--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Are you willing to push the right buttons…" description: "\"Are you willing to push the right buttons even if it means being perceived as the villain? … I'd rather be perceived as a winner than a good teammate. ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9ee/kobe-bryant-1845_blame_are-you-willing-to-push-the-right-button_3228804.jpg" --- # Are you willing to push the right buttons even if it means… ![“Are you willing to push the right buttons even if it means being perceived as the villain? … I'd rather be perceived as a winner than a good teammate. I wish they both went hand in hand all the time but that's just not reality. … I have nothing in common with lazy people who blame others for their…” quote by Kobe Bryant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9ee/kobe-bryant-1845_blame_are-you-willing-to-push-the-right-button_3228804.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9ee/kobe-bryant-1845_blame_are-you-willing-to-push-the-right-button_3228804.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9ee/kobe-bryant-1845_blame_are-you-willing-to-push-the-right-button_3228804.jpg) > “Are you willing to push the right buttons even if it means being perceived as the villain? … I'd rather be perceived as a winner than a good teammate. I wish they both went hand in hand all the time but that's just not reality. … I have nothing in common with lazy people who blame others for their lack of success.” [Kobe Bryant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kobe-bryant/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The quote challenges the reader to consider sacrificing reputation for decisive action, preferring victory over popularity, and rejecting laziness as a cause of failure. **In simple terms:** Choose decisive action over being liked; reject laziness. Key Takeaway Act boldly, accept criticism. Themes leadership ethics success reputation teamwork Mood determined defiant reflective Type motivational philosophical When to use this quote - business decisions - sports competition - project leadership - personal goal setting Key Concepts risk-taking personal responsibility motivation Questions to Reflect On - What are you willing to risk for success? - How do you balance teamwork with personal ambition? A Different Perspective Success may alienate allies and create conflict. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Blame](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/blame/) [Blame Others](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/blame-others/) [Buttons](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/buttons/) [Common](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/common/) [Good team](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/good-team/) [Good Teammate](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/good-teammate-559199/) [Hand in hand](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hand-in-hand/) [Hands](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hands/) [Ifs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ifs/) [Lazy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/lazy/) [Lazy people](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/lazy-people/) [Mean](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mean/) [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) [People Who Blame Others](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people-who-blame-others-227116/) [Perceived Villain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/perceived-villain-5871159/) [Perceived Winner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/perceived-winner-6099427/) [Reality](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/reality/) [Success](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/success/) [Teammate](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/teammate/) [Teammate Wish](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/teammate-wish-6099428/) [Villain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/villain/) [Willing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/willing/) [Winner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/winner/) [Wish](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wish/) ## Related quotes > [I have nothing in common with lazy people who blame others for their lack of success.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kobe-bryant/i-have-nothing-in-common-with-lazy-people-who-blame-others-for-their-2/) [Kobe Bryant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kobe-bryant/) > [I have nothing in common with lazy people who blame others for their lack of success. Great things come from hard work and perseverance.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kobe-bryant/i-have-nothing-in-common-with-lazy-people-who-blame-others-for-their/) [Kobe Bryant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kobe-bryant/) > [Being perceived as a villain gave me energy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/justin-gatlin/being-perceived-as-a-villain-gave-me-energy/) [Justin Gatlin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/justin-gatlin/) > [People who blame others for their failures never overcome them. They simply move from problem to problem. To reach your potential, you must continually…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-c-maxwell/people-who-blame-others-for-their-failures-never-overcome-them-they/) [John C. Maxwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-c-maxwell/) > [I can't relate to lazy people. We don't speak the same language. I don't understand you. I don't want to understand you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kobe-bryant/i-can-t-relate-to-lazy-people-we-don-t-speak-the-same-language-i-don/) [Kobe Bryant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kobe-bryant/) > [My game is evolving, my basketball bag, whatever they say, my repertoire of playing defense, pushing the ball on offense, being a good teammate;…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alex-caruso/my-game-is-evolving-my-basketball-bag-whatever-they-say-my-repertoire/) [Alex Caruso](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alex-caruso/) > [A good teammate is someone willing to get outside of personal thoughts and emotions, a friend who tries to understand, appreciate, and encourage other…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/don-kardong/a-good-teammate-is-someone-willing-to-get-outside-of-personal/) [Don Kardong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/don-kardong/) > [Growth and maturation isn't celebrated or isn't talked about in society now. Is it possible that I was a bad teammate in 2012? Sure.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/trevor-bauer/growth-and-maturation-isn-t-celebrated-or-isn-t-talked-about-in/) [Trevor Bauer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/trevor-bauer/) > [I just think it's part of life: try to be a good teammate.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alex-bregman/i-just-think-it-s-part-of-life-try-to-be-a-good-teammate/) [Alex Bregman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alex-bregman/) > [I'm just trying to do my work every day, and just be a good teammate and try to be a leader.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lauri-markkanen/i-m-just-trying-to-do-my-work-every-day-and-just-be-a-good-teammate/) [Lauri Markkanen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lauri-markkanen/) > [I was of course about winning but, at the same time, I definitely had some selfishness like a lot of players do. But it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-lee/i-was-of-course-about-winning-but-at-the-same-time-i-definitely-had/) [David Lee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-lee/) > [There are always a lot of guys that have potential, but to make it a certain amount of years in the league, it takes…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/al-horford/there-are-always-a-lot-of-guys-that-have-potential-but-to-make-it-a/) [Al Horford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/al-horford/) > [Here's the thing that I think is very interesting about RGIII. A lot of questions come up about what type of teammate he is.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ryan-clark/here-s-the-thing-that-i-think-is-very-interesting-about-rgiii-a-lot/) [Ryan Clark](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ryan-clark/) > [As a player, I just want to be remembered as a good teammate, that's it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-urlacher/as-a-player-i-just-want-to-be-remembered-as-a-good-teammate-that-s-it/) [Brian Urlacher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-urlacher/) > [The thing is, I don't do these things for recognition, being a good teammate, being a positive member of the community. I do them…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dwyane-wade/the-thing-is-i-don-t-do-these-things-for-recognition-being-a-good/) [Dwyane Wade](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dwyane-wade/) ## More by Kobe Bryant > [If you don't believe in yourself...nobo dy else will.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kobe-bryant/if-you-don-t-believe-in-yourself-nobo-dy-else-will/) [Kobe Bryant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kobe-bryant/) > [I don't just try to score. The challenge is elevating my teammates to be able to win a championship.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kobe-bryant/i-don-t-just-try-to-score-the-challenge-is-elevating-my-teammates-to/) [Kobe Bryant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kobe-bryant/) > [I'm going to be the Will Smith of the NBA.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kobe-bryant/i-m-going-to-be-the-will-smith-of-the-nba/) [Kobe Bryant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kobe-bryant/) > [There's certain companies that line up with what the brand represents. There are other things that are more investment-focused.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kobe-bryant/there-s-certain-companies-that-line-up-with-what-the-brand-represents/) [Kobe Bryant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kobe-bryant/) > [If I panic, everyone else panics.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kobe-bryant/if-i-panic-everyone-else-panics/) [Kobe Bryant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kobe-bryant/) > [You have to be true to who you are.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kobe-bryant/you-have-to-be-true-to-who-you-are/) [Kobe Bryant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kobe-bryant/) > [It really doesn't matter to me. We're just talking about clothes. I can understand what the NBA is trying to do. I love my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kobe-bryant/it-really-doesn-t-matter-to-me-we-re-just-talking-about-clothes-i-can/) [Kobe Bryant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kobe-bryant/) > [In the pressure situations. You can try to avoid contact, because you dont want to go to the FT line in those situations. Me,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kobe-bryant/in-the-pressure-situations-you-can-try-to-avoid-contact-because-you/) [Kobe Bryant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kobe-bryant/) > [I play for my own love and enjoyment of the game. And to win. Thats what I play for. Most of the time, when…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kobe-bryant/i-play-for-my-own-love-and-enjoyment-of-the-game-and-to-win-thats/) [Kobe Bryant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kobe-bryant/) > [When you start training camp, you're building the tools necessary to win a championship. You have to have the patience.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kobe-bryant/when-you-start-training-camp-you-re-building-the-tools-necessary-to/) [Kobe Bryant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kobe-bryant/) > [I don't know if it was the days off or whatever, but we just weren't in rhythm. You can probably blame it on the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kobe-bryant/i-don-t-know-if-it-was-the-days-off-or-whatever-but-we-just-weren-t/) [Kobe Bryant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kobe-bryant/) > [If you make it, great. If you miss it, what's there to be afraid of?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kobe-bryant/if-you-make-it-great-if-you-miss-it-what-s-there-to-be-afraid-of/) [Kobe Bryant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kobe-bryant/) > [They are the best team in the league right now. There's not much more to say about what makes them tough --versatility, execution and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kobe-bryant/they-are-the-best-team-in-the-league-right-now-there-s-not-much-more/) [Kobe Bryant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kobe-bryant/) > [There's a much bigger world out there.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kobe-bryant/there-s-a-much-bigger-world-out-there/) [Kobe Bryant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kobe-bryant/) > [When you have empathy toward your opponents, it helps you destroy them quicker. Because you understand exactly who they are. You understand what buttons…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kobe-bryant/when-you-have-empathy-toward-your-opponents-it-helps-you-destroy-them/) [Kobe Bryant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kobe-bryant/) [Explore all 204 Kobe Bryant quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kobe-bryant/) ## More Blame quotes > [“I have to blame myself for not finding any way of reaching him, but I can't feel that either Ruth or I had anything…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wallace-stegner/i-have-to-blame-myself-for-not-finding-any-way-of-reaching-him-but-i/) [Wallace Stegner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wallace-stegner/) > [Me mum used to always have the radio on - even now she has it on in every room. Me girlfriend sort of blames…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karl-pilkington/me-mum-used-to-always-have-the-radio-on-even-now-she-has-it-on-in/) [Karl Pilkington](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karl-pilkington/) > [I like to praise and reward loudly, to blame quietly.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/catherine-the-great/i-like-to-praise-and-reward-loudly-to-blame-quietly/) [Catherine the Great](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/catherine-the-great/) > [Some of the things that I said I hated to say, but blame yourself mother fucker you made it this way.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jedi-mind-tricks/some-of-the-things-that-i-said-i-hated-to-say-but-blame-yourself/) [Jedi Mind Tricks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jedi-mind-tricks/) > [Holy shadows of the dead, I'm not to blame for your cruel and bitter fate, but the accursed rivalry which brought sister nations and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-the-great/holy-shadows-of-the-dead-i-m-not-to-blame-for-your-cruel-and-bitter/) [Alexander the Great](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexander-the-great/) > [“In places where government priorities and market imperatives create a world so capricious that to help a neighbor is to risk your ability to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/katherine-boo/in-places-where-government-priorities-and-market-imperatives-create-a/) [Katherine Boo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/katherine-boo/) > [“Stop Blaming Others For Your Own Actions”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexis-g-roldan/stop-blaming-others-for-your-own-actions/) [Alexis G. Roldan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexis-g-roldan/) > [We know from this book entitled... What is it? Surrendered? Succumbed? I can never remember the title perform. And we learn from this book…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rush-limbaugh/we-know-from-this-book-entitled-what-is-it-surrendered-succumbed-i/) [Rush Limbaugh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rush-limbaugh/) > [I don't blame anyone .. I did this to myself .. It's my fault .. Everything is my FAULT ...](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nurnizz95/i-don-t-blame-anyone-i-did-this-to-myself-it-s-my-fault-everything-is/) [Nurnizz95](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nurnizz95/) > [“They would congratulate themselves every morning on keeping their integrity, and blame themselves each night for that missed opportunity.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paulo-coelho/they-would-congratulate-themselves-every-morning-on-keeping-their/) [Paulo Coelho](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paulo-coelho/) > [I try to live my life where I end up at a point where I have no regrets. So I try to choose the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/darren-aronofsky/i-try-to-live-my-life-where-i-end-up-at-a-point-where-i-have-no/) [Darren Aronofsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/darren-aronofsky/) > [How come you don't feel that magic in the air? I guess I knew you'll never be there. I guess I knew you never…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/how-come-you-don-t-feel-that-magic-in-the-air-i-guess-i-knew-you-ll/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I am down mentally. I can't understand how it happened and who is to blame? I don't know why the ground was rolled before…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/yeasin-khan/i-am-down-mentally-i-can-t-understand-how-it-happened-and-who-is-to/) [Yeasin Khan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/yeasin-khan/) > [A refusal to admit one's mistake & not accepting responsibility for that mistake by blaming everyone else, is d beginning of one's decline.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/a-refusal-to-admit-one-s-mistake-not-accepting-responsibility-for/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Listen, the guy was not created by coverage from MSNBC and CNN. If you want to blame us for making Donald Trump president because…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/katy-tur/listen-the-guy-was-not-created-by-coverage-from-msnbc-and-cnn-if-you/) [Katy Tur](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/katy-tur/) [Browse all 3,779 Blame quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/blame/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Are you willing to push the right buttons even if it means being perceived as the villain? … I'd rather be perceived as a winner than a good teammate. I wish they both went hand in hand all the time but that's just not reality. … I have nothing in common with lazy people who blame others for their lack of success.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Kobe Bryant" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kobe-bryant/are-you-willing-to-push-the-right-buttons-even-if-it-means-being/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Blame" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kobe-bryant/are-you-willing-to-push-the-right-buttons-even-if-it-means-being/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9ee/kobe-bryant-1845_blame_are-you-willing-to-push-the-right-button_3228804.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9ee/kobe-bryant-1845_blame_are-you-willing-to-push-the-right-button_3228804.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9ee/kobe-bryant-1845_blame_are-you-willing-to-push-the-right-button_3228804.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Are you willing to push the right buttons even if it means being perceived as the villain? … I'd rather be…” — Kobe Bryant", "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": "Kobe Bryant", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kobe-bryant/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "Are you willing to push the...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kobe-bryant/are-you-willing-to-push-the-right-buttons-even-if-it-means-being/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kobe-bryant/are-you-willing-to-push-the-right-buttons-even-if-it-means-being/#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 } } ] } ```