--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: If I could have picked two guys on the…" description: "\"If I could have picked two guys on the planet, to have some exposure to at that age, those were the two right guys [Phil Woods and Charles McPherson].\"..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9f5/jon-gordon-1655_age_if-i-could-have-picked-two-guys-on-the-p_1966703.png" --- # If I could have picked two guys on the planet, to have… ![“If I could have picked two guys on the planet, to have some exposure to at that age, those were the two right guys [Phil Woods and Charles McPherson].” quote by Jon Gordon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9f5/jon-gordon-1655_age_if-i-could-have-picked-two-guys-on-the-p_1966703.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9f5/jon-gordon-1655_age_if-i-could-have-picked-two-guys-on-the-p_1966703.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9f5/jon-gordon-1655_age_if-i-could-have-picked-two-guys-on-the-p_1966703.png) > “If I could have picked two guys on the planet, to have some exposure to at that age, those were the two right guys \[Phil Woods and Charles McPherson\].” [Jon Gordon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jon-gordon/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Two influential musicians, Phil Woods and Charles McPherson, exemplify the ideal mentors for young artists, offering exposure and inspiration. **In simple terms:** Great mentors shape young talent. Key Takeaway Seek inspiring mentors. Themes mentorship music growth inspiration Mood encouraging optimistic Type motivational inspirational When to use this quote - music education - career guidance - studio sessions - networking events Key Concepts role models artistic development Questions to Reflect On - Who are your personal role models? - How can you become a mentor yourself? A Different Perspective Mentors are not the only path to success. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Age](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/age/) [Charles Mcpherson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/charles-mcpherson-3277363/) [Exposure](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/exposure/) [Guy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/guy/) [Guys Phil](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/guys-phil-3277362/) [If i could](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/if-i-could/) [Ifs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ifs/) [Phil Woods](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/phil-woods-3277361/) [Picked Guys](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/picked-guys-3075185/) [Planets](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/planets/) [Right guy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/right-guy/) [Two](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/two/) [Two guys](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/two-guys/) [Woods](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/woods/) [Woods Charles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/woods-charles-3277364/) ## Related quotes > [I also met Charles McPherson around that time, end of high school. I was 17 and I had followed Phil around for a year…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jon-gordon/i-also-met-charles-mcpherson-around-that-time-end-of-high-school-i/) [Jon Gordon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jon-gordon/) > [ \[Charles McPherson\] was kind enough to go to a record gig of mine where we recorded a song of his. ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jon-gordon/charles-mcpherson-was-kind-enough-to-go-to-a-record-gig-of-mine-where/) [Jon Gordon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jon-gordon/) > [Even when I went to the playground, I never picked the best players. I picked guys with less talent, but who were willing to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/magic-johnson/even-when-i-went-to-the-playground-i-never-picked-the-best-players-i/) [Magic Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/magic-johnson/) > [If anyone knew where they were, I'd send the ISDBB (Incredibly Stupid and Dumb Beyond Belief) award to the two guys who tried to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erma-bombeck/if-anyone-knew-where-they-were-i-d-send-the-isdbb-incredibly-stupid/) [Erma Bombeck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erma-bombeck/) > [If I hadn't met those two guys (Billy Martin and Whitey Ford) at the start of my career, I would have lasted another five…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mickey-mantle/if-i-hadn-t-met-those-two-guys-billy-martin-and-whitey-ford-at-the/) [Mickey Mantle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mickey-mantle/) > [I know a little about Hack (Wilson) because his picture is next to my locker. I am lucky to be there at the right…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sammy-sosa/i-know-a-little-about-hack-wilson-because-his-picture-is-next-to-my/) [Sammy Sosa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sammy-sosa/) > [However, the positive, and I mean this, Jay Lethal and Kyle O'Reilly are two of my favorite opponents. I couldn't ask for two guys…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adam-cole/however-the-positive-and-i-mean-this-jay-lethal-and-kyle-o-reilly-are/) [Adam Cole](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adam-cole/) > [If you had to call it "unison", it ain't unison. It ain't the same as somebody else. If you can hear that it's unison,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/miles-davis/if-you-had-to-call-it-unison-it-ain-t-unison-it-ain-t-the-same-as/) [Miles Davis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/miles-davis/) > [I was born in 1929, that was the depression, so the golf course was manned by my father and two guys, they worked for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arnold-palmer/i-was-born-in-1929-that-was-the-depression-so-the-golf-course-was/) [Arnold Palmer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arnold-palmer/) > [I only know two cats in this business that really had it all; Elvis was one of those guys, the other was Ricky Nelson.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carl-perkins/i-only-know-two-cats-in-this-business-that-really-had-it-all-elvis/) [Carl Perkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carl-perkins/) > [A bank in Washington was robbed by two men in George W. Bush masks. Luckily, right afterwards two guys in President Obama masks came…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/conan-o-brien/a-bank-in-washington-was-robbed-by-two-men-in-george-w-bush-masks/) [Conan O'Brien](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/conan-o-brien/) > [I'd like to be remembered. I'd like to think that someday two guys will be talking in a bar and one of them will…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cal-ripken-jr/i-d-like-to-be-remembered-i-d-like-to-think-that-someday-two-guys/) [Cal Ripken, Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cal-ripken-jr/) > [Most fans probably wouldn't understand that because they're not in bands, but when there's too many cooks in the kitchen it can really ruin…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dino-cazares/most-fans-probably-wouldn-t-understand-that-because-they-re-not-in/) [Dino Cazares](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dino-cazares/) > [They have to convert our agenda into something aggressive. Two guys wanting to be happy together are invading their marriages. Helping a kid who's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barney-frank/they-have-to-convert-our-agenda-into-something-aggressive-two-guys/) [Barney Frank](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barney-frank/) > [My best advice for mental training is simply to create good habits, in order to build a sense of security and calm around you.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-gustafsson/my-best-advice-for-mental-training-is-simply-to-create-good-habits-in/) [Alexander Gustafsson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexander-gustafsson/) ## More by Jon Gordon > [Joe Henderson, who I maybe, to me, if I had to pick one improviser in my life that I saw live that blew my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jon-gordon/joe-henderson-who-i-maybe-to-me-if-i-had-to-pick-one-improviser-in-my/) [Jon Gordon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jon-gordon/) > [Benny Carter came up to me and said to me, "You know, in the whole history of the alto, I think Phil is the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jon-gordon/benny-carter-came-up-to-me-and-said-to-me-you-know-in-the-whole/) [Jon Gordon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jon-gordon/) > [“know that I’m not a human being having a spiritual experience. I’m a spiritual being having a human experience.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jon-gordon/know-that-i-m-not-a-human-being-having-a-spiritual-experience-i-m-a/) [Jon Gordon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jon-gordon/) > [It's very unlikely you're a genius, but, if you're ready to work at it hard and you want to listen to music all the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jon-gordon/it-s-very-unlikely-you-re-a-genius-but-if-you-re-ready-to-work-at-it/) [Jon Gordon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jon-gordon/) > [The first jazz cruise that I was on was '91. I played with Maria Schneider and John Fedchock's band. Got to meet some amazing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jon-gordon/the-first-jazz-cruise-that-i-was-on-was-91-i-played-with-maria/) [Jon Gordon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jon-gordon/) > [I just lucked into a lot of good people man. In my life and through friends, and in the music, that really embraced me…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jon-gordon/i-just-lucked-into-a-lot-of-good-people-man-in-my-life-and-through/) [Jon Gordon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jon-gordon/) > [Every morning you have a choice. Are you going to be a positive thinker or a negative thinker? Positive thinking will energize you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jon-gordon/every-morning-you-have-a-choice-are-you-going-to-be-a-positive/) [Jon Gordon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jon-gordon/) > [I was occasionally getting calls for some things. But I would say, 22 to 29 was a lot of scuffling. Hoping to get called…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jon-gordon/i-was-occasionally-getting-calls-for-some-things-but-i-would-say-22/) [Jon Gordon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jon-gordon/) > [Dust on gold doesn't change the nature of gold.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jon-gordon/dust-on-gold-doesn-t-change-the-nature-of-gold/) [Jon Gordon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jon-gordon/) > [There are a lot of people that impacted me. I remember hearing Oscar Peterson live at the Blue Note, which was very expensive, but...…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jon-gordon/there-are-a-lot-of-people-that-impacted-me-i-remember-hearing-oscar/) [Jon Gordon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jon-gordon/) > [There's a lot of good people out here that want to help you grow and to help the music to continue to grow and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jon-gordon/there-s-a-lot-of-good-people-out-here-that-want-to-help-you-grow-and/) [Jon Gordon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jon-gordon/) > [ Ernie Hayes, Jimmy Lewis, and either Belton Evans or Khalil Mahdi on drums \[were in Sweet Basil\]. All those guys really took care of… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jon-gordon/ernie-hayes-jimmy-lewis-and-either-belton-evans-or-khalil-mahdi-on/) [Jon Gordon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jon-gordon/) > [A true leader doesn't lead to gain power. They lead to empower and give power away.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jon-gordon/a-true-leader-doesn-t-lead-to-gain-power-they-lead-to-empower-and/) [Jon Gordon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jon-gordon/) > [ We had Bob's \[Gordon\] records, and he's on Clifford Brown's first record as a leader. I believe it was Clifford Brown's first record as… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jon-gordon/we-had-bob-s-gordon-records-and-he-s-on-clifford-brown-s-first-record/) [Jon Gordon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jon-gordon/) > [Another classical music teacher from Performing Arts that I've stayed in contact with is Jonathan Strasser.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jon-gordon/another-classical-music-teacher-from-performing-arts-that-i-ve-stayed/) [Jon Gordon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jon-gordon/) [Explore all 219 Jon Gordon quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jon-gordon/) ## More Age quotes > [I need a bath." He chuckled. "You smell of smoke, as do I." The duke turned, leaning heavily on his cane. "Jameson, open the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karen-hawkins/i-need-a-bath-he-chuckled-you-smell-of-smoke-as-do-i-the-duke-turned/) [Karen Hawkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karen-hawkins/) > [While we've youth in our hearts, we can never grow old.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oliver-wendell-holmes-jr/while-we-ve-youth-in-our-hearts-we-can-never-grow-old/) [Oliver Wendell Holmes, Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oliver-wendell-holmes-jr/) > [It's easier to change a law than an age-old mentality. Deep down, many prejudices, many hostilities, many fears persist. But if we take a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dacia-maraini/it-s-easier-to-change-a-law-than-an-age-old-mentality-deep-down-many/) [Dacia Maraini](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dacia-maraini/) > [When I first started writing, when I was 15, I would go to work with people and they would tell me my lyrics were…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sabrina-claudio/when-i-first-started-writing-when-i-was-15-i-would-go-to-work-with/) [Sabrina Claudio](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sabrina-claudio/) > [Real people speak in my books about the main events of the age, such as the war, the Chernobyl disaster, and the downfall of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/svetlana-alexievich/real-people-speak-in-my-books-about-the-main-events-of-the-age-such/) [Svetlana Alexievich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/svetlana-alexievich/) > [As a child I was very involved with sports and I knew at age 9 that I wanted to be an Olympic champion.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marion-jones/as-a-child-i-was-very-involved-with-sports-and-i-knew-at-age-9-that-i/) [Marion Jones](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marion-jones/) > [If there is any period one would desire to be born in, is it not the age of Revolution; when the old and the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/if-there-is-any-period-one-would-desire-to-be-born-in-is-it-not-the/) [Ralph Waldo Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-waldo-emerson/) > [By making conscious choices in our behavior and where we focus our attention, we can transform our experience of our body, decrease our biological…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/deepak-chopra/by-making-conscious-choices-in-our-behavior-and-where-we-focus-our/) [Deepak Chopra](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/deepak-chopra/) > [I am just enjoying the dream of being Milan coach at the age of 40.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gennaro-gattuso/i-am-just-enjoying-the-dream-of-being-milan-coach-at-the-age-of-40/) [Gennaro Gattuso](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gennaro-gattuso/) > [Age is an accumulation of life and loss. Adulthood is a series of lines crossed.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ellen-goodman/age-is-an-accumulation-of-life-and-loss-adulthood-is-a-series-of/) [Ellen Goodman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ellen-goodman/) > [I calculated that if I live up to the age of 80, then I end up using 450 toothbrushes in my life. All that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dia-mirza/i-calculated-that-if-i-live-up-to-the-age-of-80-then-i-end-up-using/) [Dia Mirza](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dia-mirza/) > [Why is wisdom so fair? Why is beauty so wise? Because all else is temporary, while beauty and wisdom are the only real and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vera-nazarian/why-is-wisdom-so-fair-why-is-beauty-so-wise-because-all-else-is/) [Vera Nazarian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vera-nazarian/) > [It was only when I went to acting school that I was like, "You are absolutely such a pigheaded freak show that you thought…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/giles-matthey/it-was-only-when-i-went-to-acting-school-that-i-was-like-you-are/) [Giles Matthey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/giles-matthey/) > [That old man dies prematurely whose memory records no benefits conferred. They only have lived long who have lived virtuously.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-brinsley-sheridan/that-old-man-dies-prematurely-whose-memory-records-no-benefits/) [Richard Brinsley Sheridan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-brinsley-sheridan/) > [We have started to make music at age seven. That was a hard work.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-kaulitz/we-have-started-to-make-music-at-age-seven-that-was-a-hard-work/) [Bill Kaulitz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-kaulitz/) [Browse all 18,948 Age quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/age/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "If I could have picked two guys on the planet, to have some exposure to at that age, those were the two right guys [Phil Woods and Charles McPherson].", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Jon Gordon" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jon-gordon/if-i-could-have-picked-two-guys-on-the-planet-to-have-some-exposure/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Age" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jon-gordon/if-i-could-have-picked-two-guys-on-the-planet-to-have-some-exposure/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9f5/jon-gordon-1655_age_if-i-could-have-picked-two-guys-on-the-p_1966703.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9f5/jon-gordon-1655_age_if-i-could-have-picked-two-guys-on-the-p_1966703.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9f5/jon-gordon-1655_age_if-i-could-have-picked-two-guys-on-the-p_1966703.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“If I could have picked two guys on the planet, to have some exposure to at that age, those were the two…” — Jon Gordon", "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": "Jon Gordon", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jon-gordon/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "If I could have picked two...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jon-gordon/if-i-could-have-picked-two-guys-on-the-planet-to-have-some-exposure/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jon-gordon/if-i-could-have-picked-two-guys-on-the-planet-to-have-some-exposure/#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 } } ] } ```