--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I don't like second place; I'm out there…" description: "\"I don't like second place; I'm out there trying to win everything.\" — Tony Gonzalez" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/55f/tony-gonzalez-3785_second-place_i-don-t-like-second-place-i-m-out-there_2623145.jpg" --- # I don't like second place; I'm out there trying to win… ![“I don't like second place; I'm out there trying to win everything.” quote by Tony Gonzalez](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/55f/tony-gonzalez-3785_second-place_i-don-t-like-second-place-i-m-out-there_2623145.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/55f/tony-gonzalez-3785_second-place_i-don-t-like-second-place-i-m-out-there_2623145.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/55f/tony-gonzalez-3785_second-place_i-don-t-like-second-place-i-m-out-there_2623145.jpg) > “I don't like second place; I'm out there trying to win everything.” [Tony Gonzalez](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tony-gonzalez/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Second place is unacceptable; the goal is to win everything. **In simple terms:** He rejects being second, aiming for total victory. Key Takeaway Cultivate a winning mindset while respecting competition. Themes competition ambition sports psychology goal setting perfectionism Mood determined driven Type motivational critical When to use this quote - coaching strategies - goal planning - mental training - team culture - performance metrics Key Concepts winning mindset sportsmanship team dynamics personal drive Questions to Reflect On - What are the costs of always aiming to win? - How can balance be achieved? A Different Perspective Obsessive focus on winning can cause burnout. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Like Second](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/like-second-689169/) [Place Trying](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/place-trying-648510/) [Second place](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/second-place/) [Trying](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/trying/) [Trying Win](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/trying-win/) [Winning](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/winning/) ## Related quotes > [Play like you're the best, but practice like you're in second place.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ritu-ghatourey/play-like-you-re-the-best-but-practice-like-you-re-in-second-place/) [Ritu Ghatourey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ritu-ghatourey/) > [You have to always continue to strive no matter how hard things get, no matter how troubled you feel. No matter how tough things…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ll-cool-j/you-have-to-always-continue-to-strive-no-matter-how-hard-things-get/) [LL Cool J](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ll-cool-j/) > [You have to start from a place of trying to create a character.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rebecca-hall/you-have-to-start-from-a-place-of-trying-to-create-a-character/) [Rebecca Hall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rebecca-hall/) > [Forget the place you're trying to get to and see the beauty in right now.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/evanescence/forget-the-place-you-re-trying-to-get-to-and-see-the-beauty-in-right/) [Evanescence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/evanescence/) > [All my life I have had to fight to catch up with people. But not in the water. That's the one place where everyone…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jessica-long/all-my-life-i-have-had-to-fight-to-catch-up-with-people-but-not-in/) [Jessica Long](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jessica-long/) > [Studio 54 was the place you could never get into. Of course, the place you can't get into is the place everyone is trying…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rande-gerber/studio-54-was-the-place-you-could-never-get-into-of-course-the-place/) [Rande Gerber](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rande-gerber/) > [So much of what I am doing in my fiction is just trying to get into interesting places in terms of language or form,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-saunders/so-much-of-what-i-am-doing-in-my-fiction-is-just-trying-to-get-into/) [George Saunders](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-saunders/) > [That's the only place in all the lands we've ever heard of that we don't want to see any closer; and that's the one…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/that-s-the-only-place-in-all-the-lands-we-ve-ever-heard-of-that-we/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [You want me to keep trying , but then agin your putting girls in my place . I'm done trying .](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/you-want-me-to-keep-trying-but-then-agin-your-putting-girls-in-my/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I'm not trying to stay in the same place and I'm not trying to compete with what's currently in fashion.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eddie-money/i-m-not-trying-to-stay-in-the-same-place-and-i-m-not-trying-to-2/) [Eddie Money](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eddie-money/) > [We played well all the way until, like, the second quarter.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lebron-james/we-played-well-all-the-way-until-like-the-second-quarter/) [LeBron James](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lebron-james/) > [I don't know how good a principal I would be. I kind of like being the second.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/diana-taylor/i-don-t-know-how-good-a-principal-i-would-be-i-kind-of-like-being-the/) [Diana Taylor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/diana-taylor/) > [I love you guys , you's are like my second family &' honestly mean the world to me if it wasn't for you guys…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/i-love-you-guys-you-s-are-like-my-second-family-honestly-mean-the/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I don't like to be second in anything. I was trying, I just wasn't going anywhere.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-phelps/i-don-t-like-to-be-second-in-anything-i-was-trying-i-just-wasn-t/) [Michael Phelps](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-phelps/) > [I have to keep working hard and playing well because I don't like to be second or third: they're the worst places to be.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-pogba/i-have-to-keep-working-hard-and-playing-well-because-i-don-t-like-to/) [Paul Pogba](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-pogba/) ## More by Tony Gonzalez > [You learn a lot more about yourself and the opportunity for growth is so much greater when you lose.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tony-gonzalez/you-learn-a-lot-more-about-yourself-and-the-opportunity-for-growth-is/) [Tony Gonzalez](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tony-gonzalez/) > [The Super Bowl obviously wasn't in my cards, and I'm OK with that.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tony-gonzalez/the-super-bowl-obviously-wasn-t-in-my-cards-and-i-m-ok-with-that/) [Tony Gonzalez](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tony-gonzalez/) > [I've been able to play for some of the best fans in the NFL.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tony-gonzalez/i-ve-been-able-to-play-for-some-of-the-best-fans-in-the-nfl/) [Tony Gonzalez](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tony-gonzalez/) > [I've been on some really good teams, but we weren't able to get over the hump. It's offense, defense and special teams, and then…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tony-gonzalez/i-ve-been-on-some-really-good-teams-but-we-weren-t-able-to-get-over/) [Tony Gonzalez](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tony-gonzalez/) > [I want to go to the Super Bowl and win the Super Bowl.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tony-gonzalez/i-want-to-go-to-the-super-bowl-and-win-the-super-bowl/) [Tony Gonzalez](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tony-gonzalez/) > [Football is my love. Football is what I'm going to do. I'm a football player first.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tony-gonzalez/football-is-my-love-football-is-what-i-m-going-to-do-i-m-a-football/) [Tony Gonzalez](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tony-gonzalez/) > [I think when you give, that's probably the highest form of living. It's better than almost any feeling you could think of. It's way…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tony-gonzalez/i-think-when-you-give-that-s-probably-the-highest-form-of-living-it-s/) [Tony Gonzalez](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tony-gonzalez/) > [When I got to the NFL, they asked me what number I wanted, and I said No. 44, but they told me tight ends…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tony-gonzalez/when-i-got-to-the-nfl-they-asked-me-what-number-i-wanted-and-i-said/) [Tony Gonzalez](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tony-gonzalez/) > [My career, it's turned out to be something more than I ever thought and more than I ever dreamed. It's been an unbelievable ride.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tony-gonzalez/my-career-it-s-turned-out-to-be-something-more-than-i-ever-thought/) [Tony Gonzalez](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tony-gonzalez/) > [As far as the regrets go, that's just not part of my makeup.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tony-gonzalez/as-far-as-the-regrets-go-that-s-just-not-part-of-my-makeup/) [Tony Gonzalez](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tony-gonzalez/) > [I've always wanted a ring. That's been my main goal as a player over the last 15 years of my career. You're really trying…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tony-gonzalez/i-ve-always-wanted-a-ring-that-s-been-my-main-goal-as-a-player-over/) [Tony Gonzalez](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tony-gonzalez/) > [When you find yourself in those situations where you have to take action in a crucial situation, you just do it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tony-gonzalez/when-you-find-yourself-in-those-situations-where-you-have-to-take/) [Tony Gonzalez](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tony-gonzalez/) > [I didn't start my whole rookie year.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tony-gonzalez/i-didn-t-start-my-whole-rookie-year/) [Tony Gonzalez](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tony-gonzalez/) > [There aren't many football players other than kickers who are Latin.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tony-gonzalez/there-aren-t-many-football-players-other-than-kickers-who-are-latin/) [Tony Gonzalez](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tony-gonzalez/) > [My grandfather spoke fluent Spanish and I have family members who speak fluent Spanish.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tony-gonzalez/my-grandfather-spoke-fluent-spanish-and-i-have-family-members-who/) [Tony Gonzalez](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tony-gonzalez/) [Explore all 122 Tony Gonzalez quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tony-gonzalez/) ## More Second place quotes > [Those whose life is long still strive for gain, and for all mortals all things take second place to money.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sophocles/those-whose-life-is-long-still-strive-for-gain-and-for-all-mortals/) [Sophocles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sophocles/) > [I love feeling loved. I don't love knowing that I will always come in second place. I love the fact that at least sometimes…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jodi-picoult/i-love-feeling-loved-i-don-t-love-knowing-that-i-will-always-come-in/) [Jodi Picoult](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jodi-picoult/) > [“It took only three years for Jonathan Papelbon to surpass Bill Campbell, Lee Smith, Tom Gordon, Sparky Lyle, Derek Lowe, Jeff Reardon, Ellis Kinder,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tucker-elliot/it-took-only-three-years-for-jonathan-papelbon-to-surpass-bill/) [Tucker Elliot](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tucker-elliot/) > [“I think being a woman is like being Irish... Everyone says you're important and nice, but you take second place all the time.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/iris-murdoch/i-think-being-a-woman-is-like-being-irish-everyone-says-you-re/) [Iris Murdoch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/iris-murdoch/) > [Neither should men study war with a view to the enslavement of those who do not deserve to be enslaved; but first of all…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aristotle/neither-should-men-study-war-with-a-view-to-the-enslavement-of-those/) [Aristotle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aristotle/) > [I'm hearing in youth sports where you're not allowed to post scores of games online; everybody's gotta get a trophy. I mean, that's ridiculous.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carli-lloyd/i-m-hearing-in-youth-sports-where-you-re-not-allowed-to-post-scores/) [Carli Lloyd](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carli-lloyd/) > [Why, I say, that to tax the community for the advantage of a class is not protection; it is plunder, and I entirely disclaim…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-disraeli/why-i-say-that-to-tax-the-community-for-the-advantage-of-a-class-is/) [Benjamin Disraeli](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-disraeli/) > [The more desires you have, the more misery you will create for yourself. Misery is a consequence of desiring - and you go on…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/the-more-desires-you-have-the-more-misery-you-will-create-for/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I have finished second twice in my time at Green Bay, and I don't ever want to finish second again. There is a second…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vince-lombardi/i-have-finished-second-twice-in-my-time-at-green-bay-and-i-don-t-ever/) [Vince Lombardi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vince-lombardi/) > [“Living in the same city as Microsoft, I’m only too aware that, even in low-technology businesses like coffee, the Next Big Thing could knock…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/howard-schultz/living-in-the-same-city-as-microsoft-i-m-only-too-aware-that-even-in/) [Howard Schultz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/howard-schultz/) > [Dione Lucas has been obscured by larger-than-life personalities like Julia Child, but she had it going on. She is like the horse that came…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alex-guarnaschelli/dione-lucas-has-been-obscured-by-larger-than-life-personalities-like/) [Alex Guarnaschelli](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alex-guarnaschelli/) > [“In the second place, whatever the Lady had intended by by telling them about Harfang, the actual effect on the children was a bad…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/c-s-lewis-2/in-the-second-place-whatever-the-lady-had-intended-by-by-telling-them/) [C.S. Lewis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/c-s-lewis-2/) > [“Oh, but I am quite resigned to taking second place in the shadow of my husband. I am humbly aware that the wife of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ayn-rand/oh-but-i-am-quite-resigned-to-taking-second-place-in-the-shadow-of-my/) [Ayn Rand](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ayn-rand/) > [Without you Im not okay. Without you Ive lost my way. My hearts stuck in second place¦.without you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/superman/without-you-im-not-okay-without-you-ive-lost-my-way-my-hearts-stuck/) [Superman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/superman/) > [“When belonging to an elite group eclipses the love of God, when I draw life and meaning from any source other than my belovedness,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brennan-manning/when-belonging-to-an-elite-group-eclipses-the-love-of-god-when-i-draw/) [Brennan Manning](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brennan-manning/) [Browse all 199 Second place quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/second-place/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "I don't like second place; I'm out there trying to win everything.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Tony Gonzalez" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tony-gonzalez/i-don-t-like-second-place-i-m-out-there-trying-to-win-everything/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Second place" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tony-gonzalez/i-don-t-like-second-place-i-m-out-there-trying-to-win-everything/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/55f/tony-gonzalez-3785_second-place_i-don-t-like-second-place-i-m-out-there_2623145.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/55f/tony-gonzalez-3785_second-place_i-don-t-like-second-place-i-m-out-there_2623145.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/55f/tony-gonzalez-3785_second-place_i-don-t-like-second-place-i-m-out-there_2623145.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“I don't like second place; I'm out there trying to win everything.” — Tony Gonzalez", "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": "Tony Gonzalez", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tony-gonzalez/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "I don't like second place; I'm...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tony-gonzalez/i-don-t-like-second-place-i-m-out-there-trying-to-win-everything/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tony-gonzalez/i-don-t-like-second-place-i-m-out-there-trying-to-win-everything/#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 } } ] } ```