--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Too many people spend more time planning…" description: "\"Too many people spend more time planning how to get the job than on how to become productive and successful in that job.\" — Zig Ziglar" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d7e/zig-ziglar-263_ability_too-many-people-spend-more-time-planning_98038.png" --- # Too many people spend more time planning how to get the… ![“Too many people spend more time planning how to get the job than on how to become productive and successful in that job.” quote by Zig Ziglar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d7e/zig-ziglar-263_ability_too-many-people-spend-more-time-planning_98038.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d7e/zig-ziglar-263_ability_too-many-people-spend-more-time-planning_98038.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d7e/zig-ziglar-263_ability_too-many-people-spend-more-time-planning_98038.png) > “Too many people spend more time planning how to get the job than on how to become productive and successful in that job.” [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. People often over‑plan the job‑search process while neglecting the habits that actually make them effective once employed. **In simple terms:** Focus on productivity, not just planning. Key Takeaway Actionable skills outweigh endless strategy. Themes productivity career planning execution Mood pragmatic motivational Type advice observation When to use this quote - pre‑interview skill drills - on‑the‑job learning - habit stacking Key Concepts time management skill development Practical Applications - practice core tasks daily - track measurable outcomes Questions to Reflect On - What balance of planning vs. doing yields the best career growth? - How can you measure productivity early in a new role? A Different Perspective Planning is still essential for aligning goals; ignoring it can lead to misdirected effort. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Ability](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ability/) [Careers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/careers/) [Job Productive](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/job-productive-1198052/) [Jobs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/jobs/) [More time](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/more-time/) [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) [Planning](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/planning/) [Planning Job](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/planning-job-956368/) [Productive](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/productive/) [Productive Successful](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/productive-successful-1198054/) [Successful](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/successful/) [Successful Job](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/successful-job-1198053/) [Time Planning](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/time-planning-1130077/) [Too many people](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/too-many-people/) ## Related quotes > [Many people spend more time in planning the wedding than they do in planning the marriage.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zig-ziglar/many-people-spend-more-time-in-planning-the-wedding-than-they-do-in/) [Zig Ziglar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zig-ziglar/) > [We want to keep the company healthy and its employees happy, and we want to keep them on the job and productive.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/akio-morita/we-want-to-keep-the-company-healthy-and-its-employees-happy-and-we/) [Akio Morita](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/akio-morita/) > [Brand planning must continue to paint a vivid description of the consumer today. The challenge is that it can feel like this picture changes…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-w-moseley/brand-planning-must-continue-to-paint-a-vivid-description-of-the/) [James W. 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That's what made me join Booking and not be afraid to leave a very successful job and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gillian-tans/what-always-drove-me-was-my-curiosity-that-s-what-made-me-join/) [Gillian Tans](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gillian-tans/) > [“Listed below are three basic rules that will help you become a successful candidate. Remember, however, that you need not be offered a job…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-berent/listed-below-are-three-basic-rules-that-will-help-you-become-a/) [Jonathan Berent](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-berent/) > [Southwest isn't a 'This is my job, that's your job' kind of company. 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No”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ray-dalio/don-t-assume-that-a-person-who-has-been-successful-elsewhere-will-be/) [Ray Dalio](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ray-dalio/) > [If it weren't for my education, I truly wouldn't be as successful at my job as a model.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/toni-garrn/if-it-weren-t-for-my-education-i-truly-wouldn-t-be-as-successful-at/) [Toni Garrn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/toni-garrn/) > [“The secret to be successful in any job you do in life is to develop a method that can make that job easier to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mehmet-murat-ildan/the-secret-to-be-successful-in-any-job-you-do-in-life-is-to-develop-a/) [Mehmet Murat ildan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mehmet-murat-ildan/) > [I was somebody who was 14 years old and who got an opportunity to do a job where I could make money, and, most…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gisele-bundchen/i-was-somebody-who-was-14-years-old-and-who-got-an-opportunity-to-do/) [Gisele Bundchen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gisele-bundchen/) > [“The best time for planning a book is while you're doing the dishes. ”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/agatha-christie/the-best-time-for-planning-a-book-is-while-you-re-doing-the-dishes/) [Agatha Christie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/agatha-christie/) ## 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": "Too many people spend more time planning how to get the job than on how to become productive and successful in that job.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Zig Ziglar" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zig-ziglar/too-many-people-spend-more-time-planning-how-to-get-the-job-than-on/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Ability" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zig-ziglar/too-many-people-spend-more-time-planning-how-to-get-the-job-than-on/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d7e/zig-ziglar-263_ability_too-many-people-spend-more-time-planning_98038.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d7e/zig-ziglar-263_ability_too-many-people-spend-more-time-planning_98038.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d7e/zig-ziglar-263_ability_too-many-people-spend-more-time-planning_98038.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Too many people spend more time planning how to get the job than on how to become productive and successful…” — Zig Ziglar", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Zig Ziglar", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zig-ziglar/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "Too many people spend more time...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zig-ziglar/too-many-people-spend-more-time-planning-how-to-get-the-job-than-on/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zig-ziglar/too-many-people-spend-more-time-planning-how-to-get-the-job-than-on/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```