--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: But, hey I did everything the right way…" description: "\"But, hey I did everything the right way and earned my spot in this game, nothing was given to me.\" — Shaquille O'Neal" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/372/shaquille-o-neal-659_basketball_but-hey-i-did-everything-the-right-way-a_2789668.jpg" --- # But, hey I did everything the right way and earned my spot… ![“But, hey I did everything the right way and earned my spot in this game, nothing was given to me.” quote by Shaquille O'Neal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/372/shaquille-o-neal-659_basketball_but-hey-i-did-everything-the-right-way-a_2789668.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/372/shaquille-o-neal-659_basketball_but-hey-i-did-everything-the-right-way-a_2789668.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/372/shaquille-o-neal-659_basketball_but-hey-i-did-everything-the-right-way-a_2789668.jpg) > “But, hey I did everything the right way and earned my spot in this game, nothing was given to me.” [Shaquille O'Neal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shaquille-o-neal/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Hard work earned his place; nothing was handed to him. **In simple terms:** Earned success through effort. Key Takeaway Acknowledge effort over entitlement. Themes hard work achievement self-reliance Mood determined proud Type motivational realistic When to use this quote - career advancement - entrepreneurship - skill development Key Concepts sports psychology personal responsibility Questions to Reflect On - How do you measure earned success? - What role does privilege play in achievement? A Different Perspective Hard work may be limited by systemic barriers. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Basketball](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/basketball/) [Did Right](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/did-right/) [Earned](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/earned/) [Earned Spot](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/earned-spot-3370476/) [Everything](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/everything/) [Game](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/game/) [Game Given](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/game-given-281213/) [Games](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/games/) [Given](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/given/) [Hey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hey/) [Nothing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/nothing/) [Right](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/right/) [Right way](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/right-way/) [Spots](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/spots/) [Way](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/way/) [Way Earned](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/way-earned-3370477/) ## Related quotes > [I can finally say that I'm a champion, and I did it the right way. I didn't shortcut anything. You know, I put a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lebron-james/i-can-finally-say-that-i-m-a-champion-and-i-did-it-the-right-way-i/) [Lebron James](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lebron-james/) > [My parents let me and my brother do what we wanted to do as long as we did it the right way.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ryan-zimmerman/my-parents-let-me-and-my-brother-do-what-we-wanted-to-do-as-long-as/) [Ryan Zimmerman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ryan-zimmerman/) > [I just knew it was time to leave that thing where it was. Even though I still occasionally think about it, I still think…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jerry-seinfeld/i-just-knew-it-was-time-to-leave-that-thing-where-it-was-even-though/) [Jerry Seinfeld](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jerry-seinfeld/) > [Cricket has given me everything. If I'm anything today, it is because of the game... where I have given blood, sweat, and tears.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mohammad-azharuddin/cricket-has-given-me-everything-if-i-m-anything-today-it-is-because/) [Mohammad Azharuddin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mohammad-azharuddin/) > [When you've got an opportunity to try and finish a game on a given day, you try and do that.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-lara/when-you-ve-got-an-opportunity-to-try-and-finish-a-game-on-a-given/) [Brian Lara](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-lara/) > [The game has given me so much, and I tried to give so much back to the people who have showed me so much…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francesco-totti/the-game-has-given-me-so-much-and-i-tried-to-give-so-much-back-to-the/) [Francesco Totti](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francesco-totti/) > [I hope to remain connected with the game that's given me so much in some capacity, whatever that proves to be.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-green/i-hope-to-remain-connected-with-the-game-that-s-given-me-so-much-in/) [Robert Green](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-green/) > [Whenever I am playing, I try to contribute in both departments of the game. And whenever I have been given opportunities, more often than…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ravindra-jadeja/whenever-i-am-playing-i-try-to-contribute-in-both-departments-of-the/) [Ravindra Jadeja](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ravindra-jadeja/) > [My cup runneth over when it comes to what the game has given to me, so I am forever in debt in trying to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dawn-staley/my-cup-runneth-over-when-it-comes-to-what-the-game-has-given-to-me-so/) [Dawn Staley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dawn-staley/) > [You always try to know what you need, try to manage the game given the game situation...and I think that's one of the things…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-belichick/you-always-try-to-know-what-you-need-try-to-manage-the-game-given-the/) [Bill Belichick](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-belichick/) > [And I want to do it the right way, like everybody else, not just a famous figurehead that gets a job because he is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shaquille-o-neal/and-i-want-to-do-it-the-right-way-like-everybody-else-not-just-a/) [Shaquille O'Neal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shaquille-o-neal/) > [Don't ask yourself what you did wrong; ask yourself what you did right.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-kessel/don-t-ask-yourself-what-you-did-wrong-ask-yourself-what-you-did-right/) [John Kessel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-kessel/) > [I'm not saying that everything I did was right, but everything I did was for an honourable purpose.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lee-kuan-yew/i-m-not-saying-that-everything-i-did-was-right-but-everything-i-did/) [Lee Kuan Yew](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lee-kuan-yew/) > [“Growing up wasn't so bad, as long as you did it with the right person.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/monica-alexander/growing-up-wasn-t-so-bad-as-long-as-you-did-it-with-the-right-person/) [Monica Alexander](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/monica-alexander/) > [I take full responsability...for what we did. It was the right thing to do.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-j-clinton/i-take-full-responsability-for-what-we-did-it-was-the-right-thing-to/) [William J. Clinton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-j-clinton/) ## More by Shaquille O'Neal > [ I failed, I think, seven \[or\] eight times before I finally got my first \[championship\]. It was just, you know, just about me growing… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shaquille-o-neal/i-failed-i-think-seven-or-eight-times-before-i-finally-got-my-first/) [Shaquille O'Neal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shaquille-o-neal/) > [And if the big dog ain't me, then the house won't get guarded - period.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shaquille-o-neal/and-if-the-big-dog-ain-t-me-then-the-house-won-t-get-guarded-period/) [Shaquille O'Neal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shaquille-o-neal/) > [And I want to do it the right way, like everybody else, not just a famous figurehead that gets a job because he is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shaquille-o-neal/and-i-want-to-do-it-the-right-way-like-everybody-else-not-just-a/) [Shaquille O'Neal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shaquille-o-neal/) > [I don't send messages, I'm not a fax machine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shaquille-o-neal/i-don-t-send-messages-i-m-not-a-fax-machine/) [Shaquille O'Neal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shaquille-o-neal/) > [I told our guys they must not have cable because Antoine Walker knows how to play, Derek Anderson can play, Shandon Anderson knows how…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shaquille-o-neal/i-told-our-guys-they-must-not-have-cable-because-antoine-walker-knows/) [Shaquille O'Neal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shaquille-o-neal/) > [I was really upset. I felt like they tried to limit me, whoever 'they' may be. So I just said to myself third quarter…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shaquille-o-neal/i-was-really-upset-i-felt-like-they-tried-to-limit-me-whoever-they/) [Shaquille O'Neal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shaquille-o-neal/) > [Keep in mind, I'm not allowed to be tough. I'm tamed.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shaquille-o-neal/keep-in-mind-i-m-not-allowed-to-be-tough-i-m-tamed/) [Shaquille O'Neal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shaquille-o-neal/) > [I'm still the baddest expletive in the world. Yeah, I'm getting older, but Kareem got older. Hakeem got older. I don't need Earthlings' respect.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shaquille-o-neal/i-m-still-the-baddest-expletive-in-the-world-yeah-i-m-getting-older/) [Shaquille O'Neal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shaquille-o-neal/) > [Write this: Since my boy is the coach, I'm going to try out for the Dolphins next year. Tight end.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shaquille-o-neal/write-this-since-my-boy-is-the-coach-i-m-going-to-try-out-for-the/) [Shaquille O'Neal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shaquille-o-neal/) > [Everybody talks about being a role model. But if you look up the word 'role' in a dictionary, it describes playing a part. Everything…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shaquille-o-neal/everybody-talks-about-being-a-role-model-but-if-you-look-up-the-word/) [Shaquille O'Neal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shaquille-o-neal/) > [Why don't you bring your face up here and let me punch it? Then you can tell me (if I'm stronger).](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shaquille-o-neal/why-don-t-you-bring-your-face-up-here-and-let-me-punch-it-then-you/) [Shaquille O'Neal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shaquille-o-neal/) > [I'm known as The Big Baryshnikov.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shaquille-o-neal/i-m-known-as-the-big-baryshnikov/) [Shaquille O'Neal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shaquille-o-neal/) > [Enunciation, diction, all that stuff. None of that is in my personality.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shaquille-o-neal/enunciation-diction-all-that-stuff-none-of-that-is-in-my-personality/) [Shaquille O'Neal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shaquille-o-neal/) > [I told Leonard, in the immortal words of Tom Cruise in Mission Impossible 2, 'I'm going on vacation. If I tell you where I'm…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shaquille-o-neal/i-told-leonard-in-the-immortal-words-of-tom-cruise-in-mission/) [Shaquille O'Neal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shaquille-o-neal/) > [Stats don't matter. I care about winning, not stats. If I score 0 points and we win I'm happy. If I score 50, 60…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shaquille-o-neal/stats-don-t-matter-i-care-about-winning-not-stats-if-i-score-0-points/) [Shaquille O'Neal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shaquille-o-neal/) [Explore all 422 Shaquille O'Neal quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shaquille-o-neal/) ## More Basketball quotes > [We love playing together and we love adversity. You know, back-to-back, the two best teams in the East.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-nash/we-love-playing-together-and-we-love-adversity-you-know-back-to-back/) [Steve Nash](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-nash/) > [I don't look at myself as a basketball coach. I look at myself as a leader who happens to coach basketball.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-krzyzewski/i-don-t-look-at-myself-as-a-basketball-coach-i-look-at-myself-as-a/) [Mike Krzyzewski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-krzyzewski/) > [There is no doubt in my mind and I know in my time, there will be a Canadian basketball player playing for Toronto Raptors, 100%](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/masai-ujiri/there-is-no-doubt-in-my-mind-and-i-know-in-my-time-there-will-be-a/) [Masai Ujiri](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/masai-ujiri/) > [I learned so much from Sue about the Xs and Os of the game of basketball.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pat-summitt/i-learned-so-much-from-sue-about-the-xs-and-os-of-the-game-of/) [Pat Summitt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pat-summitt/) > [ I failed, I think, seven \[or\] eight times before I finally got my first \[championship\]. It was just, you know, just about me growing… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shaquille-o-neal/i-failed-i-think-seven-or-eight-times-before-i-finally-got-my-first/) [Shaquille O'Neal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shaquille-o-neal/) > [It's not how big you are, it's how big you play](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-wooden/it-s-not-how-big-you-are-it-s-how-big-you-play/) [John Wooden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-wooden/) > [Basketball isn't just a sport to me ; it's my ecstasy !](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jamira-robinson/basketball-isn-t-just-a-sport-to-me-it-s-my-ecstasy/) [Jamira Robinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jamira-robinson/) > [It's similar to basketball: when you go to different gyms and win or lose, you learn something new. So when kids get out of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andre-iguodala/it-s-similar-to-basketball-when-you-go-to-different-gyms-and-win-or/) [Andre Iguodala](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andre-iguodala/) > [If a Coach is determined to stay in the coaching profession, he will develop from year to year. This much is true, no coach…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adolph-rupp/if-a-coach-is-determined-to-stay-in-the-coaching-profession-he-will/) [Adolph Rupp](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adolph-rupp/) > [And I want to do it the right way, like everybody else, not just a famous figurehead that gets a job because he is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shaquille-o-neal/and-i-want-to-do-it-the-right-way-like-everybody-else-not-just-a/) [Shaquille O'Neal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shaquille-o-neal/) > [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/) > [Practice to beat the best.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dick-bennett/practice-to-beat-the-best/) [Dick Bennett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dick-bennett/) > [I'm a competitive person. I love the game of basketball. I'm a gym rat.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-pierce/i-m-a-competitive-person-i-love-the-game-of-basketball-i-m-a-gym-rat/) [Paul Pierce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-pierce/) > [I am both humbled and honored to receive the Honda Sports Award for women's basketball.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brittney-griner/i-am-both-humbled-and-honored-to-receive-the-honda-sports-award-for/) [Brittney Griner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brittney-griner/) > [What I've talked about the entire series and throughout this playoffs is about intensity and effort, desire and will of our players.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-laimbeer/what-i-ve-talked-about-the-entire-series-and-throughout-this-playoffs/) [Bill Laimbeer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-laimbeer/) [Browse all 5,387 Basketball quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/basketball/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "But, hey I did everything the right way and earned my spot in this game, nothing was given to me.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Shaquille O'Neal" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shaquille-o-neal/but-hey-i-did-everything-the-right-way-and-earned-my-spot-in-this/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Basketball" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shaquille-o-neal/but-hey-i-did-everything-the-right-way-and-earned-my-spot-in-this/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/372/shaquille-o-neal-659_basketball_but-hey-i-did-everything-the-right-way-a_2789668.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/372/shaquille-o-neal-659_basketball_but-hey-i-did-everything-the-right-way-a_2789668.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/372/shaquille-o-neal-659_basketball_but-hey-i-did-everything-the-right-way-a_2789668.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“But, hey I did everything the right way and earned my spot in this game, nothing was given to me.” — Shaquille O'Neal", "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": "Shaquille O'Neal", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shaquille-o-neal/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "But, hey I did everything the...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shaquille-o-neal/but-hey-i-did-everything-the-right-way-and-earned-my-spot-in-this/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shaquille-o-neal/but-hey-i-did-everything-the-right-way-and-earned-my-spot-in-this/#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 } } ] } ```