You'll never get ahead of anyone as long as you try to get even with him.

Holtz’s line contrasts two impulses: progress and retaliation. “Get ahead” implies forward movement—improving performance, character, or circumstances—while “get even” fixes attention on past injury and another person’s wrongdoing. The quote suggests that revenge is a kind of self-imposed drag: it consumes time, emotional energy, and strategic focus that could be invested in growth. It also implies a moral dimension common in coaching rhetoric: resentment keeps you reactive, whereas success requires discipline and purpose. In practical terms, the advice is to redirect anger into constructive effort rather than letting grievance set your agenda.