You've seen it on a thousand motivational posters. It’s plastered across LinkedIn headers and etched into the brains of middle managers everywhere. "You miss 100% of the shots you don't take." It’s the ultimate "just do it" mantra. Most people attribute it to hockey legend Wayne Gretzky. Some younger folks only know it because Michael Scott scribbled it on a whiteboard in The Office. But honestly, where did it actually come from? Did No. 99 really say it, or is it one of those historical myths that just sounded too good to check?
It turns out the story is way more specific than a generic locker room speech.
Back in January 1983, a guy named Bob McKenzie—who was the editor of The Hockey News at the time—was chatting with Gretzky. Wayne was in the middle of a monster season with the Edmonton Oilers. McKenzie was basically grilling him about his shooting volume. He noticed Gretzky was putting up massive numbers but also firing the puck a lot more than usual. Gretzky looked at him and just sort of dropped the line: "You miss 100 percent of the shots you don't take."
He wasn't trying to be a philosopher. He was talking about hockey.
Why Wayne Gretzky You Miss 100 Percent Still Matters Today
The reason this phrase stuck wasn't just because it’s catchy. It stuck because Gretzky actually lived it. In 1982, the year before he gave that quote, Wayne scored 92 goals in a single season. Think about that. To this day, nobody has even come close to sniffing that record. Most "elite" NHL players are thrilled to hit 50.
But here is the thing people forget: Gretzky didn't just have a magic touch. He was relentless. During that record-breaking era, he was on pace to record nearly 400 shots on goal. He was basically telling McKenzie that if he didn't fire the puck, those 92 goals would be zero.
The Math of Failure
People love the "inspirational" part, but Gretzky’s original logic was actually pretty grounded in reality. He reportedly told McKenzie that even though there might only be a 1% to 5% probability of scoring on any given shot, those tiny odds are still better than the 0% chance you have if you hold onto the puck.
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It’s a volume game.
Success is a byproduct of being willing to fail.
If you look at his career stats, Gretzky finished with 894 regular-season goals. That sounds like a lot—and it is the record—but he also took over 5,000 shots on goal. That means he "failed" to score about 82% of the time he shot. If the Great One was okay with missing four out of every five times, why are the rest of us so terrified of a little rejection?
The Walter Gretzky Connection
Wayne is usually the one who gets the credit, but he’s been pretty open about the fact that he didn't just dream this up in a vacuum. His dad, Walter Gretzky, was the real architect of the Great One’s mindset.
Walter used to tell him some variation of this when Wayne was just a kid in Brantford, Ontario. Wayne has mentioned in interviews that his dad would drive him to practice and tell him, "Wayne, you gotta start shooting the puck more."
Wayne would argue back, "Dad, I’m scoring plenty of goals!"
And Walter would hit him with the logic: "Yeah, but 100% of the shots you don't take don't go in."
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It’s kind of funny. The most famous quote in sports history is basically a "dad-ism" that got lucky. Wayne took his father's advice, repeated it to a reporter 25 years later, and now it’s a global brand.
Michael Scott and the Meme Era
You can't talk about Wayne Gretzky you miss 100 percent without mentioning The Office. In the episode "Michael Scott Paper Company," Michael writes the quote on a whiteboard. Underneath "Wayne Gretzky," he adds his own name: "- Michael Scott."
It was a brilliant bit of comedy because it perfectly captured how the quote had become a cliché. By 2009, when that episode aired, the phrase had been chewed up and spit out by corporate culture so many times it felt hollow. Michael Scott "claiming" it was a meta-joke about how we use big-ticket quotes to justify our own chaotic decisions.
But strangely, the meme actually helped the quote's longevity. A whole new generation of people who never saw Gretzky play a single shift for the Rangers or the Kings now know the line. Even if they think a paper salesman from Scranton came up with it.
Beyond the Ice
What’s the actual takeaway here? It’s not just "try hard."
There’s a nuance to Gretzky’s approach that gets lost. He wasn't just throwing the puck at the net blindly. He was calculated. He knew that by taking more shots, he was forcing the defense to react. He was creating rebounds. He was making the goalie move.
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In real life, "taking the shot" isn't just about the immediate win. It's about the data you get. When you apply for that job you aren't qualified for, or you ask that person out, or you start that side hustle, you’re engaging with the world. You’re getting "rebound" opportunities that wouldn't exist if you stayed on the sidelines.
Actionable Insights from the Great One
If you want to actually apply the "Miss 100" philosophy without sounding like a LinkedIn bot, try these steps:
- Define your "Shot": Most people miss their shots because they don't even know what they're aiming at. Be specific. Is it a promotion? A new skill? A difficult conversation?
- Embrace the 1% Odds: Stop waiting for a "sure thing." Gretzky was happy with a 5% chance of scoring. If you wait until you're 100% sure you'll succeed, you'll never move.
- Increase the Frequency: One shot is a fluke. Five thousand shots is a career. Don't get hung up on one "miss." Just keep firing.
- Listen to your "Walter": Find a mentor or a friend who pushes you to be more aggressive when you're playing it too safe. We all need someone to tell us to "shoot the puck."
Honestly, Gretzky probably didn't think he was saying anything revolutionary back in '83. He was just a hockey player explaining why he was being "selfish" with the puck. But that’s the beauty of it. The best advice usually isn't some complex theory. It’s just the simple realization that you can't win a game you aren't actually playing.
Next time you’re overthinking a decision, just remember that the guy with more points than anyone in history spent most of his time missing the net. He just didn't let the misses stop him from taking the next one. That’s the real secret. It’s not about the 100% you miss—it’s about the few that actually go in.
To get started, identify one goal you've been "holding the puck" on this week and commit to taking the first action toward it today.