About this quote

When you face a mountain of statistics saying you will fail, looking at the numbers only paralyzes your decision-making. Calculations are useful for computers, but human action requires a stubborn refusal to accept defeat before you even begin. If you spend your energy measuring the gap between where you are and where you want to be, you waste the fuel needed to actually cross it. Do you want to find out what you are capable of, or do you want to let a spreadsheet decide your limits? Quit looking at the math and start moving.

When to use it

• Before the championship game against the undefeated state champions, our coach started reading their stats. I stood up and said, 'Never tell me the odds!' to get the team focused on our own play instead of their record.
• My business partner wanted to pull out of the bid because three massive firms were competing for the same contract. I told him 'Never tell me the odds!' and we stayed up all night perfecting our pitch anyway.
• The surgeon gave me a low percentage chance of running again after the knee reconstruction. I muttered 'Never tell me the odds!' under my breath and hit the physical therapy clinic the very next morning.
• My advisor said only one percent of applicants get the funding grant for low-income students. I just told him 'Never tell me the odds!' and started writing the application draft.