--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: You're only special when you're winning." description: "\"You're only special when you're winning.\" — Sean Strickland" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e57/sean-strickland-6697_football_you-re-only-special-when-you-re-winning_2655884.jpg" --- # You're only special when you're winning. ![“You're only special when you're winning.” quote by Sean Strickland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e57/sean-strickland-6697_football_you-re-only-special-when-you-re-winning_2655884.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e57/sean-strickland-6697_football_you-re-only-special-when-you-re-winning_2655884.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e57/sean-strickland-6697_football_you-re-only-special-when-you-re-winning_2655884.jpg) > “You're only special when you're winning.” [Sean Strickland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sean-strickland/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Success is only valued when it is visible; otherwise it feels ordinary. **In simple terms:** Winning makes you feel special. Key Takeaway Value effort, not just outcomes. Themes achievement validation competition Mood motivational critical Type inspirational psychological When to use this quote - sports - career - personal goals Key Concepts self‑esteem external validation Questions to Reflect On - Do you define yourself by wins? - How can you find worth in effort alone? A Different Perspective Overemphasis on winning can undermine intrinsic motivation. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Football](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/football/) [Only](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/only/) [Special](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/special/) [Special Winning](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/special-winning-1807060/) [Winning](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/winning/) [You](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/you/) ## Related quotes > [The first championship in 2005 will always be the most special but winning this fifth one was by far my best performance because of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hikaru-nakamura/the-first-championship-in-2005-will-always-be-the-most-special-but/) [Hikaru Nakamura](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hikaru-nakamura/) > [Now that I've had a chance to play for a team where we won 30 or 35 games, you understand how special winning is.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/b-j-armstrong/now-that-i-ve-had-a-chance-to-play-for-a-team-where-we-won-30-or-35/) [B. J. Armstrong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/b-j-armstrong/) > [I think there can be nothing more special than winning something with the shirt of your national team.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/angel-di-maria/i-think-there-can-be-nothing-more-special-than-winning-something-with/) [Angel Di Maria](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/angel-di-maria/) > [This is very special, winning the gold for your country.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/deandre-jordan/this-is-very-special-winning-the-gold-for-your-country/) [DeAndre Jordan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/deandre-jordan/) > [At the end of the day, winning games is the only thing that matters.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fred-vanvleet/at-the-end-of-the-day-winning-games-is-the-only-thing-that-matters/) [Fred VanVleet](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fred-vanvleet/) > [To me it's the best trophy you can win and to bring it back for all them fans that have supported us right through…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-gerrard/to-me-it-s-the-best-trophy-you-can-win-and-to-bring-it-back-for-all/) [Steven Gerrard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-gerrard/) > [One little secret of the guys who have won one slam, is that we don't want other guys to win one because its like…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andy-roddick/one-little-secret-of-the-guys-who-have-won-one-slam-is-that-we-don-t/) [Andy Roddick](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andy-roddick/) > [I think teams win. I don't think offense wins. I don't think defense wins. I don't think special teams - teams win.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dabo-swinney/i-think-teams-win-i-don-t-think-offense-wins-i-don-t-think-defense/) [Dabo Swinney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dabo-swinney/) > [I have a lot of special memories in Dubuque, including winning it all in 2011.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johnny-gaudreau/i-have-a-lot-of-special-memories-in-dubuque-including-winning-it-all/) [Johnny Gaudreau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johnny-gaudreau/) > [June is definitely a special month for me as many of my milestone films have released in this month, but that doesn't mean I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/diljit-dosanjh/june-is-definitely-a-special-month-for-me-as-many-of-my-milestone/) [Diljit Dosanjh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/diljit-dosanjh/) > [The great ones are about winning and winning only.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/skip-bayless/the-great-ones-are-about-winning-and-winning-only/) [Skip Bayless](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/skip-bayless/) > [To be playing in my first Super Bowl in New Orleans, it's special.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ed-reed/to-be-playing-in-my-first-super-bowl-in-new-orleans-it-s-special/) [Ed Reed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ed-reed/) > [You can't win anything more special than a World Cup.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/didier-deschamps/you-can-t-win-anything-more-special-than-a-world-cup/) [Didier Deschamps](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/didier-deschamps/) > [Man United has always had a unique aura about it, and when you watch them play everyone knows it's something special.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joel-glazer/man-united-has-always-had-a-unique-aura-about-it-and-when-you-watch/) [Joel Glazer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joel-glazer/) > [The last goal I ever scored in professional football was at Goodison Park - a glancing header for Aston Villa in a 1-0 win…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-sutton/the-last-goal-i-ever-scored-in-professional-football-was-at-goodison/) [Chris Sutton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-sutton/) ## More by Sean Strickland > [I get those pay-per-view buys.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sean-strickland/i-get-those-pay-per-view-buys/) [Sean Strickland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sean-strickland/) > [It's a hard thing to be a fighter.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sean-strickland/it-s-a-hard-thing-to-be-a-fighter/) [Sean Strickland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sean-strickland/) > [I would love to get a title shot but as the UFC knows, I'm a company man.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sean-strickland/i-would-love-to-get-a-title-shot-but-as-the-ufc-knows-i-m-a-company/) [Sean Strickland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sean-strickland/) > [The thing about Usman, man, cardio. He just has cardio, you know?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sean-strickland/the-thing-about-usman-man-cardio-he-just-has-cardio-you-know/) [Sean Strickland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sean-strickland/) > [I don't want to sound too cryptic, but if it wasn't for MMA, I'd probably be in prison.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sean-strickland/i-don-t-want-to-sound-too-cryptic-but-if-it-wasn-t-for-mma-i-d/) [Sean Strickland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sean-strickland/) > [People like me because they're like, 'Oh, that's my white trash uncle that I used to hang out with. I know that guy, look…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sean-strickland/people-like-me-because-they-re-like-oh-that-s-my-white-trash-uncle/) [Sean Strickland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sean-strickland/) > [There is a vast difference between men and women.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sean-strickland/there-is-a-vast-difference-between-men-and-women/) [Sean Strickland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sean-strickland/) > [I run my mouth so much, I think people forget I can fight.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sean-strickland/i-run-my-mouth-so-much-i-think-people-forget-i-can-fight/) [Sean Strickland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sean-strickland/) > [I don't want to fight anybody boring. I want to fight, you know, give me someone who's making money.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sean-strickland/i-don-t-want-to-fight-anybody-boring-i-want-to-fight-you-know-give-me/) [Sean Strickland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sean-strickland/) > [Women don't need to work.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sean-strickland/women-don-t-need-to-work/) [Sean Strickland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sean-strickland/) > [You are born living in a commercial. When you're a little infant and you're watching TV, you are born looking at Audi and Mercedes…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sean-strickland/you-are-born-living-in-a-commercial-when-you-re-a-little-infant-and/) [Sean Strickland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sean-strickland/) > [I want to make money. It gives me purpose.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sean-strickland/i-want-to-make-money-it-gives-me-purpose/) [Sean Strickland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sean-strickland/) > [I can fight 25 minutes. I can fight an hour.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sean-strickland/i-can-fight-25-minutes-i-can-fight-an-hour/) [Sean Strickland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sean-strickland/) > [I'm not disillusioned with what I am.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sean-strickland/i-m-not-disillusioned-with-what-i-am/) [Sean Strickland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sean-strickland/) > [That's the problem. We've had too many easy wars. We need a good one. We need like a Vietnam to harden everybody back up.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sean-strickland/that-s-the-problem-we-ve-had-too-many-easy-wars-we-need-a-good-one-we/) [Sean Strickland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sean-strickland/) [Explore all 98 Sean Strickland quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sean-strickland/) ## More Football quotes > [When I came to Chelsea, it was clear that, like many other players, I would first be loaned out. So I went to Belgium…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thorgan-hazard/when-i-came-to-chelsea-it-was-clear-that-like-many-other-players-i/) [Thorgan Hazard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thorgan-hazard/) > [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](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brendan-mundorf/) > [Giggs is the realest.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-kaluuya/giggs-is-the-realest/) [Daniel Kaluuya](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-kaluuya/) > [You get a new coach; you do things a little differently.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/archie-manning/you-get-a-new-coach-you-do-things-a-little-differently/) [Archie Manning](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/archie-manning/) > [You gotta have a little kid in you to play football.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/herman-edwards/you-gotta-have-a-little-kid-in-you-to-play-football/) [Herman Edwards](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/herman-edwards/) > [I don't really like too much credit. I know nobody's going to believe this, but I'd rather be able to score goals and nobody…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bradley-wright-phillips/i-don-t-really-like-too-much-credit-i-know-nobody-s-going-to-believe/) [Bradley Wright-Phillips](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bradley-wright-phillips/) > [My team mates are fundamental for my characteristics, if they send in crosses I can play inside the area.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/filippo-inzaghi/my-team-mates-are-fundamental-for-my-characteristics-if-they-send-in/) [Filippo Inzaghi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/filippo-inzaghi/) > [The Copa del Rey is a different competition. It is football in its purest form and is different from the continuity of the league.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-laudrup/the-copa-del-rey-is-a-different-competition-it-is-football-in-its/) [Michael Laudrup](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-laudrup/) > [“Wild card, got it," Duncan said. "Just like in Crazy Eights. I can be a diamond; I can be a spade. Whatever you need…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-healy/wild-card-got-it-duncan-said-just-like-in-crazy-eights-i-can-be-a/) [Christopher Healy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-healy/) > [Leo, Cristiano Ronaldo, Neymar, Eden. Every year, you look at their numbers - score goals, assists, minutes - to see they play very well.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pedro/leo-cristiano-ronaldo-neymar-eden-every-year-you-look-at-their/) [Pedro](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pedro/) > [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/) > [I just enjoy winning.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/xander-bogaerts/i-just-enjoy-winning/) [Xander Bogaerts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/xander-bogaerts/) > [I think you can get, as a player, stuck in the mindset of trying too hard to prove yourself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/trinity-rodman/i-think-you-can-get-as-a-player-stuck-in-the-mindset-of-trying-too/) [Trinity Rodman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/trinity-rodman/) > [We cannot change the cards we are dealt, just how we play the hand.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/randy-pausch/we-cannot-change-the-cards-we-are-dealt-just-how-we-play-the-hand/) [Randy Pausch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/randy-pausch/) [Browse all 59,646 Football quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/football/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "You're only special when you're winning.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Sean Strickland" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sean-strickland/you-re-only-special-when-you-re-winning/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Football" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sean-strickland/you-re-only-special-when-you-re-winning/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e57/sean-strickland-6697_football_you-re-only-special-when-you-re-winning_2655884.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e57/sean-strickland-6697_football_you-re-only-special-when-you-re-winning_2655884.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e57/sean-strickland-6697_football_you-re-only-special-when-you-re-winning_2655884.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“You're only special when you're winning.” — Sean Strickland", "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": "Sean Strickland", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sean-strickland/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "You're only special when you're winning.", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sean-strickland/you-re-only-special-when-you-re-winning/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sean-strickland/you-re-only-special-when-you-re-winning/#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 } } ] } ```