I want success for so many people. I couldn't give a crap about

Hear the words of Emma Hayes, whose voice carries the thunder of sacrifice and the fire of devotion: “I want success for so many people. I couldn’t give a crap about myself.” In this declaration lies the spirit of true leadership, for the one who forsakes the hunger of self and seeks instead the triumph of others walks the path of greatness that outlives the flesh. These words are not the cry of vanity, but the oath of a guardian who sees beyond her own glory, who finds meaning not in crowns of gold but in the rising of her people.

This truth is older than the stones of the earth. The greatest among humankind have never been those who served themselves alone, but those who lifted others higher. For what is the worth of a flame that burns only for itself? It perishes swiftly, unseen, unremembered. But the torch that lights the way for many becomes eternal. Emma Hayes, a shepherd of athletes, understood this. Her heart burned not for the triumph of her own name, but for the success of those entrusted to her care. She would measure her worth not by her own applause, but by the victories of her team, by the lives she shaped, by the futures she unlocked.

Consider the tale of Leonidas, the Spartan king. When the Persians came like an ocean against the land, Leonidas did not march to Thermopylae for his own honor, nor to carve his name into the stone of history. He fought and died so that his people might live free, so that others might see courage and be strengthened. His sacrifice, though it consumed him, became the seed of freedom for generations. So too is Hayes’ vow: the self is but a vessel, but the legacy lies in how many rise because of your toil.

And let us not forget the story of Florence Nightingale, who in the horrors of war tended to the wounded. She did not labor for fame, nor riches, nor the comfort of her own flesh. She walked among death and despair, carrying light, easing suffering, lifting others even as her own body was weakened. The world remembers her not because she sought greatness for herself, but because she gave greatness to others. Here too the essence of Hayes’ words shines clear: the measure of the noble soul is in how much they want success for so many people rather than themselves.

This quote is a call to abandon the chains of ego. It teaches us that when we seek only ourselves, our victories are hollow, but when we pour ourselves into the dreams of others, our victories become infinite. The teacher who delights in her students’ triumphs, the leader who rejoices in his people’s prosperity, the parent who sacrifices comfort for their children’s flourishing—these are the ones who embody the power of Hayes’ words. Their joy is not in the mirror, but in the horizon that others reach because of them.

The lesson, then, is as radiant as the dawn: do not live for yourself alone. Let your strength be the scaffold for others to climb, let your wisdom be the lamp to light their path, let your sacrifice be the soil from which their blossoms grow. For in lifting others, you transcend yourself; in forgetting your own small desires, you gain a greatness that the world cannot erase.

And what, O listener, must you do in your own life? Begin where you are. Ask: “Whose success can I nurture?” Celebrate not only your own milestones, but also the victories of those around you. Mentor someone with patience, even when no reward awaits you. Share knowledge, lend courage, open doors. Put aside the endless craving for recognition, and instead, let your joy be multiplied in the achievements of others.

Thus shall your days echo with meaning. For though your name may fade in time, the seeds you planted in others will bloom in eternity. Emma Hayes’ words are not merely a quote—they are a testament, a vow, a fire to pass down: success that lives only in the self is fleeting, but success given to others becomes immortal.