--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: We've lost our competitive spirit. We've…" description: "\"We've lost our competitive spirit. We've become so obsessed with making kids feel good about themselves that we've lost sight of building the skills th..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/476/michelle-rhee-22574_be-good_we-ve-lost-our-competitive-spirit-we-ve_1174254.jpg" --- # We've lost our competitive spirit. We've become so… ![“We've lost our competitive spirit. We've become so obsessed with making kids feel good about themselves that we've lost sight of building the skills they need to actually be good at things.” quote by Michelle Rhee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/476/michelle-rhee-22574_be-good_we-ve-lost-our-competitive-spirit-we-ve_1174254.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/476/michelle-rhee-22574_be-good_we-ve-lost-our-competitive-spirit-we-ve_1174254.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/476/michelle-rhee-22574_be-good_we-ve-lost-our-competitive-spirit-we-ve_1174254.jpg) > “We've lost our competitive spirit. We've become so obsessed with making kids feel good about themselves that we've lost sight of building the skills they need to actually be good at things.” [Michelle Rhee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michelle-rhee/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Overemphasis on self‑esteem undermines skill development and achievement. **In simple terms:** Focusing on feel‑good hurts real learning. Key Takeaway Balance confidence building with rigorous skill training. Themes education self‑esteem skill development achievement balance Mood concerned reflective Type critical advisory When to use this quote - classroom teaching - parenting - curriculum design - student mentorship - extracurricular coaching Key Concepts psychology pedagogy motivation competence growth mindset Questions to Reflect On - How can we nurture confidence without sacrificing competence? - What practices build both self‑esteem and skill mastery? A Different Perspective Too much focus on self‑esteem can lead to entitlement and lack of resilience. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Competitive spirit](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/competitive-spirit/) [Kids](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/kids/) [Religion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/religion/) [Skills](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/skills/) [Spirit](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/spirit/) ## Related quotes > [In addition to building the skills needed for the jobs of today and connecting individuals to these jobs, it is imperative to foster entirely…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tae-yoo/in-addition-to-building-the-skills-needed-for-the-jobs-of-today-and/) [Tae Yoo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tae-yoo/) > [“BUILDING THE SKILLS OF SITUATIONAL AWARENESS Things you can do to increase your skills in the dimension of Situational Awareness include: • Sit in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karl-albrecht/building-the-skills-of-situational-awareness-things-you-can-do-to/) [Karl Albrecht](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karl-albrecht/) > [“To become a king of that territory, you must not allow any of your time pass without converting it into building your skills in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sunday-adelaja/to-become-a-king-of-that-territory-you-must-not-allow-any-of-your/) [Sunday Adelaja](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sunday-adelaja/) > [“To become the king of your territory you must not allow any of your time pass without converting it into building your skills in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sunday-adelaja/to-become-the-king-of-your-territory-you-must-not-allow-any-of-your/) [Sunday Adelaja](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sunday-adelaja/) > [“I started first by building a skills inventory of each team member (learning about competencies) and worked with them individually identifying their strengths and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/allan-r-cohen/i-started-first-by-building-a-skills-inventory-of-each-team-member/) Allan R. 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It was about pleasing people and making kids smile.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-kate-olsen/when-we-were-kids-the-work-we-did-wasn-t-about-acting-it-was-about/) [Mary-Kate Olsen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-kate-olsen/) > [Life is all about making your kids happy and making your parents proud.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/life-is-all-about-making-your-kids-happy-and-making-your-parents-proud/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I'm leaning towards making something for kids nine and under because I have kids now. I can clean it up and make it rated…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/snoop-dogg/i-m-leaning-towards-making-something-for-kids-nine-and-under-because/) [Snoop Dogg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/snoop-dogg/) > [“Having kids and making kids are two different hobbies. I don’t have any children, but I do have lots of sex. It is an…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jarod-kintz/having-kids-and-making-kids-are-two-different-hobbies-i-don-t-have/) [Jarod Kintz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jarod-kintz/) > [I never feel more useful than when I'm making my kids a bowl of soup.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-louise-parker/i-never-feel-more-useful-than-when-i-m-making-my-kids-a-bowl-of-soup/) [Mary-Louise Parker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-louise-parker/) > [Parenting is a constant struggle between making your kids life better and ruining your own.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/willie-robertson/parenting-is-a-constant-struggle-between-making-your-kids-life-better/) [Willie Robertson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/willie-robertson/) > [A NASCAR guy can drop-kick another driver through his car window and it is just considered part of the sport. Hockey players drop their…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jemele-hill/a-nascar-guy-can-drop-kick-another-driver-through-his-car-window-and/) [Jemele Hill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jemele-hill/) > [This is another kind of competition, but I'm being coached by an excellent team, and I've got a real strong competitive spirit.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peggy-fleming/this-is-another-kind-of-competition-but-i-m-being-coached-by-an/) [Peggy Fleming](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peggy-fleming/) ## More by Michelle Rhee > [In schools where parent involvement is greater, you do have higher achievement levels and better functioning, better performing schools.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michelle-rhee/in-schools-where-parent-involvement-is-greater-you-do-have-higher/) [Michelle Rhee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michelle-rhee/) > [My grandfather was a teacher, my grandmother on my mom's side, four of my aunts, my sister-in-law, my best friend. So I've always, my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michelle-rhee/my-grandfather-was-a-teacher-my-grandmother-on-my-mom-s-side-four-of/) [Michelle Rhee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michelle-rhee/) > [There’s a belief now that the problem with our schools is parents, that if we just had better parents we would have better performing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michelle-rhee/there-s-a-belief-now-that-the-problem-with-our-schools-is-parents/) [Michelle Rhee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michelle-rhee/) > [That should be the goal, is that every kid in every neighborhood, despite whatever challenges they may face, are getting a great education in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michelle-rhee/that-should-be-the-goal-is-that-every-kid-in-every-neighborhood/) [Michelle Rhee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michelle-rhee/) > [Poverty is so significant that we can't expect to overcome the impacts of poverty in schools.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michelle-rhee/poverty-is-so-significant-that-we-can-t-expect-to-overcome-the/) [Michelle Rhee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michelle-rhee/) > [If you grew up in a lower-income community, or less well-off, the belief is that the way to change that circumstance is through education.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michelle-rhee/if-you-grew-up-in-a-lower-income-community-or-less-well-off-the/) [Michelle Rhee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michelle-rhee/) > [If a country puts its entire focus on making sure that the education system improves, then that's the kind of progress that you can…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michelle-rhee/if-a-country-puts-its-entire-focus-on-making-sure-that-the-education/) [Michelle Rhee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michelle-rhee/) > [We need to identify the least effective or ineffective teachers and for those people we need to either quickly accelerate their practice or move…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michelle-rhee/we-need-to-identify-the-least-effective-or-ineffective-teachers-and/) [Michelle Rhee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michelle-rhee/) > [ I think that one thing that people are missing is that we are never going to be able to fix this country's \[American\] economy… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michelle-rhee/i-think-that-one-thing-that-people-are-missing-is-that-we-are-never/) [Michelle Rhee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michelle-rhee/) > [I believe that the teachers unions are doing exactly what they're supposed to be doing. They were designed to be professional organizations that protect…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michelle-rhee/i-believe-that-the-teachers-unions-are-doing-exactly-what-they-re/) [Michelle Rhee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michelle-rhee/) > [Standardized tests are an indicator of the kind of service taxpayers are receiving - and whether schools, educators and policymakers are doing their jobs.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michelle-rhee/standardized-tests-are-an-indicator-of-the-kind-of-service-taxpayers/) [Michelle Rhee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michelle-rhee/) > [We are always going to put the best interests of kids above the rights, privileges and priorities of adults.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michelle-rhee/we-are-always-going-to-put-the-best-interests-of-kids-above-the/) [Michelle Rhee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michelle-rhee/) > [We need to do everything we can to ensure every single child has an effective teacher every day, which means we need to identify…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michelle-rhee/we-need-to-do-everything-we-can-to-ensure-every-single-child-has-an/) [Michelle Rhee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michelle-rhee/) > [I'd rather deal with anger than apathy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michelle-rhee/i-d-rather-deal-with-anger-than-apathy/) [Michelle Rhee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michelle-rhee/) > [The notion about education has changed and that now it’s sort of much more aligned with, “Well, schools can’t combat poverty. We can’t possibly…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michelle-rhee/the-notion-about-education-has-changed-and-that-now-it-s-sort-of-much/) [Michelle Rhee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michelle-rhee/) [Explore all 27 Michelle Rhee quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michelle-rhee/) ## More Be good quotes > [Passion is what you need to be good, an unforgiving passion.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-easton/passion-is-what-you-need-to-be-good-an-unforgiving-passion/) [David Easton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-easton/) > [It's like the query letter problem that I just mentioned, magnified a hundredfold. You might be good at telling a story, but that doesn't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patrick-rothfuss/it-s-like-the-query-letter-problem-that-i-just-mentioned-magnified-a/) [Patrick Rothfuss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patrick-rothfuss/) > [Peace is the result of love, and if love were easy we'd all be good at it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/colman-mccarthy/peace-is-the-result-of-love-and-if-love-were-easy-we-d-all-be-good-at/) [Colman McCarthy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/colman-mccarthy/) > [Therefore, I see whatever exists as good, death is to me like life, sin like holiness, wisdom like foolishness, everything has to be as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hermann-hesse/therefore-i-see-whatever-exists-as-good-death-is-to-me-like-life-sin/) [Hermann Hesse](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hermann-hesse/) > [Most of us want to live in harmony and peace and be good to others. Right now, however, the world is in a very…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hany-abu-assad/most-of-us-want-to-live-in-harmony-and-peace-and-be-good-to-others/) [Hany Abu-Assad](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hany-abu-assad/) > [I've never had any desire to be good. I don't like goodness particularly.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hanif-kureishi/i-ve-never-had-any-desire-to-be-good-i-don-t-like-goodness/) [Hanif Kureishi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hanif-kureishi/) > [To become a classical ballerina, you have to move to New York when you're 12 or 11 and that becomes your life. I just…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jennifer-garner/to-become-a-classical-ballerina-you-have-to-move-to-new-york-when-you/) [Jennifer Garner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jennifer-garner/) > [The producers felt that 24 would be good for the audience, to really get to know who these 12 and 12 are.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paula-abdul/the-producers-felt-that-24-would-be-good-for-the-audience-to-really/) [Paula Abdul](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paula-abdul/) > [All will concede that in order to have good neighbors, we must also be good neighbors. That applies in every field of human endeavor.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harry-s-truman/all-will-concede-that-in-order-to-have-good-neighbors-we-must-also-be/) [Harry S. Truman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harry-s-truman/) > [Everybody wants to be good, but not many are prepared to make the sacrifices it takes to be great.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-arden/everybody-wants-to-be-good-but-not-many-are-prepared-to-make-the/) [Paul Arden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-arden/) > [There's such cultural rot taking place, such a disintegration throughout our culture. Values, morality, you name it. Standards have been relaxed, and people are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rush-limbaugh/there-s-such-cultural-rot-taking-place-such-a-disintegration/) [Rush Limbaugh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rush-limbaugh/) > [The difference in being good at some thing and being great at something is usually found in the little things.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/randy-anderson/the-difference-in-being-good-at-some-thing-and-being-great-at/) Randy Anderson > [It doesn't matter if your lead character is good or bad. He just has to be interesting, and he has to be good at…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-chase/it-doesn-t-matter-if-your-lead-character-is-good-or-bad-he-just-has/) [David Chase](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-chase/) > [What's good for the very rich might not be good for anybody but them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jesse-jackson/what-s-good-for-the-very-rich-might-not-be-good-for-anybody-but-them/) [Jesse Jackson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jesse-jackson/) > [“Living in the middle of beauty like this, we've no call to have puny ideas about God. Why do you suppose His world is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/catherine-marshall/living-in-the-middle-of-beauty-like-this-we-ve-no-call-to-have-puny/) [Catherine Marshall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/catherine-marshall/) Browse all 1,747 Be good quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "We've lost our competitive spirit. 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