by Eddie Jenkins
November 14, 2023
Before every high school basketball practice, our Coach Joe David would write a new quote on the locker room white board. As a team, it was our job to memorize it by the start of practice or we had to run.
Some quotes were basketball related like “A good player knows where the ball is—a great player knows where the ball is going to be.” Or “No box outs, no closeouts, no rebounds, no rings.” They were easy ways for us to remember what we needed to do to win games.
But what resonated with me even more were the quotes he put up centered on leadership, teambuilding, and hard work. Some of these quotes include “Sticks in a bundle are unbreakable,” and “If you ordered a burger don’t expect a steak.”
Sayings like these stood out because they condensed abstract concepts into actionable nuggets we could apply to all areas of life. Not only did they help on the basketball court, but these quotes made me a better football player too. And student. And friend.
The Importance of Quotes
It seems like everywhere you turn there’s a quote about leadership. Books, social media, and even our public spaces are flooded with inspiring words meant to direct and motivate us. And why is that?
It’s because quotes are powerful. They inspire others. They remind us to keep going. They preserve the words of legends from the past. Quotes are small enough to be remembered and powerful enough to push us forward when we need it most.
The best leaders I’ve seen are master communicators with years of wisdom they want to share with hungry prodigies. It makes sense they deliver messages in ways we enjoy. And the best part is, these influential messages can come from the rich and famous, or even those closest to us.
These are the quotes that have stood out to me:
Man in the Arena
My good friend and former teammate Tom Console highlighted Teddy Roosevelt’s “Man in the Arena” a few months back. Adding to Tom, Roosevelt, while speaking at an event in Paris in 1910, hits on the vulnerability it takes to operate as a leader.
The former President noted that in any worthwhile pursuit, there will be failure. We all “come short again and again, because there is no effort without error and shortcoming.” He explains that what truly matters is the courage to continue in the face of the shortfalls and criticisms that will undoubtedly follow.
But Courage Does Not Always Roar
The next quote is one my dad handed to me in a small frame when I was a teenager. At the time I didn’t grasp its significance, but now it is a quote that I strive to live by.
Here, author and artist Mary Ann Radmacher contrasts Roosevelt’s Man in the Arena speech by suggesting that courage is not about making a big push towards glory. Rather, it’s about taking small step after small step even when things might not be going your way.
She states, “Courage does not always roar. Sometimes courage is the quiet voice at the end of the day saying ‘I will try again tomorrow.’”
Many leadership quotes take on a “do-or-die” tone intended to motivate you over whatever obstacle is ahead—think sports or the military. Roosevelt’s quote evokes grand images of gladiators in a coliseum.
But Radmacher’s quote falls on the opposite end of the spectrum. It’s for those that have a goal but are facing setbacks. It’s for those who have grand ambitions but come up just short. We all face obstacles and sometimes that lack of progress can feel devastating.
As this quote points out, courage is not always a loud roar following a momentous victory. Sometimes courage is picking yourself up, dusting yourself off, and trying again even when it seems like success is a million miles away. We can’t always control whether we win or lose, but we can control whether we keep going. And this quote highlights that mindset perfectly.
Enthusiasm Matters
The last quote is a Coach David classic. In it, Ralph Waldo Emerson states that “Nothing great was ever accomplished without enthusiasm.” This quote has resonated with me for years because it’s actionable.
Whenever I’m a part of a team, I think back to this quote. No matter who my teammates are, no matter how much progress we are making, no matter if we are tired, worn out, bruised or battered, I know that I can bring enthusiasm and positivity to the situation.
Enthusiasm is something we can all control. We may not be the most gifted or talented, but we can always bring our excitement and gratitude to each opportunity. Incorporating joy is contagious to our peers as well. Of the many teams I’ve been on in my life, the best were always the ones that were excited to practice and enjoyed the process of getting better. Enthusiasm keeps us coming back day after day and is a crucial element to finding success.
The Brilliance of Coach David
Coach David knew that quotes mattered and memorizing them would not only help us win games but shape us into leaders off the court as well.
As a final nod to him, I will leave you with one of Coach’s favorite sayings. As Ella Wheeler Willcox once put it, “There is no chance, no destiny, no fate, that can circumvent or hinder or control the firm resolve of a determined soul.”
I’d love to see in the comments some of your favorite quotes to inspire others!
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Eddie Jenkins is a capital markets consultant in New York City. He is from Pittsburgh, PA and attended the University of Pennsylvania where he played sprint football. Eddie enjoys sports, history, and hanging out with friends and family.
Have you read:
The Maximum Standard: The article that started it all
The Dragon Warrior: By another recent Ivy League Grad, Tom Console
The Medium is the Message: Josh Messenger integrating marketing and leadership
The Maximum Standard 