--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: When I was writing or competing in…" description: "\"When I was writing or competing in individual sports, it felt unfulfilling and lonely. When I was able to find a group of people I believed in and like..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/905/theo-epstein-7214_common-goal_when-i-was-writing-or-competing-in-indiv_353672.jpg" --- # When I was writing or competing in individual sports, it… ![“When I was writing or competing in individual sports, it felt unfulfilling and lonely. When I was able to find a group of people I believed in and liked, that all worked in pursuit of a common goal, it felt incredibly rewarding.” quote by Theo Epstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/905/theo-epstein-7214_common-goal_when-i-was-writing-or-competing-in-indiv_353672.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/905/theo-epstein-7214_common-goal_when-i-was-writing-or-competing-in-indiv_353672.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/905/theo-epstein-7214_common-goal_when-i-was-writing-or-competing-in-indiv_353672.jpg) > “When I was writing or competing in individual sports, it felt unfulfilling and lonely. When I was able to find a group of people I believed in and liked, that all worked in pursuit of a common goal, it felt incredibly rewarding.” [Theo Epstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/theo-epstein/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Individual pursuits can feel empty, but joining a supportive team with shared goals creates deep satisfaction and purpose. **In simple terms:** Teamwork brings fulfillment. Key Takeaway Seek collaborative environments. Themes teamwork belonging purpose motivation Mood inspired connected Type motivational reflective When to use this quote - sports teams - work projects - community groups - creative collaborations Key Concepts psychology social identity group dynamics Questions to Reflect On - How does shared purpose change personal motivation? - What challenges arise when aligning individual and team goals? A Different Perspective May overlook personal growth in group settings. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Common goal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/common-goal/) [Goals](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/goals/) [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) [Pursuit](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/pursuit/) [Sports](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sports/) [Writing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/writing/) ## Related quotes > [I played team sports, but I never felt like I fitted in that well, so this allowed me to be part of a community…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tony-hawk/i-played-team-sports-but-i-never-felt-like-i-fitted-in-that-well-so/) [Tony Hawk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tony-hawk/) > [“The path was the goal, and it felt glorious!”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elke-heinrich/the-path-was-the-goal-and-it-felt-glorious/) Elke Heinrich > [The goal was always to do something that felt human but was 100 percent electronic.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/flume/the-goal-was-always-to-do-something-that-felt-human-but-was-100/) [Flume](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/flume/) > [“My ambitions aren't grand. All I have ever wanted is to be there for the two people who mean everything to me. Maybe that's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/veronica-rossi/my-ambitions-aren-t-grand-all-i-have-ever-wanted-is-to-be-there-for/) [Veronica Rossi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/veronica-rossi/) > [“Nothing made sense. Every decision felt wrong. Every direction I looked led down a path I was unaware about. For years I have worked…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nichole-chase/nothing-made-sense-every-decision-felt-wrong-every-direction-i-looked/) [Nichole Chase](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nichole-chase/) > [Iran has been strong in individual sports like wrestling, judo and weightlifting, but we have never excelled at team sports.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ali-daei/iran-has-been-strong-in-individual-sports-like-wrestling-judo-and/) [Ali Daei](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ali-daei/) > [I was not good at team sports, I have to say. I'm quite good at individual sports, but I was not good at team…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-ford/i-was-not-good-at-team-sports-i-have-to-say-i-m-quite-good-at/) [Tom Ford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-ford/) > [Tennis is probably one of the most individual sports we have in the world.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniil-medvedev/tennis-is-probably-one-of-the-most-individual-sports-we-have-in-the/) [Daniil Medvedev](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniil-medvedev/) > [The Olympics are great, but they only truly mean something when the moments that come out of them are bigger than the individual sports.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/w-kamau-bell/the-olympics-are-great-but-they-only-truly-mean-something-when-the/) [W. Kamau Bell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/w-kamau-bell/) > [The tradition in Serbia has always been team sports - football, basketball, handball, volleyball and water polo, individual sports are not supported.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/novak-djokovic/the-tradition-in-serbia-has-always-been-team-sports-football/) [Novak Djokovic](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/novak-djokovic/) > [I think I'd probably shine really well in a team sport, but as everybody knows, I don't handle politics very well. A lot of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roy-nelson/i-think-i-d-probably-shine-really-well-in-a-team-sport-but-as/) [Roy Nelson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roy-nelson/) > [ I just couldn't believe that it \[Into the Forest script\] had fallen into my lap, because I felt so incredibly connected to my character,… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/evan-rachel-wood/i-just-couldn-t-believe-that-it-into-the-forest-script-had-fallen/) [Evan Rachel Wood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/evan-rachel-wood/) > [I remember my school days with mixed emotions; I was so grateful to be given a mainstream education, and yet at times I felt…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/liz-carr/i-remember-my-school-days-with-mixed-emotions-i-was-so-grateful-to-be/) [Liz Carr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/liz-carr/) > [There was a while when I got really bad stage fright and I basically felt...I was incredibly angry. I felt like everything had been…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jenny-slate/there-was-a-while-when-i-got-really-bad-stage-fright-and-i-basically/) [Jenny Slate](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jenny-slate/) > [ Yeah, it was horrible! I mean really horrible. I felt incredibly awkward. It was not something I was \[looking forward to\]. I don't know,… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emma-watson/yeah-it-was-horrible-i-mean-really-horrible-i-felt-incredibly-awkward/) [Emma Watson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emma-watson/) ## More by Theo Epstein > [I still wake up thinking about draft choices we should have made that would have impacted the franchise for a long time, but I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/theo-epstein/i-still-wake-up-thinking-about-draft-choices-we-should-have-made-that/) [Theo Epstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/theo-epstein/) > [I used to follow people home. I just like being anonymous so much that I would follow people home because they didn't know who…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/theo-epstein/i-used-to-follow-people-home-i-just-like-being-anonymous-so-much-that/) [Theo Epstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/theo-epstein/) > [When we build that foundation for sustained success, and it ultimately results in a World Series, it's going to be more than just a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/theo-epstein/when-we-build-that-foundation-for-sustained-success-and-it-ultimately/) [Theo Epstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/theo-epstein/) > [If you're trying to avoid one move that you don't think is going to work out, don't then settle for a different move that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/theo-epstein/if-you-re-trying-to-avoid-one-move-that-you-don-t-think-is-going-to/) [Theo Epstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/theo-epstein/) > [You're not always going to get the outcomes you feel like your talent deserves, that you feel like the big picture deserves. And what's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/theo-epstein/you-re-not-always-going-to-get-the-outcomes-you-feel-like-your-talent/) [Theo Epstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/theo-epstein/) > [We try to do a great job of understanding the opposing hitter and his tendencies. Maybe understand the hitter better than he knows himself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/theo-epstein/we-try-to-do-a-great-job-of-understanding-the-opposing-hitter-and-his/) [Theo Epstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/theo-epstein/) > [If I let my brain follow its path unfettered, it would be kinda ugly.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/theo-epstein/if-i-let-my-brain-follow-its-path-unfettered-it-would-be-kinda-ugly/) [Theo Epstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/theo-epstein/) > [Sometimes, on the business side, it's important to sort of have something with some sizzle in an offseason. It's the baseball operations department's job…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/theo-epstein/sometimes-on-the-business-side-it-s-important-to-sort-of-have/) [Theo Epstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/theo-epstein/) > [I believe in our players. That's why they're here. I also know slumping is part of baseball. What's surprising is sometimes when it lasts…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/theo-epstein/i-believe-in-our-players-that-s-why-they-re-here-i-also-know-slumping/) [Theo Epstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/theo-epstein/) > [I believe in the First Amendment. But I also believe we should be mindful of how other people feel.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/theo-epstein/i-believe-in-the-first-amendment-but-i-also-believe-we-should-be/) [Theo Epstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/theo-epstein/) > [Scouting and player development is the key to year-in and year-out success, not the occasional lucky hit. There are no definitive answers in this…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/theo-epstein/scouting-and-player-development-is-the-key-to-year-in-and-year-out/) [Theo Epstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/theo-epstein/) > [You have years where most things go your way, and you have years where more things than usual seem like a challenge.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/theo-epstein/you-have-years-where-most-things-go-your-way-and-you-have-years-where/) [Theo Epstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/theo-epstein/) > [The only time I think about my contract is when I'm asked about it by the media.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/theo-epstein/the-only-time-i-think-about-my-contract-is-when-i-m-asked-about-it-by/) [Theo Epstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/theo-epstein/) > [There has to be active, hands-on management in concert with the manager to lead the organization and make sure that the standards that we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/theo-epstein/there-has-to-be-active-hands-on-management-in-concert-with-the/) [Theo Epstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/theo-epstein/) > [The Cubs - with their passionate fans, dedicated ownership, tradition, and World Series drought - represented the ultimate new challenge and the one team…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/theo-epstein/the-cubs-with-their-passionate-fans-dedicated-ownership-tradition-and/) [Theo Epstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/theo-epstein/) [Explore all 93 Theo Epstein quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/theo-epstein/) ## More Common goal quotes > [We are a spectacular, splendid manifestation of life. We have language. . . . We have affection. We have genes for usefulness, and usefulness…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lewis-thomas/we-are-a-spectacular-splendid-manifestation-of-life-we-have-language/) [Lewis Thomas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lewis-thomas/) > [If you're going to preach dedication, work ethic, teamwork, unselfishness, and being part of a team to accomplish a common goal, you have to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-mullin/if-you-re-going-to-preach-dedication-work-ethic-teamwork/) [Chris Mullin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-mullin/) > [It is not the fact that we are united in common goals or purposes that makes us a community. Rather, it is the fact…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jerry-bridges/it-is-not-the-fact-that-we-are-united-in-common-goals-or-purposes/) [Jerry Bridges](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jerry-bridges/) > [“In times of old when I was new And Hogwarts barely started The founders of our noble school Thought never to be parted: United…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-k-rowling/in-times-of-old-when-i-was-new-and-hogwarts-barely-started-the/) [J.K. Rowling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-k-rowling/) > [I think you've just got to have everyone buy in, working towards a common goal. Doesn't matter who gets the credit. Really doesn't.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/connor-mcdavid/i-think-you-ve-just-got-to-have-everyone-buy-in-working-towards-a/) [Connor McDavid](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/connor-mcdavid/) > [“As Drucker explains, the fundamental task of management is “to make people capable of joint performance by giving them common goals, common values, the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/r-albert-mohler-jr/as-drucker-explains-the-fundamental-task-of-management-is-to-make/) [R. Albert Mohler Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/r-albert-mohler-jr/) > [Oh man, you miss it so much when you finish playing, especially when you play for most of your life. You miss just being…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nnamdi-asomugha/oh-man-you-miss-it-so-much-when-you-finish-playing-especially-when/) [Nnamdi Asomugha](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nnamdi-asomugha/) > [“We must work together on a common vision and a common goal.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lailah-gifty-akita/we-must-work-together-on-a-common-vision-and-a-common-goal/) [Lailah Gifty Akita](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lailah-gifty-akita/) > [30% of all people will never believe you. Do not allow your colleagues and employees to work for you. Instead, let them work for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-ma/30-of-all-people-will-never-believe-you-do-not-allow-your-colleagues/) [Jack Ma](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-ma/) > [We are all bound thither; we are hastening to the same common goal. Black death calls all things under the sway of its laws.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ovid/we-are-all-bound-thither-we-are-hastening-to-the-same-common-goal/) [Ovid](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ovid/) > [“if we make choices using Earth as the central standard, welfare as a common goal, and conscience as the absolute scale, even apparently complex…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ilchi-lee/if-we-make-choices-using-earth-as-the-central-standard-welfare-as-a/) [Ilchi Lee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ilchi-lee/) > [Football is oneness in action. When played well, it is unity on display. Players come from different races and different backgrounds. However, when they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tony-evans/football-is-oneness-in-action-when-played-well-it-is-unity-on-display/) [Tony Evans](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tony-evans/) > [My wife and I have already set up a charity back in Denmark - Fodbold Fonden - and now, through Common Goal, I have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kasper-schmeichel/my-wife-and-i-have-already-set-up-a-charity-back-in-denmark-fodbold/) [Kasper Schmeichel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kasper-schmeichel/) > [I like the Common Goal initiative, the vision of football as a tool for social change and the power football has to improve the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/juan-mata/i-like-the-common-goal-initiative-the-vision-of-football-as-a-tool/) [Juan Mata](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/juan-mata/) > [“management has no more critical role than to motivate and engage large numbers of people to work together toward a common goal. Defining and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeffrey-k-liker/management-has-no-more-critical-role-than-to-motivate-and-engage/) [Jeffrey K. Liker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeffrey-k-liker/) [Browse all 177 Common goal quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/common-goal/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "When I was writing or competing in individual sports, it felt unfulfilling and lonely. 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