--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Now that I'm losing some, I can see how…" description: "\"Now that I'm losing some, I can see how tough I was -- the killer instinct, the single-mindedness, playing like a machine. Boy, that's what made me a c..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/503/chris-evert-11980_boys_now-that-i-m-losing-some-i-can-see-how-t_640454.jpg" --- # Now that I'm losing some, I can see how tough I was -- the… ![“Now that I'm losing some, I can see how tough I was -- the killer instinct, the single-mindedness, playing like a machine. Boy, that's what made me a champion.” quote by Chris Evert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/503/chris-evert-11980_boys_now-that-i-m-losing-some-i-can-see-how-t_640454.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/503/chris-evert-11980_boys_now-that-i-m-losing-some-i-can-see-how-t_640454.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/503/chris-evert-11980_boys_now-that-i-m-losing-some-i-can-see-how-t_640454.jpg) > “Now that I'm losing some, I can see how tough I was -- the killer instinct, the single-mindedness, playing like a machine. Boy, that's what made me a champion.” [Chris Evert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-evert/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Hardship reveals inner drive; relentless focus creates a champion. **In simple terms:** Hardship builds champion mindset. Key Takeaway Embrace challenges to strengthen resolve. Themes sports resilience mindset Mood determined intense Type motivational reflective When to use this quote - training - career setbacks - high-pressure matches - goal setting Key Concepts psychology of competition determination self-discipline Questions to Reflect On - How do you recover after intense focus? - When is balance more important than aggression? A Different Perspective Overemphasis on single-mindedness may cause burnout. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Boys](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/boys/) [Champion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/champion/) [Computers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/computers/) [I can](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/i-can/) [Instinct](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/instinct/) [Killer instinct](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/killer-instinct/) [Killers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/killers/) [Losing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/losing/) [Losing Tough](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/losing-tough-3180393/) [Machines](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/machines/) [Made](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/made/) [Single mindedness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/single-mindedness/) [Tough](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/tough/) [Tough Killer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/tough-killer-5142166/) ## Related quotes > [Single-mindedness. I hate to say it because I don't think it's the best thing for developing a person, but the single-mindedness - just concentrating…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-evert/single-mindedness-i-hate-to-say-it-because-i-don-t-think-it-s-the/) [Chris Evert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-evert/) > [The Killer instinct is not perceived by words, but by look.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hiroya-oku/the-killer-instinct-is-not-perceived-by-words-but-by-look/) [Hiroya Oku](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hiroya-oku/) > [Fortunately for me, it's my most favorite drill, and that is finishing. However, from a young age, soccer players in this country are not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/landon-donovan/fortunately-for-me-it-s-my-most-favorite-drill-and-that-is-finishing/) [Landon Donovan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/landon-donovan/) > [Absolutely nothing brings out the killer instinct in the upper crust of New York Society like a charity function.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/caleb-carr/absolutely-nothing-brings-out-the-killer-instinct-in-the-upper-crust/) [Caleb Carr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/caleb-carr/) > [Just another part of that Spartan killer instinct. I can slay the ladies just as well as I can reapers.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jennifer-estep/just-another-part-of-that-spartan-killer-instinct-i-can-slay-the/) [Jennifer Estep](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jennifer-estep/) > [You've got to play with that killer instinct, man. You've got to hate that guy across from you. Then after the game is over,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chuck-bednarik/you-ve-got-to-play-with-that-killer-instinct-man-you-ve-got-to-hate/) [Chuck Bednarik](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chuck-bednarik/) > [Whether hunting is right or wrong, a spiritual experience, or an outlet for the killer instinct, one thing it is not is a sport.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-lerner/whether-hunting-is-right-or-wrong-a-spiritual-experience-or-an-outlet-2/) [Richard Lerner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-lerner/) > [Whether hunting is right or wrong, a spiritual experience, or an outlet for the killer instinct, one thing it is not is a sport.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/whether-hunting-is-right-or-wrong-a-spiritual-experience-or-an-outlet/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [The hardest skill to acquire in this sport is the one where you compete all out, give it all you have, and you are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eddie-reese/the-hardest-skill-to-acquire-in-this-sport-is-the-one-where-you/) [Eddie Reese](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eddie-reese/) > [It's one thing to never accomplish anything. You start from the bottom, you remain at the bottom, and all you know is the bottom.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jordan-burroughs/it-s-one-thing-to-never-accomplish-anything-you-start-from-the-bottom/) [Jordan Burroughs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jordan-burroughs/) > [Losing is a tough blow to take.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jan-vertonghen/losing-is-a-tough-blow-to-take/) [Jan Vertonghen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jan-vertonghen/) > [Losing is always tough, and it is even worse when you lose two finals in a row.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/javier-pastore/losing-is-always-tough-and-it-is-even-worse-when-you-lose-two-finals/) [Javier Pastore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/javier-pastore/) > [I don't know if people understand - losing is tough.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-mullin/i-don-t-know-if-people-understand-losing-is-tough/) [Chris Mullin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-mullin/) > [Losing is tough.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-h-w-bush/losing-is-tough/) [George H. W. Bush](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-h-w-bush/) > [Sitting in your garden is a feat to be worked at with unflagging determination and single-mindedness. . . . I am deeply committed to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mirabel-osler/sitting-in-your-garden-is-a-feat-to-be-worked-at-with-unflagging/) [Mirabel Osler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mirabel-osler/) ## More by Chris Evert > [If you can react the same way to winning and losing, that's a big accomplishment.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-evert/if-you-can-react-the-same-way-to-winning-and-losing-that-s-a-big/) [Chris Evert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-evert/) > [I always looked ahead.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-evert/i-always-looked-ahead/) [Chris Evert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-evert/) > [You're always striving to play that perfect match.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-evert/you-re-always-striving-to-play-that-perfect-match/) [Chris Evert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-evert/) > [When I was in grade school and we had to write papers about what we wanted to be when we grew up, I wanted…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-evert/when-i-was-in-grade-school-and-we-had-to-write-papers-about-what-we/) [Chris Evert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-evert/) > [A champion hates to lose even more than she loves to win.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-evert/a-champion-hates-to-lose-even-more-than-she-loves-to-win/) [Chris Evert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-evert/) > [Losing hurts me. I was determined to be the best.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-evert/losing-hurts-me-i-was-determined-to-be-the-best/) [Chris Evert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-evert/) > [When you're a famous, successful person at 16 years old, the rules change for you. Everybody is doing things for you to make life…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-evert/when-you-re-a-famous-successful-person-at-16-years-old-the-rules/) [Chris Evert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-evert/) > [Even though there are a lot of bright tennis players out there, you still have to protect yourself and save all your mental and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-evert/even-though-there-are-a-lot-of-bright-tennis-players-out-there-you/) [Chris Evert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-evert/) > [I was very, very shy as a younger girl, just petrified of people. Tennis helped give me an identity and made me feel like…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-evert/i-was-very-very-shy-as-a-younger-girl-just-petrified-of-people-tennis/) [Chris Evert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-evert/) > [Losses are always a relief. They take a burden off me, make me feel more normal. If I win several tournaments in a row…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-evert/losses-are-always-a-relief-they-take-a-burden-off-me-make-me-feel/) [Chris Evert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-evert/) > [Tennis helped give me an identity and made me feel like somebody.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-evert/tennis-helped-give-me-an-identity-and-made-me-feel-like-somebody/) [Chris Evert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-evert/) > [Competitive toughness is an acquired skill and not an inherited gift.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-evert/competitive-toughness-is-an-acquired-skill-and-not-an-inherited-gift/) [Chris Evert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-evert/) > [I think team sports probably teach you more about giving - about being unselfish and being flexible.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-evert/i-think-team-sports-probably-teach-you-more-about-giving-about-being/) [Chris Evert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-evert/) > [Single-mindedness. I hate to say it because I don't think it's the best thing for developing a person, but the single-mindedness - just concentrating…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-evert/single-mindedness-i-hate-to-say-it-because-i-don-t-think-it-s-the/) [Chris Evert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-evert/) > [Of all my achievements in tennis, I'm probably as proud of my record on clay courts as any of my Wimbledon, U.S. Open or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-evert/of-all-my-achievements-in-tennis-i-m-probably-as-proud-of-my-record/) [Chris Evert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-evert/) [Explore all 57 Chris Evert quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-evert/) ## More Boys quotes > [Ye youths and virgins, when your generous blood Has drunk the warmth of fifteen summers, now The loves invite; now to new rapture wakes…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-armstrong/ye-youths-and-virgins-when-your-generous-blood-has-drunk-the-warmth/) [John Armstrong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-armstrong/) > [Boys and boys' body image and clothes have become just as important an issue for boys as for girls.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rosalind-wiseman/boys-and-boys-body-image-and-clothes-have-become-just-as-important-an/) [Rosalind Wiseman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rosalind-wiseman/) > [Lets face it this world is ruled by girls that why we must away pleases our girls](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mrawesome/lets-face-it-this-world-is-ruled-by-girls-that-why-we-must-away/) [MrAwesome](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mrawesome/) > [I grew up in Synagogue in the boys' choir. We didn't listen to music in the house; only at temple. Then I went to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mandy-patinkin/i-grew-up-in-synagogue-in-the-boys-choir-we-didn-t-listen-to-music-in/) [Mandy Patinkin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mandy-patinkin/) > [When it comes to bullying small businesses, Donald Trump is the poster boy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hillary-clinton/when-it-comes-to-bullying-small-businesses-donald-trump-is-the-poster/) [Hillary Clinton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hillary-clinton/) > [When other boys dreamt of going to the moon or becoming doctors, I wanted to be a designer.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/olivier-theyskens/when-other-boys-dreamt-of-going-to-the-moon-or-becoming-doctors-i/) [Olivier Theyskens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/olivier-theyskens/) > [In the middle of a play, I go crazy and don't realize what I'm doing. I'll snap back to reality and I realize, 'Hey,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-bosworth/in-the-middle-of-a-play-i-go-crazy-and-don-t-realize-what-i-m-doing-i/) [Brian Bosworth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-bosworth/) > [If Pete’s (Sampras) child is a girl, my son will like her; if he’s a boy, my son will defeat him.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andre-agassi/if-pete-s-sampras-child-is-a-girl-my-son-will-like-her-if-he-s-a-boy/) [Andre Agassi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andre-agassi/) > [The tie's a multi purpose accessory, y'know, belt, school boy, Rambo.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/noel-fielding/the-tie-s-a-multi-purpose-accessory-y-know-belt-school-boy-rambo/) [Noel Fielding](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/noel-fielding/) > [The reason I went to an all-boys Catholic school was because they had the best football team. We won the state championship my junior…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/theo-rossi/the-reason-i-went-to-an-all-boys-catholic-school-was-because-they-had/) [Theo Rossi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/theo-rossi/) > [Some article called me the most feared man in Silicon Valley. Good Lord! Why? My teenage boys got a kick out of it: 'Dad,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nathan-myhrvold/some-article-called-me-the-most-feared-man-in-silicon-valley-good/) [Nathan Myhrvold](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nathan-myhrvold/) > [She had been dragged in the most humiliating of all dusts, the dust reserved for older women who let themselves be approached, on amorous…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-von-arnim/she-had-been-dragged-in-the-most-humiliating-of-all-dusts-the-dust/) [Elizabeth von Arnim](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-von-arnim/) > [As you'll never hear the thing again, my boy, why not throw in a couple of brass bands?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-beecham/as-you-ll-never-hear-the-thing-again-my-boy-why-not-throw-in-a-couple/) [Thomas Beecham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-beecham/) > [So I was ugly. I was never fat, really, and I never wore headgear or had zits or anything. But I was ugly. I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-green/so-i-was-ugly-i-was-never-fat-really-and-i-never-wore-headgear-or-had/) [John Green](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-green/) > [If a Coach is determined to stay in the coaching profession, he will develop from year to year. This much is true, no coach…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adolph-rupp/if-a-coach-is-determined-to-stay-in-the-coaching-profession-he-will/) [Adolph Rupp](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adolph-rupp/) [Browse all 7,168 Boys quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/boys/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Now that I'm losing some, I can see how tough I was -- the killer instinct, the single-mindedness, playing like a machine. 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