--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: If I want to be the best, I have to take…" description: "\"“If I want to be the best, I have to take risks others would avoid, always optimizing the learning potential of the moment and turning adversity to my ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b4a/josh-waitzkin-24153_learning-process_if-i-want-to-be-the-best-i-have-to-take_465034.jpg" --- # If I want to be the best, I have to take risks others… ![“If I want to be the best, I have to take risks others would avoid, always optimizing the learning potential of the moment and turning adversity to my advantage. That said, there are times when the body needs to heal, but those are ripe opportunities to deepen the mental, technical, internal side…” quote by Josh Waitzkin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b4a/josh-waitzkin-24153_learning-process_if-i-want-to-be-the-best-i-have-to-take_465034.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b4a/josh-waitzkin-24153_learning-process_if-i-want-to-be-the-best-i-have-to-take_465034.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b4a/josh-waitzkin-24153_learning-process_if-i-want-to-be-the-best-i-have-to-take_465034.jpg) > ““If I want to be the best, I have to take risks others would avoid, always optimizing the learning potential of the moment and turning adversity to my advantage. That said, there are times when the body needs to heal, but those are ripe opportunities to deepen the mental, technical, internal side of my game. When aiming for the top, your path requires an engaged, searching mind. You have to make obstacles spur you to creative new angles in the learning process. Let setbacks deepen your resolve. You should always come off an injury or a loss better than when you went down.”” [Josh Waitzkin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/josh-waitzkin/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Achieving excellence demands embracing risk, learning from adversity, and using setbacks as catalysts for deeper mental and technical growth. **In simple terms:** Take risks, learn from setbacks, and turn adversity into advantage. Key Takeaway Turn obstacles into growth opportunities. Themes risk growth resilience mastery learning Mood determined reflective Type motivational philosophical When to use this quote - sports competition - business challenges - personal injury recovery - skill acquisition Key Concepts deliberate practice mental models adaptability Questions to Reflect On - How can you balance risk‑taking with sustainable health? - What mental habits help you transform setbacks into learning? A Different Perspective Overemphasis on risk can lead to burnout if not balanced with recovery. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Learning process](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/learning-process/) [Setbacks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/setbacks/) [Time](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/time/) ## Related quotes > [One of the major keys to success is to keep moving forward on the journey, making the best of the detours and interruptions, turning…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-c-maxwell/one-of-the-major-keys-to-success-is-to-keep-moving-forward-on-the/) [John C. Maxwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-c-maxwell/) > [“There’s no way you’re going to make it out of this world without spending some time down in the valley or in a dark…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-harvey/there-s-no-way-you-re-going-to-make-it-out-of-this-world-without/) [Steve Harvey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-harvey/) > [“Yes, You Can! You Can Turn Your... ...Adversity into Your Advantage ...Mess into Your Message ...Test into Your Testimony ...Pain into Your Possibilities ...Setback…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/farshad-asl/yes-you-can-you-can-turn-your-adversity-into-your-advantage-mess-into/) [Farshad Asl](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/farshad-asl/) > [The beautiful thing about setbacks is they introduce us to our strengths.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robin-sharma/the-beautiful-thing-about-setbacks-is-they-introduce-us-to-our/) [Robin Sharma](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robin-sharma/) > [Do not allow setbacks to set you back.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stacey-abrams/do-not-allow-setbacks-to-set-you-back/) [Stacey Abrams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stacey-abrams/) > [I was uploading on YouTube and stuff, and they were liking it or whatever. I just kept elevating and elevating. I had little setbacks,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kodak-black/i-was-uploading-on-youtube-and-stuff-and-they-were-liking-it-or/) [Kodak Black](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kodak-black/) > [“We are defined by how we react to setbacks.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nancy-holder/we-are-defined-by-how-we-react-to-setbacks/) [Nancy Holder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nancy-holder/) > [Enduring setbacks while maintaining the ability to show others the way to go forward is a true test of leadership.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nitin-nohria/enduring-setbacks-while-maintaining-the-ability-to-show-others-the/) Nitin Nohria > [Temporary setbacks are overshadowed by persistence.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/quentin-l-cook/temporary-setbacks-are-overshadowed-by-persistence/) [Quentin L. Cook](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/quentin-l-cook/) > [If I don't ask "Why me?" after my victories, I cannot ask "Why me?" after my setbacks and disasters.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arthur-ashe/if-i-don-t-ask-why-me-after-my-victories-i-cannot-ask-why-me-after-my/) [Arthur Ashe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arthur-ashe/) > [“When setbacks arise - and they will from time to time - regroup, recharge, refocus and refine.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rasheed-ogunlaru/when-setbacks-arise-and-they-will-from-time-to-time-regroup-recharge/) [Rasheed Ogunlaru](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rasheed-ogunlaru/) > [You can tell a lot about a person not just by their successes, but by how they deal with their setbacks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-mlynowski/you-can-tell-a-lot-about-a-person-not-just-by-their-successes-but-by/) [Sarah Mlynowski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-mlynowski/) > [Yeah, I think in tennis you have plenty of setbacks, plenty of times where you're not the one winning or doing well. And that's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-shelton/yeah-i-think-in-tennis-you-have-plenty-of-setbacks-plenty-of-times/) [Ben Shelton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ben-shelton/) > [New things have to experience difficulties and setbacks as they grow.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mao-zedong/new-things-have-to-experience-difficulties-and-setbacks-as-they-grow/) [Mao Zedong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mao-zedong/) > [You will find that every successful entrepreneur has suffered many setbacks. These entrepreneurs just forget to mention these when they are doing interviews with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vivek-wadhwa/you-will-find-that-every-successful-entrepreneur-has-suffered-many/) [Vivek Wadhwa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vivek-wadhwa/) ## More by Josh Waitzkin > [“The secret is that everything is always on the line. 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And…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-tomlin/i-know-at-least-for-me-man-i-wanted-to-be-the-best-dad-i-could-be-i/) [Mike Tomlin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-tomlin/) > [“I don't categorize things merely to simplify my understanding. I'd rather delve into the process of unlearning.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nikhil-sharda/i-don-t-categorize-things-merely-to-simplify-my-understanding-i-d/) [Nikhil Sharda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nikhil-sharda/) > [“My priority is not about grades. I seek yearn for knowledge, skills and wisdom.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lailah-gifty-akita/my-priority-is-not-about-grades-i-seek-yearn-for-knowledge-skills-and/) [Lailah Gifty Akita](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lailah-gifty-akita/) > [It's hard to get at first. I think the first time you listen to 'Chaos A.D.,' you're not sure exactly what you just heard.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/max-cavalera/it-s-hard-to-get-at-first-i-think-the-first-time-you-listen-to-chaos/) [Max Cavalera](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/max-cavalera/) > [“Life lessons are well-learned through trails.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lailah-gifty-akita/life-lessons-are-well-learned-through-trails/) [Lailah Gifty Akita](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lailah-gifty-akita/) > [“How could we have achieved the set-goal, without endurance to the end?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lailah-gifty-akita/how-could-we-have-achieved-the-set-goal-without-endurance-to-the-end/) [Lailah Gifty Akita](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lailah-gifty-akita/) > [“I believe the higher power in the universe is compassionate, understanding, and all-knowing, and that there is nothing you can do that will change…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kimberly-giles/i-believe-the-higher-power-in-the-universe-is-compassionate/) [Kimberly Giles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kimberly-giles/) > [“We attract what we're meant to because we're aware & self-empowered enough to choose most of the time. 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