I was always the kid dribbling the ball on the sidelines, hoping someone would pick me. I'd go with my older brother to the gym or park, and when I went out there, I'd pass the ball so I could get picked again.
John StocktonRead
I never thought I'd make it in the NBA, so everything else is gravy.
Interpretation
The speaker achieved more than they ever expected, and anything beyond that is a bonus.
John Stockton reflects on his journey to the NBA, expressing surprise and gratitude for his accomplishments. By stating that everything else is 'gravy', he highlights a mindset that values unexpected success and cherishes the additional rewards that come after achieving a goal that once seemed out of reach.
In practice
During a motivational speech to young athletes, this quote can emphasize the importance of hard work and enjoying one's journey.
I was always the kid dribbling the ball on the sidelines, hoping someone would pick me. I'd go with my older brother to the gym or park, and when I went out there, I'd pass the ball so I could get picked again.
You don't get this opportunity many times in life to compete against the best in the world every night. I certainly didn't expect to have 10 or 11 years of chances at it, so I don't want to take that for granted.
You can't afford to hop around and act like a kid when you have to get back on defense and worry about the other parts of the game. But at the end, when the buzzer sounds, you have the luxury of hopping around and looking foolish for a while.
Why was I able to be able to pass? What did I do right that allowed me to make a pass - any given pass? There's balance; there's vision.
I don't think about the record, because winning games has to be our focus, and if we lost focus thinking about that record, I would really regret it. How will I feel later on? People tell me it will mean a lot after I retire, for the kids and me. But to me, it's just a stat. It's something people enjoy talking about. Me? I just enjoy playing.
Playing the game is a form of winning the game. In those competitions, we win by being resilient.
Most people think they want more money than they really do, and they settle for a lot less than they could get
Let's pretend my career in music is a bell. Whether you like my music or not is up to you. But you've got to admit I rang that bell pretty hard and pretty often.
Success in life is the result of good judgment. Good judgment is usually the result of experience. Experience is usually the result of bad judgment.
I feel like I want to take care of everyone and I also feel this terrible guilt if I am unable to. And I have felt this way ever since all this success started.
Far from a Harvard student, just had the balls to do it
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