--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: When I was in college, a coach told me…" description: "\"When I was in college, a coach told me about the difference between a finger-pointer and a thumb-pointer. I've always vowed to be a thumb-pointer.\" — G..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a04/geno-smith-6231_about_when-i-was-in-college-a-coach-told-me-ab_1085403.jpg" --- # When I was in college, a coach told me about the… ![“When I was in college, a coach told me about the difference between a finger-pointer and a thumb-pointer. I've always vowed to be a thumb-pointer.” quote by Geno Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a04/geno-smith-6231_about_when-i-was-in-college-a-coach-told-me-ab_1085403.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a04/geno-smith-6231_about_when-i-was-in-college-a-coach-told-me-ab_1085403.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a04/geno-smith-6231_about_when-i-was-in-college-a-coach-told-me-ab_1085403.jpg) > “When I was in college, a coach told me about the difference between a finger-pointer and a thumb-pointer. I've always vowed to be a thumb-pointer.” [Geno Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/geno-smith/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. He prefers to guide others by pointing out opportunities (thumb‑pointer) rather than just criticizing (finger‑pointer). **In simple terms:** Lead by showing possibilities. Key Takeaway Be a thumb‑pointer. Themes leadership mentorship positivity Mood motivational pragmatic Type inspirational practical When to use this quote - team meetings - career coaching - education workshops - peer mentoring Key Concepts Growth mindset coaching strategies Questions to Reflect On - How can you balance guidance with honest feedback? - When is direct criticism appropriate? A Different Perspective Criticism can be necessary for correction. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Coach](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/coach/) [College](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/college/) ## Related quotes > [Too much under the thumb of the Iranians.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adam-schiff/too-much-under-the-thumb-of-the-iranians/) [Adam Schiff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adam-schiff/) > [There are two competing philosophies in 'Wool': one is that people have to live under an iron thumb in order to survive, and the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hugh-howey/there-are-two-competing-philosophies-in-wool-one-is-that-people-have/) [Hugh Howey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hugh-howey/) > [People's behavior will change with technology. I know very few young people who can't type out a text message on their phone with one…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/howard-rheingold/people-s-behavior-will-change-with-technology-i-know-very-few-young/) [Howard Rheingold](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/howard-rheingold/) > [The IronClad is faster than most thumb drives but far slower than a standard hard drive. Boot up, application launch and other Windows operations…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barton-gellman/the-ironclad-is-faster-than-most-thumb-drives-but-far-slower-than-a/) [Barton Gellman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barton-gellman/) > [I've always had this rule of thumb: If you have fun making it, then someone will have fun watching it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/antony-starr/i-ve-always-had-this-rule-of-thumb-if-you-have-fun-making-it-then/) [Antony Starr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/antony-starr/) > [I don't think I'm ever more "aware" than I am right after I hit my thumb with a hammer.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-handey/i-don-t-think-i-m-ever-more-aware-than-i-am-right-after-i-hit-my/) [Jack Handey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-handey/) > [“In school you learn that it is the thumb that separates human beings from the lower primates. The thumb is an evolutionary triumph. Because…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-robbins/in-school-you-learn-that-it-is-the-thumb-that-separates-human-beings/) [Tom Robbins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-robbins/) > [A simple rule of thumb is to shop the periphery of the grocery store - that's where you'll find meat, fish, dairy, and vegetables.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/suzanne-somers/a-simple-rule-of-thumb-is-to-shop-the-periphery-of-the-grocery-store/) [Suzanne Somers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/suzanne-somers/) > [The quarterback, you can play with a lot of big injuries. You get a little injury like an index finger or a thumb that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eli-manning/the-quarterback-you-can-play-with-a-lot-of-big-injuries-you-get-a/) [Eli Manning](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eli-manning/) > [Everybody please put a thumb in the air](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mac-miller/everybody-please-put-a-thumb-in-the-air/) [Mac Miller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mac-miller/) > [As a general rule of thumb, Democrats do better in national elections when the year's defining issue is economic fairness, and Republicans do better…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rick-perlstein/as-a-general-rule-of-thumb-democrats-do-better-in-national-elections/) [Rick Perlstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rick-perlstein/) > [I think that it should just be a rule of thumb that if your job asks you to cut your hair... that means that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/blake-anderson/i-think-that-it-should-just-be-a-rule-of-thumb-that-if-your-job-asks/) [Blake Anderson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/blake-anderson/) > [“He ran his thumb over my lower lip, sending a flurry of sparks through me. "Good-bye, Sophie." -Cal”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rachel-hawkins/he-ran-his-thumb-over-my-lower-lip-sending-a-flurry-of-sparks-through/) [Rachel Hawkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rachel-hawkins/) > [If you take your thumb and your index finger and look right where they meet - go ahead and do that now - and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ron-eglash/if-you-take-your-thumb-and-your-index-finger-and-look-right-where/) [Ron Eglash](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ron-eglash/) > [I was helping my mom grind meat at our butcher shop, and it just hypnotized me. I don't remember sticking my hand in, but…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jon-tester/i-was-helping-my-mom-grind-meat-at-our-butcher-shop-and-it-just/) [Jon Tester](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jon-tester/) ## More by Geno Smith > [No one wants to sit the bench. I don't know a player that does.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/geno-smith/no-one-wants-to-sit-the-bench-i-don-t-know-a-player-that-does/) [Geno Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/geno-smith/) > [I'm always gonna try to help guys get better.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/geno-smith/i-m-always-gonna-try-to-help-guys-get-better/) [Geno Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/geno-smith/) > [No matter what the play is called, it comes down to the players making it come to life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/geno-smith/no-matter-what-the-play-is-called-it-comes-down-to-the-players-making/) [Geno Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/geno-smith/) > [There's always a lesson learned in any situation good or bad.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/geno-smith/there-s-always-a-lesson-learned-in-any-situation-good-or-bad/) [Geno Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/geno-smith/) > [No way am I satisfied with just going up and playing. It's about getting wins; it's about leading the team to victories; and I'd…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/geno-smith/no-way-am-i-satisfied-with-just-going-up-and-playing-it-s-about/) [Geno Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/geno-smith/) > [I worked with Antonio Brown, a Hall of Fame receiver, for 10 years-plus in the offseason. We know how to work. And I think…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/geno-smith/i-worked-with-antonio-brown-a-hall-of-fame-receiver-for-10-years-plus/) [Geno Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/geno-smith/) > [That's why I hate to talk about individual stuff because it's a team game.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/geno-smith/that-s-why-i-hate-to-talk-about-individual-stuff-because-it-s-a-team/) [Geno Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/geno-smith/) > [Obviously, just getting a chance to compete, being out there with my teammates, being with the Seahawks - a great organization. It's just been…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/geno-smith/obviously-just-getting-a-chance-to-compete-being-out-there-with-my/) [Geno Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/geno-smith/) > [My confidence is always sky-high. Nothing can bring me down.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/geno-smith/my-confidence-is-always-sky-high-nothing-can-bring-me-down/) [Geno Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/geno-smith/) > [Punting the ball is not a bad thing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/geno-smith/punting-the-ball-is-not-a-bad-thing/) [Geno Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/geno-smith/) > [I think I admire all leaders. I think everyone has their own way to lead. My way in particular is not a rah-rah guy,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/geno-smith/i-think-i-admire-all-leaders-i-think-everyone-has-their-own-way-to/) [Geno Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/geno-smith/) > [I just believe in my ability.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/geno-smith/i-just-believe-in-my-ability/) [Geno Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/geno-smith/) > [I don't worry about the outside world's perception.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/geno-smith/i-don-t-worry-about-the-outside-world-s-perception/) [Geno Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/geno-smith/) > [I'm actually grateful for being drafted to the NFL by the Jets, and although things weren't perfect there, there were some good times. There…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/geno-smith/i-m-actually-grateful-for-being-drafted-to-the-nfl-by-the-jets-and/) [Geno Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/geno-smith/) > [What I've been searching for is consistency, and I think that consistency will lead me to be that great player that I always see…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/geno-smith/what-i-ve-been-searching-for-is-consistency-and-i-think-that/) [Geno Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/geno-smith/) [Explore all 99 Geno Smith quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/geno-smith/) ## More About quotes > [If you ask an introvert a question, wait until she thinks about it. Introverts think before speaking, not through speaking. If you want to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laurie-helgoe/if-you-ask-an-introvert-a-question-wait-until-she-thinks-about-it/) [Laurie Helgoe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laurie-helgoe/) > [Joking about violence is not funny.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/perez-hilton/joking-about-violence-is-not-funny/) [Perez Hilton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/perez-hilton/) > [I talk to my mates about our kids, being too tired and being worn out.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/holly-willoughby/i-talk-to-my-mates-about-our-kids-being-too-tired-and-being-worn-out/) [Holly Willoughby](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/holly-willoughby/) > [With 'Pretty Girls,' I saw the opportunity to talk not just about crime but what crime leaves behind.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karin-slaughter/with-pretty-girls-i-saw-the-opportunity-to-talk-not-just-about-crime/) [Karin Slaughter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karin-slaughter/) > [I write about presidents. That means I write about guys - so far. I'm interested in the people closest to them, the people they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/doris-kearns-goodwin/i-write-about-presidents-that-means-i-write-about-guys-so-far-i-m/) [Doris Kearns Goodwin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/doris-kearns-goodwin/) > [That's something a lot of folks don't know about me - I'm pretty darn funny.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-jai-white/that-s-something-a-lot-of-folks-don-t-know-about-me-i-m-pretty-darn/) [Michael Jai White](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-jai-white/) > [I learned a lot about myself at Oakmont.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shane-lowry/i-learned-a-lot-about-myself-at-oakmont/) [Shane Lowry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shane-lowry/) > [I don't think about the press or the crowds or the other leaders of the race. The focus is only on myself. As soon…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/magdalena-neuner/i-don-t-think-about-the-press-or-the-crowds-or-the-other-leaders-of/) [Magdalena Neuner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/magdalena-neuner/) > [Sport is not just about entertainment. It is equally about winning and losing, pooling and galvanising the energy of the youth, upgrading people's physical…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nita-ambani/sport-is-not-just-about-entertainment-it-is-equally-about-winning-and/) [Nita Ambani](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nita-ambani/) > [One of the ways that I discovered my confidence and my ability to overpower is becoming a mother. Suddenly, my world wasn't about myself…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lights/one-of-the-ways-that-i-discovered-my-confidence-and-my-ability-to/) [Lights](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lights/) > [I didn't want to do 'Fashion Police' because I thought, 'This is stupid, this is beneath me, who wants to talk about fashion?' It…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joan-rivers/i-didn-t-want-to-do-fashion-police-because-i-thought-this-is-stupid/) [Joan Rivers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joan-rivers/) > [I just worried about my weight. Worried about my appearance and thought I wan't pretty enough to be a pop star. It was very…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/judith-durham/i-just-worried-about-my-weight-worried-about-my-appearance-and/) [Judith Durham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/judith-durham/) > [I read a couple of books about neuroscience and the relationship between the mind and the body.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joel-kinnaman/i-read-a-couple-of-books-about-neuroscience-and-the-relationship/) [Joel Kinnaman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joel-kinnaman/) > [There are a lot of kids out there copying and distributing movies - not because they care about seeing the movies or sharing them…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-perry-barlow/there-are-a-lot-of-kids-out-there-copying-and-distributing-movies-not/) [John Perry Barlow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-perry-barlow/) > [I have no physical genius about me. I can't dribble a ball and run at the same time, I can't do lay-ups - I'm…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rich-mullins/i-have-no-physical-genius-about-me-i-can-t-dribble-a-ball-and-run-at/) [Rich Mullins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rich-mullins/) Browse all 26,122 About quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "When I was in college, a coach told me about the difference between a finger-pointer and a thumb-pointer. I've always vowed to be a thumb-pointer.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Geno Smith" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/geno-smith/when-i-was-in-college-a-coach-told-me-about-the-difference-between-a/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "About" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/geno-smith/when-i-was-in-college-a-coach-told-me-about-the-difference-between-a/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a04/geno-smith-6231_about_when-i-was-in-college-a-coach-told-me-ab_1085403.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a04/geno-smith-6231_about_when-i-was-in-college-a-coach-told-me-ab_1085403.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a04/geno-smith-6231_about_when-i-was-in-college-a-coach-told-me-ab_1085403.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“When I was in college, a coach told me about the difference between a finger-pointer and a thumb-pointer…” — Geno Smith", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Geno Smith", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/geno-smith/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "When I was in college, a...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/geno-smith/when-i-was-in-college-a-coach-told-me-about-the-difference-between-a/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/geno-smith/when-i-was-in-college-a-coach-told-me-about-the-difference-between-a/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```