--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The only advice I would give young guys…" description: "\"The only advice I would give young guys is to keep your ears and eyes open. Never see yourself as a finished product.\" — Dirk Nowitzki" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/24b/dirk-nowitzki-11188_advice_the-only-advice-i-would-give-young-guys_483489.png" --- # The only advice I would give young guys is to keep your… ![“The only advice I would give young guys is to keep your ears and eyes open. Never see yourself as a finished product.” quote by Dirk Nowitzki](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/24b/dirk-nowitzki-11188_advice_the-only-advice-i-would-give-young-guys_483489.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/24b/dirk-nowitzki-11188_advice_the-only-advice-i-would-give-young-guys_483489.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/24b/dirk-nowitzki-11188_advice_the-only-advice-i-would-give-young-guys_483489.png) > “The only advice I would give young guys is to keep your ears and eyes open. Never see yourself as a finished product.” [Dirk Nowitzki](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dirk-nowitzki/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Always stay alert and recognize you are a work in progress. **In simple terms:** Keep learning and stay aware. Key Takeaway Never stop growing. Themes growth awareness humility Mood reflective optimistic Type philosophical inspirational When to use this quote - career development - personal relationships - skill acquisition Key Concepts continuous improvement self‑assessment Questions to Reflect On - What habits keep you open to new information? - How do you balance confidence with humility? A Different Perspective Over‑analysis can cause indecision. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Advice](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/advice/) [Eyes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/eyes/) ## Related quotes > [My advice to would-be young authors is to read a lot, write a lot, and not worry about creating a finished product. Keeping a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kevin-henkes/my-advice-to-would-be-young-authors-is-to-read-a-lot-write-a-lot-and/) [Kevin Henkes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kevin-henkes/) > [Maugham then offers the greatest advice anyone could give to a young author: "At the end of an interrogation sentence, place a question mark.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/woody-allen/maugham-then-offers-the-greatest-advice-anyone-could-give-to-a-young/) [Woody Allen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/woody-allen/) > [Don't be pretentious is my first advice to young writers. This is the big problem - just because you're getting an MFA doesn't mean…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gary-shteyngart/don-t-be-pretentious-is-my-first-advice-to-young-writers-this-is-the/) [Gary Shteyngart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gary-shteyngart/) > [“My advice to all young writers is quite simple. I would caution them never to evade a new experience. I would urge them to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-fante/my-advice-to-all-young-writers-is-quite-simple-i-would-caution-them/) [John Fante](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-fante/) > [The advice you give to young directors for sure is to go out and become some version of a successful movie actor. Do that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sean-penn/the-advice-you-give-to-young-directors-for-sure-is-to-go-out-and/) [Sean Penn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sean-penn/) > [The best careers advice to give to the young is 'Find out what you like doing best and get someone to pay you for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/the-best-careers-advice-to-give-to-the-young-is-find-out-what-you/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [One piece of advice that I would give to any young athlete or performer is remember to thank your mom.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/meryl-davis/one-piece-of-advice-that-i-would-give-to-any-young-athlete-or/) [Meryl Davis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/meryl-davis/) > [Whenever I'm asked what advice I have for young writers, I always say that the first thing is to read, and to read a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-green/whenever-i-m-asked-what-advice-i-have-for-young-writers-i-always-say/) [John Green](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-green/) > [“Artists frequently hide the steps that lead to their masterpieces. They want their work and their career to be shrouded in the mystery that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matthew-weiner/artists-frequently-hide-the-steps-that-lead-to-their-masterpieces/) [Matthew Weiner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matthew-weiner/) > [People call me a Modi bhakt now. I used to be a Marx bhakt. I was part of what I now call the intellectual…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vivek-agnihotri/people-call-me-a-modi-bhakt-now-i-used-to-be-a-marx-bhakt-i-was-part/) [Vivek Agnihotri](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vivek-agnihotri/) > [Most people don't see what's going on around them. That's my principal message to writers: 'For God's sake, keep your eyes open. Notice what's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-s-burroughs/most-people-don-t-see-what-s-going-on-around-them-that-s-my-principal/) [William S. Burroughs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-s-burroughs/) > [“You are funny like a kid and awesome like a princess Unseen like an angel, like the morning sunshine… Kindness like a river and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/m-f-moonzajer/you-are-funny-like-a-kid-and-awesome-like-a-princess-unseen-like-an/) [M.F. Moonzajer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/m-f-moonzajer/) > [My eyes open after my mind. All eyes always do.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/craig-stone/my-eyes-open-after-my-mind-all-eyes-always-do/) [Craig Stone](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/craig-stone/) > [There are about 250 curators in the world who keep their eyes open to choose films from around the globe for festivals. I am…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/suhasini-maniratnam/there-are-about-250-curators-in-the-world-who-keep-their-eyes-open-to/) [Suhasini Maniratnam](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/suhasini-maniratnam/) > [I'm heavy into fashion. I always keep my ears and eyes open to the streets, to who's doing what, because I always designed.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/westside-gunn/i-m-heavy-into-fashion-i-always-keep-my-ears-and-eyes-open-to-the/) [Westside Gunn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/westside-gunn/) ## More by Dirk Nowitzki > [It's fun being around guys that want to work, that want to learn, that want to get better.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dirk-nowitzki/it-s-fun-being-around-guys-that-want-to-work-that-want-to-learn-that/) [Dirk Nowitzki](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dirk-nowitzki/) > [I want to see myself as a student. Keep learning, keep improving, keep your eyes and ears open.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dirk-nowitzki/i-want-to-see-myself-as-a-student-keep-learning-keep-improving-keep/) [Dirk Nowitzki](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dirk-nowitzki/) > [I was never a great screen and roller, obviously.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dirk-nowitzki/i-was-never-a-great-screen-and-roller-obviously/) [Dirk Nowitzki](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dirk-nowitzki/) > [I take my sport damned seriously. Basketball is my life. There are other people who go into important games as if they were any…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dirk-nowitzki/i-take-my-sport-damned-seriously-basketball-is-my-life-there-are/) [Dirk Nowitzki](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dirk-nowitzki/) > [As a newcomer, I was often expected to carry the bags of the older players, or get them burgers. That can make you feel…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dirk-nowitzki/as-a-newcomer-i-was-often-expected-to-carry-the-bags-of-the-older/) [Dirk Nowitzki](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dirk-nowitzki/) > [You know what time it is mav nation. Let's do this. Big game at aac. We bleed blue. See u guys there tonight. Go…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dirk-nowitzki/you-know-what-time-it-is-mav-nation-let-s-do-this-big-game-at-aac-we/) [Dirk Nowitzki](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dirk-nowitzki/) > [I felt, when I was 20, I wasn't quite ready for the physical contact of 82 games. Mentally, it was tough. I forgot what…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dirk-nowitzki/i-felt-when-i-was-20-i-wasn-t-quite-ready-for-the-physical-contact-of/) [Dirk Nowitzki](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dirk-nowitzki/) > [I started to play the guitar for a couple of years, which was fun. I still bring it out once in a while, could…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dirk-nowitzki/i-started-to-play-the-guitar-for-a-couple-of-years-which-was-fun-i/) [Dirk Nowitzki](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dirk-nowitzki/) > [As a star you never know when people are really serious.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dirk-nowitzki/as-a-star-you-never-know-when-people-are-really-serious/) [Dirk Nowitzki](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dirk-nowitzki/) > [I think different guys have different priorities. For me, it was always important to be in one spot, one city.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dirk-nowitzki/i-think-different-guys-have-different-priorities-for-me-it-was-always/) [Dirk Nowitzki](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dirk-nowitzki/) > [I lost control of myself a couple times in the playoffs. I have to keep cooler in the future.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dirk-nowitzki/i-lost-control-of-myself-a-couple-times-in-the-playoffs-i-have-to/) [Dirk Nowitzki](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dirk-nowitzki/) > [Dirk nowitzki is the key to everything in life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dirk-nowitzki/dirk-nowitzki-is-the-key-to-everything-in-life/) [Dirk Nowitzki](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dirk-nowitzki/) > [My whole first season was surreal. My first game was against Detlef Schrempf. There was German media everywhere. It was probably my worst NBA…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dirk-nowitzki/my-whole-first-season-was-surreal-my-first-game-was-against-detlef/) [Dirk Nowitzki](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dirk-nowitzki/) > [When I think about my MVP season, I will also think about the loss to Golden State. But winning the award as Most Valuable…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dirk-nowitzki/when-i-think-about-my-mvp-season-i-will-also-think-about-the-loss-to/) [Dirk Nowitzki](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dirk-nowitzki/) > [I try to stay away, but In-N-Out, you just can't compare it. It's the best. It's the best. It's healthy fast food; they do…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dirk-nowitzki/i-try-to-stay-away-but-in-n-out-you-just-can-t-compare-it-it-s-the/) [Dirk Nowitzki](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dirk-nowitzki/) [Explore all 61 Dirk Nowitzki quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dirk-nowitzki/) ## More Advice quotes > [The sensible person is always serious about sensible advice.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mak-786/the-sensible-person-is-always-serious-about-sensible-advice/) Mak\_786 > [I ask for tips, for advice. What I have also learnt is that I need to do things that are good for me. In…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matthijs-de-ligt/i-ask-for-tips-for-advice-what-i-have-also-learnt-is-that-i-need-to/) [Matthijs de Ligt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matthijs-de-ligt/) > [Don't get too attached to someone you know you can't be together with.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anurag-prakash-ray/don-t-get-too-attached-to-someone-you-know-you-can-t-be-together-with/) [Anurag Prakash Ray](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anurag-prakash-ray/) > [A low-minded person should not be given good advice.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chanakya/a-low-minded-person-should-not-be-given-good-advice/) [Chanakya](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chanakya/) > [The worst advice? 'Don't listen to the critics.' I think that you really ought to listen to the critics, because sometimes they're telling you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-king/the-worst-advice-don-t-listen-to-the-critics-i-think-that-you-really/) [Stephen King](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-king/) > [When I was in my twenties and just so sexually prolific, the first time I went to Machu Picchu, this guy, a spiritual teacher,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/woody-harrelson/when-i-was-in-my-twenties-and-just-so-sexually-prolific-the-first/) [Woody Harrelson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/woody-harrelson/) > [The best way to succeed in this world is to act on the advice you give to others.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/napoleon-hill/the-best-way-to-succeed-in-this-world-is-to-act-on-the-advice-you/) [Napoleon Hill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/napoleon-hill/) > [Time is priceless. You have it, but you don't own it. You spend it, but you can't keep it. And once it's gone, there's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/time-is-priceless-you-have-it-but-you-don-t-own-it-you-spend-it-but/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [You don't need to take a persons advice to make him feel good, just ask him for it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laurence-j-peter/you-don-t-need-to-take-a-persons-advice-to-make-him-feel-good-just/) [Laurence J. Peter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laurence-j-peter/) > [Some of the things that we hold onto the most, are the things that we need to let go of.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ryaj-ablando-catayas/some-of-the-things-that-we-hold-onto-the-most-are-the-things-that-we/) [Ryaj Ablando Catayas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ryaj-ablando-catayas/) > [“If your clothes are enough to drive would-be friends away, they're not the kind of friends you want." Typical mother advice. Sweet, honest, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aprilynne-pike/if-your-clothes-are-enough-to-drive-would-be-friends-away-they-re-not/) [Aprilynne Pike](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aprilynne-pike/) > [“My kingdom not for a horse, but for a good piece of advice!”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mehmet-murat-ildan/my-kingdom-not-for-a-horse-but-for-a-good-piece-of-advice/) [Mehmet Murat ildan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mehmet-murat-ildan/) > [I always advise people not to act upon the advice that I give them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vikrant-parsai/i-always-advise-people-not-to-act-upon-the-advice-that-i-give-them/) [Vikrant Parsai](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vikrant-parsai/) > [ \[A\]s you partake of the world's bill of fare, that's darned good advice to follow. Do a lot of spitting out the hot air.… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dr-seuss/a-s-you-partake-of-the-world-s-bill-of-fare-that-s-darned-good-advice/) [Dr. Seuss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dr-seuss/) > [My relationship with Ibrahimovic was completely neutral. He is not the type of player to approach the younger players and give them advice. He…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kingsley-coman/my-relationship-with-ibrahimovic-was-completely-neutral-he-is-not-the/) [Kingsley Coman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kingsley-coman/) [Browse all 8,535 Advice quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/advice/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "The only advice I would give young guys is to keep your ears and eyes open. 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