--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I'm a trendsetter. I'm a leader, not a…" description: "\"I'm a trendsetter. I'm a leader, not a follower.\" — Charles Oakley" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/33c/charles-oakley-8431_follower_i-m-a-trendsetter-i-m-a-leader-not-a-fol_1969220.jpg" --- # I'm a trendsetter. I'm a leader, not a follower. ![“I'm a trendsetter. I'm a leader, not a follower.” quote by Charles Oakley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/33c/charles-oakley-8431_follower_i-m-a-trendsetter-i-m-a-leader-not-a-fol_1969220.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/33c/charles-oakley-8431_follower_i-m-a-trendsetter-i-m-a-leader-not-a-fol_1969220.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/33c/charles-oakley-8431_follower_i-m-a-trendsetter-i-m-a-leader-not-a-fol_1969220.jpg) > “I'm a trendsetter. I'm a leader, not a follower.” [Charles Oakley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-oakley/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Oakley claims he leads trends rather than follows them, asserting personal agency. **In simple terms:** He sees himself as a pioneer, not a follower. Key Takeaway Embrace originality and lead by example. Themes leadership individualism confidence sports Mood confident assertive Type motivational personal When to use this quote - entrepreneurship - team dynamics - public speaking - coaching Key Concepts personal branding role modeling innovation Questions to Reflect On - How do you balance leadership with teamwork? - When is following more strategic than leading? A Different Perspective Overconfidence may ignore collaborative benefits. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Follower](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/follower/) [Leader](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/leader/) [Leader Follower](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/leader-follower-509258/) [Leadership](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/leadership/) [Trendsetter Leader](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/trendsetter-leader-3297365/) ## Related quotes > [Innovation distinguishes between a leader and a follower.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/innovation-distinguishes-between-a-leader-and-a-follower/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Be a leader, not a follower. Never let anyone tell you what you can and cannot be.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vernon-davis/be-a-leader-not-a-follower-never-let-anyone-tell-you-what-you-can-and/) [Vernon Davis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vernon-davis/) > [What's crazy is, my whole life I been a leader. I'm not a follower.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dion-waiters/what-s-crazy-is-my-whole-life-i-been-a-leader-i-m-not-a-follower/) [Dion Waiters](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dion-waiters/) > [Be real to who you are because its better to be a leader then a follower.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dora-g/be-real-to-who-you-are-because-its-better-to-be-a-leader-then-a/) [Dora G](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dora-g/) > [“Always strive to be a leader and not a follower.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abdulazeez-henry-musa/always-strive-to-be-a-leader-and-not-a-follower/) [Abdulazeez Henry Musa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abdulazeez-henry-musa/) > [When you're friends with Stassi she tries to make it all about her all the time, and I'm sorry but I'm a leader not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scheana-shay/when-you-re-friends-with-stassi-she-tries-to-make-it-all-about-her/) [Scheana Shay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scheana-shay/) > [To me it's very important to be a leader not a follower. Sometimes it takes balls and heart to do that. Sometimes it's not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shane-bunting/to-me-it-s-very-important-to-be-a-leader-not-a-follower-sometimes-it/) [Shane Bunting](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shane-bunting/) > [The first lady must be a leader. She must not be a follower.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oleg-cassini/the-first-lady-must-be-a-leader-she-must-not-be-a-follower/) [Oleg Cassini](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oleg-cassini/) > [I'm a leader, not a follower. Unless it's a dark place. Then you're going first.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/i-m-a-leader-not-a-follower-unless-it-s-a-dark-place-then-you-re/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Always be a leader not a follower.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samira-ferreira/always-be-a-leader-not-a-follower/) [Samira Ferreira](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samira-ferreira/) > [I'm the leader, not a follower. Unless it's a dark place then fuck that shit, you're going first.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/i-m-the-leader-not-a-follower-unless-it-s-a-dark-place-then-fuck-that/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“I'm not a leader I'm a follower because when I lead I go the wrong way." by Amber Alflen (my friend)”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amber-alflen/i-m-not-a-leader-i-m-a-follower-because-when-i-lead-i-go-the-wrong/) [Amber Alflen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amber-alflen/) > [Im a leader not a follower, but if its a dark place then screw it your going first!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ana-chable/im-a-leader-not-a-follower-but-if-its-a-dark-place-then-screw-it-your/) [Ana Chable](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ana-chable/) > [Learn How To Be Leader Not A Follower Because Being A Follower Sometimes Lead You Into Something Good Or Bad...So Be Independent Not Dependent](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/out-spoken/learn-how-to-be-leader-not-a-follower-because-being-a-follower/) [Out Spoken](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/out-spoken/) > [I see myself as a leader and not a follower.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/2-chainz/i-see-myself-as-a-leader-and-not-a-follower/) [2 Chainz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/2-chainz/) ## More by Charles Oakley > [Every team has a main guy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-oakley/every-team-has-a-main-guy/) [Charles Oakley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-oakley/) > [Even though I retired, I work out four to five days a week, run two to three miles, I play ball.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-oakley/even-though-i-retired-i-work-out-four-to-five-days-a-week-run-two-to/) [Charles Oakley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-oakley/) > [I was in New York, I went to a Yankees game and I called and said, 'Can I get tickets to the Knicks game?'…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-oakley/i-was-in-new-york-i-went-to-a-yankees-game-and-i-called-and-said-can/) [Charles Oakley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-oakley/) > [I'm all about having a good time and respecting my teammates.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-oakley/i-m-all-about-having-a-good-time-and-respecting-my-teammates/) [Charles Oakley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-oakley/) > [In the old days Michael Jordan and Larry Bird worked for everything they got. They worked hard on their game.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-oakley/in-the-old-days-michael-jordan-and-larry-bird-worked-for-everything/) [Charles Oakley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-oakley/) > [You can't play Around the World in the NBA, you've gotta go to the basket.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-oakley/you-can-t-play-around-the-world-in-the-nba-you-ve-gotta-go-to-the/) [Charles Oakley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-oakley/) > [My thing was, if somebody talks about you this and that, you got to go prove them wrong.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-oakley/my-thing-was-if-somebody-talks-about-you-this-and-that-you-got-to-go/) [Charles Oakley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-oakley/) > [You can't shut somebody up by losing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-oakley/you-can-t-shut-somebody-up-by-losing/) [Charles Oakley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-oakley/) > [If I would compare anybody to Michael Jordan, it would be Kobe Bryant.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-oakley/if-i-would-compare-anybody-to-michael-jordan-it-would-be-kobe-bryant/) [Charles Oakley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-oakley/) > [I'm always willing to work stuff out, because I'm that type of guy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-oakley/i-m-always-willing-to-work-stuff-out-because-i-m-that-type-of-guy/) [Charles Oakley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-oakley/) > [I like Chicago. I've visited Chicago before and have family here.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-oakley/i-like-chicago-i-ve-visited-chicago-before-and-have-family-here/) [Charles Oakley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-oakley/) > [You can't say, 'You're a scorer, you score. You rebound, you rebound.' Basketball is more than that. Basketball is knowing the next step, knowing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-oakley/you-can-t-say-you-re-a-scorer-you-score-you-rebound-you-rebound/) [Charles Oakley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-oakley/) > [I'm in New York every two weeks. I don't have to ring a bell when I come to the city. I just do what…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-oakley/i-m-in-new-york-every-two-weeks-i-don-t-have-to-ring-a-bell-when-i/) [Charles Oakley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-oakley/) > [Coming from the inner city of Cleveland and growing up you never expected a street to be named after you or anything. It's a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-oakley/coming-from-the-inner-city-of-cleveland-and-growing-up-you-never/) [Charles Oakley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-oakley/) > [I shoot five or six times, go out and play defense and make sure everything is clicking. I'm like a transmission in a car.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-oakley/i-shoot-five-or-six-times-go-out-and-play-defense-and-make-sure/) [Charles Oakley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-oakley/) [Explore all 81 Charles Oakley quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-oakley/) ## More Follower quotes > [“I am neither a philosopher nor a thinker, but simply follower of my own thoughts.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/m-f-moonzajer/i-am-neither-a-philosopher-nor-a-thinker-but-simply-follower-of-my/) [M.F. Moonzajer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/m-f-moonzajer/) > [It is better to be nothing than a follower of other painters. The wise man has said when one follows another one is always…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-baptiste-camille-corot/it-is-better-to-be-nothing-than-a-follower-of-other-painters-the-wise/) [Jean-Baptiste Camille Corot](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-baptiste-camille-corot/) > [Growing up, I never was a big follower of the Dodgers.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andre-ethier/growing-up-i-never-was-a-big-follower-of-the-dodgers/) [Andre Ethier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andre-ethier/) > [I've always been a rule-follower. Even when I was a kid, I tried to do everything by the book.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-curtis-chapman/i-ve-always-been-a-rule-follower-even-when-i-was-a-kid-i-tried-to-do/) [Steven Curtis Chapman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-curtis-chapman/) > [Try not to be like everyone else because then youll just be a follower. Go out of your way to be different! Different means…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/try-not-to-be-like-everyone-else-because-then-youll-just-be-a/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“Do not Speak for Anyone. Just let them know their Right to Speak.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vineet-raj-kapoor/do-not-speak-for-anyone-just-let-them-know-their-right-to-speak/) [Vineet Raj Kapoor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vineet-raj-kapoor/) > [Innovation distinguishes between a leader and a follower.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/innovation-distinguishes-between-a-leader-and-a-follower/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I'm a strong follower of hydrotherapy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alice-ripley/i-m-a-strong-follower-of-hydrotherapy/) [Alice Ripley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alice-ripley/) > [“Katika maisha, kila mtu ni kiongozi na ni mfuasi pia kutegemeana na hali. Kiongozi hatakiwi kuwa na kiburi, wala hatakiwi kuwa na roho yenye…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/enock-maregesi/katika-maisha-kila-mtu-ni-kiongozi-na-ni-mfuasi-pia-kutegemeana-na/) [Enock Maregesi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/enock-maregesi/) > [Learn How To Be Leader Not A Follower Because Being A Follower Sometimes Lead You Into Something Good Or Bad...So Be Independent Not Dependent](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/out-spoken/learn-how-to-be-leader-not-a-follower-because-being-a-follower/) [Out Spoken](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/out-spoken/) > [I'm just a follower.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sia/i-m-just-a-follower/) [Sia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sia/) > [I have implicit faith in Sun Yat-sen, not because I am his blind follower, but because he really arouses the deepest respect in everybody.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chiang-kai-shek/i-have-implicit-faith-in-sun-yat-sen-not-because-i-am-his-blind/) [Chiang Kai-shek](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chiang-kai-shek/) > [One thing I am is a leader and if I'm not allowed to lead, then I have to follow. So then I want to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/baron-davis/one-thing-i-am-is-a-leader-and-if-i-m-not-allowed-to-lead-then-i-have/) [Baron Davis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/baron-davis/) > [The first follower is actually an underestimated form of leadership in itself. … The first follower is what transforms a lone nut into a leader.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/derek-sivers/the-first-follower-is-actually-an-underestimated-form-of-leadership/) [Derek Sivers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/derek-sivers/) > [Im a leader not a follower, but if its a dark place then screw it your going first!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ana-chable/im-a-leader-not-a-follower-but-if-its-a-dark-place-then-screw-it-your/) [Ana Chable](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ana-chable/) [Browse all 170 Follower quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/follower/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "I'm a trendsetter. 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