I don't have the strength or wisdom to get through a single day without guidance and grace from God.
You should never be defined by what you do, by the things you have; you've got to define yourself by who you are and who you impact and how you impact people. And that's the thing I try to get across to my players.
Interpretation
What this quote means
True identity lies in personal values and the impact one has on others, not in external possessions or accomplishments.
In this quote, Tony Dungy emphasizes the importance of self-definition based on character and influence rather than material possessions or professional roles. He encourages individuals to focus on their values, their relationships with others, and the positive effects they can have in the world, particularly in leadership and mentorship roles. This perspective is vital for personal growth and authentic connection with others.
Themes
In practice
Example use cases
During a team-building seminar, I used this quote to inspire teammates to focus on building relationships rather than just winning.
More from Tony Dungy
All quotes →Football is a vocation and an opportunity for ministry. But it's not a life.
When Jim Irsay called me five years ago, he told me, 'I want you to be our coach and help us win the Super Bowl.' He told me, 'We are going win it the right way. We are going to win it with great guys; win it with class and dignity. We are going to win it in a way that will make Indianapolis proud.'
People look at me and see a calm, cool guy on the sidelines and I want them to know that my Christian faith affects my coaching and everything I do.
God’s definition of success is really one of significance-the significant difference our lives can make in the lives of others. The significance doesn’t show up in won-loss records, long resumes, or the trophies gathering dust on our mantels. It’s found in the hearts and lives of those we’ve come across who are in some way better because of the way we lived.
Our goal was to win, to win a Super Bowl, but also to win in the right way, to be role models to our community, to represent Indianapolis, the state of Indiana and the National Football League.
Similar quotes
Why give up before we try Feel the lows before the highs Clip our wings before we fly away I can't say I came prepared I'm suspended in the air Won't you come be in the sky with me
I am not a has-been. I am a will be.
Never, however, do I take shortcuts. There is not path of least resistance in my training. What I do equates to hard manual labor, disciplined grunt work. Once you permit yourself to compromise, you fail yourself. You might be able to fool some people, but you can never fool yourself. Your toughest critic is the one you face every morning in the mirror.
Be wary of those who seek to steal your dream. Be even more wary of those who seek to tell you what your dream should be.
Exert your talents, and distinguish yourself, and don't think of retiring from the world, until the world will be sorry that you retire.
Understand that if a deep desire lives in your heart, a dream that is part of your soul's fiber, a path exists to bring it to life.