---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Use your past successes as a trampoline…"
description: "\"Use your past successes as a trampoline, not an easy chair.\" — H. Jackson Brown, Jr"
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ba9/h-jackson-brown-jr-1456_chairs_use-your-past-successes-as-a-trampoline_2038987.png"
---

#  Use your past successes as a trampoline, not an easy chair.

![“Use your past successes as a trampoline, not an easy chair.” quote by H. Jackson Brown, Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ba9/h-jackson-brown-jr-1456_chairs_use-your-past-successes-as-a-trampoline_2038987.png)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ba9/h-jackson-brown-jr-1456_chairs_use-your-past-successes-as-a-trampoline_2038987.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ba9/h-jackson-brown-jr-1456_chairs_use-your-past-successes-as-a-trampoline_2038987.png)

> “Use your past successes as a trampoline, not an easy chair.”

[H. Jackson Brown, Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/h-jackson-brown-jr/)

## About This Quote

This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.

Leverage past achievements as a launchpad, not a place to rest.

**In simple terms:** Use past wins as a launchpad.

Key Takeaway

Turn successes into forward momentum.

Themes

growth motivation resilience

Mood

inspirational practical

Type

advice motivational

When to use this quote

- career advancement
- personal development
- entrepreneurship
- skill building

Key Concepts

self‑efficacy goal setting

Questions to Reflect On

- How can you convert past wins into new goals?
- What prevents you from moving beyond comfort?

A Different Perspective

Relying solely on past success may breed complacency.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Motivation](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/motivation/) [Our past](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/our-past/) [Past](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/past/) [Past success](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/past-success/) [Success](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/success/) [Trampoline](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/trampoline/) [Trampolines](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/trampolines/) [Your past](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/your-past/)

## Related quotes

> [Research has shown over and over again that the more you acknowledge your past successes, the more confident you become in taking on and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-canfield/research-has-shown-over-and-over-again-that-the-more-you-acknowledge/)

[Jack Canfield](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-canfield/)

> [You have to let the past successes go, or you'll never be able to see anew.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jay-maisel/you-have-to-let-the-past-successes-go-or-you-ll-never-be-able-to-see/)

[Jay Maisel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jay-maisel/)

> [Build on past successes, be grateful for what you do have, and know that this, too, shall pass. It's only for the now. Whatever…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dave-pelzer/build-on-past-successes-be-grateful-for-what-you-do-have-and-know/)

[Dave Pelzer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dave-pelzer/)

> [Your past successes will teach you far more than your past mistakes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/melody-minagar/your-past-successes-will-teach-you-far-more-than-your-past-mistakes/)

[Melody Minagar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/melody-minagar/)

> [Maybe the secret to continued success is as simple as knowing that your past successes could be done so much better now.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-loguidice/maybe-the-secret-to-continued-success-is-as-simple-as-knowing-that/)

[Bill Loguidice](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-loguidice/)

> [“But learning from their past successes and failures is the key to long-term success.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-bregman/but-learning-from-their-past-successes-and-failures-is-the-key-to/)

[Peter Bregman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-bregman/)

> [Make use of your past , dont let it just blast !..](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/melchor-lim/make-use-of-your-past-dont-let-it-just-blast/)

[Melchor Lim](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/melchor-lim/)

> [If we can develop the ability to be aware of the present moment, we can use the past as a guide for ordering our…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/s-n-goenka/if-we-can-develop-the-ability-to-be-aware-of-the-present-moment-we/)

[S. N. Goenka](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/s-n-goenka/)

> [Don't use the past as an excuse to miss out on your future.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-cohen/don-t-use-the-past-as-an-excuse-to-miss-out-on-your-future/)

[Alan Cohen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-cohen/)

> [Some people are always going to use your past against you. If you have truly forgotten yourself, their opinion shouldn't matter.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/some-people-are-always-going-to-use-your-past-against-you-if-you-have/)

[Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/)

> [Don't use your past as an excuse to ruin your future](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/don-t-use-your-past-as-an-excuse-to-ruin-your-future/)

[Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/)

> [Use your past as one of your mentors.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-rohn/use-your-past-as-one-of-your-mentors/)

[Jim Rohn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-rohn/)

> [The present is never the mark of our designs. We use both past and present as our means and instruments, but the future only…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/blaise-pascal/the-present-is-never-the-mark-of-our-designs-we-use-both-past-and/)

[Blaise Pascal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/blaise-pascal/)

> [When you look to the past, don't sit and dwell on your regrets. Instead, focus on the things you learned from each experience and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-davenport/when-you-look-to-the-past-don-t-sit-and-dwell-on-your-regrets-instead/)

[Jack Davenport](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-davenport/)

> [Don't ever use someone's past against them. You're just reminding them of the mistakes they made back then. If you watch their facial expression…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/don-t-ever-use-someone-s-past-against-them-you-re-just-reminding-them/)

[Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/)

## More by H. Jackson Brown, Jr

> [Hire people more for their judgment than for their talents.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/h-jackson-brown-jr/hire-people-more-for-their-judgment-than-for-their-talents/)

[H. Jackson Brown, Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/h-jackson-brown-jr/)

> [We're constantly striving for success, fame and comfort when all we really need to be happy is someone or some thing to be enthusiastic…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/h-jackson-brown-jr/we-re-constantly-striving-for-success-fame-and-comfort-when-all-we/)

[H. Jackson Brown, Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/h-jackson-brown-jr/)

> [Develop a sense of urgency in your life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/h-jackson-brown-jr/develop-a-sense-of-urgency-in-your-life/)

[H. Jackson Brown, Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/h-jackson-brown-jr/)

> [Give children toys that are powered by their imagination, not by batteries.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/h-jackson-brown-jr/give-children-toys-that-are-powered-by-their-imagination-not-by/)

[H. Jackson Brown, Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/h-jackson-brown-jr/)

> [Dont say you dont have enough time. You have exactly the same number of hours per day that were given to Helen Keller, Pasteur,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/h-jackson-brown-jr/dont-say-you-dont-have-enough-time-you-have-exactly-the-same-number/)

[H. Jackson Brown, Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/h-jackson-brown-jr/)

> [Put a love note in his shaving kit before he leaves on a business trip.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/h-jackson-brown-jr/put-a-love-note-in-his-shaving-kit-before-he-leaves-on-a-business-trip/)

[H. Jackson Brown, Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/h-jackson-brown-jr/)

> [Always have something beautiful in sight, even if it's just a daisy in a jelly glass](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/h-jackson-brown-jr/always-have-something-beautiful-in-sight-even-if-it-s-just-a-daisy-in/)

[H. Jackson Brown, Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/h-jackson-brown-jr/)

> [You can get by on charm for about 15 minutes. After that, you better know something.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/h-jackson-brown-jr/you-can-get-by-on-charm-for-about-15-minutes-after-that-you-better/)

[H. Jackson Brown, Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/h-jackson-brown-jr/)

> [Spend your time and energy creating, not criticizing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/h-jackson-brown-jr/spend-your-time-and-energy-creating-not-criticizing/)

[H. Jackson Brown, Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/h-jackson-brown-jr/)

> [Oh, the difference between nearly right and exactly right.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/h-jackson-brown-jr/oh-the-difference-between-nearly-right-and-exactly-right/)

[H. Jackson Brown, Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/h-jackson-brown-jr/)

> [Become the world's most thoughtful friend.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/h-jackson-brown-jr/become-the-world-s-most-thoughtful-friend/)

[H. Jackson Brown, Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/h-jackson-brown-jr/)

> [Remember that almost everything looks better after a good night's sleep.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/h-jackson-brown-jr/remember-that-almost-everything-looks-better-after-a-good-night-s/)

[H. Jackson Brown, Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/h-jackson-brown-jr/)

> [Mature love is composed and sustaining; a celebration of commitment, companionship, and trust.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/h-jackson-brown-jr/mature-love-is-composed-and-sustaining-a-celebration-of-commitment/)

[H. Jackson Brown, Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/h-jackson-brown-jr/)

> [Remember that creating a successful marriage is like farming: you have to start over again every morning.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/h-jackson-brown-jr/remember-that-creating-a-successful-marriage-is-like-farming-you-have/)

[H. Jackson Brown, Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/h-jackson-brown-jr/)

> [Be modest. A lot was accomplished before you were born.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/h-jackson-brown-jr/be-modest-a-lot-was-accomplished-before-you-were-born/)

[H. Jackson Brown, Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/h-jackson-brown-jr/)

[Explore all 239 H. Jackson Brown, Jr quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/h-jackson-brown-jr/)

## More Chairs quotes

> [“Yes, when I get big and have my own home, no plush chairs and lace curtains for me. And no rubber plants. I'll have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/betty-smith/yes-when-i-get-big-and-have-my-own-home-no-plush-chairs-and-lace/)

[Betty Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/betty-smith/)

> [I've always thought that the most extraordinary special effect you could do is to buy a child at the moment of its birth, sit…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/clive-barker/i-ve-always-thought-that-the-most-extraordinary-special-effect-you/)

[Clive Barker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/clive-barker/)

> [I had three chairs in my house; one for solitude, two for friendship, three for society.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-david-thoreau/i-had-three-chairs-in-my-house-one-for-solitude-two-for-friendship/)

[Henry David Thoreau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-david-thoreau/)

> [He sank into the rocking chair, the same one in which Rebecca had sat during the early days of the house to give embroidery…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gabriel-garc-a-m-rquez/he-sank-into-the-rocking-chair-the-same-one-in-which-rebecca-had-sat/)

[Gabriel Garcia Marquez](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gabriel-garc-a-m-rquez/)

> [Forget the noose. Forget the Iron Maiden. Forget the electric chair or the guillotine. The mind was mankind's most painful torture chamber, the blessed…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tiffanie-debartolo/forget-the-noose-forget-the-iron-maiden-forget-the-electric-chair-or/)

[Tiffanie DeBartolo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tiffanie-debartolo/)

> [I thought being in the wheelchair might be kind of limiting for me as an actor. It turned out cool in a lot of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-beaver/i-thought-being-in-the-wheelchair-might-be-kind-of-limiting-for-me-as/)

[Jim Beaver](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-beaver/)

> [Now know I well what people sought formerly above all else when they sought Teachers of virtue. Good sleep they sought for themselves, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/friedrich-nietzsche/now-know-i-well-what-people-sought-formerly-above-all-else-when-they/)

[Friedrich Nietzsche](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/friedrich-nietzsche/)

> [Keelhaul the poets in the vestry chairs.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karl-shapiro/keelhaul-the-poets-in-the-vestry-chairs/)

[Karl Shapiro](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karl-shapiro/)

> [He's earned all his money himself, with his fists. He didn't steal it like the rest of our politicians. And he'll be less tempted…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vitali-klitschko/he-s-earned-all-his-money-himself-with-his-fists-he-didn-t-steal-it/)

[Vitali Klitschko](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vitali-klitschko/)

> [Dentists tell you not to pick your teeth with any sharp metal object. Then you sit in their chair and the first thing they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-cosby/dentists-tell-you-not-to-pick-your-teeth-with-any-sharp-metal-object/)

[Bill Cosby](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-cosby/)

> [Once I was in a restaurant and I dropped my fork on the floor, and they gave me a new fork. So I pushed…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emo-philips/once-i-was-in-a-restaurant-and-i-dropped-my-fork-on-the-floor-and/)

[Emo Philips](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emo-philips/)

> [I'm not a big hijinker. I'm a big sit-in-my-chair-and-read-a-book-er.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amber-benson/i-m-not-a-big-hijinker-i-m-a-big-sit-in-my-chair-and-read-a-book-er/)

[Amber Benson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amber-benson/)

> [Show some mercy to this chair which has stretched out its arms to you for so long; please satisfy its desire to embrace you!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/moliere/show-some-mercy-to-this-chair-which-has-stretched-out-its-arms-to-you/)

[Moliere](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/moliere/)

> [I'm agnostic because I went through the usual process of parents insisting you go to church, and yet they didn't. So there's me, sitting…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ridley-scott/i-m-agnostic-because-i-went-through-the-usual-process-of-parents/)

[Ridley Scott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ridley-scott/)

> [Of course, when we got home, we found that Dagda had peed on my down comforter. He had also eaten part of Mom's maidenhair…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cate-tiernan/of-course-when-we-got-home-we-found-that-dagda-had-peed-on-my-down/)

[Cate Tiernan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cate-tiernan/)

Browse all 1,120 Chairs quotes

```json
{
    "@context": "https://schema.org",
    "@graph": [
        {
            "@type": "Quotation",
            "text": "Use your past successes as a trampoline, not an easy chair.",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "H. Jackson Brown, Jr"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/h-jackson-brown-jr/use-your-past-successes-as-a-trampoline-not-an-easy-chair/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "Chairs"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/h-jackson-brown-jr/use-your-past-successes-as-a-trampoline-not-an-easy-chair/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ba9/h-jackson-brown-jr-1456_chairs_use-your-past-successes-as-a-trampoline_2038987.png",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ba9/h-jackson-brown-jr-1456_chairs_use-your-past-successes-as-a-trampoline_2038987.png",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ba9/h-jackson-brown-jr-1456_chairs_use-your-past-successes-as-a-trampoline_2038987.png",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“Use your past successes as a trampoline, not an easy chair.” — H. Jackson Brown, Jr",
                "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": "H. Jackson Brown, Jr",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/h-jackson-brown-jr/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 4,
                    "name": "Use your past successes as a...",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/h-jackson-brown-jr/use-your-past-successes-as-a-trampoline-not-an-easy-chair/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/h-jackson-brown-jr/use-your-past-successes-as-a-trampoline-not-an-easy-chair/#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
            }
        }
    ]
}
```
