It does not matter who is stronger or more aggressive or even throws harder punches. All that matters is what lands.
Interpretation
Success is determined by effectiveness rather than effort or aggression.
This quote emphasizes that in any competitive situation, including sports and personal endeavors, the actual impact of one's actions is more significant than merely showing strength or intensity. It suggests that success comes from delivering effective results, regardless of how strong or aggressive one may appear.
In practice
A coach might use this quote to motivate players during practice to focus on executing plays correctly rather than just playing aggressively.
I often say to the athletes, that I know about their 'neon skills' - the ones that light up and make them easily recognizable. The power of a fighter, the finesse, the agility, the legs, the quickness. But what about being steady, or being dependable? These are more important traits.
The worst thing is for a fighter to be in the ring with no hope - where he's missing and getting caught. You need to have hope.
Every day in camp is a difficult day because you worry whether or not you're going to get it right. You worry - or I do, at least - whether or not you're going to live up to the trust as the trainer that the fighter gave you when he asked you to train him.
If we have anything in common as humans it's the instinct to survive. When you go in the ring you are going against that instinct. You're running into conflict instead of away from That's when the complexity really begins.
You're not in a fight until there's pressure. Resistance. Overcoming something. Otherwise, it's just an exhibition.
I was 14 when I placed a bet on Muhammad Ali to beat Joe Frazier in their first fight. There was something magical about Ali, like the first time I heard Ray Charles sing 'America The Beautiful' or Louie Armstrong blow the trumpet - feeling as if they could influence the cosmos, make anything right when they performed.
There is no heavier burden than an unfulfilled potential.
In short, you can't let the deadline define the mission. The mission has to define the duration.
Behavior precedes belief - that is, most people must engage in a behavior before they accept that it is beneficial; then they see the results, and then they believe that it is the right thing to do....implementation precedes buy-in; it does not follow it.
Assume the feeling of your wish fulfilled and observe the route that your attention follows.
You've got to say, "I think that if I keep working at this and want it badly enough I can have it." It's called perseverance.
Startups are painful, stressful and at times demoralizing. You need to be a true believer in the vision of what you are doing. You need to passionate about it and love what you’re doing. If you don’t, there is no way you can sustain the hours, stress and disappointment. There’s no way you’re going to be able to convince investors, customers and most importantly recruit a world-class team if you not building something you think is going to change the world.
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