Editor’s note: This article is part of an ongoing series featuring the best retirement quotes and wisdom from top financial experts, leaders, and public figures. Other articles feature Warren Buffett, Michael Jordan, Mark Cuban, Jimmy Buffett, Dr. Seuss, Bruce Springsteen and Bob Dylan.
When it comes to winning on and off the field, Vince Lombardi, the legendary coach of the Green Bay Packers, knows a thing or two about success. After all, as one of the greatest football coaches of all time, Lombardi didn’t rise to prominence until he was 45 years old. After years as an assistant, he went on to win five NFL championships — including the first two Super Bowls.
Today, every Super Bowl broadcast centers on the pursuit of the trophy named in his honor. But the advice and philosophy that moved his teams to victory for nearly a decade can also guide retirees off the field, whether they are pursuing a new passion or finding renewed purpose.
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These five quotes are just a small sampling of the wisdom that Lombardi brought to every endeavor. As we get ready to watch Super Bowl LX, get inspired by these Vince Lombardi quotes that retirees can live by.
Huddle up with these 5 Vince Lombardi quotes
1. “It’s not whether you get knocked down, it’s whether you get up.”
Vince Lombardi Quotes
Retirement is the great unknown for many people. Sure, we spend years saving and planning for it, but nobody prepares us for the reality of finally exiting the workforce.
The idea of having endless free time to pursue hobbies or hang with family and friends may have sounded great while we were working, but the reality can be frightening. You might have thought you budgeted perfectly, only to face a shortfall and the fear of outliving your savings.
Those feelings are okay and completely normal. What Lombardi is conveying here is that while you will undoubtedly get “knocked down” (by the challenges of retirement), the win comes from getting back up. If you’re struggling with too much free time, look for a part-time job or side gig, a new hobby or a volunteer opportunity to find a fresh sense of purpose.
If you’re worried about your nest egg, take control by adopting a withdrawal strategy like the “The Retirement Bucket Rule”, the “Pay Yourself First Rule” or the “Permission to Spend Rule”, or refine your budget. The goal is to pick yourself up, adjust your game plan, and win at retirement.
2. “Once you learn to quit, it becomes a habit.”
Vince Lombardi Quotes
During our working years, quitting often means leaving a job or giving up on a project. In retirement, it takes on a different look — it could mean throwing in the towel on a new hobby, ignoring our health, refusing to challenge our brain, or blowing off socializing.
All of these can severely impact our quality of life. You may not think it’s a big deal in the moment, but it can quickly turn into a habit that leads to isolation or health issues.
Lombardi knew consistency builds character, but he also warned that if you let yourself quit on your daily life, that too becomes a habit. For retirees, abandoning your daily life can have dire consequences.
While it’s easy to hunker down at home and resist putting yourself out there, don’t. Retirement doesn’t mean you sit on the sidelines. It’s your second act — a chance to pursue your dreams, your passions, and those bucket list items you’ve always dreamed about.
3. “The measure of who we are is what we do with what we have.”
Vince Lombardi Speech, June 1970
When we are saving for retirement, our measure of success is how much we amass in our 401(k)s, IRAs, and retirement accounts. But when we enter retirement, the scoreboard changes. It’s less about how much we have but and more about what we do with it.
Whether you have a huge nest egg or a modest pension, the focus in retirement shifts from accumulating to preserving and spending in a meaningful way. If you haven’t adjusted your portfolio to reflect that shift, now is the time to do so. If you aren’t sure how, a conversation with a financial adviser or a trusted friend or family member may be in order.
Whether you want to leave a legacy, spend it while you are alive, or a combination of both, Lombardi understands success isn’t about how much you have but what you do with it.
The important thing is to put your money to work for your happiness and security. Winning at retirement means having a plan for what you’ll do once you are done saving.
4. “Once a man has made a commitment to a way of life, he puts the greatest strength in the world behind him. It’s something we call heart power.”
Vince Lombardi Quotes
Right or wrong, for many of us, our jobs provide our sense of purpose and identity. When we retire, we lose that structure. It’s why so many retirement experts suggest retiring to something, versus only retiring from something.
Whatever your new mission is in retirement, it’s important to commit to it with the same intensity you once brought to your career.
It doesn’t have to be deep. It could be a commitment to your golf game, spending quality time with family, finally seeing the Eiffel Tower or simply taking morning walks. Whether it’s a focus on your health or a cause you believe in, having a purpose is what keeps you moving forward.
In retirement, it’s easy to drift without a schedule or a boss to answer to. But when you commit to a goal, you tap into what Lombardi called “heart power.” That dedication gives you the strength to be successful in this next chapter of your life.
5. “You defeat defeatism with confidence.”
Vince Lombardi Quotes
It is very easy to feel defeated in retirement. A market dip, a health scare, or a feeling that your best years are behind you can leave you feeling less confident about the prospects for the remainder of your golden years.
Add the fact that longevity is a real risk — thirty years in retirement isn’t that far-fetched — and it’s no surprise that confidence can quickly fall by the wayside. That negativity could prevent you from enjoying what you worked so hard to save for.
The good news, and what Lombardi told his players, is that while confidence in retirement doesn’t mean you have all the answers, it does mean you can handle whatever comes your way.
After all you’ve planned and saved for, it’s time to push those negative thoughts out of your head and move the ball down the field of life. Need ideas on how to be happy in retirement? Check out our guide here.
Create your own retirement playbook
As you gear up to watch the big game, remember that Lombardi’s way isn’t just about what happens on the field; it’s about the heart, determination, grit, and confidence you bring to your own life and retirement.
Whether your favorite team brings home the Vince Lombardi Trophy or not, you have the opportunity to win in retirement by following the lessons of this legendary coach and icon of football.