GREGORY > GREGORY's Quotes

“Nothing is fun until you're good at it.”
― Amy Chua, Battle Hymn of the Tiger Mother

“Every day that you don't practice is a day you're getting worse.”
― Amy Chua, Battle Hymn of the Tiger Mother

“Western parents worry a lot about their children's self-esteem. But as a parent, one of the worst things you can do for your child's self-esteem is to let them give up. On the flip side, there's nothing better for building confidence than learning you can do something you thought you couldn't.”
― Amy Chua, Battle Hymn of the Tiger Mother

“The fact is that Chinese parents can do things that would seem unimaginable-even legally actionable-to Westerners. Chinese mothers can say to their daughters, "Hey fatty-lose some weight." By contrast, Western parents have to tiptoe around the issue, talking in terms of "health" and never ever mentioning the f-word, and their kids still end up in therapy for eating disorders and negative self image.”
― Amy Chua, Battle Hymn of the Tiger Mother

“Western parents try to respect their children’s individuality, encouraging them to pursue their true passions, supporting their choices, and providing positive reinforcement and a nurturing environment. By contrast, the Chinese believe that the best way to protect their children is by preparing them for the future, letting them see what they’re capable of, and arming them with skills, work habits, and inner confidence that no one can ever take away.”
― Amy Chua, Battle Hymn of the Tiger Mother

“My goal as a parent is to prepare you for the future, not to make you like me.”
― Amy Chua Battle Hymn of the Tiger Mother

“Never complain or make excuses. If something seems unfair, just prove yourself by working twice as hard and being twice as good.”
― Amy Chua, Battle Hymn of the Tiger Mother

“Muzzle control has to be a religion. You cannot point that weapon at one of your brothers-or yourself. Know where you barrel is at all times, and know the condition of your weapon-loaded or unloaded, bolt forward or to the rear, round in the chamber or not, safety on or off. Keep your finger off the trigger unless you're going to kill something.”
― Dick Couch, Chosen Soldier: The Making of a Special Forces Warrior

“If you don't know or didn't understand, ASK! It's your responsibility to find out. Research; demonstrate an unquenchable desire to know everything about your job. If something is broken or not right, take the initiative to fix it or make”
― Dick Couch, The Finishing School: Earning the Navy SEAL Trident

“But talent without grit is just potential. Talent plus grit is unstoppable.”
― Ben Bergeron, Chasing Excellence: A Story About Building the World’s Fittest Athletes

“I’ve come to learn that leadership is not automatically granted to you because of your position or your salary or the size of your office. Leadership is influence based on trust that you have earned. A leader is not someone who declares what he wants and then gets angry when he doesn’t get it. A true leader is someone who is going someplace and taking people with him, a catalyst for elite performance who enables people to achieve things they wouldn’t achieve on their own. A leader is someone who earns trust, sets a clear standard, and then equips and inspires people to meet that standard.”
― Urban Meyer, Above the Line: Lessons in Leadership and Life from a Championship Program

“Giving up on somebody takes nothing. Helping them change takes a tremendous amount of time, energy, discipline, and love. In the end, it's worth it.”
― Urban Meyer, Above the Line: Lessons in Leadership and Life from a Championship Season

“We teach our players, in response to any situation they face, to press pause and ask: What does this situation require of me?
Pressing pause gives you time to think. It gets you off autopilot and helps you gain clarity about the outcome you are pursuing, the situation you are experiencing, and the Above the Line action you need to take to achieve the outcome.
There are two important benefits of pressing pause:
A) It helps you avoid doing something foolish or harmful
B) It focuses you on acting with purpose to accomplish your goals
A productive pause could last only a split second, which helps you regain your focus and take control of your action. It could last an hour, a day, or longer. The purpose is to take the time necessary to be intentional about the way you think and act. Pressing pause does not come naturally; it is a skill that must be developed. The more you practice, the more skilled you become at being able to identify how and when to use it effectively.”
― Urban Meyer, Above the Line: Lessons in Leadership and Life from a Championship Season

“A leader is someone who inspires and empowers people to get to places that they wouldn’t be able to reach otherwise, sure, but you also need to have people who are willing to be led. You”
― Urban Meyer, Above the Line: Lessons in Leadership and Life from a Championship Program

“Relentless effort (not talent or intelligence) is the key to achieving great things in your life. Struggle is part of the process. It is hard and often painful. But it’s also necessary, because it’s in the struggle that great things are achieved.”
― Urban Meyer, Above the Line: Lessons in Leadership and Life from a Championship Program

“There is a theory about human behavior called the 10-80-10 principle. I speak of it often when I talk to corporate groups or business leaders. It is the best strategy I know for getting the most out of your team. Think of your team or your organization as a big circle. At the very center of it, the nucleus, are the top 10 percenters, people who give all they've got all the time, who are the essence of self-discipline, self-respect, and the relentless persuit of improvement.
They are the elite- the most powerful component of any organization.
They are the people I love to coach.
Outside the nucleus are the 80 percenters. They are the majority- people who go to work, do a good job, and are relatively reliable. The 80 percenters are for the most part trustworthy and dutiful, but they simply don't have the drive and the unbending will that the nucleus guys do. They just don't burn as hot.
The final 10 percenters are uninterested or defiant. They are on the periphery, mostly just coasting through life, not caring about reaching their potential or honoring the gifts they've been given. They are coach killers.
The leadership challenge is to move as many of the 80 percenters into the nucleus as you can.”
― Urban Meyer, Above the Line: Lessons in Leadership and Life from a Championship Season

“Now I understand. Average leaders have quotes. Good leaders have a plan. Exceptional leaders have a system.”
― Urban Meyer, Above the Line: Lessons in Leadership and Life from a Championship Program

“It isn't hard to find people who are caught up in Below the Line behavior. All you need to do is look for those whose first reaction is to blame (others), complain (about circumstances), and defend (yourself), or BCD.”
― Urban Meyer, Above the Line: Lessons in Leadership and Life from a Championship Season

“Prologue: Above the Line Playbook Leadership isn’t a difference maker. It is the difference maker. Leadership is much more than simply declaring what you want and then getting angry if you don’t get it. A leader is someone who earns trust, sets a clear standard, and then equips and inspires people to meet that standard. Be true to who you are. Talk straight and demand accountability. Run toward problems. If you ignore them, they only get worse. Work to get better every day. Staying the same gets you nowhere. Savor the journey. Every day. You only get to do it once.”
― Urban Meyer, Above the Line: Lessons in Leadership and Life from a Championship Program

“Think hard. Be as specific as possible. Ask yourself: “Exactly what is it that I am after every day?” If you are Federal Express, your clarity of purpose is get it there. If you are Disney, it is make people happy. If you are the Ohio State”
― Urban Meyer, Above the Line: Lessons in Leadership and Life from a Championship Program

“Leaders create culture. Culture drives behavior. Behavior produces results.”
― Urban Meyer, Above the Line: Lessons in Leadership and Life from a Championship Season