I'm not trying to win a popularity poll. I'm trying to win football games.
Woody HayesRead
I don't apologize for anything. When I make a mistake, I take the blame and go on from there. I just despise to lose, and that has taken a man of mediocre ability and made a pretty good coach out of him.
Interpretation
What this quote means
Taking responsibility for mistakes is key to personal growth and success.
This quote by Woody Hayes emphasizes the importance of accountability and resilience in the face of failure. Rather than wallowing in regrets, he advocates for acknowledging one's mistakes and learning from them, suggesting that a strong desire to succeed can transform someone's capabilities and lead to significant achievements, even from a position of mediocrity.
Themes
AccountabilityLearningResilienceSuccessCoaching
In practice
Example use cases
In a leadership meeting discussing team dynamics, this quote can remind members to embrace accountability.
More from Woody Hayes
All quotes →Any time you give a man something he doesn't earn, you cheapen him. Our kids earn what they get, and that includes respect.
Woody HayesRead
Nobody despises to lose more than I do. That's got me into trouble over the years, but it also made a man of mediocre ability into a pretty good coach.
Woody HayesRead
The minute I think I'm getting mellow, I'm retiring. Who ever heard of a mellow winner?
Woody HayesRead
The only thing even in this world is the number of hours in a day. The difference in winning or losing is what you do with those hours.
Woody HayesRead
There's nothing in this world that comes easy. There are a lot of people who aren't going to bother to win. We learn in football to get up and go once more.
Woody HayesRead
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