--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I guess you're only as good as the waves." description: "\"I guess you're only as good as the waves.\" — Joel Parkinson" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1f3/joel-parkinson-20866_good_i-guess-you-re-only-as-good-as-the-waves_1150450.png" --- # I guess you're only as good as the waves. ![“I guess you're only as good as the waves.” quote by Joel Parkinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1f3/joel-parkinson-20866_good_i-guess-you-re-only-as-good-as-the-waves_1150450.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1f3/joel-parkinson-20866_good_i-guess-you-re-only-as-good-as-the-waves_1150450.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1f3/joel-parkinson-20866_good_i-guess-you-re-only-as-good-as-the-waves_1150450.png) > “I guess you're only as good as the waves.” [Joel Parkinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joel-parkinson/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Your skill mirrors the ever‑changing waves; adaptability determines performance **In simple terms:** Your ability depends on how you ride the waves Key Takeaway Adapt to changing conditions for better outcomes Themes adaptability nature performance Mood motivational reflective Type advice inspirational When to use this quote - coaching - personal development - mindfulness Key Concepts sports psychology environmental metaphor Questions to Reflect On - How do you stay flexible when conditions shift unexpectedly? - What strategies help you align with natural rhythms? A Different Perspective Adaptation may be limited by external constraints ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Good](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/good/) [Good Waves](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/good-waves-2988881/) [Guess](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/guess/) [Guess Good](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/guess-good-1902808/) [Only](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/only/) [Wave](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wave/) [Waves](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/waves/) [You](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/you/) ## Related quotes > [There are good waves not that far from Manhattan - on Long Island, in north Jersey. It's true that the best surf around here…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-finnegan/there-are-good-waves-not-that-far-from-manhattan-on-long-island-in/) [William Finnegan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-finnegan/) > [A guess is only good if it's right](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jacob-towery/a-guess-is-only-good-if-it-s-right/) [Jacob Towery](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jacob-towery/) > [“It is like a man standing for decades on the seashore, embracing certain ‘good’ waves and trying to prevent them from disintegrating, while simultaneously…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/yuval-noah-harari/it-is-like-a-man-standing-for-decades-on-the-seashore-embracing/) [Yuval Noah Harari](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/yuval-noah-harari/) > [All I do is try. Guess that's not good enough. Being nice I guess gets you nowhere…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/all-i-do-is-try-guess-that-s-not-good-enough-being-nice-i-guess-gets/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I guess a good song is a good song is a good song, ya know.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-thorogood/i-guess-a-good-song-is-a-good-song-is-a-good-song-ya-know/) [George Thorogood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-thorogood/) > [Guess I'm not good enough in your eyes, but then again I'm too good for you in everyone else's.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/guess-i-m-not-good-enough-in-your-eyes-but-then-again-i-m-too-good/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I am essentially very shy. Which, I guess, is why I'm very good at not being shy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rhys-ifans/i-am-essentially-very-shy-which-i-guess-is-why-i-m-very-good-at-not/) [Rhys Ifans](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rhys-ifans/) > [I guess I must have a good metabolism.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charlie-murphy/i-guess-i-must-have-a-good-metabolism/) [Charlie Murphy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charlie-murphy/) > [Your guess is as good as mine. Better probably, because you haven't had four beers.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dave-barry/your-guess-is-as-good-as-mine-better-probably-because-you-haven-t-had/) [Dave Barry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dave-barry/) > [I guess good things come to those who wait.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kurt-busch/i-guess-good-things-come-to-those-who-wait/) [Kurt Busch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kurt-busch/) > [“I guess a good man IS hard to find!”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/flannery-o-connor/i-guess-a-good-man-is-hard-to-find/) [Flannery O'Connor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/flannery-o-connor/) > [Your guess is as good as mine.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bonnie-lowenthal/your-guess-is-as-good-as-mine/) [Bonnie Lowenthal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bonnie-lowenthal/) > [I guess it's a good thing to know that I am wanted.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kemba-walker/i-guess-it-s-a-good-thing-to-know-that-i-am-wanted/) [Kemba Walker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kemba-walker/) > [Anything can happen at Pipeline; it's one of those waves where the most amazing wave can come through in one minute, and then nothing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joel-parkinson/anything-can-happen-at-pipeline-it-s-one-of-those-waves-where-the/) [Joel Parkinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joel-parkinson/) > [You only need two waves in a heat, so I try and keep my surfs short and sweet and not too draining. Keep them…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joel-parkinson/you-only-need-two-waves-in-a-heat-so-i-try-and-keep-my-surfs-short/) [Joel Parkinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joel-parkinson/) ## More by Joel Parkinson > [You have to prepare yourself physically as much as possible for a bad wipeout.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joel-parkinson/you-have-to-prepare-yourself-physically-as-much-as-possible-for-a-bad/) [Joel Parkinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joel-parkinson/) > [As soon as I get bored, I start missing the kids, so I dont let myself get bored. I just go surfing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joel-parkinson/as-soon-as-i-get-bored-i-start-missing-the-kids-so-i-dont-let-myself/) [Joel Parkinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joel-parkinson/) > [I stay away from big chunks of carbs and try to keep it lean, even when Im competing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joel-parkinson/i-stay-away-from-big-chunks-of-carbs-and-try-to-keep-it-lean-even/) [Joel Parkinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joel-parkinson/) > [I stay away from big chunks of carbs and try to keep it lean, even when I'm competing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joel-parkinson/i-stay-away-from-big-chunks-of-carbs-and-try-to-keep-it-lean-even-2/) [Joel Parkinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joel-parkinson/) > [I think we want to make the sport bigger and better and leave a good legacy for the next generation that comes through.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joel-parkinson/i-think-we-want-to-make-the-sport-bigger-and-better-and-leave-a-good/) [Joel Parkinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joel-parkinson/) > [As soon as I get bored, I start missing the kids, so I don't let myself get bored. I just go surfing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joel-parkinson/as-soon-as-i-get-bored-i-start-missing-the-kids-so-i-don-t-let-myself/) [Joel Parkinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joel-parkinson/) > [It definitely takes a fair bit of experience to know what's the right kind of wave and which is the wrong wave.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joel-parkinson/it-definitely-takes-a-fair-bit-of-experience-to-know-what-s-the-right/) [Joel Parkinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joel-parkinson/) > [You only need two waves in a heat, so I try and keep my surfs short and sweet and not too draining. Keep them…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joel-parkinson/you-only-need-two-waves-in-a-heat-so-i-try-and-keep-my-surfs-short/) [Joel Parkinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joel-parkinson/) > [Anything can happen at Pipeline; it's one of those waves where the most amazing wave can come through in one minute, and then nothing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joel-parkinson/anything-can-happen-at-pipeline-it-s-one-of-those-waves-where-the/) [Joel Parkinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joel-parkinson/) > [It's true. Happiness is a big thing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joel-parkinson/it-s-true-happiness-is-a-big-thing/) [Joel Parkinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joel-parkinson/) > [Having so many close calls in my career, it was such an awesome feeling to get that first world title.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joel-parkinson/having-so-many-close-calls-in-my-career-it-was-such-an-awesome/) [Joel Parkinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joel-parkinson/) > [It's the way surfing is - you grow up surfing together, and then you're thrown into a heat at Pipe or a world title…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joel-parkinson/it-s-the-way-surfing-is-you-grow-up-surfing-together-and-then-you-re/) [Joel Parkinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joel-parkinson/) > [I had plenty of invites and chances to party when I just started on tour, but I knew partying would prevent me from achieving…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joel-parkinson/i-had-plenty-of-invites-and-chances-to-party-when-i-just-started-on/) [Joel Parkinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joel-parkinson/) > [I figure there's no point in stressing about what's out of my control, and all I can do is make the best of what…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joel-parkinson/i-figure-there-s-no-point-in-stressing-about-what-s-out-of-my-control/) [Joel Parkinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joel-parkinson/) > [My favorite meal to make is seared ahi, and my wife does the most amazing pear salad.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joel-parkinson/my-favorite-meal-to-make-is-seared-ahi-and-my-wife-does-the-most/) [Joel Parkinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joel-parkinson/) [Explore all 30 Joel Parkinson quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joel-parkinson/) ## More Good quotes > [When I came to Chelsea, it was clear that, like many other players, I would first be loaned out. 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That is up to you, but in my opinion,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peyton-list/if-you-want-to-edit-your-photos-and-make-yourself-look-different-go/) [Peyton List](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peyton-list/) > [I met Rajini sir after 'Jigarthanda,' and he said he liked my film. He told me I could approach him whenever I had a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karthik-subbaraj/i-met-rajini-sir-after-jigarthanda-and-he-said-he-liked-my-film-he/) [Karthik Subbaraj](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karthik-subbaraj/) > [I have really good lateral movement. I've always had quick lateral movement.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/austin-rivers/i-have-really-good-lateral-movement-i-ve-always-had-quick-lateral/) [Austin Rivers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/austin-rivers/) > [Sometimes I'm in a bad mood, sometimes I'm in a good mood. It's like everyone else.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tricky/sometimes-i-m-in-a-bad-mood-sometimes-i-m-in-a-good-mood-it-s-like/) [Tricky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tricky/) > [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/) > [I studied all kinds of dance, all types of music. I got good grades. I started hitting the recording studio around 13.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jason-derulo/i-studied-all-kinds-of-dance-all-types-of-music-i-got-good-grades-i/) [Jason Derulo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jason-derulo/) > [Everybody has their cliques, and I was very shy. I'm still very shy. Music opened up doors. I would get to my choir class,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/luis-fonsi/everybody-has-their-cliques-and-i-was-very-shy-i-m-still-very-shy/) [Luis Fonsi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/luis-fonsi/) > [My only close-to-game-plan is to follow good writing. If the writing is in TV or if it's in theater or in film, that's it.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adam-driver/my-only-close-to-game-plan-is-to-follow-good-writing-if-the-writing/) [Adam Driver](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adam-driver/) > [The Derby experience had not been good for me and the way it finished left a very bad taste in my mouth so I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nigel-pearson/the-derby-experience-had-not-been-good-for-me-and-the-way-it-finished/) [Nigel Pearson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nigel-pearson/) > [I think I am against stereotype. Generally, Asian guys are more quiet - they study and have a good work ethic. 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