Without Fred Taylor I would never have become the player I became. Because he was selling defense and I bought it.
John HavlicekRead
In my first year, when I was driving in runs, winning games and making headlines, there was an old man who came to games at Seals Stadium, and one day he called me over, introduced himself and told me not to believe anything written about me or think too much of all the accolades.
Interpretation
Stay humble and grounded despite achievements and praise.
Willie McCovey's quote reminds us of the importance of humility and perspective in the face of success. It speaks to the idea that while accolades and recognition can be gratifying, they should not define our self-worth or lead us to become arrogant. The wisdom shared by the old man emphasizes the need to remain true to oneself and not get lost in the noise of public opinion.
In practice
During a motivational speech about achieving success in sports and business.
Without Fred Taylor I would never have become the player I became. Because he was selling defense and I bought it.
Your premium brand had better be delivering something special, or it's not going to get the business.
Leave bands, go back to obscurity if I choose to, without a great sense of loss of security because it's all been based on the fact that I did it on my own or was doing, enjoying doing it on my own in the first place.
As quickly as it started, our business model evaporated. But while Traf-O-Data was technically a business failure, the understanding of microprocessors we absorbed was crucial to our future success.
I grew up in a working class family where there was no health insurance. I saw first hand the fracturing of the American dream and the bitterness that comes when there is no hope and a lot of despair. So I wanted to build the company, in a sense, that my father never got a chance to work for.
The best thing I ever did was when I was offered a million dollars to go play in South Africa and didn't take it. I was 21 years old, and part of it was like, 'Well, if they're offering me this obscene amount of money just to play one match, there must be something really wrong.'
Subscribe for the occasional hand-picked quote. No noise.