Choose Winning Over Being Right

What Quincy Jones Taught Me About Success

Author

Rudy Banks
September 07, 2025

“ If you want to go fast, go alone. If you want to go far, go together. ”

― African Proverb

Choose Winning Over Being Right: What Quincy Jones Taught Me About Success

This week during my studies, I stumbled across something powerful.

It completely shifted my perspective on collaboration and success.

I was watching a YouTube video by Theron Thomas, a Grammy award-winning songwriter.

He shared a story about meeting Quincy Jones at the ASCAP awards.

Picture this...

Theron was starstruck that Quincy even recognized him.

But then Quincy asked him one specific question: "How's the songwriting coming?"

After Theron's casual response, Quincy hit him with this: "Do you want to know the secret to writing hit songs?"

Quincy's advice was simple but profound: "Forget about the verses. Focus on the hooks."

That's right — people want to hear the hooks.

The repetitive parts that get stuck in your mind.

Like a jingle from a commercial that you can't forget.

You know, like "Oh oh oh O'Reilly's."

So Theron applied this wisdom.

And when people ask why he repeats phrases so much, he says: "Quincy told me — hooks, not verses."

Here's what really caught my attention...

Theron said, "I don't want to be right. I want to win."

Think about that for a moment.

When someone doesn't like his hook but likes the beat, his response?

"Okay, let's keep going. Let me write another hook."

He's focused on winning together, not being right.

Most people love to say, "Ha! I told you so!"

But then they've lost sight of the big picture.

They were right and progress ended there.

This reminded me of my own life experiences.

Sometimes I catch myself proving I'm right instead of focusing on the end goal.

Does being right help us achieve what we're trying to achieve?

Or does it actually hamper progress?

The truth is...

You can win the battle but lose the war.

You can be right about every detail but miss the bigger opportunity.

Whether it's business, relationships or life — same choice: be right, or win together.

Don't get me wrong — if it's life or death, speak up.

I'm talking about collaboration, not catastrophic failure.

The Challenge: Focus on Hooks, Not Verses

Look at your current projects or relationships.

Where are you focusing on the "verses" instead of the "hooks"?

The miniscule details instead of what really matters?

What would happen if you asked, "How do we win together?" instead of "How do I prove my point?"

Remember: if you want to go fast, go alone. If you want to go far, go together.

Cheers!

―――

I don’t know exactly where you are on your journey, but I share words of encouragement, lessons learned, and ideas to help you grow your business.

If you find value here, please share this newsletter with a friend. Deal?

❤ Rudy

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Thank you for taking the time to read today's TechPreneur Newsletter. I hope the information was helpful and inspiring. As always, I'm here to support you in your business journey, so please don't hesitate to reach out to me via all my links.  Keep striving for success!

Until next time!

~Rudy

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