If you don't do what's best for your body, you're the one who comes up on the short end.
Julius ErvingRead
When I get a chance to power jump off both legs, I can lean, twist, change directions and decide whether to dunk the ball or pass it to an open man. In other words, I may be committed to the air, but I still have some control over it.
Interpretation
The quote emphasizes the ability to adapt and make decisions even when faced with opportunities.
Julius Erving's quote reflects the dynamic nature of taking risks and making choices. It illustrates how one can embrace challenges, like jumping high in basketball, while still retaining the power to control the outcome, whether it's a bold move or a strategic pass. This serves as a metaphor for life, where taking leaps of faith can lead to various possibilities, but with the wisdom to choose how to proceed.
In practice
During a motivational speech at a sports camp.
If you don't do what's best for your body, you're the one who comes up on the short end.
One of the most predictable things in life is there will be change. You are better off if you can have a say in the change. But you are ignorant or naive if you don't think there will be change, whether you want it to or not.
I demand more of myself than anyone else could ever expect.
When I played, the owners had the power. The prisoners are running the prison now, not the warden. The warden is strong and he has say so but, the balance of power is definitely with the players.
Right up until the time I retired at age 37, I felt like there were still things that I could do better.
I keep both eyes on my man. The basket hasn't moved on me yet.
For me now, I will continue to focus ever harder on my goal of being the very best I can be with Toulon Rugby Club and continue to embrace and enjoy wherever that path takes me.
What I admire most about Hillary is that she never buckles under pressure. She never takes the easy way out. And Hillary Clinton has never quit on anything in her life.
If you trust in yourself. . .and believe in your dreams. . .and follow your star. . . you'll still get beaten by people who spent their time working hard and learning things and weren't so lazy.
Brick walls are there for a reason. The brick walls aren't there to keep us out. The brick walls are there to show us how badly we want things.
If you learn how to defeat that person when you're running. You will know how to not quit when things get hard in your life.
What's wrong with trying hard and showing up and being good at your job? We really need to look at ourselves and say we need to reevaluate this. We need to reevaluate that women who ask for a pay raise or ask for a promotion - it's actually an okay thing. It's okay to be ambitious; it's okay to be over-prepared.
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