--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I have two college degrees, but the only…" description: "\"I have two college degrees, but the only way I could make a living was by showing kids how to put a ball in a hole.\" — Red Auerbach" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6b0/red-auerbach-14429_balls_i-have-two-college-degrees-but-the-only_1329540.jpg" --- # I have two college degrees, but the only way I could make… ![“I have two college degrees, but the only way I could make a living was by showing kids how to put a ball in a hole.” quote by Red Auerbach](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6b0/red-auerbach-14429_balls_i-have-two-college-degrees-but-the-only_1329540.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6b0/red-auerbach-14429_balls_i-have-two-college-degrees-but-the-only_1329540.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6b0/red-auerbach-14429_balls_i-have-two-college-degrees-but-the-only_1329540.jpg) > “I have two college degrees, but the only way I could make a living was by showing kids how to put a ball in a hole.” [Red Auerbach](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/red-auerbach/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Success often comes from turning a simple skill into a profession, even if it seems modest. **In simple terms:** Simple skill can become a career. Key Takeaway Leverage basic talents for livelihood. Themes career skill humility sports Mood reflective pragmatic Type inspirational practical When to use this quote - coaching - golf instruction - teaching - career counseling Key Concepts Entrepreneurship skill monetization career adaptability Questions to Reflect On - What simple skill could you monetize? - How do you balance passion and practicality? A Different Perspective May limit ambition if overvalued; ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [College](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/college/) [College degree](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/college-degree/) [Kids](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/kids/) [Life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/life/) ## Related quotes > [I have two college degrees, four honorary doctorate degrees, and am in three Halls of fame, and the only thing I know how to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/red-auerbach/i-have-two-college-degrees-four-honorary-doctorate-degrees-and-am-in/) [Red Auerbach](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/red-auerbach/) > [I've seen with my own students, community colleges offer an affordable route to four-year college degrees and good paying jobs.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jill-biden/i-ve-seen-with-my-own-students-community-colleges-offer-an-affordable/) [Jill Biden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jill-biden/) > [The unemployment rate today for people with our-year college degrees is 4.1%, which is almost none. That's people switching jobs basically. That tells you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-friedman/the-unemployment-rate-today-for-people-with-our-year-college-degrees/) [Thomas Friedman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-friedman/) > [Hit the ball up to the hole... You meet a better class of people up there.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-hogan/hit-the-ball-up-to-the-hole-you-meet-a-better-class-of-people-up-there/) [Ben Hogan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ben-hogan/) > [I honestly believe that with a strong mind, you can literally 'will' the ball into the hole.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ray-floyd/i-honestly-believe-that-with-a-strong-mind-you-can-literally-will-the/) [Ray Floyd](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ray-floyd/) > [I'm a great believer that if you don't get the ball to the hole, it won't go in.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/colin-montgomerie/i-m-a-great-believer-that-if-you-don-t-get-the-ball-to-the-hole-it/) [Colin Montgomerie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/colin-montgomerie/) > [“It's about showing these kids that there are serious consequences for their actions.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lajill-hunt/it-s-about-showing-these-kids-that-there-are-serious-consequences-for/) [Lajill Hunt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lajill-hunt/) > [We're showing kids a world that is very scantily populated with women and female characters. They should see female characters taking up half the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/geena-davis/we-re-showing-kids-a-world-that-is-very-scantily-populated-with-women/) [Geena Davis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/geena-davis/) > [It's about showing the kids from your city that you are worth believing in. It's about being the man your family prayed you'd be.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kyler-murray/it-s-about-showing-the-kids-from-your-city-that-you-are-worth/) [Kyler Murray](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kyler-murray/) > [In fact, black students with college degrees are twice as likely to be unemployed as white students with college degrees. So, to say there…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maya-wiley/in-fact-black-students-with-college-degrees-are-twice-as-likely-to-be/) [Maya Wiley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maya-wiley/) > [You so smart with you'r college degrees why are you thousands of dollars in debt.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rachel-melton/you-so-smart-with-you-r-college-degrees-why-are-you-thousands-of/) [Rachel Melton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rachel-melton/) > [“As knowledge is acquired it must be organized and put into use, for a definite purpose, through practical plans. Knowledge has no value except…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/napoleon-hill/as-knowledge-is-acquired-it-must-be-organized-and-put-into-use-for-a/) [Napoleon Hill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/napoleon-hill/) > [This year, we must address the Colorado Paradox. We have more college degrees per capita than any state. Yet we lag the nation in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-owens/this-year-we-must-address-the-colorado-paradox-we-have-more-college/) [Bill Owens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-owens/) > [Even if it's just two shots, I just want to see the ball go in the hole. That gives me the confidence to know…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shaun-livingston/even-if-it-s-just-two-shots-i-just-want-to-see-the-ball-go-in-the/) [Shaun Livingston](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shaun-livingston/) > [I have to chase down the most scientifically efficient way to get the golf ball in the hole.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bryson-dechambeau/i-have-to-chase-down-the-most-scientifically-efficient-way-to-get-the/) [Bryson DeChambeau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bryson-dechambeau/) ## More by Red Auerbach > [And I have been very blessed, having coached some of the greatest that have ever played the game. But if I had to start…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/red-auerbach/and-i-have-been-very-blessed-having-coached-some-of-the-greatest-that/) [Red Auerbach](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/red-auerbach/) > [The best way to forget ones self is to look at the world with attention and love.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/red-auerbach/the-best-way-to-forget-ones-self-is-to-look-at-the-world-with/) [Red Auerbach](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/red-auerbach/) > [“Who could better motivate Bill Russell than Bill Russell?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/red-auerbach/who-could-better-motivate-bill-russell-than-bill-russell/) [Red Auerbach](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/red-auerbach/) > [I've turned down a lot of trades where I might have gotten a better player, but I wasn't totally sure of the chemistry of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/red-auerbach/i-ve-turned-down-a-lot-of-trades-where-i-might-have-gotten-a-better/) [Red Auerbach](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/red-auerbach/) > [Many, many times, the kids with the less talent become the better athletes because they're more dedicated to achieving their full potential.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/red-auerbach/many-many-times-the-kids-with-the-less-talent-become-the-better/) [Red Auerbach](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/red-auerbach/) > [Just do what you do best.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/red-auerbach/just-do-what-you-do-best/) [Red Auerbach](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/red-auerbach/) > [Take pride in what you do. The kind of pride I'm talking about is not the arrogant puffed-up kind; it's just the whole idea…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/red-auerbach/take-pride-in-what-you-do-the-kind-of-pride-i-m-talking-about-is-not/) [Red Auerbach](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/red-auerbach/) > [Everyone is born with a certain potential. You may never achieve your full potential, but how close you come depends on how much you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/red-auerbach/everyone-is-born-with-a-certain-potential-you-may-never-achieve-your/) [Red Auerbach](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/red-auerbach/) > [To a father, when a child dies, the future dies; to a child when a parent dies, the past dies.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/red-auerbach/to-a-father-when-a-child-dies-the-future-dies-to-a-child-when-a/) [Red Auerbach](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/red-auerbach/) > [You see, in sports you have so many things that aren't expected. There's so much uncertainty. So when players find themselves in a situation…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/red-auerbach/you-see-in-sports-you-have-so-many-things-that-aren-t-expected-there/) [Red Auerbach](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/red-auerbach/) > [You don't win games as a coach during games. You win games as a coach before games. Players win during games, not coaches](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/red-auerbach/you-don-t-win-games-as-a-coach-during-games-you-win-games-as-a-coach/) [Red Auerbach](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/red-auerbach/) > [When business is good it pays to advertise; when it is bad you have got to advertise](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/red-auerbach/when-business-is-good-it-pays-to-advertise-when-it-is-bad-you-have/) [Red Auerbach](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/red-auerbach/) > [The coach should be the absolute boss, but he still should maintain an open mind.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/red-auerbach/the-coach-should-be-the-absolute-boss-but-he-still-should-maintain-an/) [Red Auerbach](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/red-auerbach/) > [You handle animals. You deal with people.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/red-auerbach/you-handle-animals-you-deal-with-people/) [Red Auerbach](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/red-auerbach/) > [It's not what you tell your players that counts. It's what they hear.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/red-auerbach/it-s-not-what-you-tell-your-players-that-counts-it-s-what-they-hear/) [Red Auerbach](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/red-auerbach/) [Explore all 46 Red Auerbach quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/red-auerbach/) ## More Balls quotes > [It's a lot harder to play football when you haven't got the ball.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andy-gray/it-s-a-lot-harder-to-play-football-when-you-haven-t-got-the-ball/) [Andy Gray](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andy-gray/) > [Once you pull the trigger, you've got to throw balls aggressively and with conviction.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alex-smith/once-you-pull-the-trigger-you-ve-got-to-throw-balls-aggressively-and/) [Alex Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alex-smith/) > [Thinking about the things that happened, I don't know any other ball player would could have done what he (Jackie Robinson) did. To be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pee-wee-reese/thinking-about-the-things-that-happened-i-don-t-know-any-other-ball/) [Pee Wee Reese](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pee-wee-reese/) > [Play small ball. Get back to basics. I would say that you need to be a conservative, but you need to maintain your independent…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrea-tantaros/play-small-ball-get-back-to-basics-i-would-say-that-you-need-to-be-a/) [Andrea Tantaros](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrea-tantaros/) > [Donald Trump is a different ball of wax. I've been trying to say for I don't know how many months now that the traditional…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rush-limbaugh/donald-trump-is-a-different-ball-of-wax-i-ve-been-trying-to-say-for-i/) [Rush Limbaugh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rush-limbaugh/) > [Well, you can certainly teach free-throwing. And you can teach the boys to pass at angles and run in curves. - University of Kansas…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/darryl-dawkins/well-you-can-certainly-teach-free-throwing-and-you-can-teach-the-boys/) [Darryl Dawkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/darryl-dawkins/) > [Maybe bring in sponge balls to learn the technique and gain that experience of actually challenging for a header.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ryan-mason/maybe-bring-in-sponge-balls-to-learn-the-technique-and-gain-that/) [Ryan Mason](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ryan-mason/) > [I like René Descartes' theory about a ball of wax. You can change its form from solid to liquid, but it's still the same…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emmy-rossum/i-like-ren-descartes-theory-about-a-ball-of-wax-you-can-change-its/) [Emmy Rossum](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emmy-rossum/) > [It wasn't really touching to be young; it was touching not to be young, because you had less of life left. Touching to be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rose-macaulay/it-wasn-t-really-touching-to-be-young-it-was-touching-not-to-be-young/) [Rose Macaulay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rose-macaulay/) > [This ball was so crowded that it took me - a trained professional journalist with vast experience in this area - forty five minutes…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dave-barry/this-ball-was-so-crowded-that-it-took-me-a-trained-professional/) [Dave Barry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dave-barry/) > [Common sense is the guy who tells you that you ought to have had your brakes relined last week before you smashed a front…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/raymond-chandler/common-sense-is-the-guy-who-tells-you-that-you-ought-to-have-had-your/) [Raymond Chandler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/raymond-chandler/) > [Throwing a ball is not natural, whether it's overhand or underhand.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jennie-finch/throwing-a-ball-is-not-natural-whether-it-s-overhand-or-underhand/) [Jennie Finch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jennie-finch/) > [I don't feel like I have to live up to anything because I've proven that I can play. Give me the ball and let's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/clinton-portis/i-don-t-feel-like-i-have-to-live-up-to-anything-because-i-ve-proven/) [Clinton Portis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/clinton-portis/) > [And if we seem nutty to you and if we seem like an odd ball to you, just remember one thing. The mighty oak…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/glenn-turner/and-if-we-seem-nutty-to-you-and-if-we-seem-like-an-odd-ball-to-you/) [Glenn Turner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/glenn-turner/) > [You run the football for toughness. You run the ball to tell your opponent that you're as tough as they are. But you throw…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jerry-glanville/you-run-the-football-for-toughness-you-run-the-ball-to-tell-your/) Jerry Glanville Browse all 3,005 Balls quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "I have two college degrees, but the only way I could make a living was by showing kids how to put a ball in a hole.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Red Auerbach" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/red-auerbach/i-have-two-college-degrees-but-the-only-way-i-could-make-a-living-was/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Balls" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/red-auerbach/i-have-two-college-degrees-but-the-only-way-i-could-make-a-living-was/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6b0/red-auerbach-14429_balls_i-have-two-college-degrees-but-the-only_1329540.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6b0/red-auerbach-14429_balls_i-have-two-college-degrees-but-the-only_1329540.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6b0/red-auerbach-14429_balls_i-have-two-college-degrees-but-the-only_1329540.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“I have two college degrees, but the only way I could make a living was by showing kids how to put a ball in…” — Red Auerbach", "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": "Red Auerbach", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/red-auerbach/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "I have two college degrees, but...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/red-auerbach/i-have-two-college-degrees-but-the-only-way-i-could-make-a-living-was/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/red-auerbach/i-have-two-college-degrees-but-the-only-way-i-could-make-a-living-was/#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 } } ] } ```