--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: They're always telling us, 'Rockford is a…" description: "\"They're always telling us, 'Rockford is a miserable place to live. There's not a lot of talent coming out of Rockford.' Blah, blah, blah. You know the ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3b6/fred-vanvleet-6190_change_they-re-always-telling-us-rockford-is-a_501631.jpg" --- # They're always telling us, 'Rockford is a miserable place… ![“They're always telling us, 'Rockford is a miserable place to live. There's not a lot of talent coming out of Rockford.' Blah, blah, blah. You know the rest of the story. I look at it like there's only two things you can do about it. You can live up to it and make it worse or you can change it and…” quote by Fred VanVleet](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3b6/fred-vanvleet-6190_change_they-re-always-telling-us-rockford-is-a_501631.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3b6/fred-vanvleet-6190_change_they-re-always-telling-us-rockford-is-a_501631.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3b6/fred-vanvleet-6190_change_they-re-always-telling-us-rockford-is-a_501631.jpg) > “They're always telling us, 'Rockford is a miserable place to live. There's not a lot of talent coming out of Rockford.' Blah, blah, blah. You know the rest of the story. I look at it like there's only two things you can do about it. You can live up to it and make it worse or you can change it and make it better.” [Fred VanVleet](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fred-vanvleet/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. You can either accept a negative reputation and worsen it, or respond positively and improve it. **In simple terms:** Choose to improve, not worsen. Key Takeaway Take action to change the narrative. Themes responsibility growth mindset community leadership Mood determined optimistic reflective Type motivational inspirational When to use this quote - personal development - team building - community revitalization - leadership training Key Concepts self‑efficacy social influence resilience Questions to Reflect On - What can you do today to improve your environment? - How do you handle negative stereotypes? A Different Perspective Changing perception requires effort and may face resistance. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Change](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/change/) [Story](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/story/) [Talent](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/talent/) ## Related quotes > [There's no opportunity in Rockford, so if you stay there, you don't see the world as very big.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fred-vanvleet/there-s-no-opportunity-in-rockford-so-if-you-stay-there-you-don-t-see/) [Fred VanVleet](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fred-vanvleet/) > [We're from Rockford, Illinois, but we've always thought international.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robin-zander/we-re-from-rockford-illinois-but-we-ve-always-thought-international/) Robin Zander > [“And if such a gift could come to him at such a time, then anything—dear girl from Rockford dressed up for her meeting, rushing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-strout/and-if-such-a-gift-could-come-to-him-at-such-a-time-then-anything/) [Elizabeth Strout](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-strout/) > [If you can make it in Rockford, you can make it anywhere.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rick-nielsen/if-you-can-make-it-in-rockford-you-can-make-it-anywhere/) [Rick Nielsen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rick-nielsen/) > [In Rockford I decided that I had seen enough of the world.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marilyn-monroe/in-rockford-i-decided-that-i-had-seen-enough-of-the-world/) [Marilyn Monroe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marilyn-monroe/) > [And the rest is rust and stardust.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vladimir-nabokov/and-the-rest-is-rust-and-stardust/) [Vladimir Nabokov](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vladimir-nabokov/) > [Only two to three per cent of an audience is interested in words and pays attention to lyrics; most of the rest of it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/al-stewart/only-two-to-three-per-cent-of-an-audience-is-interested-in-words-and/) [Al Stewart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/al-stewart/) > [You couldn't get me to go travel around and sit in a hotel room again. I have no interest in doing that. So everybody's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/phil-everly/you-couldn-t-get-me-to-go-travel-around-and-sit-in-a-hotel-room-again/) [Phil Everly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/phil-everly/) > [I decided to start my channel because my followers on Instagram told me that they wanted to learn how I did the looks I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/manny-mua/i-decided-to-start-my-channel-because-my-followers-on-instagram-told/) [Manny MUA](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/manny-mua/) > [Smokers, like so many of us, are mavericks when they're healthy but parasites when they're not. They trash their bodies and then expect the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/norah-vincent/smokers-like-so-many-of-us-are-mavericks-when-they-re-healthy-but/) [Norah Vincent](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/norah-vincent/) > [I have heard that if you pull a bent breath through the second hole of a harmonica tuned to the key of Georgia while…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/buddy-wakefield/i-have-heard-that-if-you-pull-a-bent-breath-through-the-second-hole/) [Buddy Wakefield](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/buddy-wakefield/) > [“What if I believed that God Himself was the One who decreed I would be a quiet person? What if I believed that God…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julie-rajnus/what-if-i-believed-that-god-himself-was-the-one-who-decreed-i-would/) Julie Rajnus > [Eric Clapton's scales - when he comes off a high note and it's time for a refrain or a little bit of a rest,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-rea/eric-clapton-s-scales-when-he-comes-off-a-high-note-and-it-s-time-for/) [Chris Rea](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-rea/) > [“We have become human doings more than human beings, and the verb “rest,” as Jesus uses it, is largely foreign to us.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-rohr/we-have-become-human-doings-more-than-human-beings-and-the-verb-rest/) [Richard Rohr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-rohr/) > [I don't drink much anymore, but when I traveled with Frank Sinatra, God rest his soul, I used to drink like I could do…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/don-rickles/i-don-t-drink-much-anymore-but-when-i-traveled-with-frank-sinatra-god/) [Don Rickles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/don-rickles/) ## More by Fred VanVleet > [At the end of the day, winning games is the only thing that matters.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fred-vanvleet/at-the-end-of-the-day-winning-games-is-the-only-thing-that-matters/) [Fred VanVleet](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fred-vanvleet/) > [We have people who work in regular jobs that come up to us and tell us that they hate their job and they have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fred-vanvleet/we-have-people-who-work-in-regular-jobs-that-come-up-to-us-and-tell/) [Fred VanVleet](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fred-vanvleet/) > [I mean, I was one of the best college players in my four years.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fred-vanvleet/i-mean-i-was-one-of-the-best-college-players-in-my-four-years/) [Fred VanVleet](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fred-vanvleet/) > [I come from one of those communities that's forgotten about and not paid attention to. Growing up, there were a lot of times where…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fred-vanvleet/i-come-from-one-of-those-communities-that-s-forgotten-about-and-not/) [Fred VanVleet](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fred-vanvleet/) > [Our parents busted their butts to make us feel like we weren't broke and in our neighbourhood we were probably more well off than…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fred-vanvleet/our-parents-busted-their-butts-to-make-us-feel-like-we-weren-t-broke/) [Fred VanVleet](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fred-vanvleet/) > [You kind of don't know what you can't do until you get out there and do it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fred-vanvleet/you-kind-of-don-t-know-what-you-can-t-do-until-you-get-out-there-and/) [Fred VanVleet](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fred-vanvleet/) > [There's no other way for me to achieve any of the things I've achieved individually other than to be insanely confident and crazy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fred-vanvleet/there-s-no-other-way-for-me-to-achieve-any-of-the-things-i-ve/) [Fred VanVleet](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fred-vanvleet/) > [I'm not the most amazing athlete - I understand that.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fred-vanvleet/i-m-not-the-most-amazing-athlete-i-understand-that/) [Fred VanVleet](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fred-vanvleet/) > [I was in my share of fights whether I'd be outside or in the house with my brothers, so I've always had quick hands.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fred-vanvleet/i-was-in-my-share-of-fights-whether-i-d-be-outside-or-in-the-house/) [Fred VanVleet](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fred-vanvleet/) > [My whole mind-set growing up was that I was not going to let myself be one of those Rockford people who didn't pan out.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fred-vanvleet/my-whole-mind-set-growing-up-was-that-i-was-not-going-to-let-myself/) [Fred VanVleet](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fred-vanvleet/) > [No one expects an 18-year-old kid to know exactly what path they'll take.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fred-vanvleet/no-one-expects-an-18-year-old-kid-to-know-exactly-what-path-they-ll/) [Fred VanVleet](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fred-vanvleet/) > [Toronto has become my second home.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fred-vanvleet/toronto-has-become-my-second-home/) [Fred VanVleet](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fred-vanvleet/) > [I've always had the instinct and I always have the mind to make the right play.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fred-vanvleet/i-ve-always-had-the-instinct-and-i-always-have-the-mind-to-make-the/) [Fred VanVleet](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fred-vanvleet/) > [I don't have to tell people that I value winning. Look at my story, do your research, I've never been on a losing team…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fred-vanvleet/i-don-t-have-to-tell-people-that-i-value-winning-look-at-my-story-do/) [Fred VanVleet](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fred-vanvleet/) > [Early as I can remember, I was always next to the coaches trying to pick their brains and just learn how to be the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fred-vanvleet/early-as-i-can-remember-i-was-always-next-to-the-coaches-trying-to/) [Fred VanVleet](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fred-vanvleet/) [Explore all 99 Fred VanVleet quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fred-vanvleet/) ## More Change quotes > [Only within yourself exists the other reality for which you long. I can give you nothing that has not already its being within yourself.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hermann-hesse/only-within-yourself-exists-the-other-reality-for-which-you-long-i/) [Hermann Hesse](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hermann-hesse/) > [Life is full of change. That's how we learn and grow.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/life-is-full-of-change-that-s-how-we-learn-and-grow/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I can't believe that I'm sitting in meetings with Steven Spielberg, Tom Hanks, and Annette Bening. I want to take on that responsibility to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roger-ross-williams/i-can-t-believe-that-i-m-sitting-in-meetings-with-steven-spielberg/) [Roger Ross Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roger-ross-williams/) > [“…progress isn't necessarily about change but about things turning out as we want them to”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/phil-hogan/progress-isn-t-necessarily-about-change-but-about-things-turning-out/) Phil Hogan > [Nobody can tell me that no changes are necessary in Washington.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-weld/nobody-can-tell-me-that-no-changes-are-necessary-in-washington/) [William Weld](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-weld/) > [If my campaign is not in the debate, we will not be talking about how we really fix this problem of endless and expanding…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jill-stein/if-my-campaign-is-not-in-the-debate-we-will-not-be-talking-about-how/) [Jill Stein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jill-stein/) > [When you walk down the street of Kabul your values for life changes, they do change.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marco-pierre-white/when-you-walk-down-the-street-of-kabul-your-values-for-life-changes/) [Marco Pierre White](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marco-pierre-white/) > [Your world will change whether or not you choose to change, but you have the power to choose it's direction.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/napoleon-hill/your-world-will-change-whether-or-not-you-choose-to-change-but-you/) [Napoleon Hill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/napoleon-hill/) > [I hope I continue to evolve.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charlotte-flair/i-hope-i-continue-to-evolve/) [Charlotte Flair](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charlotte-flair/) > [“Stay focused on bringing people together and more on positive messaging so that you can be the change you wish to see in the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/germany-kent/stay-focused-on-bringing-people-together-and-more-on-positive/) [Germany Kent](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/germany-kent/) > [The biggest change for me as a mom was realizing I needed to put someone else before me. Now the hardest part about the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kim-alexis/the-biggest-change-for-me-as-a-mom-was-realizing-i-needed-to-put/) [Kim Alexis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kim-alexis/) > [“After the funeral, my life changed. I felt as if time were suddenly precious, water going down an open drain, and I could not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mitch-albom/after-the-funeral-my-life-changed-i-felt-as-if-time-were-suddenly/) [Mitch Albom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mitch-albom/) > [You practice mindfulness, on the one hand, to be calm and peaceful. On the other hand, as you practice mindfulness and live a life…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/you-practice-mindfulness-on-the-one-hand-to-be-calm-and-peaceful-on/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Irish research will contribute to global progress and have the potential to help all countries realise the potential of their land sectors in addressing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/enda-kenny/irish-research-will-contribute-to-global-progress-and-have-the/) [Enda Kenny](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/enda-kenny/) > [No man can change himself into anything from sheer reason; he can only change into what he potentially is.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carl-jung/no-man-can-change-himself-into-anything-from-sheer-reason-he-can-only/) [Carl Jung](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carl-jung/) [Browse all 33,920 Change quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/change/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "They're always telling us, 'Rockford is a miserable place to live. 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