--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Teamwork is not a game for the selfish…" description: "\"“Teamwork is not a game for the selfish. It is for those with the mindset that a win for one is a win for all.”\" — Michael Bassey Johnson" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/805/michael-bassey-johnson-311_collaboration_teamwork-is-not-a-game-for-the-selfish-i_634618.jpg" --- # Teamwork is not a game for the selfish. It is for those… ![“Teamwork is not a game for the selfish. It is for those with the mindset that a win for one is a win for all.” quote by Michael Bassey Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/805/michael-bassey-johnson-311_collaboration_teamwork-is-not-a-game-for-the-selfish-i_634618.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/805/michael-bassey-johnson-311_collaboration_teamwork-is-not-a-game-for-the-selfish-i_634618.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/805/michael-bassey-johnson-311_collaboration_teamwork-is-not-a-game-for-the-selfish-i_634618.jpg) > ““Teamwork is not a game for the selfish. It is for those with the mindset that a win for one is a win for all.”” [Michael Bassey Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-bassey-johnson/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Collaboration succeeds when individuals prioritize collective success over personal gain. **In simple terms:** Teamwork thrives on shared victory. Key Takeaway Focus on group goals. Themes teamwork selflessness collective success Mood motivational inspirational Type leadership teamwork When to use this quote - project teams - sports - nonprofits - startups Key Concepts shared mindset mutual benefit Questions to Reflect On - How can you balance personal ambition with team goals? - What incentives foster collective effort? A Different Perspective May overlook individual contributions. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Collaboration](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/collaboration/) [Competition](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/competition/) [Cooperation](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/cooperation/) [Game Selfish](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/game-selfish-5107790/) [Group](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/group/) [Mindset](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mindset/) [Mindset Win](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mindset-win-4315945/) [Participation](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/participation/) [Selfish Mindset](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/selfish-mindset-433661/) [Selfishness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/selfishness/) [Success](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/success/) [Team](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/team/) [Team spirit](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/team-spirit/) [Teamwork](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/teamwork/) [Teamwork Game](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/teamwork-game-5107789/) [Working together](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/working-together/) ## Related quotes > [So many relationships fail because so many people are so selfish. Its an ALL ABOUT ME mindset. Show ME attention or else.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/punkinhead-abhishek/so-many-relationships-fail-because-so-many-people-are-so-selfish-its/) [Punkinhead Abhishek](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/punkinhead-abhishek/) > [You don't want to cause any permanent damage but your mindset is to win the fight by hurting your opponent. It's a vicious mindset.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/josh-taylor/you-don-t-want-to-cause-any-permanent-damage-but-your-mindset-is-to/) [Josh Taylor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/josh-taylor/) > [In my team, I don't want selfish players. I prefer to lose a game than have selfish players. I don't want that in my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/antonio-conte/in-my-team-i-don-t-want-selfish-players-i-prefer-to-lose-a-game-than/) [Antonio Conte](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/antonio-conte/) > [Players need to come in and not take the opportunity for granted and really work hard at the game and make sure it's a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anne-donovan/players-need-to-come-in-and-not-take-the-opportunity-for-granted-and/) [Anne Donovan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anne-donovan/) > [What features in a midfielder am I after? Players who have the mindset to win every game - then we can start to talk…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rafael-benitez/what-features-in-a-midfielder-am-i-after-players-who-have-the-mindset/) [Rafael Benitez](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rafael-benitez/) > [“No one is bigger than the team and individual brilliance does not automatically lead to outstanding results. One selfish mindset will infect a collective…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-kerr/no-one-is-bigger-than-the-team-and-individual-brilliance-does-not/) [James Kerr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-kerr/) > [“We must work together on a common vision and a common goal.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lailah-gifty-akita/we-must-work-together-on-a-common-vision-and-a-common-goal/) [Lailah Gifty Akita](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lailah-gifty-akita/) > [“Work for what you want, the pursuit of life.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lailah-gifty-akita/work-for-what-you-want-the-pursuit-of-life/) [Lailah Gifty Akita](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lailah-gifty-akita/) > [I like to help create team spirit in the dressing room. I feel that I've got loads of love to give.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-gascoigne/i-like-to-help-create-team-spirit-in-the-dressing-room-i-feel-that-i/) [Paul Gascoigne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-gascoigne/) > [Team spirit spurs me on. I've always found it easier to be strong for other people than for myself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cheryl-cole/team-spirit-spurs-me-on-i-ve-always-found-it-easier-to-be-strong-for/) [Cheryl Cole](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cheryl-cole/) > [“It is great to do what you love but greater with the great team.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lailah-gifty-akita/it-is-great-to-do-what-you-love-but-greater-with-the-great-team/) [Lailah Gifty Akita](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lailah-gifty-akita/) > [“Do you build a team or assemble a team?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vineet-raj-kapoor/do-you-build-a-team-or-assemble-a-team/) [Vineet Raj Kapoor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vineet-raj-kapoor/) > [“Joyfully we undertake our daily work.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lailah-gifty-akita/joyfully-we-undertake-our-daily-work/) [Lailah Gifty Akita](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lailah-gifty-akita/) > [I need time, but as soon as possible, we are going to try to create team spirit. That is the most important thing. After…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pep-guardiola/i-need-time-but-as-soon-as-possible-we-are-going-to-try-to-create/) [Pep Guardiola](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pep-guardiola/) > [“You need an environment where your employees are not afraid to share even their silliest ideas. A place where they are respected, loved and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pooja-agnihotri/you-need-an-environment-where-your-employees-are-not-afraid-to-share/) [Pooja Agnihotri](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pooja-agnihotri/) ## More by Michael Bassey Johnson > [“If any woman opens her legs for you, don't feel so lucky to be fed with nonsense, she has been a bitch for a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-bassey-johnson/if-any-woman-opens-her-legs-for-you-don-t-feel-so-lucky-to-be-fed/) [Michael Bassey Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-bassey-johnson/) > [“Anything you fear is a shackle to ur soul. It is a phobia that tethers and blinds ur ability to see and comprehend your…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-bassey-johnson/anything-you-fear-is-a-shackle-to-ur-soul-it-is-a-phobia-that-tethers/) [Michael Bassey Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-bassey-johnson/) > [“The human eye is restricted to see the useen, because there’s a price to be paid to the rulers of this image and if…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-bassey-johnson/the-human-eye-is-restricted-to-see-the-useen-because-there-s-a-price/) [Michael Bassey Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-bassey-johnson/) > [“-We need more love, to supersede hatred, -We need more strength, to resist our weaknesses, -We need more inspiration, to lighten up our innermind.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-bassey-johnson/we-need-more-love-to-supersede-hatred-we-need-more-strength-to-resist/) [Michael Bassey Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-bassey-johnson/) > [“Don't pretend to be what you're not, instead, pretend to what you want to be, it is not pretence, it is a journey to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-bassey-johnson/don-t-pretend-to-be-what-you-re-not-instead-pretend-to-what-you-want/) [Michael Bassey Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-bassey-johnson/) > [“A lot can be done with courage, than with years wasted on the search for perfection.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-bassey-johnson/a-lot-can-be-done-with-courage-than-with-years-wasted-on-the-search/) [Michael Bassey Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-bassey-johnson/) > [“Any fool that had once helped you will someday make known to everyone that you were once a needy. No matter how broke you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-bassey-johnson/any-fool-that-had-once-helped-you-will-someday-make-known-to-everyone/) [Michael Bassey Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-bassey-johnson/) > [“Sex doesn't satisfy for a lifetime, the more you have it, the more you want it. And the more you have it, the more…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-bassey-johnson/sex-doesn-t-satisfy-for-a-lifetime-the-more-you-have-it-the-more-you/) [Michael Bassey Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-bassey-johnson/) > [“It is easy to criticize the antisocial, but hard to get close to know what keeps them at bay.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-bassey-johnson/it-is-easy-to-criticize-the-antisocial-but-hard-to-get-close-to-know/) [Michael Bassey Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-bassey-johnson/) > [“There's no difference between a madman and a professor...it should be clear to you in the way they dress, act and think.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-bassey-johnson/there-s-no-difference-between-a-madman-and-a-professor-it-should-be/) [Michael Bassey Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-bassey-johnson/) > [“People run away from the love game because they know they won't win the race.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-bassey-johnson/people-run-away-from-the-love-game-because-they-know-they-won-t-win/) [Michael Bassey Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-bassey-johnson/) > [“When you favour a woman, she will want to return the favour in so many means, but its better to rupidiate such offerings.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-bassey-johnson/when-you-favour-a-woman-she-will-want-to-return-the-favour-in-so-many/) [Michael Bassey Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-bassey-johnson/) > [“When pain inspires you, your thoughts scream its lungs out.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-bassey-johnson/when-pain-inspires-you-your-thoughts-scream-its-lungs-out/) [Michael Bassey Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-bassey-johnson/) > [“Petrichor is the earth unearthing itself on a rainy day.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-bassey-johnson/petrichor-is-the-earth-unearthing-itself-on-a-rainy-day/) [Michael Bassey Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-bassey-johnson/) > [“Laugh now, and laugh hard. For laughter is the bell. And when it rings, it cleanses the air.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-bassey-johnson/laugh-now-and-laugh-hard-for-laughter-is-the-bell-and-when-it-rings/) [Michael Bassey Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-bassey-johnson/) [Explore all 703 Michael Bassey Johnson quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-bassey-johnson/) ## More Collaboration quotes > [I like to collaborate with other people for studio recordings because I believe collaboration, in any form, makes music better.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lou-barlow/i-like-to-collaborate-with-other-people-for-studio-recordings-because/) [Lou Barlow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lou-barlow/) > [(I)f we are going to be kind, let it be out of simple generosity, not because we fear guilt or retribution.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/i-f-we-are-going-to-be-kind-let-it-be-out-of-simple-generosity-not/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [MAC allowed me to have complete freedom on the collaborations—from the shades, the look-and-feel, to the campaign visuals. I have to admit that the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philip-treacy/mac-allowed-me-to-have-complete-freedom-on-the-collaborations-from/) [Philip Treacy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philip-treacy/) > [Today's world requires a different leadership style - more collaboration and teamwork, including using Web 2.0 technologies. If you had told me I'd be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-t-chambers/today-s-world-requires-a-different-leadership-style-more/) [John T. Chambers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-t-chambers/) > [“Damn, amigo. Just how much Oprah have you been watching since I’ve been gone?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lara-adrian/damn-amigo-just-how-much-oprah-have-you-been-watching-since-i-ve-been/) [Lara Adrian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lara-adrian/) > [As an entrepreneur and investor, I prioritize construction and collaboration. Whether it's a five-person start-up or a global giant, the companies that are most…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/reid-hoffman/as-an-entrepreneur-and-investor-i-prioritize-construction-and/) [Reid Hoffman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/reid-hoffman/) > [On any collaboration, you want to respect your music and the other's music.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-nam/on-any-collaboration-you-want-to-respect-your-music-and-the-other-s/) [Eric Nam](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-nam/) > [“CWC (Church Women Concerned) enabled us as women in that part of South Africa, to see ourselves as ordinary citizens who found themselves in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sindiwe-magona/cwc-church-women-concerned-enabled-us-as-women-in-that-part-of-south/) [Sindiwe Magona](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sindiwe-magona/) > [Steadman! Any guy that's got Oprah as a girlfriend, I mean that's a good dude. I want to talk to him.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/billy-bush/steadman-any-guy-that-s-got-oprah-as-a-girlfriend-i-mean-that-s-a/) [Billy Bush](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/billy-bush/) > [There are a lot of people whove been able to ditch their Windows machines and switch over to Linux because they can now use…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nat-friedman/there-are-a-lot-of-people-whove-been-able-to-ditch-their-windows/) [Nat Friedman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nat-friedman/) > [I realized that what I was looking for was doing collaborations with other people - people who can play a ballad, rock, jazz. I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/van-morrison/i-realized-that-what-i-was-looking-for-was-doing-collaborations-with/) [Van Morrison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/van-morrison/) > [I've done loads of collaborations and I'm never totally happy with the outcome because it feels like you're compromising something of yourself in it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hudson-mohawke/i-ve-done-loads-of-collaborations-and-i-m-never-totally-happy-with/) [Hudson Mohawke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hudson-mohawke/) > [“With commitment and vision, it is possible to build a bridge between potential partners and communities whose work is of relevance to peace-building initiatives.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/widad-akrawi/with-commitment-and-vision-it-is-possible-to-build-a-bridge-between/) [Widad Akrawi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/widad-akrawi/) > [I love mixing amateurs and professionals.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lasse-hallstrom/i-love-mixing-amateurs-and-professionals/) [Lasse Hallstrom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lasse-hallstrom/) > [Working together precedes winning together...collaboration is multiplication.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-c-maxwell/working-together-precedes-winning-together-collaboration-is/) [John C. Maxwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-c-maxwell/) [Browse all 1,240 Collaboration quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/collaboration/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“Teamwork is not a game for the selfish. 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