I love working with kids, talking with them and listening to

When Florence Griffith Joyner, the legendary “Flo-Jo,” said, “I love working with kids, talking with them and listening to them. I always encourage kids to reach beyond their dreams. Don’t try to be like me. Be better than me,” she was not merely offering encouragement—she was passing down a sacred torch. Her words, born from a life of triumph, discipline, and grace, speak to the continuity of greatness, the duty of one generation to uplift the next. Like an ancient warrior passing wisdom to her apprentices, she reminds us that the purpose of excellence is not imitation, but inspiration—to awaken in others the courage to surpass even their heroes.

Florence Griffith Joyner was more than an athlete; she was a symbol of possibility. Her dazzling speed and style transformed the track into a stage of art and power. She shattered world records in the 100m and 200m that still stand decades later—an enduring testament to her brilliance. Yet, in this quote, she reveals a deeper truth: that greatness is not a mountain to be worshiped, but a path for others to climb higher. She understood that the role of the pioneer is not to be idolized, but to open doors—to make what once seemed impossible the new standard for those who follow.

In her heart, Florence carried the ancient ideal that true leadership is service. To love working with children, as she did, is to plant seeds in the soil of the future. She knew that her own glory, no matter how bright, would fade with time, but the dreams she kindled in others could shine forever. Her message, “Don’t try to be like me. Be better than me,” reflects the humility of a true champion. It is an echo of the wisdom spoken by the masters of every age—by Socrates, who urged his students to think beyond him; by Da Vinci, who inspired the next generation of creators; by Nelson Mandela, who believed that each generation must define freedom anew.

There is a story, from a different time and place, that mirrors Joyner’s words. In ancient Greece, the sculptor Phidias, who carved the Parthenon’s statues, was once told that no one could surpass him. Yet he replied, “Then I have failed, for the purpose of mastery is not to be unmatched, but to create those who will go beyond.” Likewise, Joyner’s wisdom flows from this timeless wellspring: true excellence multiplies itself. The mentor’s task is to kindle the spark of self-belief in others so that they might illuminate paths unimagined by their teacher. Thus, her greatness did not end with her victories on the track—it lived on in every young person who dared to chase their own dreams with fearless resolve.

To tell a child to “reach beyond their dreams” is an act of both faith and challenge. Joyner knew that dreams are only the beginning, that aspiration must grow into action. The phrase “reach beyond” calls upon the divine impulse within every human being—the capacity to transcend their own limits. It is the same spirit that drives explorers across oceans, inventors through failure, and artists into realms unseen. In the lives of the young, such words take root and bear fruit. When spoken with love and truth, they awaken an enduring conviction: that one’s destiny is not determined by what has been done before, but by what one dares to imagine next.

Her quote also reveals the importance of listening, a virtue often overlooked by those who lead. “I love talking with them and listening to them,” she said—showing that guidance is not domination, but dialogue. The great teachers of history knew that to shape the next generation, one must first hear their dreams, their fears, their voices. By listening, Joyner gave the young a sense of worth; by believing in them, she gave them wings. Her mentorship was not about molding replicas, but nurturing authenticity.

The lesson, then, is both simple and profound: true greatness inspires, it does not overshadow. The measure of a life well-lived is not how many followers one gathers, but how many dreamers one creates. Florence Griffith Joyner’s words challenge us to lead by lifting others, to turn admiration into motivation, and to teach not through command, but through compassion.

So, to all who walk in her footsteps, let her words echo as a vow: Do not merely imitate the giants of your time—learn from them, rise above them, and become your own legend. For the torch of human greatness is not meant to be held forever by one; it is meant to be passed, burning brighter each time. In this, as in all things, Flo-Jo’s wisdom endures—a reminder that to honor our heroes is not to stand behind them, but to carry their light forward into the horizon of our own becoming.