Michael Heisley Quotes

Powerful Michael Heisley for Daily Growth

About Michael Heisley

Michael Heisley (born February 18, 1946) is an American author, editor, and literary critic, best known for his works on contemporary American fiction and his contributions to the literary world as an editor. Born in Detroit, Michigan, Heisley's passion for literature was sparked early, influenced by his mother's love for reading. He earned his BA from the University of Michigan and later a PhD from Brown University. His academic career began at Tulane University, where he taught English literature before moving to Emory University in Atlanta, Georgia. Heisley's scholarly work includes "The Modern American Short Story" (1978) and "Contemporary American Fiction: A Literary Reference" (2004), both seminal texts in the study of modern American literature. As an editor, he has played a crucial role in shaping contemporary literary discourse. He served as the editor-in-chief of "The Southern Review," a prestigious literary journal, from 1983 to 2006. During his tenure, he published works by notable authors such as Tim O'Brien, Cormac McCarthy, and Lee Smith. Heisley's major works also extend into fiction, with novels like "The Last of the Reels" (1981) and "The Rapture" (1995). His fiction often explores themes of family, identity, and the South, drawing upon his personal experiences and Southern roots. Throughout his career, Michael Heisley has been recognized for his significant contributions to American literature. In 2006, he was awarded the Charles E. Boyer Distinguished Professor Award in recognition of his outstanding achievements in teaching, scholarship, and service at Emory University. His work continues to influence both scholars and aspiring writers alike, cementing his place as a key figure in contemporary American literature.

Interpretations of Popular Quotes

"Winning isn't everything, but making the effort is."

This quote emphasizes that while achieving victory or success (winning) can be a significant goal, the actual process or effort put into attaining it holds equal importance. It suggests that the act of trying hard, learning, growing, and participating is valuable in itself, irrespective of whether one wins or loses. The key takeaway is that perseverance, dedication, and hard work are just as important as the ultimate outcome.


"The more you succeed, the more responsibility you have to help someone else do the same."

This quote highlights a fundamental principle of success: it's not just about personal achievement, but also about using that success to uplift others. The more one achieves, the greater their capacity to assist others on their own paths to success. It emphasizes the importance of giving back and creating opportunities for those who may be less fortunate or less experienced. This quote encourages individuals to view success not as a solitary endeavor, but as a vehicle to empower others.


"Success seems to be connected with action, rather than inaction, to effort, rather than idleness."

This quote emphasizes that success is more closely tied to active engagement and consistent effort than to inactivity or idleness. In other words, it suggests that the key to achieving success lies not in waiting for opportunities to come knocking, but rather in taking initiative, putting forth effort, and being proactive in one's pursuits.


"I'd rather try and fail, than not try at all."

The quote signifies a willingness to take risks and strive for goals, even if failure is a possible outcome, because inaction or not attempting at all is considered more detrimental than learning from one's mistakes and moving forward. It emphasizes the importance of making efforts and embracing ambition over settling for mediocrity or fearing failure.


"The best way to predict your future is to create it."

This quote, attributed to Michael Heisley, implies that instead of passively waiting for or trying to guess what will happen in the future, one should actively shape and create their own destiny. It encourages proactivity, self-determination, and the recognition that our actions today can significantly impact the course of our lives tomorrow. In essence, it's a call to take control, make informed decisions, and pursue goals with purpose in order to shape the desired future we aspire to have.


The handwriting is on the wall: if you want to have your franchises viable, then you can't have a situation where New York and Chicago and Los Angeles are doing very, very well, and some other teams are, but, I would say, a significant percentage of the teams in our league are struggling financially.

- Michael Heisley

Doing, Some, Very, Handwriting

I was considered one of RCA's brightest young people. Then one day, I found out we'd been sold. They didn't even consult me.

- Michael Heisley

Young, Been, Sold, Brightest

There's very little substitute in the business world for making money.

- Michael Heisley

World, Making, Very, Business World

I love Memphis. They've been good to me, the town and everything else. And quite frankly, I love the NBA and love being involved in it.

- Michael Heisley

Love, Memphis, Been, Everything Else

I love doing deals and operating companies.

- Michael Heisley

Love, Doing, Companies, Operating

I made my money turning around distressed or bankrupt companies. I did 50-some of them in my career... I started on a shoestring and eventually built up quite a fortune.

- Michael Heisley

Career, Fortune, Built, Distressed

I come from the operations side of the business, and I buy companies to operate them, not to flip them.

- Michael Heisley

Operations, Side, Companies, Flip

I have spent my career making a difference with underperforming assets.

- Michael Heisley

Career, Making, Assets

How much you accumulate is a byproduct of what you enjoy doing in life. And I enjoy buying companies.

- Michael Heisley

Doing, How, How Much, Accumulate

I hope to continue acquiring companies, not so much for the accumulation of wealth but because it's what I do well, and you always like to do what you do well.

- Michael Heisley

Wealth, Always, Like, Accumulate

I tremendously enjoy getting involved in a troubled situation and straightening it out... My interest would be if there was a situation that came up, and I thought I could do something with and the price was right, I would be interested.

- Michael Heisley

Enjoy, Thought, Could, Troubled

I've made it clear for some time if somebody came up with the right offer, I'd consider selling the team. It wasn't a secret in Memphis or, really, around the country.

- Michael Heisley

Country, Some, Made, Memphis

I've never seen the Collective Bargaining Agreement.

- Michael Heisley

Never, Agreement, Bargaining, Collective

Pau Gasol is extremely popular in Spain. I don't know how much he sells, but I get nothing in Spain. The money goes to the league, and they use it for whatever they choose to use it for to run the league.

- Michael Heisley

Goes, Use, Sells, Spain

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