ash](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-kay-ash/) ## More by Zig Ziglar > [If you aim at nothing, you will hit it every time.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zig-ziglar/if-you-aim-at-nothing-you-will-hit-it-every-time/) [Zig Ziglar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zig-ziglar/) > [Many companies have long contended that stress in the home causes productivity loss in the market place.. and it does. But research now reveals…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zig-ziglar/many-companies-have-long-contended-that-stress-in-the-home-causes/) [Zig Ziglar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zig-ziglar/) > [A plan is always successful if the plan is good.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zig-ziglar/a-plan-is-always-successful-if-the-plan-is-good/) [Zig Ziglar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zig-ziglar/) > [Many times our weaknesses are extensions of our strengths.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zig-ziglar/many-times-our-weaknesses-are-extensions-of-our-strengths/) [Zig Ziglar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zig-ziglar/) > [It's not what you've got, it's what you use that makes a difference.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zig-ziglar/it-s-not-what-you-ve-got-it-s-what-you-use-that-makes-a-difference/) [Zig Ziglar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zig-ziglar/) > [The child who has not been disciplined with love by his little world will be disciplined, generally without love, by the big world.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zig-ziglar/the-child-who-has-not-been-disciplined-with-love-by-his-little-world/) [Zig Ziglar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zig-ziglar/) > [When there is hope in the future, there is power in the present, and since hope is the foundational quality of all change, there…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zig-ziglar/when-there-is-hope-in-the-future-there-is-power-in-the-present-and/) [Zig Ziglar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zig-ziglar/) > [The way you look on the outside has a definite bearing on how you feel and see yourself on the inside.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zig-ziglar/the-way-you-look-on-the-outside-has-a-definite-bearing-on-how-you/) [Zig Ziglar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zig-ziglar/) > [You become great by going small thing in a great way.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zig-ziglar/you-become-great-by-going-small-thing-in-a-great-way/) [Zig Ziglar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zig-ziglar/) > [God showed me that He could and would replace everything that was missing in my life, but that nothing could replace Him in my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zig-ziglar/god-showed-me-that-he-could-and-would-replace-everything-that-was/) [Zig Ziglar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zig-ziglar/) > [As you move to the top, remember the story of the pump. If you start pumping casually or half -heartedly, you will pump forever…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zig-ziglar/as-you-move-to-the-top-remember-the-story-of-the-pump-if-you-start/) [Zig Ziglar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zig-ziglar/) > [Success comes from repeated efforts day in and day out. You learn from your mistakes, make adjustments and continue pressing forward until you achieve…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zig-ziglar/success-comes-from-repeated-efforts-day-in-and-day-out-you-learn-from/) [Zig Ziglar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zig-ziglar/) > [Positive thinking will let you use the ability which you have, and that is awesome.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zig-ziglar/positive-thinking-will-let-you-use-the-ability-which-you-have-and/) [Zig Ziglar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zig-ziglar/) > [It will be disastrous when a leader or manager shows up with one attitude one day and treats people with a different attitude the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zig-ziglar/it-will-be-disastrous-when-a-leader-or-manager-shows-up-with-one/) [Zig Ziglar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zig-ziglar/) > [If you go looking for a friend, you're going to find they're very scarce. If you go out to be a friend, you'll find…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zig-ziglar/if-you-go-looking-for-a-friend-you-re-going-to-find-they-re-very/) [Zig Ziglar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zig-ziglar/) [Explore all 788 Zig Ziglar quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zig-ziglar/) ## 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": "Success means doing the best we can with what we have. 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