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Work Quotes

John Wooden, arguably the greatest coach in sports history, viewed work not merely as a means to an end, but as the foundation of character and success.

"You are in danger of living a life so comfortable and soft that you will die without ever realizing your true potential."
david goggins
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Source: Book: Can't Hurt Me

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"Pain unlocks a secret doorway in the mind, one that leads to both peak performance, and beautiful silence."
david goggins
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Source: Book: Can't Hurt Me

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"Play iterated games. All the returns in life, whether in wealth, relationships, or knowledge, come from compound interest."
Naval Ravikant
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Source: Inspired by: Social Thread: How to Get Rich (without getting lucky)

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"Retirement is when you stop sacrificing today for an imaginary tomorrow."
Naval Ravikant
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Source: Book: The Almanack of Naval Ravikant

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"It’s not what we do once in a while that shapes our lives. It’s what we do consistently."
Tony Robbins
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Source: Book: Awaken the Giant Within

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"Play long-term games with long-term people. All returns in life, whether in wealth, relationships, or knowledge, come from compound interest."
Naval Ravikant
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Source: Social Post: Twitter

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"Wealth is having assets that earn while you sleep."
Naval Ravikant
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Source: Podcast: How to Get Rich

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"Compare yourself to who you were yesterday, not to who someone else is today."
Jordan Peterson
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Source: Book: 12 Rules for Life: An Antidote to Chaos

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"The only way to get to the other side of the journey is to suffer through it."
david goggins
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Source: Book: Never Finished

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"Motivation is crap. Motivation comes and goes. When you’re driven, whatever is in front of you will get destroyed."
david goggins
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Source: Podcast: The Joe Rogan Experience

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"Never mistake activity for achievement."
John Wooden
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Source: Inspired by: TED Talk: The difference between winning and succeeding (2001)

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"Don't measure yourself by what you have accomplished, but by what you should have accomplished with your ability."
John Wooden
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Source: Book: Wooden on Leadership

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"Make each day your masterpiece."
John Wooden
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Source: Book: Coach Wooden's Pyramid of Success

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"Seek opportunities to show you care. The smallest gestures often make the biggest difference."
John Wooden
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Source: Book: Coach Wooden's Pyramid of Success

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"You can't let praise or criticism get to you. It's a weakness to get caught up in either one."
John Wooden
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Source: Book: Wooden on Leadership

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"Talent is God given. Be humble. Fame is man-given. Be grateful. Conceit is self-given. Be careful."
John Wooden
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Source: Book: Wooden: A Lifetime of Observations and Reflections

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"It's the little details that are vital. Little things make big things happen."
John Wooden
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Source: Book: Wooden on Leadership

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"Be quick, but don't hurry."
John Wooden
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Source: Book: They Call Me Coach

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"Winning takes talent, to repeat takes character."
John Wooden
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Source: Documentary: The UCLA Dynasty

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"Discipline yourself, and others won't need to."
John Wooden
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Source: Book: Coach Wooden's Pyramid of Success

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"If you don't have time to do it right, when will you have time to do it over?"
John Wooden
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Source: Book: The Essential Wooden

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"Do not let what you cannot do interfere with what you can do."
John Wooden
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Source: Book: The Essential Wooden

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"Things turn out best for the people who make the best of the way things turn out."
John Wooden
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Source: Book: They Call Me Coach

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"Flexibility is the key to stability."
John Wooden
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Source: Book: Coach Wooden's Pyramid of Success

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"Conditioning: Mental, moral, and physical. Rest, exercise and diet must be considered. Moderation must be practiced. Dissipation must be eliminated."
John Wooden
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Source: Book: Coach Wooden's Pyramid of Success

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"Nothing will work unless you do."
John Wooden
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Source: Book: Wooden: A Lifetime of Observations and Reflections On and Off the Court

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"Much can be accomplished by teamwork when no one is concerned about who gets credit."
John Wooden
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Source: Book: Wooden on Leadership

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"We don't want to be as good as the competition. We want to be better than the competition."
John Wooden
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Source: Book: Wooden on Leadership

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"Be more concerned with your character than your reputation."
John Wooden
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Source: Book: They Call Me Coach

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"The main ingredient of stardom is the rest of the team."
John Wooden
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Source: Book: Wooden on Leadership

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"The best competition I have is against myself to become better."
John Wooden
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Source: Book: Coach Wooden's Pyramid of Success

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"Failure to prepare is preparing to fail."
John Wooden
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Source: Book: They Call Me Coach

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"If you're not making mistakes, then you're not doing anything. I'm positive that a doer makes mistakes."
John Wooden
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Source: Book: The Essential Wooden

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"Don't let yesterday take up too much of today."
John Wooden
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Source: Book: The Essential Wooden

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"The harder you work, the more luck you will have."
John Wooden
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Source: Book: Wooden on Leadership

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Why these quotes matter

His ideas are critical because they shift the focus from external validation to internal excellence and daily habits. In a world obsessed with shortcuts and instant gratification, Wooden reminds us that lasting achievement is built on the unglamorous, consistent application of effort and preparation.

How to apply them daily

Apply his teachings by focusing on "making each day your masterpiece" rather than worrying about future outcomes or past failures. Approach every task with enthusiasm and industriousness, ensuring you never cheat yourself by giving less than your total effort in the present moment.

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"Success travels in the company of very hard work, and as Wooden taught, the journey is better than the inn."