--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: It doesn't matter how tough you are. It…" description: "\"It doesn't matter how tough you are. It doesn't matter how smart you are or what a great leader you are. None of that stuff matters if you can't put th..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/da6/troy-aikman-4632_great_it-doesn-t-matter-how-tough-you-are-it-d_1807005.png" --- # It doesn't matter how tough you are. It doesn't matter how… ![“It doesn't matter how tough you are. It doesn't matter how smart you are or what a great leader you are. None of that stuff matters if you can't put the ball where you have to put it.” quote by Troy Aikman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/da6/troy-aikman-4632_great_it-doesn-t-matter-how-tough-you-are-it-d_1807005.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/da6/troy-aikman-4632_great_it-doesn-t-matter-how-tough-you-are-it-d_1807005.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/da6/troy-aikman-4632_great_it-doesn-t-matter-how-tough-you-are-it-d_1807005.png) > “It doesn't matter how tough you are. It doesn't matter how smart you are or what a great leader you are. None of that stuff matters if you can't put the ball where you have to put it.” [Troy Aikman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/troy-aikman/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Execution matters more than talent or reputation; success depends on delivering results where needed. **In simple terms:** Results trump reputation. Key Takeaway Focus on delivering the needed outcome. Themes performance leadership accountability Mood determined pragmatic Type motivational practical When to use this quote - sports - business - project management Key Concepts Results‑oriented mindset execution Questions to Reflect On - What tasks are you avoiding that need completion? - How can you align your strengths with required outcomes? A Different Perspective Talent alone cannot guarantee success without execution. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Great leader](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/great-leader/) [Leadership](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/leadership/) [Smart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/smart/) ## Related quotes > [Every ball matters - if with the last ball the opposition need four to win, and you've gone for 96, can you get that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dale-steyn/every-ball-matters-if-with-the-last-ball-the-opposition-need-four-to/) [Dale Steyn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dale-steyn/) > [I mean he's a very famous director... they're not going to put their... and he's very tough, he doesn't like interference at all, so…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ronald-harwood/i-mean-he-s-a-very-famous-director-they-re-not-going-to-put-their-and/) [Ronald Harwood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ronald-harwood/) > [I've always prided myself on being mentally tough, but just because you're mentally tough doesn't mean that what's going on between your ears is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-chiesa/i-ve-always-prided-myself-on-being-mentally-tough-but-just-because/) [Michael Chiesa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-chiesa/) > [Koeman's a good guy. He can be tough. He doesn't shout but he passes the message on in a strong way.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/victor-wanyama/koeman-s-a-good-guy-he-can-be-tough-he-doesn-t-shout-but-he-passes/) [Victor Wanyama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/victor-wanyama/) > [“Life is tough, but it doesn't have to be complicated.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/calvin-w-allison/life-is-tough-but-it-doesn-t-have-to-be-complicated/) [Calvin W. Allison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/calvin-w-allison/) > [I don't believe there's any problem in this country, no matter how tough it is, that Americans, when they roll up their sleeves, can't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-carlin/i-don-t-believe-there-s-any-problem-in-this-country-no-matter-how/) [George Carlin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-carlin/) > [Any time you end your career, no matter what it is, it's tough to leave, regardless of if you know it's time or not.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-woodson/any-time-you-end-your-career-no-matter-what-it-is-it-s-tough-to-leave/) [Charles Woodson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-woodson/) > [“No matter how tough you think you are, if you live long enough, eventually you get all squishy.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-friedman/no-matter-how-tough-you-think-you-are-if-you-live-long-enough/) Daniel Friedman > [Always keep on smiling, no matter how tough things get. There is a solution behind every problem no matter how big or small.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/prince-khetran/always-keep-on-smiling-no-matter-how-tough-things-get-there-is-a/) [Prince Khetran](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/prince-khetran/) > [“To succeed in life, you have to keep moving no matter how tough and hard the situation is.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/onipede-ayomide/to-succeed-in-life-you-have-to-keep-moving-no-matter-how-tough-and/) [Onipede Ayomide](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/onipede-ayomide/) > [No matter how tough, no matter what kind of outside pressure, no matter how many bad breaks along the way, I must keep my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/billie-jean-king/no-matter-how-tough-no-matter-what-kind-of-outside-pressure-no-matter/) [Billie Jean King](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/billie-jean-king/) > [“Never, never give up in life, no matter how tough a situation may seems.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lailah-gifty-akita/never-never-give-up-in-life-no-matter-how-tough-a-situation-may-seems/) [Lailah Gifty Akita](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lailah-gifty-akita/) > [“At the end of the day little girl we're all each other has, so no matter how tough it gets for any of us…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jay-crownover/at-the-end-of-the-day-little-girl-we-re-all-each-other-has-so-no/) [Jay Crownover](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jay-crownover/) > [“It doesn't matter if I'm the first. It only matters that I'll be the last”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ilona-andrews/it-doesn-t-matter-if-i-m-the-first-it-only-matters-that-i-ll-be-the/) [Ilona Andrews](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ilona-andrews/) > [It doesn't matter if they say you can't do it. It only matters if you say you can't.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harvey-mackay/it-doesn-t-matter-if-they-say-you-can-t-do-it-it-only-matters-if-you/) [Harvey Mackay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harvey-mackay/) ## More by Troy Aikman > [I do not have a son; if I had a son, I wouldn't necessarily discourage him from playing football, but I don't know that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/troy-aikman/i-do-not-have-a-son-if-i-had-a-son-i-wouldn-t-necessarily-discourage/) [Troy Aikman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/troy-aikman/) > [As the equipment has gotten better - and it's gotten better in an attempt to try to protect the player more - then the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/troy-aikman/as-the-equipment-has-gotten-better-and-it-s-gotten-better-in-an/) [Troy Aikman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/troy-aikman/) > [I believe success is achieved by acquiring and developing talented, respected, and credible individuals, none of which applies to Skip Bayless.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/troy-aikman/i-believe-success-is-achieved-by-acquiring-and-developing-talented/) [Troy Aikman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/troy-aikman/) > [I always play every game in my mind before it begins. A lot of times in a game, a play will happen, and it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/troy-aikman/i-always-play-every-game-in-my-mind-before-it-begins-a-lot-of-times/) [Troy Aikman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/troy-aikman/) > [You get down on yourself. You get disappointed in yourself. I expect more out of myself. As far as losing confidence as far as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/troy-aikman/you-get-down-on-yourself-you-get-disappointed-in-yourself-i-expect/) [Troy Aikman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/troy-aikman/) > [A lot of people believe that I retired from the game of football because of concussions - that is not accurate. I really retired…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/troy-aikman/a-lot-of-people-believe-that-i-retired-from-the-game-of-football/) [Troy Aikman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/troy-aikman/) > [Whenever anybody has talked about concussions, they immediately talk about me and Steve Young.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/troy-aikman/whenever-anybody-has-talked-about-concussions-they-immediately-talk/) [Troy Aikman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/troy-aikman/) > [I don't think Dallas has ever really had a great home field advantage.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/troy-aikman/i-don-t-think-dallas-has-ever-really-had-a-great-home-field-advantage/) [Troy Aikman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/troy-aikman/) > [I'm looking forward to being a supporter of the Dallas Cowboys. I want to watch them win another Super Bowl.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/troy-aikman/i-m-looking-forward-to-being-a-supporter-of-the-dallas-cowboys-i-want/) [Troy Aikman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/troy-aikman/) > [I would bet you that even though people think I absorbed an inordinate number of head injuries, I'd say relative to the number of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/troy-aikman/i-would-bet-you-that-even-though-people-think-i-absorbed-an/) [Troy Aikman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/troy-aikman/) > [A lot of coaches and players get so tunnel-visioned that when they do have some time off, they spend it concentrating on the game.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/troy-aikman/a-lot-of-coaches-and-players-get-so-tunnel-visioned-that-when-they-do/) [Troy Aikman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/troy-aikman/) > [I have an idea of marriage as being a sharing type of deal.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/troy-aikman/i-have-an-idea-of-marriage-as-being-a-sharing-type-of-deal/) [Troy Aikman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/troy-aikman/) > [I think it's nice to win awards, but my goal is not to win the Heisman: it's to get to the Rose Bowl.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/troy-aikman/i-think-it-s-nice-to-win-awards-but-my-goal-is-not-to-win-the-heisman/) [Troy Aikman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/troy-aikman/) > [Football is a tough game. It's a tough game for tough people.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/troy-aikman/football-is-a-tough-game-it-s-a-tough-game-for-tough-people/) [Troy Aikman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/troy-aikman/) > [The one thing about being an athlete, say you are struggling with throwing a comeback route, well, then you go out and practice it.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/troy-aikman/the-one-thing-about-being-an-athlete-say-you-are-struggling-with/) [Troy Aikman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/troy-aikman/) [Explore all 108 Troy Aikman quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/troy-aikman/) ## More Great quotes > [It's always great to see old friends, especially those I have not been able to see in 15 months.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-regal/it-s-always-great-to-see-old-friends-especially-those-i-have-not-been/) [William Regal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-regal/) > [You have to have a great director to make a great movie.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thelma-schoonmaker/you-have-to-have-a-great-director-to-make-a-great-movie/) [Thelma Schoonmaker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thelma-schoonmaker/) > [Scepticism and cynicism about politics is so great that one of the best counters to it is what you can do at a local…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ed-miliband/scepticism-and-cynicism-about-politics-is-so-great-that-one-of-the/) [Ed Miliband](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ed-miliband/) > [I'm very proud of some of the stories I've been given thanks to the team at 'Emmerdale,' they've been great over the years so…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kelvin-fletcher/i-m-very-proud-of-some-of-the-stories-i-ve-been-given-thanks-to-the/) [Kelvin Fletcher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kelvin-fletcher/) > [Real people speak in my books about the main events of the age, such as the war, the Chernobyl disaster, and the downfall of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/svetlana-alexievich/real-people-speak-in-my-books-about-the-main-events-of-the-age-such/) [Svetlana Alexievich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/svetlana-alexievich/) > [To me, Caribbean food is about fresh, seasonal produce - using what's in season to create vibrant and great tasting food. The spicing is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ainsley-harriott/to-me-caribbean-food-is-about-fresh-seasonal-produce-using-what-s-in/) [Ainsley Harriott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ainsley-harriott/) > [Ambition drives you on, ability certainly helps, but the fickle finger of fate and luck are great things.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fergus-henderson/ambition-drives-you-on-ability-certainly-helps-but-the-fickle-finger/) [Fergus Henderson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fergus-henderson/) > [No matter how many great things you say about Jacques Pepin, there's always more. Through his books and videos, he taught me the importance…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-kenji-lopez-alt/no-matter-how-many-great-things-you-say-about-jacques-pepin-there-s/) [J. Kenji Lopez-Alt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-kenji-lopez-alt/) > [I would have done well as a gypsy child, I think. A circus baby. I coulda played a great street urchin or ragamuffin. 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