--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I think the biggest thing was that when I…" description: "\"I think the biggest thing was that when I was in college, I really concentrated on personnel. That was my strength, and I was, in essence, my own recru..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e7d/jimmy-johnson-14982_college_i-think-the-biggest-thing-was-that-when_242727.png" --- # I think the biggest thing was that when I was in college… ![“I think the biggest thing was that when I was in college, I really concentrated on personnel. That was my strength, and I was, in essence, my own recruiting coordinator. And when I went to the pros, I did the same thing.” quote by Jimmy Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e7d/jimmy-johnson-14982_college_i-think-the-biggest-thing-was-that-when_242727.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e7d/jimmy-johnson-14982_college_i-think-the-biggest-thing-was-that-when_242727.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e7d/jimmy-johnson-14982_college_i-think-the-biggest-thing-was-that-when_242727.png) > “I think the biggest thing was that when I was in college, I really concentrated on personnel. That was my strength, and I was, in essence, my own recruiting coordinator. And when I went to the pros, I did the same thing.” [Jimmy Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jimmy-johnson/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Self‑management and personal recruiting were key to his success in college and professional football. **In simple terms:** He handled his own recruitment. Key Takeaway Take charge of your career path. Themes self‑reliance leadership career development sports strategy Mood motivational practical Type career sports When to use this quote - job hunting - team building - career transitions Key Concepts personal branding networking talent scouting Questions to Reflect On - How do you balance self‑initiative with mentorship? - When should you seek external help? A Different Perspective Relying solely on self may limit external opportunities. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [College](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/college/) [Strength](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/strength/) ## Related quotes > [I'm very detail oriented. Everything that takes a lot of dedication and creativity I do in the morning when there is light and I'm…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christian-louboutin/i-m-very-detail-oriented-everything-that-takes-a-lot-of-dedication/) [Christian Louboutin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christian-louboutin/) > [Current condition of the BYU football program? I think it's in good shape. We've got some good young players. We've had two or three…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lavell-edwards/current-condition-of-the-byu-football-program-i-think-it-s-in-good/) [LaVell Edwards](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lavell-edwards/) > [I heavily overinvest in recruiting. I have an understanding with certain search firms that if you find someone great, don't wait until there's a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kevin-p-ryan/i-heavily-overinvest-in-recruiting-i-have-an-understanding-with/) Kevin P. Ryan > [I think proximity in recruiting matters the most.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bob-stoops/i-think-proximity-in-recruiting-matters-the-most/) [Bob Stoops](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bob-stoops/) > [I don't think any decent human being enjoys recruiting.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/al-mcguire/i-don-t-think-any-decent-human-being-enjoys-recruiting/) [Al McGuire](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/al-mcguire/) > [If I didn't have a recruiting engagement, I was going to be here. I did everything possible to change the recruiting thing. I'm a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rick-pitino/if-i-didn-t-have-a-recruiting-engagement-i-was-going-to-be-here-i-did/) [Rick Pitino](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rick-pitino/) > [I don't care about recruiting rankings or any of that stuff.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/o-g-anunoby/i-don-t-care-about-recruiting-rankings-or-any-of-that-stuff/) [O. G. Anunoby](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/o-g-anunoby/) > [Within the last year or two, there have been some quality big men. There's been a little more emphasis placed on that center position,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-green/within-the-last-year-or-two-there-have-been-some-quality-big-men/) [Tom Green](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-green/) > [The hard part that I didn't like about recruiting in college was, there was so many regulations. So many rules. It was so many…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-fizdale/the-hard-part-that-i-didn-t-like-about-recruiting-in-college-was/) [David Fizdale](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-fizdale/) > [If you want something that's going to provide you with a lot of challenges and a variety of different things to do, then you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-p-anderson/if-you-want-something-that-s-going-to-provide-you-with-a-lot-of/) [Michael P. Anderson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-p-anderson/) > [If we have somebody who may be ranked a little higher than another person, if one of them wants to be a Buckeye, wants…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ryan-day/if-we-have-somebody-who-may-be-ranked-a-little-higher-than-another/) [Ryan Day](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ryan-day/) > [In recruiting, you talk about anything and everything a recruit wants to talk about that seems relevant.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dabo-swinney/in-recruiting-you-talk-about-anything-and-everything-a-recruit-wants/) [Dabo Swinney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dabo-swinney/) > [“by blitzing students with information and making the application process as simple as dropping a résumé into a box, by following up relentlessly and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kevin-roose/by-blitzing-students-with-information-and-making-the-application/) [Kevin Roose](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kevin-roose/) > [I love going into a home and talking to a family that knows nothing about recruiting - about the whole process. I love selling…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mack-brown/i-love-going-into-a-home-and-talking-to-a-family-that-knows-nothing/) [Mack Brown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mack-brown/) > [Aside from their talent, a prerequisite of us actually recruiting a young lady is their relationship with their parents because if they respect their…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dawn-staley/aside-from-their-talent-a-prerequisite-of-us-actually-recruiting-a/) [Dawn Staley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dawn-staley/) ## More by Jimmy Johnson > [I'm not really good with predicting.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jimmy-johnson/i-m-not-really-good-with-predicting/) [Jimmy Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jimmy-johnson/) > [Anybody who has ever been around me knows I'll give you my opinion.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jimmy-johnson/anybody-who-has-ever-been-around-me-knows-i-ll-give-you-my-opinion/) [Jimmy Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jimmy-johnson/) > [The difference between ordinary and extraordinary is that little extra.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jimmy-johnson/the-difference-between-ordinary-and-extraordinary-is-that-little-extra/) [Jimmy Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jimmy-johnson/) > [There is a way to practice hard and be physical without pads. You can still be a physical football team and be efficient in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jimmy-johnson/there-is-a-way-to-practice-hard-and-be-physical-without-pads-you-can/) [Jimmy Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jimmy-johnson/) > [You can't really compare teams just because of two or three players.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jimmy-johnson/you-can-t-really-compare-teams-just-because-of-two-or-three-players/) [Jimmy Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jimmy-johnson/) > [I want to do what I want to do, when I want to do it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jimmy-johnson/i-want-to-do-what-i-want-to-do-when-i-want-to-do-it/) [Jimmy Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jimmy-johnson/) > [In fact, one of the conversations I had with Jason Garrett, you know, sometimes X's and O's get so complicated, and a coach gets…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jimmy-johnson/in-fact-one-of-the-conversations-i-had-with-jason-garrett-you-know/) [Jimmy Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jimmy-johnson/) > [In some ways 'Survivor' might have saved my life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jimmy-johnson/in-some-ways-survivor-might-have-saved-my-life/) [Jimmy Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jimmy-johnson/) > [Football rewards the guys that are in great condition.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jimmy-johnson/football-rewards-the-guys-that-are-in-great-condition/) [Jimmy Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jimmy-johnson/) > [I could start a fire from scratch.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jimmy-johnson/i-could-start-a-fire-from-scratch/) [Jimmy Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jimmy-johnson/) > [But I was always a bit of a gypsy, anyway. I spent five years at Oklahoma State, five years at Miami and moved on…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jimmy-johnson/but-i-was-always-a-bit-of-a-gypsy-anyway-i-spent-five-years-at/) [Jimmy Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jimmy-johnson/) > [A lot of coaches could ration out their time. They could delegate. They would make time for their family. 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To be a good leader, you have to have something in your character to cause people to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jimmy-johnson/military-leaders-aren-t-made-they-are-born-to-be-a-good-leader-you/) [Jimmy Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jimmy-johnson/) [Explore all 44 Jimmy Johnson quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jimmy-johnson/) ## More College quotes > [I made, like, five movies while I was in college. I think they just weren't memorable movies. I've taken breaks as the years have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jodie-foster/i-made-like-five-movies-while-i-was-in-college-i-think-they-just/) [Jodie Foster](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jodie-foster/) > [My first ever job after college was as a flight attendant. 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I just took the time when other people might be partying and just made…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/k-flay/i-was-totally-sober-in-college-and-really-really-focused-i-just-took/) [K. Flay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/k-flay/) > [In college we didn't pass block the way they do in the pros - they played the I-formation at Wisconsin.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-webster/in-college-we-didn-t-pass-block-the-way-they-do-in-the-pros-they/) [Mike Webster](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-webster/) > [Plant flowers in others' gardens and your life becomes a bouquet! Submitted by Lisa Letto, Coordinator, Nutrition Resource and Volunteer Centre, College of Pharmacy…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rabindranath-tagore/plant-flowers-in-others-gardens-and-your-life-becomes-a-bouquet/) [Rabindranath Tagore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rabindranath-tagore/) > [The number of poor, and poorly prepared, students who succeed in college and beyond undercuts the simplistic notion that economic or educational disadvantage is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roland-merullo/the-number-of-poor-and-poorly-prepared-students-who-succeed-in/) [Roland Merullo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roland-merullo/) > [Doing away with separate black colleges meets resistance from alumni and other blacks.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/constance-baker-motley/doing-away-with-separate-black-colleges-meets-resistance-from-alumni/) [Constance Baker Motley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/constance-baker-motley/) > [My son going to college is a big milestone.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frank-gore/my-son-going-to-college-is-a-big-milestone/) [Frank Gore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frank-gore/) > [The reason I got into acting was not to explore myself. I was a reader, I didn't care about acting. I got into it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/campbell-scott/the-reason-i-got-into-acting-was-not-to-explore-myself-i-was-a-reader/) [Campbell Scott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/campbell-scott/) [Browse all 7,391 College quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/college/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "I think the biggest thing was that when I was in college, I really concentrated on personnel. That was my strength, and I was, in essence, my own recruiting coordinator. 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