--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: It's not all about the figures. It's…" description: "\"It's not all about the figures. It's about how you play for the team, how you help your colleagues, how you work defensively.\" — Samuel Eto'o" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/492/samuel-eto-o-4867_colleagues_it-s-not-all-about-the-figures-it-s-abou_2555837.png" --- # It's not all about the figures. It's about how you play… ![“It's not all about the figures. It's about how you play for the team, how you help your colleagues, how you work defensively.” quote by Samuel Eto'o](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/492/samuel-eto-o-4867_colleagues_it-s-not-all-about-the-figures-it-s-abou_2555837.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/492/samuel-eto-o-4867_colleagues_it-s-not-all-about-the-figures-it-s-abou_2555837.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/492/samuel-eto-o-4867_colleagues_it-s-not-all-about-the-figures-it-s-abou_2555837.png) > “It's not all about the figures. It's about how you play for the team, how you help your colleagues, how you work defensively.” [Samuel Eto'o](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-eto-o/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Success depends on collaboration, support, and defensive effort, not just individual statistics. **In simple terms:** Teamwork beats solo stats. Key Takeaway Prioritize collective goals. Themes teamwork collaboration defense leadership sportsmanship Mood inspirational motivational Type philosophical reflective When to use this quote - team meetings - coaching sessions - project teams - volunteer groups Key Concepts role theory collective efficacy defensive tactics Questions to Reflect On - How do you contribute to a team beyond personal metrics? - What defensive habits improve group outcomes? A Different Perspective Individual brilliance can be overrated. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Colleagues](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/colleagues/) [Colleagues Work](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/colleagues-work-1395210/) [Football](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/football/) [Help](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/help/) [Help Colleagues](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/help-colleagues-1562265/) [Play](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/play/) [Play Team](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/play-team/) [Team](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/team/) [Team Help](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/team-help-474745/) [Work](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/work/) [Work Defensively](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/work-defensively-1562264/) ## Related quotes > [There is a group of entrepreneurs pushing the envelope, government officials that are making significant changes despite the odds, and visionary writers, academics, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robin-chase/there-is-a-group-of-entrepreneurs-pushing-the-envelope-government/) [Robin Chase](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robin-chase/) > [I have said many times I play for the team to help the team win the games. That is the most important thing for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mohamed-salah/i-have-said-many-times-i-play-for-the-team-to-help-the-team-win-the/) [Mohamed Salah](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mohamed-salah/) > [For me, the team always comes first, and without the help of my colleagues, I am nothing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ruben-neves/for-me-the-team-always-comes-first-and-without-the-help-of-my/) [Ruben Neves](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ruben-neves/) > [I look for people who work to solve problems and help colleagues, I sack politicians.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lou-gerstner/i-look-for-people-who-work-to-solve-problems-and-help-colleagues-i/) [Lou Gerstner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lou-gerstner/) > [I can't possibly be objective about myself. I can look at my other colleagues work, and they are all tremendous, really. To see their…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/goran-kostic/i-can-t-possibly-be-objective-about-myself-i-can-look-at-my-other/) [Goran Kostic](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/goran-kostic/) > [Men with stay-at-home wives don't think much about female colleagues at work..](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mazher/men-with-stay-at-home-wives-don-t-think-much-about-female-colleagues/) [Mazher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mazher/) > [With colleagues in the work environment, we fail to see the source of their envy or the reason for their manipulations; our attempts at…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-greene/with-colleagues-in-the-work-environment-we-fail-to-see-the-source-of/) [Robert Greene](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-greene/) > [I don't party with my colleagues after work.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/asin/i-don-t-party-with-my-colleagues-after-work/) [Asin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/asin/) > [Whether we're being targeted or not, we've just got to find ways to contribute to the team and help us get a win.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/deebo-samuel/whether-we-re-being-targeted-or-not-we-ve-just-got-to-find-ways-to/) [Deebo Samuel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/deebo-samuel/) > [I feel like any team I'm on, I can help take that team to the playoffs.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patrick-beverley/i-feel-like-any-team-i-m-on-i-can-help-take-that-team-to-the-playoffs/) [Patrick Beverley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patrick-beverley/) > [You put your personal stuff away and concentrate on the team and help out.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zaza-pachulia/you-put-your-personal-stuff-away-and-concentrate-on-the-team-and-help/) [Zaza Pachulia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zaza-pachulia/) > [Me coming to Tampa made perfect sense. I felt like they had all the keys I needed and vice versa. I can help the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leonard-fournette/me-coming-to-tampa-made-perfect-sense-i-felt-like-they-had-all-the/) [Leonard Fournette](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leonard-fournette/) > [I've always believed if a young guy has a chance to play, why would you explain where his weakness is? The only reason would…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bob-stoops/i-ve-always-believed-if-a-young-guy-has-a-chance-to-play-why-would/) [Bob Stoops](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bob-stoops/) > [Being able to really flourish, expand your game and help a new team. Help lead an entire group of guys, it's a challenge that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jordan-poole/being-able-to-really-flourish-expand-your-game-and-help-a-new-team/) [Jordan Poole](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jordan-poole/) > [To take up a ton of money, you kind of limit your team and who they can help you out with and put around…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/blake-bortles/to-take-up-a-ton-of-money-you-kind-of-limit-your-team-and-who-they/) [Blake Bortles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/blake-bortles/) ## More by Samuel Eto'o > [Money is not the most important to me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-eto-o/money-is-not-the-most-important-to-me/) [Samuel Eto'o](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-eto-o/) > [When I left Cameroon, I was 15 years old... I had one dream - it was to conquer the world.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-eto-o/when-i-left-cameroon-i-was-15-years-old-i-had-one-dream-it-was-to/) [Samuel Eto'o](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-eto-o/) > [The most important thing for a forward is speed of thought. Top players read the game.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-eto-o/the-most-important-thing-for-a-forward-is-speed-of-thought-top/) [Samuel Eto'o](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-eto-o/) > [I will never forget the affection of the Inter fans who made me feel like one of them and who always supported and helped…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-eto-o/i-will-never-forget-the-affection-of-the-inter-fans-who-made-me-feel/) [Samuel Eto'o](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-eto-o/) > [In all things, you need a good organization. You can have the best player in the world; if you do not have the best…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-eto-o/in-all-things-you-need-a-good-organization-you-can-have-the-best/) [Samuel Eto'o](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-eto-o/) > [I am a footballer. I know how to play football ,and I know how to manage projects in the area of football. This is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-eto-o/i-am-a-footballer-i-know-how-to-play-football-and-i-know-how-to/) [Samuel Eto'o](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-eto-o/) > [I can only say what I have lived and experienced. And the majority of people who have been to Makhachkala have come back with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-eto-o/i-can-only-say-what-i-have-lived-and-experienced-and-the-majority-of/) [Samuel Eto'o](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-eto-o/) > [The fact is, as all we strikers know, we tend to get judged just on the number of goals.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-eto-o/the-fact-is-as-all-we-strikers-know-we-tend-to-get-judged-just-on-the/) [Samuel Eto'o](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-eto-o/) > [It is important to feel the support of my family. Mentally, I can get away from everything that is football when I come home…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-eto-o/it-is-important-to-feel-the-support-of-my-family-mentally-i-can-get/) [Samuel Eto'o](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-eto-o/) > [I never say how many goals I'm going to score. My intention is to be happy and make sure that people around me are,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-eto-o/i-never-say-how-many-goals-i-m-going-to-score-my-intention-is-to-be/) [Samuel Eto'o](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-eto-o/) > [I have a great life, and I can't really complain.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-eto-o/i-have-a-great-life-and-i-can-t-really-complain/) [Samuel Eto'o](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-eto-o/) > [I do not enter any controversy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-eto-o/i-do-not-enter-any-controversy/) [Samuel Eto'o](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-eto-o/) > [All my coaches will tell you that I am a great professional.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-eto-o/all-my-coaches-will-tell-you-that-i-am-a-great-professional/) [Samuel Eto'o](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-eto-o/) > [Football is beautiful. Football is beautiful because whether you win, draw, or lose, you can go and shake your opponent's hand, whether they're white…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-eto-o/football-is-beautiful-football-is-beautiful-because-whether-you-win/) [Samuel Eto'o](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-eto-o/) > [I left Cameroon when I was 13 years old, and I've lived more in Europe than Africa.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-eto-o/i-left-cameroon-when-i-was-13-years-old-and-i-ve-lived-more-in-europe/) [Samuel Eto'o](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-eto-o/) [Explore all 105 Samuel Eto'o quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-eto-o/) ## More Colleagues quotes > [I've never been motivated by money. My peers and colleagues inspire me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robin-chase/i-ve-never-been-motivated-by-money-my-peers-and-colleagues-inspire-me/) [Robin Chase](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robin-chase/) > [It's wonderful to see more of my colleagues recognizing the importance of investing in STEM education and scientific research and development.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-foster/it-s-wonderful-to-see-more-of-my-colleagues-recognizing-the/) [Bill Foster](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-foster/) > [I am sorry to upset my colleagues by saying we wasted four years in opposition, but if you do get so badly defeated as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kenneth-clarke/i-am-sorry-to-upset-my-colleagues-by-saying-we-wasted-four-years-in/) [Kenneth Clarke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kenneth-clarke/) > [My sister-in-law works for a group that supports orphanages in Cairo. She and her colleagues take care of children left behind by circumstances beyond…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mohamed-elbaradei/my-sister-in-law-works-for-a-group-that-supports-orphanages-in-cairo/) [Mohamed ElBaradei](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mohamed-elbaradei/) > [Don’t let yourself be. Find something new to try, something to change. Count how often it succeeds and how often it doesn’t. Write about…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/atul-gawande/don-t-let-yourself-be-find-something-new-to-try-something-to-change/) [Atul Gawande](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/atul-gawande/) > [UN peacekeeping operations are now increasingly complex and multi-dimensional, going beyond monitoring a ceasefire to actually bringing failed States back to life, often after…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kofi-annan/un-peacekeeping-operations-are-now-increasingly-complex-and-multi/) [Kofi Annan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kofi-annan/) > [“The whole organization seemed to be in free fall, indulging in a collective fantasy in which experienced colleagues refused to admit that their every…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/the-whole-organization-seemed-to-be-in-free-fall-indulging-in-a/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [There is a danger of Scottish politics being between two sets of dinosaurs... the Nationalists who can't accept they were rejected by the people,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johann-lamont/there-is-a-danger-of-scottish-politics-being-between-two-sets-of/) [Johann Lamont](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johann-lamont/) > [We must continue our fight to ensure that Federal, State, and local authorities have the resources and support necessary to combat this growing epidemic.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ron-lewis/we-must-continue-our-fight-to-ensure-that-federal-state-and-local/) [Ron Lewis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ron-lewis/) > [The questions of traditional and redefined marriage are highly emotional and a difficult and sensitive topic. Living in the D.C. area and having gay…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mercedes-schlapp/the-questions-of-traditional-and-redefined-marriage-are-highly/) [Mercedes Schlapp](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mercedes-schlapp/) > [Very often, we are confronted by people who want us to pray their way or colleagues who want us to think their way. We…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harold-klemp/very-often-we-are-confronted-by-people-who-want-us-to-pray-their-way/) [Harold Klemp](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harold-klemp/) > [For all the civilians saved thanks to the presence of peacekeepers, there have been those who were lost - the United Nations personnel who…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jan-eliasson/for-all-the-civilians-saved-thanks-to-the-presence-of-peacekeepers/) [Jan Eliasson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jan-eliasson/) > [I have always been very calm and with all the triumphs I have had I have always been sure to thank my colleagues and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paulinho/i-have-always-been-very-calm-and-with-all-the-triumphs-i-have-had-i/) [Paulinho](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paulinho/) > [As a former undercover CIA officer, I've worked with my colleagues in the 114th Congress to approach the growing terrorist threat from a number…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/will-hurd/as-a-former-undercover-cia-officer-i-ve-worked-with-my-colleagues-in/) [Will Hurd](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/will-hurd/) > [ In the end, many of his more militant colleagues began to feel that \[Ho Chi Minh's\] tendency to compromise, and his reluctance to confront… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-j-duiker/in-the-end-many-of-his-more-militant-colleagues-began-to-feel-that-ho/) [William J. Duiker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-j-duiker/) [Browse all 1,024 Colleagues quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/colleagues/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "It's not all about the figures. It's about how you play for the team, how you help your colleagues, how you work defensively.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Samuel Eto'o" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-eto-o/it-s-not-all-about-the-figures-it-s-about-how-you-play-for-the-team/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Colleagues" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-eto-o/it-s-not-all-about-the-figures-it-s-about-how-you-play-for-the-team/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/492/samuel-eto-o-4867_colleagues_it-s-not-all-about-the-figures-it-s-abou_2555837.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/492/samuel-eto-o-4867_colleagues_it-s-not-all-about-the-figures-it-s-abou_2555837.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/492/samuel-eto-o-4867_colleagues_it-s-not-all-about-the-figures-it-s-abou_2555837.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“It's not all about the figures. It's about how you play for the team, how you help your colleagues, how you…” — Samuel Eto'o", "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": "Samuel Eto'o", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-eto-o/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "It's not all about the figures....", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-eto-o/it-s-not-all-about-the-figures-it-s-about-how-you-play-for-the-team/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-eto-o/it-s-not-all-about-the-figures-it-s-about-how-you-play-for-the-team/#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 } } ] } ```