John Wooden – Do not let what you cannot do interfere with what you can do
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Welcome to The Daily Quote – a podcast designed to kickstart your day in a positive way. I'm your host, Andrew McGivern, for January 10th.
Now, let's dive in. Today is Quitters Day, which, on the surface, sounds a little grim, doesn’t it? This is the day when people are most likely to give up on their New Year’s resolutions. Let’s face it—those January 1st goals seemed so shiny and doable just last week, during New Year’s Resolutions Week. You had your game face on, your "new year, new me" mantra ringing in your ears. But now, January 10th rolls around, and suddenly, hitting snooze feels a lot more appealing than hitting the gym.
And yet, there’s hope! It’s also January, which is National Mentoring Month—a perfect reminder that we don’t have to navigate these goals alone. Whether it’s through seeking advice, offering a helping hand, or leaning on the wisdom of someone who’s been there, mentoring is about building each other up. So, even if you’re tempted to throw in the towel today, I’m here to tell you: don’t quit—pivot.
That brings us to today’s quote, from legendary basketball coach John Wooden:
"Do not let what you cannot do interfere with what you can do."
Let that sink in for a moment. You see, when you start slipping on your goals, it’s easy to focus on what’s gone wrong. You missed a day, maybe even two. You indulged in dessert after swearing it off. Or maybe you realized you bit off more than you could chew in the first place. But as Wooden reminds us, success isn’t about perfection—it’s about progress. Instead of dwelling on the workout you missed, lace up your sneakers today. If you’ve fallen behind on reading, pick up the book and start where you left off.
Here’s the thing: Quitters Day doesn’t have to be a self-fulfilling prophecy. It can be the day you dig deep, shake off the doubt, and re-commit to the vision you had for yourself on January 1st. Take a cue from National Mentoring Month. Find someone to talk to about your struggles, or better yet, encourage someone else who’s faltering. Sometimes helping someone else find their footing can strengthen your resolve too.
So today, let’s reframe Quitters Day. Instead of walking away from your goals, let’s call it Recommitment Day. Because you can’t change yesterday, but you can absolutely take control of today.
Thanks for spending this moment with me. Remember John Wooden’s advice: focus on what you can do, and don’t let setbacks define you. You’ve got this.
And if this is your first episode of the Daily Quote, jump back to January 1st (of this year) and listen to the last nine episodes to catch up. That might help get you back on track too. And to make sure you get new episodes hit that follow button in the app your listening in right now.
I'm Andrew McGivern, signing off for today. Stay strong, stay focused, and keep moving forward. I'll be back tomorrow same pod time, same pod station, for another Daily Quote!