--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: When I go in for heart surgery, I want a…" description: "\"When I go in for heart surgery, I want a full-time surgeon. I don't want some guy who just does it part-time between rounds of golf. You want a guy who..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/25a/don-meyer-7312_basketball_when-i-go-in-for-heart-surgery-i-want-a_395427.png" --- # When I go in for heart surgery, I want a full-time… ![“When I go in for heart surgery, I want a full-time surgeon. I don't want some guy who just does it part-time between rounds of golf. You want a guy who is doing it all the time and is always reading and learning about the most recent techniques.” quote by Don Meyer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/25a/don-meyer-7312_basketball_when-i-go-in-for-heart-surgery-i-want-a_395427.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/25a/don-meyer-7312_basketball_when-i-go-in-for-heart-surgery-i-want-a_395427.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/25a/don-meyer-7312_basketball_when-i-go-in-for-heart-surgery-i-want-a_395427.png) > “When I go in for heart surgery, I want a full-time surgeon. I don't want some guy who just does it part-time between rounds of golf. You want a guy who is doing it all the time and is always reading and learning about the most recent techniques.” [Don Meyer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/don-meyer/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. A skilled professional should devote full time to their craft to stay current and competent. **In simple terms:** Full‑time dedication ensures expertise. Key Takeaway Choose experts who practice continuously. Themes expertise dedication professionalism Mood serious determined Type advice caution When to use this quote - medical procedures - sports coaching - technical training Key Concepts continuous learning skill mastery Questions to Reflect On - How do you verify a professional’s ongoing training? - What are the risks of part‑time expertise? A Different Perspective Limited by availability of such specialists in some regions. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Basketball](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/basketball/) [Golf](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/golf/) [Heart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/heart/) [Part time](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/part-time/) [Reading](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/reading/) [Reading and learning](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/reading-and-learning/) [Rounds](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/rounds/) [Surgeons](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/surgeons/) [Surgery](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/surgery/) [Technique](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/technique/) ## Related quotes > [Action game players make more correct decisions per unit time. If you are a surgeon or you are in the middle of a battlefield,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daphne-bavelier/action-game-players-make-more-correct-decisions-per-unit-time-if-you/) [Daphne Bavelier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daphne-bavelier/) > [Imagine a doctor in Chicago doing an operation for someone in Taiwan using robotic surgery. You want the doctor to feel immediate feedback to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rajeev-suri/imagine-a-doctor-in-chicago-doing-an-operation-for-someone-in-taiwan/) [Rajeev Suri](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rajeev-suri/) > [“I have maybe a half-hour before the next surgery. Want to go and get a cup of coffee?” What I want is to meander…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paullina-simons/i-have-maybe-a-half-hour-before-the-next-surgery-want-to-go-and-get-a/) [Paullina Simons](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paullina-simons/) > [Most people say, "I can't wait to retire so I can play golf," or go yachting or whatever they do. Well, if I was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stan-lee/most-people-say-i-can-t-wait-to-retire-so-i-can-play-golf-or-go/) [Stan Lee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stan-lee/) > [I'm a technician. It's like that in football and the same way in golf. I want to try to find a way that I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-whitworth/i-m-a-technician-it-s-like-that-in-football-and-the-same-way-in-golf/) [Andrew Whitworth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-whitworth/) > [Golf is whatever you want it to be. If your vision of golf is a turned-out country club with expensive members' rates and no…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-casey/golf-is-whatever-you-want-it-to-be-if-your-vision-of-golf-is-a-turned/) [Paul Casey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-casey/) > [People started coining the phrase, 'Bubba Golf,' whatever you want to call it, which I like. 'Bubba Golf' is going to be fun. I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bubba-watson/people-started-coining-the-phrase-bubba-golf-whatever-you-want-to/) [Bubba Watson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bubba-watson/) > [I qualified for the U.S. Open twice while at school, with my sister on the bag. I never finished high enough where it would've…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scottie-scheffler/i-qualified-for-the-u-s-open-twice-while-at-school-with-my-sister-on/) [Scottie Scheffler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scottie-scheffler/) > [I've always said the players don't build up rivalries themselves, people from the outside build up the rivalries. I just want to play good…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rory-mcilroy/i-ve-always-said-the-players-don-t-build-up-rivalries-themselves/) [Rory McIlroy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rory-mcilroy/) > [I'm in love with golf, and I want everybody else to share my love affair.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arnold-palmer/i-m-in-love-with-golf-and-i-want-everybody-else-to-share-my-love/) [Arnold Palmer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arnold-palmer/) > [All I do is play music and golf - which one do you want me to give up?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/willie-nelson/all-i-do-is-play-music-and-golf-which-one-do-you-want-me-to-give-up/) [Willie Nelson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/willie-nelson/) > [A lot of celebrities golf because they want to be away. For them it's a chance to get away and be peaceful. For me…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robin-williams/a-lot-of-celebrities-golf-because-they-want-to-be-away-for-them-it-s/) [Robin Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robin-williams/) > [You know, that's one great thing about the sport we play is you know, whether it's here, whether it's anywhere else we play or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patrick-reed/you-know-that-s-one-great-thing-about-the-sport-we-play-is-you-know/) [Patrick Reed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patrick-reed/) > [I love reading and learning. With acting, I get to put all that into my work and still get to do my homework and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sophie-cookson/i-love-reading-and-learning-with-acting-i-get-to-put-all-that-into-my/) [Sophie Cookson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sophie-cookson/) > [Today, if the CEO thinks it's a good idea, it's done everywhere; if the CEO thinks it's a bad idea, it's done nowhere. We…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeffrey-pfeffer/today-if-the-ceo-thinks-it-s-a-good-idea-it-s-done-everywhere-if-the/) [Jeffrey Pfeffer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeffrey-pfeffer/) ## More by Don Meyer > [Every day you teach attitude.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/don-meyer/every-day-you-teach-attitude/) [Don Meyer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/don-meyer/) > [Proper prior planning prevents pitiful poor performance.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/don-meyer/proper-prior-planning-prevents-pitiful-poor-performance/) [Don Meyer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/don-meyer/) > [It doesn't matter where you coach, it matters why you coach.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/don-meyer/it-doesn-t-matter-where-you-coach-it-matters-why-you-coach/) [Don Meyer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/don-meyer/) > [Sometimes the best recruits are the ones you don't get.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/don-meyer/sometimes-the-best-recruits-are-the-ones-you-don-t-get/) [Don Meyer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/don-meyer/) > [You never realize the value of coaching until your children play for a coach](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/don-meyer/you-never-realize-the-value-of-coaching-until-your-children-play-for/) [Don Meyer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/don-meyer/) > [Discover your gift, develop your gift and then give it away every day.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/don-meyer/discover-your-gift-develop-your-gift-and-then-give-it-away-every-day/) [Don Meyer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/don-meyer/) > [When the legs go, the heart and the head follow quickly behind.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/don-meyer/when-the-legs-go-the-heart-and-the-head-follow-quickly-behind/) [Don Meyer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/don-meyer/) > [Your program must have an overriding purpose which is clearly visible and which teaches lessons beyond winning.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/don-meyer/your-program-must-have-an-overriding-purpose-which-is-clearly-visible/) [Don Meyer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/don-meyer/) > [If you are a good team, your offense is born on the defensive end.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/don-meyer/if-you-are-a-good-team-your-offense-is-born-on-the-defensive-end/) [Don Meyer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/don-meyer/) > [Habits are critical for players. They cannot think and play well at the same time.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/don-meyer/habits-are-critical-for-players-they-cannot-think-and-play-well-at/) [Don Meyer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/don-meyer/) > [If you want to thank me, go do something for somebody else](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/don-meyer/if-you-want-to-thank-me-go-do-something-for-somebody-else/) [Don Meyer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/don-meyer/) > [Parents would rather have their son get all-state than his team win the state championship.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/don-meyer/parents-would-rather-have-their-son-get-all-state-than-his-team-win/) [Don Meyer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/don-meyer/) > [Quickness more than anything else should determine your amount of pressure on the ball.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/don-meyer/quickness-more-than-anything-else-should-determine-your-amount-of/) [Don Meyer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/don-meyer/) > [If you have to 'try hard' to 'try hard, you are already beaten.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/don-meyer/if-you-have-to-try-hard-to-try-hard-you-are-already-beaten/) [Don Meyer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/don-meyer/) > [We painted a beautiful picture, but we just didn't finish it. Finishing is the difference between a beautiful picture and a masterpiece.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/don-meyer/we-painted-a-beautiful-picture-but-we-just-didn-t-finish-it-finishing/) [Don Meyer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/don-meyer/) [Explore all 92 Don Meyer quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/don-meyer/) ## More Basketball quotes > [We love playing together and we love adversity. You know, back-to-back, the two best teams in the East.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-nash/we-love-playing-together-and-we-love-adversity-you-know-back-to-back/) [Steve Nash](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-nash/) > [I don't look at myself as a basketball coach. I look at myself as a leader who happens to coach basketball.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-krzyzewski/i-don-t-look-at-myself-as-a-basketball-coach-i-look-at-myself-as-a/) [Mike Krzyzewski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-krzyzewski/) > [There is no doubt in my mind and I know in my time, there will be a Canadian basketball player playing for Toronto Raptors, 100%](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/masai-ujiri/there-is-no-doubt-in-my-mind-and-i-know-in-my-time-there-will-be-a/) [Masai Ujiri](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/masai-ujiri/) > [I learned so much from Sue about the Xs and Os of the game of basketball.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pat-summitt/i-learned-so-much-from-sue-about-the-xs-and-os-of-the-game-of/) [Pat Summitt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pat-summitt/) > [ I failed, I think, seven \[or\] eight times before I finally got my first \[championship\]. It was just, you know, just about me growing… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shaquille-o-neal/i-failed-i-think-seven-or-eight-times-before-i-finally-got-my-first/) [Shaquille O'Neal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shaquille-o-neal/) > [It's not how big you are, it's how big you play](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-wooden/it-s-not-how-big-you-are-it-s-how-big-you-play/) [John Wooden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-wooden/) > [Basketball isn't just a sport to me ; it's my ecstasy !](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jamira-robinson/basketball-isn-t-just-a-sport-to-me-it-s-my-ecstasy/) [Jamira Robinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jamira-robinson/) > [It's similar to basketball: when you go to different gyms and win or lose, you learn something new. So when kids get out of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andre-iguodala/it-s-similar-to-basketball-when-you-go-to-different-gyms-and-win-or/) [Andre Iguodala](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andre-iguodala/) > [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/) > [And I want to do it the right way, like everybody else, not just a famous figurehead that gets a job because he is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shaquille-o-neal/and-i-want-to-do-it-the-right-way-like-everybody-else-not-just-a/) [Shaquille O'Neal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shaquille-o-neal/) > [Well, you can certainly teach free-throwing. And you can teach the boys to pass at angles and run in curves. - University of Kansas…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/darryl-dawkins/well-you-can-certainly-teach-free-throwing-and-you-can-teach-the-boys/) [Darryl Dawkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/darryl-dawkins/) > [Practice to beat the best.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dick-bennett/practice-to-beat-the-best/) [Dick Bennett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dick-bennett/) > [I'm a competitive person. I love the game of basketball. I'm a gym rat.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-pierce/i-m-a-competitive-person-i-love-the-game-of-basketball-i-m-a-gym-rat/) [Paul Pierce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-pierce/) > [I am both humbled and honored to receive the Honda Sports Award for women's basketball.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brittney-griner/i-am-both-humbled-and-honored-to-receive-the-honda-sports-award-for/) [Brittney Griner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brittney-griner/) > [What I've talked about the entire series and throughout this playoffs is about intensity and effort, desire and will of our players.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-laimbeer/what-i-ve-talked-about-the-entire-series-and-throughout-this-playoffs/) [Bill Laimbeer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-laimbeer/) [Browse all 5,387 Basketball quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/basketball/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "When I go in for heart surgery, I want a full-time surgeon. 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