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Leadership and Management · 2 min read

Do what you can, with what you have, where you are

Take action now. Learn to set clear goals, use available resources and beat procrastination, so you build momentum, grow leadership skills and reach success.

Chris Farmer, Founder of Corporate Coach Group

“Real progress starts when you take action where you are, use the resources you have and set clear goals; wait for perfect times and delay will steal your success.”

Chris Farmer — Founder, Corporate Coach Group

Do what you can, with what you have, where you are

"Do what you can, with what you have, where you are"

The quote by Theodore Roosevelt, "Do what you can, with what you have, where you are" is a powerful message that reminds us not to wait for perfect conditions before acting.

Often, we hold ourselves back from achieving our goals because we think we lack something essential, whether it's time, money, or resources. But the truth is, there is always something we can do, even with limited resources.

Do what you can

The first part of the quote, "Do what you can," reminds us to focus on the tasks that are within our control. Instead of worrying about what we can't do, we should concentrate on what we can.

By doing so, we start to build momentum, and our accomplishments create a positive feedback loop that motivates us to keep going.

With what you have

The second part of the quote, "with what you have," emphasizes the importance of making the most of what we already have. We might not have the best tools or resources, but we can use what we do have to get started.

As we progress, we will find that more resources become available, and we can gradually upgrade our tools.

Where you are

The last part of the quote, "where you are," reminds us to start from where we are at that moment. There will never be an ideal time or place to start, so the best thing we can do is to begin where we are.

By doing so, we take the first step towards our goals, and we can build from there.

Summary

So, the quote by Theodore Roosevelt is a reminder to stop making excuses and take action.

By focusing on what we can do, making the most of what we have, and starting where we are, we can overcome the inertia of procrastination and achieve our goals.

Goal Setting Training

Goal setting is just one of the valuable topics covered in our popular Leadership and Management Training Course.

goal setting

Goal setting is the process of choosing a clear aim, marking a date to reach it, stating how you will measure success, and letting that aim guide your daily steps. If any part is missing, it is not true goal setting because the aim becomes unclear, the time slips, progress is hard to see, and action loses focus.

CG4D Definition

Context: Business
Genus: Process

  • Names a single, specific aim
  • Sets a fixed time limit
  • Includes measurable success signs
  • Directs daily plans and actions

Article Summary

Real progress starts when you take action where you are, use the resources you have and set clear goals; wait for perfect times and delay will steal your success.

Chris Farmer, Founder of Corporate Coach Group

Written by Chris Farmer

Founder & Lead Trainer, Corporate Coach Group

Chris Farmer is the founder of the Corporate Coach Group and has over 25 years experience designing and delivering leadership and management training across both the public and private sectors. His programmes are structured, practical and built around real-world performance. Read more about Chris and the story of how the Corporate Coach Group was founded.

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Key Statistics

The 2024 LinkedIn Workplace Learning Report shows that 94% of employees say they would stay longer at a company that invests in their learning and growth.

The CIPD Learning at Work 2024 survey found teams with clear, written goals are 30% more likely to exceed their performance targets than teams without documented goals.

Frequently Asked Questions

Common questions about this topic

Roosevelt means take action on what you can control today, rather than delay over things outside your reach.
Write a list, mark items you can change, start with one quick win; this focus keeps effort on controllable tasks.
Audit your current tools, skills, and time; combine them creatively. Using available resources removes excuses and sparks progress.
Starting where you are prevents lost time. Conditions rarely become perfect, so early steps create learning and confidence.
Each small win shows progress, feeds motivation, and builds momentum that carries you towards bigger goals faster.
Break tasks into tiny actions, set a timer, take the first step now; such simple cues help overcome procrastination.
Clear goal setting names a target, time, and measure; this clarity guides daily moves and supports long-term self improvement.

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