The difference between ordinary and extraordinary is that little extra. — Jimmy Johnson
—What lingers after this line?
Effort and Perseverance
This quote highlights that extraordinary results often come from putting in a small but significant amount of additional effort. It's not massive changes that make the difference, but rather consistently going beyond the norm.
Attention to Detail
Achieving extraordinary outcomes requires attention to the finer details that others might overlook. The ‘little extra’ can mean the difference between achieving ordinary versus exceptional results.
Exceeding Expectations
The quote suggests that extraordinary people or achievements exceed what is expected. Going beyond the minimum and doing more than required can set one apart from the crowd.
Mindset and Attitude
This idea reflects a mindset of striving for excellence. Those who achieve extraordinary things are often those who approach tasks with a determination to add extra creativity, effort, or innovation.
Small Actions, Big Results
It emphasizes that sometimes, even small actions, habits, or decisions can have a significant impact on the outcome. Extraordinary success can be built on many ‘little extra’ efforts.
Sports and Leadership Context
Jimmy Johnson, a former American football coach, is known for his emphasis on hard work and attention to detail. In a sports or leadership context, this quote reflects the importance of putting in the extra effort to move from being good to being great.
Recommended Reading
As an Amazon Associate, we earn from qualifying purchases.
One-minute reflection
Why might this line matter today, not tomorrow?
Related Quotes
6 selectedSuccess is doing ordinary things extraordinarily well. — Jim Rohn, United States.
Jim Rohn, United States.
Jim Rohn defines success not by grand achievements but by mastering the everyday tasks and responsibilities. This perspective suggests that success can be found in the ability to excel in routine activities.
Read full interpretation →To do common things perfectly is far better than to pretend to do wonderful things badly. — William Morris
William Morris
William Morris’s remark begins with a sharp moral distinction: it is better to perform ordinary work with real skill than to chase grandeur without competence. In that sense, he challenges the temptation to value appeara...
Read full interpretation →It is not enough to do your best; you must know what to do and then do your best. — W. Edwards Deming
W. Edwards Deming
At first glance, Deming’s line sounds like a simple call to work harder, yet it actually argues for something more disciplined: effort alone is insufficient without clarity about purpose. In other words, sincerity does n...
Read full interpretation →You don't have enough time to be both unhappy and mediocre. It's not just pointless, it's painful. — Seth Godin
Seth Godin
Seth Godin’s line compresses a hard truth: carrying both unhappiness and mediocrity is an expensive way to live. Mediocrity already implies a quieter life—less agency, fewer risks, and smaller rewards—yet unhappiness add...
Read full interpretation →The price of excellence is discipline. The cost of mediocrity is disappointment. — William Arthur Ward
William Arthur Ward
William Arthur Ward frames achievement as a transaction: excellence requires an upfront payment—discipline—while mediocrity quietly accrues a different bill—disappointment. The contrast is deliberate, because it suggests...
Read full interpretation →Excellence is the capacity to take pain. It is the refusal to let a difficult season define a permanent limit. — James Baldwin
James Baldwin
Baldwin’s line strips “excellence” of its usual polish—talent, prestige, or effortless success—and recasts it as a practiced toughness. In this view, excellence begins where comfort ends: it is the capacity to endure pai...
Read full interpretation →More From Author
More from Jimmy Johnson →