It is necessary for me to establish a winner image. Therefore, I have to beat somebody.

I always say, decisions I make, I live with them. There’s always ways you can correct them or ways you can do them better. At the end of the day, I live with them.

People can cry much easier than they can change.

To keep oneself safe does not mean to bury oneself.

You can’t go backward in life.

The highest reward for a person’s toil is not what they get for it, but what they become by it.

Many are stubborn in pursuit of the path they have chosen, few in pursuit of the goal.

Everyone, no doubt, remains first and foremost a man of his own country and continues to draw from it his motive force.

Human salvation lies in the hands of the creatively maladjusted.

In the successful organization, no detail is too small to escape close attention.

Energy and persistence conquer all things.

Real education enhances the dignity of a human being and increases his or her self-respect. If only the real sense of education could be realized by each individual and carried forward in every field of human activity, the world will be so much a better place to live in.

Don’t talk about what you have done or what you are going to do.

Concentrate all your thoughts upon the work at hand. The sun’s rays do not burn until brought to a focus.

The true competitors, though, are the ones who always play to win.

Basically, I’m one of the greatest producers ever. And I’m also one of the greatest DJs ever. And I’m also one of the best executives ever.

Everybody should do at least two things each day that he hates to do, just for practice.

I have a memory, and I can just eliminate mistakes when they come up because I’ve already made them.

The greatest glory in living lies not in never falling, but in rising every time we fall.

Storms make trees take deeper roots.

Only the guy who isn’t rowing has time to rock the boat.

You were not created to just get by with an average, unrewarding, or unfulfilling life. God created you to leave your mark on this generation.

It’s not an easy course. It’s not designed to be. We’re not here to get you in touch with your inner child.

I don’t want to make money; I want to make a difference.

When a man knows he is to be hanged in a fortnight, it concentrates his mind wonderfully.

I’m not well-read, but when I read, I read well.

If past history was all there was to the game, the richest people would be librarians.

Don’t gain the world and lose your soul; wisdom is better than silver or gold.

If you start by promising what you don’t even have yet, you’ll lose your desire to work towards getting it.

It’s the job that’s never started as takes longest to finish.

The most successful politician is he who says what the people are thinking most often in the loudest voice.

Do I dare set forth here the most important, the most useful rule of all education? It is not to save time, but to squander it.

People in their handlings of affairs often fail when they are about to succeed. If one remains as careful at the end as he was at the beginning, there will be no failure.

My philosophy in life is, Decide what you want to do. You have to have something to hope for.

Opportunity dances with those already on the dance floor.

I like money, but it’s never been about the money.

My attitude has always been, if you fall flat on your face, at least you’re moving forward. All you have to do is get back up and try again.

I take inspiration from everyone and everything. I’m inspired by current champions, former champions, true competitors, people dedicated to their dream, hard workers, dreamers, believers, achievers.

I vividly remember a conversation I had many years ago in 1974, which marked a turning point in my leadership journey. I was sitting at a Holiday Inn with my friend, Kurt Campmeyer, when he asked me if I had a personal growth plan. I didn’t. In fact, I didn’t even know you were supposed to have one.

I continuously go further and further learning about my own limitations, my body limitation, psychological limitations. It’s a way of life for me.

That feeling is so intoxicating, walking off the court holding the Larry O’Brien trophy. So I just want to do that again.

You might well remember that nothing can bring you success but yourself.

Control thy passions lest they take vengence on thee.

The important thing is not to stop questioning. Curiosity has its own reason for existing.

I’m really trying to dredge up what one might call intellectual and moral material. For example, when do you realize that you are an American? What age does that happen to you? When do you realize what religion your parents practice? When does it all become conscious? I was interested in exploring all of that.

To love one that is great, is almost to be great one’s self.

Without a sense of urgency, desire loses its value.

The power of our thoughts may never be measured or appreciated, but it became obvious to me as a young boy that there was value and power in being aware of my thoughts and how I expressed myself.

Healthy discontent is the prelude to progress.

A man is not paid for having a head and hands, but for using them.

From the moment I open my eyes, I’m trying to free my body. I’m trying to get looser, more flexible, to gain control. Movement is medicine to me.

I believe every human has a finite number of heartbeats. I don’t intend to waste any of mine.

There is no real limit to how much better a person who really commits to getting better can get. Every manager has the potential to become an excellent manager for the rest of his or her career.

I’ve found that men I’ve dated who are in the same business can be really competitive. I’ve found a great group of girlfriends in the same business who aren’t competitive, but a few times guys have started comparing careers and it has been… challenging.

But what we can do, as flawed as we are, is still see God in other people, and do our best to help them find their own grace. That’s what I strive to do, that’s what I pray to do every day.

I want people to draw strength from me.

Beware of the man who works hard to learn something, learns it, and finds himself no wiser than before.

When I was writing the Destiny’s Child songs, it was a big thing to be that young and taking control. And the label at the time didn’t know that we were going to be that successful, so they gave us all control. And I got used to it.

I look at where I’m at today and realize that most of my success is owed to the mentors that was in my life.

Knowledge cultivates your seeds and does not sow in your seeds.

I can tell you from experience that God’s help and presence in our lives is vital. He is the Author of all true success and everything that is good-without Him, we can do nothing of true value.