The difference between ordinary and extraordinary is that little extra.

The line is a compact motivational maxim: excellence is often less about radical transformation than about consistent, incremental effort beyond the baseline. “Ordinary” represents meeting expectations; “extraordinary” is framed as the result of adding a small margin—extra preparation, attention to detail, persistence, or discipline—repeated over time. The wordplay (“extra” inside “extraordinary”) reinforces the idea that standout performance is accessible through manageable additions rather than unattainable leaps. In sports and performance cultures, the quote is commonly used to justify habits like extra practice, film study, conditioning, or mental preparation—small edges that compound into competitive advantage.

["The difference between ordinary and extraordinary is that little extra.", "The difference between ordinary and extraordinary is just that little extra.", "The difference between ordinary and extraordinary is the little extra."]