--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Winning doesn't always mean being first…" description: "\"Winning doesn't always mean being first. Winning means you're doing better than you've ever done before.\" — Bonnie Blair" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2af/bonnie-blair-19189_doing-better_winning-doesn-t-always-mean-being-first_955199.png" --- # Winning doesn't always mean being first. Winning means… ![“Winning doesn't always mean being first. Winning means you're doing better than you've ever done before.” quote by Bonnie Blair](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2af/bonnie-blair-19189_doing-better_winning-doesn-t-always-mean-being-first_955199.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2af/bonnie-blair-19189_doing-better_winning-doesn-t-always-mean-being-first_955199.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2af/bonnie-blair-19189_doing-better_winning-doesn-t-always-mean-being-first_955199.png) > “Winning doesn't always mean being first. Winning means you're doing better than you've ever done before.” [Bonnie Blair](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bonnie-blair/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Winning is defined by personal improvement, not just ranking. **In simple terms:** Winning means personal best. Key Takeaway Focus on self‑growth. Themes self‑improvement competition achievement Mood motivational reflective Type inspirational philosophical When to use this quote - sports training - career goals - daily performance Key Concepts personal metrics relative success Questions to Reflect On - How do you measure your own progress? - What does “winning” mean to you? A Different Perspective Winning can be subjective and vary by context. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Football](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/football/) [Winning](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/winning/) ## Related quotes > [“Winning doesn't necessarily mean you'll walk away with a trophy. Sometimes winning means you dared to show up at all to see the shocked…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donavan-nelson-butler-master-sergeant-us-army/winning-doesn-t-necessarily-mean-you-ll-walk-away-with-a-trophy/) [Donavan Nelson Butler, Master Sergeant US Army](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donavan-nelson-butler-master-sergeant-us-army/) > [Winning doesn't always mean being first,](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bonnie-blair/winning-doesn-t-always-mean-being-first/) [Bonnie Blair](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bonnie-blair/) > [Winning means being unafraid to lose.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fran-tarkenton/winning-means-being-unafraid-to-lose/) [Fran Tarkenton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fran-tarkenton/) > [“Winning doesn't always mean winning the game. Sometimes, true victory is knowing when to step back, conserve your energy, and protect your peace. The…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sharmila-sengupta/winning-doesn-t-always-mean-winning-the-game-sometimes-true-victory/) Sharmila Sengupta > [Here, there's more of a movement, it doesn't mean we're winning any more, but we're at least fighting.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-mckibben/here-there-s-more-of-a-movement-it-doesn-t-mean-we-re-winning-any/) [Bill McKibben](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-mckibben/) > [Perseverance doesn't always mean winning and losing. Perseverance means showing up and rising to the occasion and performing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-chiesa/perseverance-doesn-t-always-mean-winning-and-losing-perseverance/) [Michael Chiesa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-chiesa/) > [Sometimes winning the battle doesn't mean you are winning the war.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/sometimes-winning-the-battle-doesn-t-mean-you-are-winning-the-war/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [In those days reputation was a big thing. If you could win a game before you went out, win it. That could mean winning…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tommy-smith/in-those-days-reputation-was-a-big-thing-if-you-could-win-a-game/) Tommy Smith > [It's kind of the period of your career where as a fighter, you need some sort of validation from time to time. I mean,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bobby-lashley/it-s-kind-of-the-period-of-your-career-where-as-a-fighter-you-need/) [Bobby Lashley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bobby-lashley/) > [“Winning isn't about finishing in first place. It isn't about beating the others. It is about overcoming yourself. Overcoming your body, your limitations, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/winning-isn-t-about-finishing-in-first-place-it-isn-t-about-beating/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“Alice, winning means manipulation. It means taking people—people who may have helped you in the past, even people you care about—and using them without…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elle-lothlorien/alice-winning-means-manipulation-it-means-taking-people-people-who/) Elle Lothlorien > [Winning means fame and fortune. Losing means certain death. The Hunger Games have begun…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/suzanne-collins/winning-means-fame-and-fortune-losing-means-certain-death-the-hunger/) [Suzanne Collins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/suzanne-collins/) > [“Winning means so much, and not winning always mentally frustrates and then pushes me physically to be a BEAST all summer.I LOVE THIS GAME.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jon-robert-holden/winning-means-so-much-and-not-winning-always-mentally-frustrates-and/) [Jon-Robert Holden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jon-robert-holden/) > [“That pain you feel," Master Blint said almost gently, "is the pain of abandoning a delusion. The delusion is meaning, Kylar. There is no…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brent-weeks/that-pain-you-feel-master-blint-said-almost-gently-is-the-pain-of/) [Brent Weeks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brent-weeks/) > [Winning is not selling your soul. Winning is not betrayal. Winning is the means of applying your principles.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/liz-kendall/winning-is-not-selling-your-soul-winning-is-not-betrayal-winning-is/) [Liz Kendall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/liz-kendall/) ## More by Bonnie Blair > [The sport I love has taken me around the world and shown me many things.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bonnie-blair/the-sport-i-love-has-taken-me-around-the-world-and-shown-me-many/) [Bonnie Blair](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bonnie-blair/) > [This Olympics is almost a little sad. It is my final Olympics. There are a lot of good memories.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bonnie-blair/this-olympics-is-almost-a-little-sad-it-is-my-final-olympics-there/) [Bonnie Blair](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bonnie-blair/) > [I just hope I can get another personal best. If I can do that, I'll be satisfied.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bonnie-blair/i-just-hope-i-can-get-another-personal-best-if-i-can-do-that-i-ll-be/) [Bonnie Blair](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bonnie-blair/) > [A lot of people think I'm under a lot of pressure with my family and friends spending all that money to follow me around](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bonnie-blair/a-lot-of-people-think-i-m-under-a-lot-of-pressure-with-my-family-and/) [Bonnie Blair](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bonnie-blair/) > [Four key words--helped make my dreams come true. They are: dedication, balance, risk, and love.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bonnie-blair/four-key-words-helped-make-my-dreams-come-true-they-are-dedication/) [Bonnie Blair](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bonnie-blair/) > [Anytime you ride against the best in the world, it becomes a learning process.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bonnie-blair/anytime-you-ride-against-the-best-in-the-world-it-becomes-a-learning/) [Bonnie Blair](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bonnie-blair/) > [Apolo is going to have to keep skating so he can add more gold to his entourage.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bonnie-blair/apolo-is-going-to-have-to-keep-skating-so-he-can-add-more-gold-to-his/) [Bonnie Blair](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bonnie-blair/) > [You have to have the right mind-set.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bonnie-blair/you-have-to-have-the-right-mind-set/) [Bonnie Blair](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bonnie-blair/) > [There's probably nothing quite like crossing the finish line and seeing the clock read numbers that you have never seen before.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bonnie-blair/there-s-probably-nothing-quite-like-crossing-the-finish-line-and/) [Bonnie Blair](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bonnie-blair/) > [I love short track. I competed in short track, I was a world champion in 1986 but at that point in time it wasn't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bonnie-blair/i-love-short-track-i-competed-in-short-track-i-was-a-world-champion/) [Bonnie Blair](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bonnie-blair/) > [I was really happy with my race, though. I beat my personal best by 1.2 seconds.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bonnie-blair/i-was-really-happy-with-my-race-though-i-beat-my-personal-best-by-1-2/) [Bonnie Blair](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bonnie-blair/) > [My legs tightened up pretty much, and it was a hard last corner for me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bonnie-blair/my-legs-tightened-up-pretty-much-and-it-was-a-hard-last-corner-for-me/) [Bonnie Blair](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bonnie-blair/) > [Even though I enjoy that head-to-head competition part, one of the things that drove me to long track was if I won or if…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bonnie-blair/even-though-i-enjoy-that-head-to-head-competition-part-one-of-the/) [Bonnie Blair](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bonnie-blair/) > [There is no man in any rank who is always at liberty to act as he would incline. In some quarter or other he…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bonnie-blair/there-is-no-man-in-any-rank-who-is-always-at-liberty-to-act-as-he/) [Bonnie Blair](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bonnie-blair/) > [I don't remember the first time I skated on ice, I was too young. I do remember falling in love with that wind-in-my-face feeling…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bonnie-blair/i-don-t-remember-the-first-time-i-skated-on-ice-i-was-too-young-i-do/) [Bonnie Blair](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bonnie-blair/) [Explore all 33 Bonnie Blair quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bonnie-blair/) ## More Doing better quotes > [In my relationship, I was giving myself away to make the relationship better, but in actuality, wasn't doing better by doing that. I became…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jason-mraz/in-my-relationship-i-was-giving-myself-away-to-make-the-relationship/) [Jason Mraz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jason-mraz/) > [The message of frustration is an exciting signal. it means that your brain beleives you could be doing better than you currently are.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tony-robbins/the-message-of-frustration-is-an-exciting-signal-it-means-that-your/) [Tony Robbins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tony-robbins/) > [“Doing better is creativity, doing faster is creativity, doing smarter is creativity, doing right is creativity.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amit-kalantri/doing-better-is-creativity-doing-faster-is-creativity-doing-smarter/) [Amit Kalantri](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amit-kalantri/) > [When women gain access to higher education and then suddenly start doing better at it than the men, that can really throw the prevailing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hanna-rosin/when-women-gain-access-to-higher-education-and-then-suddenly-start/) [Hanna Rosin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hanna-rosin/) > [Alternative services would mean that there would be services available to compete with Google, Facebook, Amazon, Dropbox, Skype, etc., and they would be run…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mikko-hypponen/alternative-services-would-mean-that-there-would-be-services/) [Mikko Hypponen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mikko-hypponen/) > [“Sometimes realism seems to mean no more than the advice to plan ahead before you start a war. Sometimes realism means the recognition that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susan-neiman/sometimes-realism-seems-to-mean-no-more-than-the-advice-to-plan-ahead/) [Susan Neiman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susan-neiman/) > [Try to cut down drastically on plastic. Recycle. Use less energy and more renewable energy. We can all live better by doing better for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carl-safina/try-to-cut-down-drastically-on-plastic-recycle-use-less-energy-and/) [Carl Safina](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carl-safina/) > [Time makes a bigger difference: just making a game, shipping it, looking at what you did, how you did it, what you did well,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/todd-howard/time-makes-a-bigger-difference-just-making-a-game-shipping-it-looking/) [Todd Howard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/todd-howard/) > [“Always strive to do the right thing even when it isn’t a popular choice. By doing so, you become a better person.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/torron-lee-dewar/always-strive-to-do-the-right-thing-even-when-it-isn-t-a-popular/) [Torron-Lee Dewar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/torron-lee-dewar/) > [I spent a lot of hours on the baseball field doing whatever I could do to get better.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/evan-longoria/i-spent-a-lot-of-hours-on-the-baseball-field-doing-whatever-i-could/) [Evan Longoria](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/evan-longoria/) > [Life is never worth worrying about deeds. Just doing is enough to get better.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aamir-sheikh/life-is-never-worth-worrying-about-deeds-just-doing-is-enough-to-get/) [Aamir Sheikh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aamir-sheikh/) > [Our political class obsesses over social mobility from one generation to the next - whether or not people are doing better than their parents…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-lammy/our-political-class-obsesses-over-social-mobility-from-one-generation/) [David Lammy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-lammy/) > [You're offering a great service. People are tuning in. So continue to find great people, continue to do what you're doing. And do it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-branson/you-re-offering-a-great-service-people-are-tuning-in-so-continue-to/) [Richard Branson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-branson/) > [If the government is covering up knowledge of aliens, they are doing a better job of it than they do at anything else.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-hawking/if-the-government-is-covering-up-knowledge-of-aliens-they-are-doing-a/) [Stephen Hawking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-hawking/) > [We're not proud, we're not egotistical. If someone is doing something better than we are, let's copy and paste when we should and when…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/doug-mcmillon/we-re-not-proud-we-re-not-egotistical-if-someone-is-doing-something/) [Doug McMillon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/doug-mcmillon/) Browse all 248 Doing better quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Winning doesn't always mean being first. 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