Here is a list of some powerful impact quotes emphasizing the importance of being yourself as a leader. These quotes are not limited to elite sports, as we are always learning from successful leaders in any profession or endeavor. If you have some suggested quotes you would like to see added to this page, please post them using our comment boxes under the ‘BE YOURSELF’ theme in the category section on the home page. Also, we included the sources in which we derive many of the quotes to add to your possible reading list. Enjoy!

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“If you are humble, nothing can touch you. Neither praise or disgrace because you know who you are.”

- Mother Theresa, Servant leader

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QUOTES FROM “PERFECT PHRASES FOR COACHES”

“You don’t fight battles over peripheral issues. You fight battles over principles. You don’t want to always be drawing the line in the sand.”

- Rick Pitino, head basketball coach at Louisville University

“If an athlete wants to be perceived as a focused and relentless competitor, then he must know how to look the part before he can play it.”

- H. A. Dorfman, sport psychologist and author

“Be more concerned with your character than your reputation. Your character is what you really are, while your reputation is what others think of you.”

- John Wooden, Hall of Fame Basketball Player and Coach

“Experience tells you what to do; confidence allows you to do it.”

- Stan Smith, Hall of Fame tennis player

“He who controls others may be powerful, but he who has mastered himself is mightier still.”

- Confucious, Philosopher

“The more you lose yourself in something bigger than yourself, the more energy you will have.”

- Norman Vincent Peale, Author

“I look for three things in hiring people. The first is personal integrity, the second is intelligence, the third is a high energy level. But if you don’t have the first, the other two will kill you.”

- Warren Buffett, Business leader

“You can accomplish anything in life provided you don’t mind who gets the credit.”

- President Harry S. Truman

“Show class, have pride, and demonstrate character. If you do, winning takes care of itself.”

- Paul “Bear” Bryant, Hall of Fame football coach

“Outstanding leaders go out of their way to boost the self-esteem of their personnel. If people believe in themselves, it’s amazing what they can accomplish.”

- Sam Walton, Business leader

“The difference between a successful person and others is not a lack of strength, not a lack of knowledge, but rather in a lack of will.”

- Vince Lombardi, Hall of Fame football coach

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QUOTES FROM “DITKA: AN AUTOBIOGRAPHY”

“Our 85′ Bears team was a bunch of characters with character.”

- Mike Ditka, Hall of Fame player and NFL champion coach

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QUOTES FROM “HOW TO SUCCEED IN THE GAME OF LIFE”

“Let honesty and integrity define your character.”

- Lenny Wilkens, NBA champion coach

“A person has to be his own guy. You can take good ideas from a lot of people, but you also have to have some of your own.”

- Scotty Bowman, NHL champion coach

“There’s no stronger thing in life than knowing who you are, and that you believe you can do things.

- Nick Bollettieri, World class tennis coach

“In many cases, people too often try to emulate someone specifically that may not be true to their character. Be true to your demeanor.”

- Brian Billick, NFL champion football coach