--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: You're competing against other guys…" description: "\"You're competing against other guys because ultimately there's only one starter, and all of us want to be that guy at some point. That's the way I appr..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/294/scott-tolzien-35870_against_you-re-competing-against-other-guys-beca_2012985.jpg" --- # You're competing against other guys because ultimately… ![“You're competing against other guys because ultimately there's only one starter, and all of us want to be that guy at some point. That's the way I approach it. Control what I can control and just be the best I can be each day.” quote by Scott Tolzien](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/294/scott-tolzien-35870_against_you-re-competing-against-other-guys-beca_2012985.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/294/scott-tolzien-35870_against_you-re-competing-against-other-guys-beca_2012985.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/294/scott-tolzien-35870_against_you-re-competing-against-other-guys-beca_2012985.jpg) > “You're competing against other guys because ultimately there's only one starter, and all of us want to be that guy at some point. That's the way I approach it. Control what I can control and just be the best I can be each day.” [Scott Tolzien](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scott-tolzien/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Focus on personal control and continual improvement rather than competition. **In simple terms:** Control what you can and improve daily. Key Takeaway Control your actions, improve each day. Themes self-improvement competition focus discipline Mood focused confident Type philosophical motivational When to use this quote - career development - sports training - daily routines Key Concepts Personal agency goal setting mindset Questions to Reflect On - How can you better control your environment? - What does being "the best" mean to you? A Different Perspective External factors can still impact outcomes despite personal control. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Approach](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/approach/) [Competing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/competing/) [Control](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/control/) [Day](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/day/) ## Related quotes > [I was the X-Division champion and competing against guys mostly my size, and I dominated them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/austin-aries/i-was-the-x-division-champion-and-competing-against-guys-mostly-my/) [Austin Aries](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/austin-aries/) > [Physically I'm not as strong as I was, but I try to make up for it mentally. It's a big challenge, and I relish…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karch-kiraly/physically-i-m-not-as-strong-as-i-was-but-i-try-to-make-up-for-it/) [Karch Kiraly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karch-kiraly/) > [I had two older brothers, so I was always competing with them. The guys I grew up with on the golf course, when I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-weir/i-had-two-older-brothers-so-i-was-always-competing-with-them-the-guys/) [Mike Weir](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-weir/) > [I always tell people the hardest thing is competing against the guys you see every day because any of my strengths that I like…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/devin-mccourty/i-always-tell-people-the-hardest-thing-is-competing-against-the-guys/) [Devin McCourty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/devin-mccourty/) > [That's ultimately the thing that sticks out to you most, that's most important to me, is that I have the respect of my teammates.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scott-tolzien/that-s-ultimately-the-thing-that-sticks-out-to-you-most-that-s-most/) [Scott Tolzien](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scott-tolzien/) > [Ultimately, anything is just what you make of it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scott-tolzien/ultimately-anything-is-just-what-you-make-of-it/) [Scott Tolzien](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scott-tolzien/) > [I always prepare like I'm a starter. Three-down back.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/derrick-henry/i-always-prepare-like-i-m-a-starter-three-down-back/) [Derrick Henry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/derrick-henry/) > [I never grunted, and never overthrew a pitch when I was a starter.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-smoltz/i-never-grunted-and-never-overthrew-a-pitch-when-i-was-a-starter/) [John Smoltz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-smoltz/) > [“Wonder is the starter kit for innovation”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tara-lemmey/wonder-is-the-starter-kit-for-innovation/) Tara Lemmey > [You play the game to compete and you want to be a starter, but at the same time you don't want to rush yourself…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/teddy-bridgewater/you-play-the-game-to-compete-and-you-want-to-be-a-starter-but-at-the/) [Teddy Bridgewater](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/teddy-bridgewater/) > [Woody Allen movies notwithstanding, therapy, in the early eighties, was not exactly a hot conversation starter. Nor was it a favoured activity for dysfunctional…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-hill/woody-allen-movies-notwithstanding-therapy-in-the-early-eighties-was/) [Dan Hill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dan-hill/) > [The situation at Buffalo was a rough situation, and I appreciate the opportunity, but going back to Seattle was a better situation, even though…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tarvaris-jackson/the-situation-at-buffalo-was-a-rough-situation-and-i-appreciate-the/) [Tarvaris Jackson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tarvaris-jackson/) > [I'm going to prepare like I'm the starter. That's me in the weight room, me in the meeting rooms.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dwayne-haskins/i-m-going-to-prepare-like-i-m-the-starter-that-s-me-in-the-weight/) [Dwayne Haskins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dwayne-haskins/) > [I am not a finisher, I am a starter. And I am always thinking, what is the next project.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-eisenman/i-am-not-a-finisher-i-am-a-starter-and-i-am-always-thinking-what-is/) [Peter Eisenman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-eisenman/) > [To me, there's no honor to say, 'I'm going to start.' As long as you're getting minutes, you're closing games, that shows more of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dwane-casey/to-me-there-s-no-honor-to-say-i-m-going-to-start-as-long-as-you-re/) [Dwane Casey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dwane-casey/) ## More by Scott Tolzien > [The bottom line, in the professional level, no matter where you go, there's going to be competition. That's what it is. At the end…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scott-tolzien/the-bottom-line-in-the-professional-level-no-matter-where-you-go/) [Scott Tolzien](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scott-tolzien/) > [You've always got to have that inner confidence in you. That's where it all starts. You're gong to have good days, you're going to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scott-tolzien/you-ve-always-got-to-have-that-inner-confidence-in-you-that-s-where/) [Scott Tolzien](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scott-tolzien/) > [Ultimately, anything is just what you make of it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scott-tolzien/ultimately-anything-is-just-what-you-make-of-it/) [Scott Tolzien](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scott-tolzien/) > [I'm trying to be a sponge. People say, 'Well, that's what your rookie year is.' I still feel that way in my second year.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scott-tolzien/i-m-trying-to-be-a-sponge-people-say-well-that-s-what-your-rookie/) [Scott Tolzien](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scott-tolzien/) > [Anytime you've got a good running back, it will help your passing game.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scott-tolzien/anytime-you-ve-got-a-good-running-back-it-will-help-your-passing-game/) [Scott Tolzien](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scott-tolzien/) > [The bottom line is that it's the NFL, and there's going to be competition wherever you go. That's the way I look at it.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scott-tolzien/the-bottom-line-is-that-it-s-the-nfl-and-there-s-going-to-be/) [Scott Tolzien](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scott-tolzien/) > [With anything in life, I think that's when you start stressing yourself out - when you start worrying about the things that are out…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scott-tolzien/with-anything-in-life-i-think-that-s-when-you-start-stressing/) [Scott Tolzien](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scott-tolzien/) > [That's ultimately the thing that sticks out to you most, that's most important to me, is that I have the respect of my teammates.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scott-tolzien/that-s-ultimately-the-thing-that-sticks-out-to-you-most-that-s-most/) [Scott Tolzien](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scott-tolzien/) > [It's my job, first and foremost, to take care of the football. Guys work their tails off. That's Football 101. From the time you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scott-tolzien/it-s-my-job-first-and-foremost-to-take-care-of-the-football-guys-work/) [Scott Tolzien](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scott-tolzien/) > [I feel that a lot of people say that your best passing attack is having a good run game. I couldn't agree more with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scott-tolzien/i-feel-that-a-lot-of-people-say-that-your-best-passing-attack-is/) [Scott Tolzien](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scott-tolzien/) > [You try to make the most of each day. I'm not big into setting real specific goals. I think, really, if you just focus…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scott-tolzien/you-try-to-make-the-most-of-each-day-i-m-not-big-into-setting-real/) [Scott Tolzien](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scott-tolzien/) > [I just try to be the same guy I've always been. Calm, collected, and being a good decision-maker and delivering the ball to the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scott-tolzien/i-just-try-to-be-the-same-guy-i-ve-always-been-calm-collected-and/) [Scott Tolzien](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scott-tolzien/) [Explore all 13 Scott Tolzien quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scott-tolzien/) ## More Against quotes > [I love casting against type and doing things you wouldn't expect, because I think you get more interesting performances that way. Hollywood loves to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-s-goyer/i-love-casting-against-type-and-doing-things-you-wouldn-t-expect/) [David S. Goyer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-s-goyer/) > [I think I am against stereotype. Generally, Asian guys are more quiet - they study and have a good work ethic. Generally, I have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bobby-lee/i-think-i-am-against-stereotype-generally-asian-guys-are-more-quiet/) [Bobby Lee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bobby-lee/) > [I'm not against gay people. I have a relative who is also gay. We can't help it if they were born that way.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/manny-pacquiao/i-m-not-against-gay-people-i-have-a-relative-who-is-also-gay-we-can-t/) [Manny Pacquiao](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/manny-pacquiao/) > [It's going to be used in the last days to get people to come against Christ, and that's the issue: they come against the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tim-lahaye/it-s-going-to-be-used-in-the-last-days-to-get-people-to-come-against/) [Tim LaHaye](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tim-lahaye/) > [We do not know which irresponsible Israeli prime minister will take office and decide to use nuclear weapons in the struggle against neighboring Arab…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mordechai-vanunu/we-do-not-know-which-irresponsible-israeli-prime-minister-will-take/) [Mordechai Vanunu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mordechai-vanunu/) > [In France they spend six months training policemen, then they give them a gun and put them on the streets, and I don't know…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mathieu-kassovitz/in-france-they-spend-six-months-training-policemen-then-they-give/) [Mathieu Kassovitz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mathieu-kassovitz/) > [France has not only built a bureaucratic barrier against American culture, it has constructed a notorious intellectual case against it as well. The French…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tyler-cowen/france-has-not-only-built-a-bureaucratic-barrier-against-american/) [Tyler Cowen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tyler-cowen/) > [My problems are sort of more on a nuisance level. I can't stand scratchy clothes, I've got to have soft kinds of cotton against…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/temple-grandin/my-problems-are-sort-of-more-on-a-nuisance-level-i-can-t-stand/) [Temple Grandin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/temple-grandin/) > [I don't have any regrets or hold any grudge against anyone.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cooper-kupp/i-don-t-have-any-regrets-or-hold-any-grudge-against-anyone/) [Cooper Kupp](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cooper-kupp/) > [Ronaldo will always score against everyone.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/giorgio-chiellini/ronaldo-will-always-score-against-everyone/) [Giorgio Chiellini](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/giorgio-chiellini/) > [Well, just that there would be somebody in the office and the voters - it was more or less an understanding in the entire…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-breyer/well-just-that-there-would-be-somebody-in-the-office-and-the-voters/) [Stephen Breyer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-breyer/) > [The Constitution is very clear on the - on the declaration of war or reacting to international crimes - crimes against nations. It is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-pitts/the-constitution-is-very-clear-on-the-on-the-declaration-of-war-or/) Joe Pitts > [It goes way, way back when we were under Sweden's rule. We always think they are better than us. We played against them so…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/saku-koivu/it-goes-way-way-back-when-we-were-under-sweden-s-rule-we-always-think/) [Saku Koivu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/saku-koivu/) > [I'm against unanswerable concentrations of power, whether that be government or private industry or religious figures - anybody who is not accountable to the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-suarez/i-m-against-unanswerable-concentrations-of-power-whether-that-be/) [Daniel Suarez](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-suarez/) > [I'm an Indian and I shall not do anything that goes against my ethos.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sherlyn-chopra/i-m-an-indian-and-i-shall-not-do-anything-that-goes-against-my-ethos/) [Sherlyn Chopra](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sherlyn-chopra/) Browse all 2,190 Against quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "You're competing against other guys because ultimately there's only one starter, and all of us want to be that guy at some point. That's the way I approach it. Control what I can control and just be the best I can be each day.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Scott Tolzien" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scott-tolzien/you-re-competing-against-other-guys-because-ultimately-there-s-only/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Against" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scott-tolzien/you-re-competing-against-other-guys-because-ultimately-there-s-only/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/294/scott-tolzien-35870_against_you-re-competing-against-other-guys-beca_2012985.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/294/scott-tolzien-35870_against_you-re-competing-against-other-guys-beca_2012985.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/294/scott-tolzien-35870_against_you-re-competing-against-other-guys-beca_2012985.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“You're competing against other guys because ultimately there's only one starter, and all of us want to be…” — Scott Tolzien", "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": "Scott Tolzien", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scott-tolzien/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "You're competing against other guys because...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scott-tolzien/you-re-competing-against-other-guys-because-ultimately-there-s-only/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scott-tolzien/you-re-competing-against-other-guys-because-ultimately-there-s-only/#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 } } ] } ```