What I respect as far as in myself and in others is the spirit of just doing it. For better or worse, it may work and it may not, but I’m going to go for it. Ultimately I probably prefer to be respected for that than whether it works out or not, either winning or losing.

Jackman frames “respect” not as admiration for outcomes (winning, losing, success, failure) but for a disposition: the willingness to commit and act despite uncertainty. The phrase “just doing it” emphasizes initiative over perfectionism, and “for better or worse” acknowledges risk as inseparable from meaningful effort. By preferring respect for trying rather than for results, he rejects a purely performance-based measure of worth and aligns dignity with courage, persistence, and agency. The quote resonates with creative and athletic cultures—auditioning, performing, taking roles—where outcomes are partly uncontrollable, but effort and integrity remain personal choices.