--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: And yet as a coach, I know that being…" description: "\"And yet as a coach, I know that being fixated on winning (or more likely, not losing) is counterproductive, especially when it causes you to lose contr..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fc6/phil-jackson-4484_causes_and-yet-as-a-coach-i-know-that-being-fix_681003.jpg" --- # And yet as a coach, I know that being fixated on winning… ![“And yet as a coach, I know that being fixated on winning (or more likely, not losing) is counterproductive, especially when it causes you to lose control of your emotions. What’s more, obsessing about winning is a loser’s game: The most we can hope for is to create the best possible conditions for…” quote by Phil Jackson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fc6/phil-jackson-4484_causes_and-yet-as-a-coach-i-know-that-being-fix_681003.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fc6/phil-jackson-4484_causes_and-yet-as-a-coach-i-know-that-being-fix_681003.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fc6/phil-jackson-4484_causes_and-yet-as-a-coach-i-know-that-being-fix_681003.jpg) > “And yet as a coach, I know that being fixated on winning (or more likely, not losing) is counterproductive, especially when it causes you to lose control of your emotions. What’s more, obsessing about winning is a loser’s game: The most we can hope for is to create the best possible conditions for success, then let go of the outcome. The ride is a lot more fun that way.” [Phil Jackson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/phil-jackson/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Focusing on winning can trap you in negative emotions; better to set optimal conditions and release attachment to outcomes for greater enjoyment. **In simple terms:** Winning obsession harms emotions; create conditions, let go. Key Takeaway Focus on process, not outcome. Themes sports mindset emotional control Mood reflective motivational Type philosophical inspirational When to use this quote - coaching sessions - team meetings - personal development - competition - goal setting Key Concepts psychology performance flow Questions to Reflect On - How can you shift from result‑oriented to process‑oriented thinking? - What conditions can you control to improve performance? A Different Perspective Overemphasis on outcomes can cause anxiety and burnout. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Causes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/causes/) [Coaches](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/coaches/) [Emotion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/emotion/) [Fixated Winning](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fixated-winning-2807408/) [Football](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/football/) [Fun](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fun/) [Games](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/games/) [Letting go](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/letting-go/) [Loser](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/loser/) [Losing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/losing/) [Obsessing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/obsessing/) [Obsessing Winning](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/obsessing-winning-5388124/) [Outcomes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/outcomes/) [Success](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/success/) [Way](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/way/) [Winning](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/winning/) [Winning Loser](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/winning-loser-5388125/) ## Related quotes > [When you don’t become fixated on winning the prize or appearing successful, and instead pursue your passions, then you will discover the fulfillment that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/when-you-don-t-become-fixated-on-winning-the-prize-or-appearing/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“am i crazy for laying awake at night obsessing over you or is it natural”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/katelyn-douglas/am-i-crazy-for-laying-awake-at-night-obsessing-over-you-or-is-it/) [Katelyn Douglas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/katelyn-douglas/) > [For the average person, taken to their sick bed, it takes a serious bout of pneumonia or a full body cast to completely forget…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sloane-crosley/for-the-average-person-taken-to-their-sick-bed-it-takes-a-serious/) [Sloane Crosley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sloane-crosley/) > [Obsessing over the future is not how God wants us to live, because showing us the future is not God's way.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kevin-deyoung/obsessing-over-the-future-is-not-how-god-wants-us-to-live-because/) [Kevin DeYoung](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kevin-deyoung/) > [Silence causes people to obsess over their thoughts. The quieter it becomes, the more you think.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/silence-causes-people-to-obsess-over-their-thoughts-the-quieter-it/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Most people spend so much time obsessing over who they aren't, that they never get to appreciate who they are](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-harsel/most-people-spend-so-much-time-obsessing-over-who-they-aren-t-that/) [Joe Harsel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-harsel/) > [Living, fighting, obsessing. Just as long as I can share it all with you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/black-label-society/living-fighting-obsessing-just-as-long-as-i-can-share-it-all-with-you/) [Black Label Society](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/black-label-society/) > [There are certain parts of a classic nerd's brain that can destroy that person - obsessing about things to the detriment of everything else…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-hardwick/there-are-certain-parts-of-a-classic-nerd-s-brain-that-can-destroy/) [Chris Hardwick](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-hardwick/) > [People are cooking less but obsessing about it more.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dougie-poynter/people-are-cooking-less-but-obsessing-about-it-more/) [Dougie Poynter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dougie-poynter/) > [“You're the gayest bitch I ever did love..”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cayden-fontaine/you-re-the-gayest-bitch-i-ever-did-love/) [Cayden Fontaine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cayden-fontaine/) > [It's nice that I can go down the road of obsessing over this smiley-face bullshit so maybe I can get free from it and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nate-lowman/it-s-nice-that-i-can-go-down-the-road-of-obsessing-over-this-smiley/) [Nate Lowman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nate-lowman/) > [If we spend our time obsessing with the future or regretting the past, then we will never live. Tomorrow will always be tomorrow and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jon-foreman/if-we-spend-our-time-obsessing-with-the-future-or-regretting-the-past/) [Jon Foreman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jon-foreman/) > [I never felt ostracized or made to feel strange by obsessing over 'The Onion' or 'Calvin and Hobbes.' That was considered completely normal.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/simon-rich/i-never-felt-ostracized-or-made-to-feel-strange-by-obsessing-over-the/) [Simon Rich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/simon-rich/) > [Try to focus on the things that you do have instead of obsessing over things you don't](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hannah-hart/try-to-focus-on-the-things-that-you-do-have-instead-of-obsessing-over/) [Hannah Hart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hannah-hart/) > [Stop being perfect, because obsessing over being perfect stops you from growing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brad-pitt/stop-being-perfect-because-obsessing-over-being-perfect-stops-you/) [Brad Pitt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brad-pitt/) ## More by Phil Jackson > [My parents were, had a marriage of passion, and the passion was about their religious beliefs. They were both immigrant families that - well,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/phil-jackson/my-parents-were-had-a-marriage-of-passion-and-the-passion-was-about/) [Phil Jackson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/phil-jackson/) > [“The unconscious mind is a terrific solver of complex problems when the conscious mind is busy elsewhere or, perhaps better yet, not overtaxed at…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/phil-jackson/the-unconscious-mind-is-a-terrific-solver-of-complex-problems-when/) [Phil Jackson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/phil-jackson/) > [There's a term, agape, you hear used a lot with charismatic religious groups, that it's this more pure love of caring, of sharing of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/phil-jackson/there-s-a-term-agape-you-hear-used-a-lot-with-charismatic-religious/) [Phil Jackson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/phil-jackson/) > [“My confidence grew out of knowing that when the spirit was right and the players were attuned to one another, the game was likely…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/phil-jackson/my-confidence-grew-out-of-knowing-that-when-the-spirit-was-right-and/) [Phil Jackson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/phil-jackson/) > [I don't believe in curfews, because you can't treat men like they were boys without forfeiting a certain level of trust.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/phil-jackson/i-don-t-believe-in-curfews-because-you-can-t-treat-men-like-they-were/) [Phil Jackson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/phil-jackson/) > [My philosophy is that you can't motivate players with speeches, you have motivated players that you draft. 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It's about mastering the art of letting go.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/phil-jackson/leadership-is-not-about-forcing-your-will-on-others-it-s-about/) [Phil Jackson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/phil-jackson/) > [“As a leader your job is to do everything in your power to create the perfect conditions for success by benching your ego and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/phil-jackson/as-a-leader-your-job-is-to-do-everything-in-your-power-to-create-the/) [Phil Jackson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/phil-jackson/) > [If we can accept whatever hand we've been dealt - no matter how unwelcome - the way to proceed eventually becomes clear.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/phil-jackson/if-we-can-accept-whatever-hand-we-ve-been-dealt-no-matter-how/) [Phil Jackson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/phil-jackson/) > [A coach's main job is to reawaken a spirit in which the players can blend together effortlessly.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/phil-jackson/a-coach-s-main-job-is-to-reawaken-a-spirit-in-which-the-players-can/) [Phil Jackson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/phil-jackson/) > [“Zen teacher Lewis Richmond tells the story of hearing Shunryu Suzuki sum up Buddhism in two words. 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Well, roll my breakfast cause I'm a hungry man.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/big-joe-turner/get-out-from-that-kitchen-and-rattle-those-pots-and-pans-well-roll-my/) [Big Joe Turner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/big-joe-turner/) > [This duo inside of me causes the perfect opportunity to live and learn twice as fast as those who choose to accept simplicity.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tupac-shakur/this-duo-inside-of-me-causes-the-perfect-opportunity-to-live-and/) [Tupac Shakur](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tupac-shakur/) > [Jobs and money are never the primary cause of stress. Thinking, negative thinking causes stress. 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