--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: A champion thinks: ‘That’s going in the…" description: "\"“A champion thinks: ‘That’s going in the hole, pot the blue and get on to the pink; that’s the shot.’ Embrace the moment, I told myself. This is what t..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/bbf/ronnie-o-sullivan-27279_sports_a-champion-thinks-that-s-going-in-the-ho_1059960.jpg" --- # A champion thinks: ‘That’s going in the hole, pot the blue… ![“A champion thinks: ‘That’s going in the hole, pot the blue and get on to the pink; that’s the shot.’ Embrace the moment, I told myself. This is what top sport is about, this is how you separate yourself from the pack. You grab these opportunities, and commit.” quote by Ronnie O'Sullivan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/bbf/ronnie-o-sullivan-27279_sports_a-champion-thinks-that-s-going-in-the-ho_1059960.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/bbf/ronnie-o-sullivan-27279_sports_a-champion-thinks-that-s-going-in-the-ho_1059960.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/bbf/ronnie-o-sullivan-27279_sports_a-champion-thinks-that-s-going-in-the-ho_1059960.jpg) > ““A champion thinks: ‘That’s going in the hole, pot the blue and get on to the pink; that’s the shot.’ Embrace the moment, I told myself. This is what top sport is about, this is how you separate yourself from the pack. You grab these opportunities, and commit.”” [Ronnie O'Sullivan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ronnie-o-sullivan/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Peak performance requires recognizing and seizing decisive moments, differentiating oneself from the crowd. **In simple terms:** Grab key moments to stand out. Key Takeaway Act decisively when opportunities arise. Themes sports focus opportunity Mood motivational focused Type inspirational sports When to use this quote - competition - training - goal setting - performance analysis Key Concepts mindset flow state Questions to Reflect On - What cues signal a decisive moment? - How do you prepare mentally for high‑stakes opportunities? A Different Perspective Pressure can cause hesitation, reducing effectiveness. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Separate Yourself](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/separate-yourself/) [Sports](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sports/) [Time](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/time/) ## Related quotes > [This match is about sport and I separate that completely from politics.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oliver-kahn/this-match-is-about-sport-and-i-separate-that-completely-from-politics/) [Oliver Kahn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oliver-kahn/) > [It's fun when the ball is going in the hole and things are going right, but it's a miserable game when things aren't going…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fuzzy-zoeller/it-s-fun-when-the-ball-is-going-in-the-hole-and-things-are-going/) [Fuzzy Zoeller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fuzzy-zoeller/) > [What it feels like when you're playing good? I don't know. It feels the same as every other day. Just more putts are going…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dustin-johnson/what-it-feels-like-when-you-re-playing-good-i-don-t-know-it-feels-the/) [Dustin Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dustin-johnson/) > [I always thought there was some place I was going, that there was some success or some achievement or some box-office number that was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/will-smith/i-always-thought-there-was-some-place-i-was-going-that-there-was-some/) [Will Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/will-smith/) > [When I see the ball going in the hole, I'm a completely different player.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gary-woodland/when-i-see-the-ball-going-in-the-hole-i-m-a-completely-different/) [Gary Woodland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gary-woodland/) > [We're all receivers, we make catches, we do all those little things, but sometimes you've got to separate yourself from others and do some…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cordarrelle-patterson/we-re-all-receivers-we-make-catches-we-do-all-those-little-things-but/) [Cordarrelle Patterson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cordarrelle-patterson/) > [“Every person who comes into this world must make the decision as to what type of person they want to be. Establishing yourself once…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ali-warren/every-person-who-comes-into-this-world-must-make-the-decision-as-to/) Ali Warren > [When you start performing, you realize that you have to separate yourself from the pack. So I would never wear bell-bottoms, which everybody else…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/loudon-wainwright-iii/when-you-start-performing-you-realize-that-you-have-to-separate/) [Loudon Wainwright III](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/loudon-wainwright-iii/) > [Why should you want to give up a child's wise not-understanding in exchange for defensiveness and scorn, since not-understanding is, after all, a way…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rainer-maria-rilke/why-should-you-want-to-give-up-a-child-s-wise-not-understanding-in/) [Rainer Maria Rilke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rainer-maria-rilke/) > [From this instant on, vow to stop disappointing yourself. Separate yourself from the mob. Decide to be extraordinary and do what you need to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/epictetus/from-this-instant-on-vow-to-stop-disappointing-yourself-separate/) [Epictetus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/epictetus/) > [“Life is comfortable when you separate yourself from people who are different from you. That epitomizes what my life was like: characterized by comfort.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francis-chan/life-is-comfortable-when-you-separate-yourself-from-people-who-are/) [Francis Chan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francis-chan/) > [Everybody always going to sound like somebody. You got to separate yourself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lil-durk/everybody-always-going-to-sound-like-somebody-you-got-to-separate/) [Lil Durk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lil-durk/) > [No matter what your dream job is, you'll likely hear 'no' many times before you achieve your goals. Just accept that as a fact.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shannon-bream/no-matter-what-your-dream-job-is-you-ll-likely-hear-no-many-times/) [Shannon Bream](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shannon-bream/) > [Some say that you should not want money at all because the desire for money is materialistic and not Spiritual. But we want you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/esther-hicks/some-say-that-you-should-not-want-money-at-all-because-the-desire-for/) [Esther Hicks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/esther-hicks/) > [“People and situations always show us what we need to see and learn about ourselves, and when we take responsibility for our own feelings,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eliza-mada-dalian/people-and-situations-always-show-us-what-we-need-to-see-and-learn/) [Eliza Mada Dalian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eliza-mada-dalian/) ## More by Ronnie O'Sullivan > [I don't think I suffered with depression, I don't think I'm a depressed type of person - I just think I suffered a depression…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ronnie-o-sullivan/i-don-t-think-i-suffered-with-depression-i-don-t-think-i-m-a/) [Ronnie O'Sullivan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ronnie-o-sullivan/) > [The most important thing, the biggest love of my life, is my snooker. Ive never been so emotionally ingrained in something - in a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ronnie-o-sullivan/the-most-important-thing-the-biggest-love-of-my-life-is-my-snooker/) [Ronnie O'Sullivan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ronnie-o-sullivan/) > [I've been semi-successful. I've done all right but I'm not the player I was. Who do I think will win the world championship? John…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ronnie-o-sullivan/i-ve-been-semi-successful-i-ve-done-all-right-but-i-m-not-the-player/) [Ronnie O'Sullivan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ronnie-o-sullivan/) > [Looking for perfection is the only way to motivate yourself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ronnie-o-sullivan/looking-for-perfection-is-the-only-way-to-motivate-yourself/) [Ronnie O'Sullivan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ronnie-o-sullivan/) > [It's not an irrational decision, I've been thinking about this for quite a while and maybe it'll be good for me \[on his career…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ronnie-o-sullivan/it-s-not-an-irrational-decision-i-ve-been-thinking-about-this-for/) [Ronnie O'Sullivan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ronnie-o-sullivan/) > [“I just want to live for the moment. Tomorrow's not important, next month is not important, what's happened in the past is not important.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ronnie-o-sullivan/i-just-want-to-live-for-the-moment-tomorrow-s-not-important-next/) [Ronnie O'Sullivan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ronnie-o-sullivan/) > [ My hearts not been in it this year \[2005\], and I've not been playing well, but I keep on winning. ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ronnie-o-sullivan/my-hearts-not-been-in-it-this-year-2005-and-i-ve-not-been-playing/) [Ronnie O'Sullivan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ronnie-o-sullivan/) > [I do entertain a lot of negative thoughts and I haven't got any self-belief. But I haven't done bad for someone without any self-belief.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ronnie-o-sullivan/i-do-entertain-a-lot-of-negative-thoughts-and-i-haven-t-got-any-self/) [Ronnie O'Sullivan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ronnie-o-sullivan/) > [The most important thing, the biggest love of my life, is my snooker. I've never been so emotionally ingrained in something - in a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ronnie-o-sullivan/the-most-important-thing-the-biggest-love-of-my-life-is-my-snooker-i/) [Ronnie O'Sullivan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ronnie-o-sullivan/) > [At this moment I am feeling disappointed with myself and I am hurt and numb](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ronnie-o-sullivan/at-this-moment-i-am-feeling-disappointed-with-myself-and-i-am-hurt/) [Ronnie O'Sullivan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ronnie-o-sullivan/) > [The relentless pursuit of perfection has been my problem over the years. It's maybe held me back.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ronnie-o-sullivan/the-relentless-pursuit-of-perfection-has-been-my-problem-over-the/) [Ronnie O'Sullivan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ronnie-o-sullivan/) > [“It's so strange that the more successful you become, the more people want to give you things. And the more you can afford, the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ronnie-o-sullivan/it-s-so-strange-that-the-more-successful-you-become-the-more-people/) [Ronnie O'Sullivan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ronnie-o-sullivan/) > [“So, all in all, the whore's drawers are back up, and with any luck they'll stay that way.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ronnie-o-sullivan/so-all-in-all-the-whore-s-drawers-are-back-up-and-with-any-luck-they/) [Ronnie O'Sullivan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ronnie-o-sullivan/) > [Today I got so annoyed with myself that I lost my patience and walked away from a game that, with hindsight, I should have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ronnie-o-sullivan/today-i-got-so-annoyed-with-myself-that-i-lost-my-patience-and-walked/) [Ronnie O'Sullivan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ronnie-o-sullivan/) > [I know what I want to do and there's no point giving my secrets away.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ronnie-o-sullivan/i-know-what-i-want-to-do-and-there-s-no-point-giving-my-secrets-away/) [Ronnie O'Sullivan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ronnie-o-sullivan/) [Explore all 20 Ronnie O'Sullivan quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ronnie-o-sullivan/) ## More Sports quotes > [If you take your eye off the ball or lose focus for even a minute you can lose a game against any team.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/felipe-anderson/if-you-take-your-eye-off-the-ball-or-lose-focus-for-even-a-minute-you/) [Felipe Anderson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/felipe-anderson/) > [There are guys who play lacrosse, and there are lacrosse players.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brendan-mundorf/there-are-guys-who-play-lacrosse-and-there-are-lacrosse-players/) Brendan Mundorf > [To get to wear those game day jerseys down the hall.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kenny-chesney/to-get-to-wear-those-game-day-jerseys-down-the-hall/) [Kenny Chesney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kenny-chesney/) > [Winning is a habit. 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Sadly, there's no similar flag outside The Woods Jupiter,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-rushin/outside-buckingham-palace-the-royal-standard-flies-only-when-the/) [Steve Rushin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-rushin/) > [I don't own designer clothes, or a sports car, or a huge house, but I am seeing the world, experiencing amazing things, and I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roz-savage/i-don-t-own-designer-clothes-or-a-sports-car-or-a-huge-house-but-i-am/) [Roz Savage](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roz-savage/) > [As a child I was very involved with sports and I knew at age 9 that I wanted to be an Olympic champion.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marion-jones/as-a-child-i-was-very-involved-with-sports-and-i-knew-at-age-9-that-i/) [Marion Jones](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marion-jones/) > [Politics in Philadelphia is a contact sport.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-nutter/politics-in-philadelphia-is-a-contact-sport/) [Michael Nutter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-nutter/) > [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/) > [I feel like I'm the best, but you're not going to get me to say that.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jerry-rice/i-feel-like-i-m-the-best-but-you-re-not-going-to-get-me-to-say-that/) [Jerry Rice](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jerry-rice/) > [Sport is not just about entertainment. 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