“Today I will do what others won’t, so tomorrow I can do what others can’t” (or “Do today what other’s won’t, so you can do tomorrow what others can’t”) is a motivational saying that has been printed on many posters. The saying has been credited since at least 2009 to football wide receiver Jerry Rice, but there’s no evidence that he originated or popularized the saying. Authorship of the saying remains unknown.
 
“If you will do today what others won’t, you can do tomorrow what others can’t” was cited in 1990, credited to junior high school teacher Kevin Irvine. “Those who do today what others won’t, will do tomorrow what others can’t” was a class motto for a Colorado school in 1997. “If you will do what others won’t for five years, you can do what others can’t for the rest of your life” was said to be a popular saying among real estate investors in 1996.
     
 
Google Books
Illinois Libraries
Volume 72, Issues 1-8
Pg. 90:
“Do today what others won’t, so I can enjoy tomorrow what others can’t.”
 
21 November 1990, Rocky Mountain News (Denver, CO), “State’s top teacher encourages students to overcome obstacles” by Karen Bailey:
Today, Irvine tells his students, “Say yes to success and no to distress. If you will do today what others won’t, you can do tomorrow what others can’t.”
(Junior high school teacher Kevin Irvine—ed.)
 
Google Books
Fast Cash with Quick-Turn Real Estate:
How Anyone Can Quickly Turn Single Family Houses Into Cash
By Ron LeGrand
Jacksonville, FL: Results Pub.
1996
Pg. 248:
A popular saying among real estate investors is, “If you will do what others won’t for five years, you can do what others can’t for the rest of your life.”
 
Google News Archive
15 May 1997, The North Weld Herald (Eaton, CO), pg. 13:
Class Motto:
“Those who do today what others won’t, will do tomorrow what others can’t.”
   
Google Books
Who’s who in Black Canada:
Black Success and Black Excellence in Canada:
A Contemporary Directory
By Dawn P. Williams
Toronto, Ont.: D. Williams
2002
Pg. 84:
MOTTO: Do today what others won’t do, so you can do tomorrow what others can’t do.
 
MotivateUs.com
November 4, 2002
“Do today what others won’t, so that tomorrow you can do what others can’t.”
Michael Hurley—- Submitted by C.B., Age 15—- Queensland, Australia
 
CareCure Forums
07-31-2004, 07:13 PM
(...)
“Today I will do what others won’t, so that tomorrow I can do what others can’t.”
 
MichaelReid.ca
30/05/2009
“Today I will do what others won’t, so tomorrow I can accomplish what others can’t.”
Image via Wikipedia
—Jerry Rice, Football Player
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comments:
This flows nicely from my last post about working hard.
     
Football’s Future
Inspirational Quotes?
GBPackers79
Posted: Tue Sep 08, 2009 4:22 pm
“Today I will do what others won’t, so tomorrow I can accomplish what others can’t.” - Jerry Rice
   
Staten Island (NY) Advance
McKee High School graduates 125
By Diane C. Lore/Staten Island Advance
on June 24, 2010 at 4:44 PM, updated June 24, 2010 at 5:01 PM
(...)
He spoke about growing up in the South Bronx with six brothers and sisters in a 1½-bedroom apartment near the Bronx Zoo. “But we all knew that our education was the most important thing,” he said. Roberson quoted his father. “My dad always told us ‘I will do today what others won’t, so I can do tomorrow what others can’t.’”