--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: In the barber shop you start playing…" description: "\"In the barber shop you start playing checkers, and eventually you want to learn how to play chess. The pieces look a little more interesting. You're do..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/daf/o-j-mayo-11806_barber-shop_in-the-barber-shop-you-start-playing-che_400825.jpg" --- # In the barber shop you start playing checkers, and… ![“In the barber shop you start playing checkers, and eventually you want to learn how to play chess. The pieces look a little more interesting. You're doing more things. I'm pretty good at it.” quote by O. J. Mayo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/daf/o-j-mayo-11806_barber-shop_in-the-barber-shop-you-start-playing-che_400825.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/daf/o-j-mayo-11806_barber-shop_in-the-barber-shop-you-start-playing-che_400825.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/daf/o-j-mayo-11806_barber-shop_in-the-barber-shop-you-start-playing-che_400825.jpg) > “In the barber shop you start playing checkers, and eventually you want to learn how to play chess. The pieces look a little more interesting. You're doing more things. I'm pretty good at it.” [O. J. Mayo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/o-j-mayo/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Starting with simple games leads to desire for more complex challenges, symbolizing personal growth. **In simple terms:** Simple starts lead to complex goals. Key Takeaway Seek greater challenges. Themes growth learning progress Mood encouraging thoughtful Type motivational inspirational When to use this quote - career - education - hobbies Key Concepts skill development goal setting Questions to Reflect On - What simple skill can you expand? - How do you handle new complexity? A Different Perspective Complex tasks can be intimidating; start small. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Barber shop](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/barber-shop/) [Checkers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/checkers/) [Chess](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/chess/) [Chess pieces](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/chess-pieces/) [Play](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/play/) ## Related quotes > [I think there's something wrong with me - I like to win in everything I do, regardless of what it is. You want to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/derek-jeter/i-think-there-s-something-wrong-with-me-i-like-to-win-in-everything-i/) [Derek Jeter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/derek-jeter/) > [LOVE is like Playing Checkers. You have to know which Man to MOVE.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/moms-mabley/love-is-like-playing-checkers-you-have-to-know-which-man-to-move/) [Moms Mabley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/moms-mabley/) > [I'm confident in everything I do. It can be playing checkers, and I'm confident.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/davis-webb/i-m-confident-in-everything-i-do-it-can-be-playing-checkers-and-i-m/) [Davis Webb](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/davis-webb/) > [“It was like playing checkers, only to learn that your opponent was playing chess all along.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barry-lyga/it-was-like-playing-checkers-only-to-learn-that-your-opponent-was/) [Barry Lyga](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barry-lyga/) > [These young guys are playing checkers. I'm out there playing chess.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kobe-bryant/these-young-guys-are-playing-checkers-i-m-out-there-playing-chess/) [Kobe Bryant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kobe-bryant/) > [These guys are playing checkers. I'm out here playing chess. When they figure it out, it's too late.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/max-holloway/these-guys-are-playing-checkers-i-m-out-here-playing-chess-when-they/) [Max Holloway](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/max-holloway/) > [“I'm playing chess while everyone else is playing checkers, that's why I always lose”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/josh-stern/i-m-playing-chess-while-everyone-else-is-playing-checkers-that-s-why/) [Josh Stern](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/josh-stern/) > [Eternity is a child playing, playing checkers; the kingdom belongs to a child.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/heraclitus/eternity-is-a-child-playing-playing-checkers-the-kingdom-belongs-to-a/) [Heraclitus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/heraclitus/) > [“No matter who you are or what may be your lifework, you are playing checkers with TIME! It is always your next move. Move…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/napoleon-hill-author/no-matter-who-you-are-or-what-may-be-your-lifework-you-are-playing/) Napoleon Hill (Author > [“I do not know how old I was when I learned to play chess. I could not have been older than eight, because I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aleksandar-hemon/i-do-not-know-how-old-i-was-when-i-learned-to-play-chess-i-could-not/) [Aleksandar Hemon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aleksandar-hemon/) > [If you want to build a high performance organization, you've got to play chess, not checkers.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-millar/if-you-want-to-build-a-high-performance-organization-you-ve-got-to/) [Mark Millar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-millar/) > [It's the horsey-shape piece that moves in an L shape. It's what makes chess complicated, and why stupid people can't play chess. Go play…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/courtney-love/it-s-the-horsey-shape-piece-that-moves-in-an-l-shape-it-s-what-makes/) [Courtney Love](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/courtney-love/) > [If we are running sprints, I want to beat everybody by 10 yards. If we are playing checkers, I want to win: I'm pretty…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/davis-webb/if-we-are-running-sprints-i-want-to-beat-everybody-by-10-yards-if-we/) [Davis Webb](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/davis-webb/) > [Take your ass to the barber shop. Tell the barber that you're sick of looking like an asshole.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wesley-willis/take-your-ass-to-the-barber-shop-tell-the-barber-that-you-re-sick-of/) [Wesley Willis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wesley-willis/) > [My primary school teacher once poured a bottle of curdled school milk forcefully down my throat. Then I threw it up all over her…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-o-grady/my-primary-school-teacher-once-poured-a-bottle-of-curdled-school-milk/) [Paul O'Grady](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-o-grady/) ## More by O. J. Mayo > [I've just learned that you can't take this game for granted. You have to stay professional and stay focused and stay prepared to produce…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/o-j-mayo/i-ve-just-learned-that-you-can-t-take-this-game-for-granted-you-have/) [O. J. Mayo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/o-j-mayo/) > [I'm not under any pressure. I'm just a kid having fun playing basketball.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/o-j-mayo/i-m-not-under-any-pressure-i-m-just-a-kid-having-fun-playing/) [O. J. Mayo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/o-j-mayo/) > [I am focusing on the process of making my dream come true, which is to play professional basketball.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/o-j-mayo/i-am-focusing-on-the-process-of-making-my-dream-come-true-which-is-to/) [O. J. Mayo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/o-j-mayo/) > [I definitely feel like I can fulfill any role that a team needs me to fulfill.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/o-j-mayo/i-definitely-feel-like-i-can-fulfill-any-role-that-a-team-needs-me-to/) [O. J. Mayo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/o-j-mayo/) > [When you've got guys touching the ball on the offensive end, they're really into the defensive end.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/o-j-mayo/when-you-ve-got-guys-touching-the-ball-on-the-offensive-end-they-re/) [O. J. Mayo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/o-j-mayo/) > [If you rode to my mother's house, it's still a two-bedroom house, one floor. She still drives the same Toyota Corolla that she drove…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/o-j-mayo/if-you-rode-to-my-mother-s-house-it-s-still-a-two-bedroom-house-one/) [O. J. Mayo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/o-j-mayo/) > [I've got a short memory span.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/o-j-mayo/i-ve-got-a-short-memory-span/) [O. J. Mayo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/o-j-mayo/) > [I was real close with Jason Kidd.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/o-j-mayo/i-was-real-close-with-jason-kidd/) [O. J. Mayo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/o-j-mayo/) > [I was 19 before. I understand how you want to come in and do so many things on the positive side. You're going to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/o-j-mayo/i-was-19-before-i-understand-how-you-want-to-come-in-and-do-so-many/) [O. J. Mayo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/o-j-mayo/) > [Magic Johnson didn't play the style that Larry Bird did, and Michael Jordan sure didn't play the style that Magic or Bird played.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/o-j-mayo/magic-johnson-didn-t-play-the-style-that-larry-bird-did-and-michael/) [O. J. Mayo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/o-j-mayo/) > [I was telling some of my friends that I really wish college did pay because then you have an opportunity to have fun in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/o-j-mayo/i-was-telling-some-of-my-friends-that-i-really-wish-college-did-pay/) [O. J. Mayo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/o-j-mayo/) > [I got into a fight in my 10th-grade year, and it was on ESPN. It was a mistake, and you learn from it. Starting…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/o-j-mayo/i-got-into-a-fight-in-my-10th-grade-year-and-it-was-on-espn-it-was-a/) [O. J. Mayo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/o-j-mayo/) > [I make mistakes, but each and every day you want to try to better yourself to be a better person and learn from your…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/o-j-mayo/i-make-mistakes-but-each-and-every-day-you-want-to-try-to-better/) [O. J. Mayo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/o-j-mayo/) > [It's hard to get a rhythm when you don't know what's going to happen for you night in and night out.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/o-j-mayo/it-s-hard-to-get-a-rhythm-when-you-don-t-know-what-s-going-to-happen/) [O. J. Mayo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/o-j-mayo/) > [I'm just looking forward to going out there and getting the opportunity to show that I'm a starting guard in this league and I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/o-j-mayo/i-m-just-looking-forward-to-going-out-there-and-getting-the/) [O. J. Mayo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/o-j-mayo/) [Explore all 57 O. J. Mayo quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/o-j-mayo/) ## More Barber shop quotes > [My primary school teacher once poured a bottle of curdled school milk forcefully down my throat. Then I threw it up all over her…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-o-grady/my-primary-school-teacher-once-poured-a-bottle-of-curdled-school-milk/) [Paul O'Grady](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-o-grady/) > [Take your ass to the barber shop. Tell the barber that you're sick of looking like an asshole.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wesley-willis/take-your-ass-to-the-barber-shop-tell-the-barber-that-you-re-sick-of/) [Wesley Willis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wesley-willis/) > [I love the donors and we thank them, but it has to be that the guys in the barber shop, the lady at the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/keith-ellison/i-love-the-donors-and-we-thank-them-but-it-has-to-be-that-the-guys-in/) [Keith Ellison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/keith-ellison/) > [I was in the process of growing dreads, they were down to my lip. I could whip them back and forth. Then I just…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nate-burleson/i-was-in-the-process-of-growing-dreads-they-were-down-to-my-lip-i/) [Nate Burleson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nate-burleson/) > [When's the last time you went into a barber shop and saw everyone there unconsious?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bobby-heenan/when-s-the-last-time-you-went-into-a-barber-shop-and-saw-everyone/) [Bobby Heenan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bobby-heenan/) > [The problem with our churches today is that the lead pastor is some sissy boy who wears cardigan sweaters, has The Carpenters dialed in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-driscoll/the-problem-with-our-churches-today-is-that-the-lead-pastor-is-some/) [Mark Driscoll](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-driscoll/) > [I don't have any beauty shop memories. I remember the barber shop.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jenifer-lewis/i-don-t-have-any-beauty-shop-memories-i-remember-the-barber-shop/) [Jenifer Lewis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jenifer-lewis/) > [What is there of the divine in a load of brick? What ... in a barber shop? ... Much. All.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/what-is-there-of-the-divine-in-a-load-of-brick-what-in-a-barber-shop/) [Ralph Waldo Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-waldo-emerson/) > [I bumped into Mike Epps in a barber shop. I was in the Warner Brothers studios trying to find my way for an audition…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joivan-wade/i-bumped-into-mike-epps-in-a-barber-shop-i-was-in-the-warner-brothers/) [Joivan Wade](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joivan-wade/) > [So I can go and let out everything that I feel about every bogus weekly cover, every single bogus skit, every single rumor and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kanye-west/so-i-can-go-and-let-out-everything-that-i-feel-about-every-bogus/) [Kanye West](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kanye-west/) > [“Mama made the coach stop at a barber shop around the corner from their house. 'Go in there,' she told Francie, 'and get your…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/betty-smith/mama-made-the-coach-stop-at-a-barber-shop-around-the-corner-from/) [Betty Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/betty-smith/) > [If the guy that writes you checks says cut your hair, off to the barber shop you go. That's that.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-konerko/if-the-guy-that-writes-you-checks-says-cut-your-hair-off-to-the/) [Paul Konerko](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-konerko/) > [I don't know nothing about the restaurant business, but I've been around a barber shop all my life. That's where I used to get…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/larry-johnson/i-don-t-know-nothing-about-the-restaurant-business-but-i-ve-been/) [Larry Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/larry-johnson/) > [I wonder how it feels to have to take your girlfriend to the barber shop instead of the hair salon Wiz Kalifa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/katt-williams/i-wonder-how-it-feels-to-have-to-take-your-girlfriend-to-the-barber/) [Katt Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/katt-williams/) > [“I began writing this story by subverting the dominant discourse, but that did not last long. My story decided to assert its independence. I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-higgs/i-began-writing-this-story-by-subverting-the-dominant-discourse-but/) [Christopher Higgs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-higgs/) [Browse all 30 Barber shop quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/barber-shop/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "In the barber shop you start playing checkers, and eventually you want to learn how to play chess. The pieces look a little more interesting. You're doing more things. I'm pretty good at it.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "O. J. 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