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One of the things young people always ask me about is what is the secret to success. The secret is there is no secret. It's the basics. Blocking and tackling.
Chris Gardner
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Interpretation

What this quote means

Success is about mastering the fundamental skills rather than looking for hidden secrets.

In this quote, Chris Gardner emphasizes that many young individuals seek a 'secret' to success, but he asserts that true success lies in understanding and mastering basic principles. The metaphor of 'blocking and tackling' suggests that the foundational skills and practices are what truly matter in achieving one's goals, rather than relying on elusive shortcuts or hacks.

Themes

SuccessBasicsSkillsEffortYoung People

In practice

Example use cases

In a motivational speech to students at a career day event.

More from Chris Gardner

Walk that walk and go forward all the time. Don't just talk that talk, walk it and go forward. Also, the walk didn't have to be long strides; baby steps counted too. Go forward.
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I've said that if you're not doing something that you're passionate about, you're compromising yourself every single day.
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I chose to embrace the spirit of my mother, who, though she had too many of her own dreams denied, deferred, and destroyed, she still instilled in me, her child, that I could have dreams and that I did have a responsibility and the power.
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The secret to success: find something you love to do so much, you can’t wait for the sun to rise to do it all over again.
Chris GardnerRead
Passion is the thing that won't let you sleep at night because you want to get up in the morning and go do your thing.
Chris GardnerRead
You know how mountains get moved? Everyone who can move a couple, move a couple. Those who can move rocks, move rocks. Those who can move boulders, move boulders. That's how mountains get moved. If every one of us did everything we could, I believe we would be in a different world.
Chris GardnerRead

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