--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: When I was really little, I wanted to be…" description: "\"When I was really little, I wanted to be a wrestler so I could be like the girls I looked up to. My brother then told me that 'You don't want to be lik..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c12/aj-lee-12237_advice_when-i-was-really-little-i-wanted-to-be_1626351.jpg" --- # When I was really little, I wanted to be a wrestler so I… ![“When I was really little, I wanted to be a wrestler so I could be like the girls I looked up to. My brother then told me that 'You don't want to be like your idols; you want to grow up and be better than them.' To this day, that's the best piece of advice I've ever gotten.” quote by AJ Lee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c12/aj-lee-12237_advice_when-i-was-really-little-i-wanted-to-be_1626351.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c12/aj-lee-12237_advice_when-i-was-really-little-i-wanted-to-be_1626351.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c12/aj-lee-12237_advice_when-i-was-really-little-i-wanted-to-be_1626351.jpg) > “When I was really little, I wanted to be a wrestler so I could be like the girls I looked up to. My brother then told me that 'You don't want to be like your idols; you want to grow up and be better than them.' To this day, that's the best piece of advice I've ever gotten.” [AJ Lee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aj-lee/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Advice to surpass idols by personal growth rather than imitation, fostering self‑improvement. **In simple terms:** Grow beyond idols, become better yourself. Key Takeaway Strive to outdo your role models. Themes self‑improvement role models ambition growth Mood determined inspired focused Type motivational advisory When to use this quote - career planning - sports training - creative projects - leadership development Key Concepts personal development motivation self‑efficacy Questions to Reflect On - Who inspires you and how can you exceed their example? - What steps will you take to improve beyond current limits? A Different Perspective Risk of losing gratitude for mentors if overly competitive. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Advice](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/advice/) [Brother](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/brother/) [Day](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/day/) [Wrestler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wrestler/) [Wrestling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wrestling/) ## Related quotes > [Being a wrestler is like walking on the treadmill of life. You get off it and it just keeps going.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/randy-savage/being-a-wrestler-is-like-walking-on-the-treadmill-of-life-you-get-off/) [Randy Savage](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/randy-savage/) > [I have this dream of directing. But as a child, I wanted to become a wrestler. Like, in childhood, we used to watch WWF;…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/varun-dhawan/i-have-this-dream-of-directing-but-as-a-child-i-wanted-to-become-a/) [Varun Dhawan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/varun-dhawan/) > [Fundamentally I am a wrestler and like being on top and I like my grounding and pounding.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charlie-brenneman/fundamentally-i-am-a-wrestler-and-like-being-on-top-and-i-like-my/) [Charlie Brenneman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charlie-brenneman/) > [I want to fight Cormier, that's been a fight I've been trying to get forever. I can go in there and take him down.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ryan-bader/i-want-to-fight-cormier-that-s-been-a-fight-i-ve-been-trying-to-get/) [Ryan Bader](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ryan-bader/) > [I like to think of Christopher Daniels as one of those who's a great professional wrestler, but I like to think of myself as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cody-rhodes/i-like-to-think-of-christopher-daniels-as-one-of-those-who-s-a-great/) [Cody Rhodes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cody-rhodes/) > [I wanted to be a wrestler since before I can remember.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alberto-del-rio/i-wanted-to-be-a-wrestler-since-before-i-can-remember/) [Alberto Del Rio](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alberto-del-rio/) > [When I was a kid, I said this is what I wanted to do. I wanted to be a wrestler.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edge/when-i-was-a-kid-i-said-this-is-what-i-wanted-to-do-i-wanted-to-be-a/) [Edge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edge/) > [Shawn Michaels is the reason I wanted to be a wrestler.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kevin-owens/shawn-michaels-is-the-reason-i-wanted-to-be-a-wrestler/) [Kevin Owens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kevin-owens/) > [I always wanted to be a wrestler.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elias/i-always-wanted-to-be-a-wrestler/) [Elias](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elias/) > [It's been a part of my entire life: I've wanted to be a wrestler since I was a little kid. I don't think that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-layfield/it-s-been-a-part-of-my-entire-life-i-ve-wanted-to-be-a-wrestler-since/) [John Layfield](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-layfield/) > [I always knew that in the U.S., if you wanted to be a wrestler, Ring of Honor was the place to be.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adam-page/i-always-knew-that-in-the-u-s-if-you-wanted-to-be-a-wrestler-ring-of/) [Adam Page](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adam-page/) > [All I can ever remember from about age eight was I wanted to be a wrestler.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arn-anderson/all-i-can-ever-remember-from-about-age-eight-was-i-wanted-to-be-a/) [Arn Anderson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arn-anderson/) > [Dada is like your hopes: nothing like your paradise: nothing like your idols: nothing like your heroes: nothing like your artists: nothing like your…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francis-picabia/dada-is-like-your-hopes-nothing-like-your-paradise-nothing-like-your/) [Francis Picabia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francis-picabia/) > [Maybe you don't like my music. Maybe you don't like my style. Maybe you don't like my idols. But without them, I'd die. Maybe…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/maybe-you-don-t-like-my-music-maybe-you-don-t-like-my-style-maybe-you/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I was six years old and knew I wanted to be a wrestler.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-funk/i-was-six-years-old-and-knew-i-wanted-to-be-a-wrestler/) [Terry Funk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terry-funk/) ## More by AJ Lee > [I want people to know where I come from. I think I have come really far from that, and I did it on my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aj-lee/i-want-people-to-know-where-i-come-from-i-think-i-have-come-really/) [AJ Lee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aj-lee/) > [I'm not the sexy girl. I'm more youthful and innocent, the girl who wears jeans and T-shirts and sneakers. But fans have accepted that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aj-lee/i-m-not-the-sexy-girl-i-m-more-youthful-and-innocent-the-girl-who/) [AJ Lee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aj-lee/) > [From a young age, I felt like I was supposed to be the sort of female who is doing something strong.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aj-lee/from-a-young-age-i-felt-like-i-was-supposed-to-be-the-sort-of-female/) [AJ Lee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aj-lee/) > [To this day, I like the version of movies that don't have the curse words. I'm very reserved that way.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aj-lee/to-this-day-i-like-the-version-of-movies-that-don-t-have-the-curse/) [AJ Lee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aj-lee/) > [When I harnessed its seemingly uncontrollable might, I realized bipolar disorder's powers could be used for good. My diagnosis didn't have to be an…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aj-lee/when-i-harnessed-its-seemingly-uncontrollable-might-i-realized/) [AJ Lee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aj-lee/) > [Never trust anyone who doesn't drink coffee.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aj-lee/never-trust-anyone-who-doesn-t-drink-coffee/) [AJ Lee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aj-lee/) > [Chucks are cooler when they're dirty. I actually stepped on somebody's the other day because they were too clean.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aj-lee/chucks-are-cooler-when-they-re-dirty-i-actually-stepped-on-somebody-s/) [AJ Lee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aj-lee/) > [I think that it's interesting how shows like 'Walking Dead' or even 'Game of Thrones,' with all its fantasy elements, have become so popular.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aj-lee/i-think-that-it-s-interesting-how-shows-like-walking-dead-or-even/) [AJ Lee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aj-lee/) > [I could be anywhere in the country, and people will ask, 'Are you from Jersey?' I'm proud of that. We're a weird breed.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aj-lee/i-could-be-anywhere-in-the-country-and-people-will-ask-are-you-from/) [AJ Lee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aj-lee/) > [I'm not interested in being famous. I'm interested in doing my job and doing it well, and that's wrestling, and that's what I love.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aj-lee/i-m-not-interested-in-being-famous-i-m-interested-in-doing-my-job-and/) [AJ Lee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aj-lee/) > [It wasn't cool that I didn't comb my hair and had books and wore glasses. It was never cool be a nerd and tomboy,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aj-lee/it-wasn-t-cool-that-i-didn-t-comb-my-hair-and-had-books-and-wore/) [AJ Lee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aj-lee/) > [It's funny because I remember playing 'Grand Turismo,' and I would get yelled at by my brother for moving the controller as if it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aj-lee/it-s-funny-because-i-remember-playing-grand-turismo-and-i-would-get/) [AJ Lee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aj-lee/) > [This is over 10 years in the making for me and just a dream come true. I'm the luckiest person in the world.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aj-lee/this-is-over-10-years-in-the-making-for-me-and-just-a-dream-come-true/) [AJ Lee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aj-lee/) > [I have a very distinct memory of 'ExciteBike' and making my own courses. I had an obsession with that game.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aj-lee/i-have-a-very-distinct-memory-of-excitebike-and-making-my-own-courses/) [AJ Lee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aj-lee/) > [I'm not the coolest person in the world. I'm not the sexiest Diva or the strongest Diva. I know who I am. I'm not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aj-lee/i-m-not-the-coolest-person-in-the-world-i-m-not-the-sexiest-diva-or/) [AJ Lee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aj-lee/) [Explore all 55 AJ Lee quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aj-lee/) ## More Advice quotes > [The sensible person is always serious about sensible advice.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mak-786/the-sensible-person-is-always-serious-about-sensible-advice/) Mak\_786 > [I ask for tips, for advice. What I have also learnt is that I need to do things that are good for me. In…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matthijs-de-ligt/i-ask-for-tips-for-advice-what-i-have-also-learnt-is-that-i-need-to/) [Matthijs de Ligt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matthijs-de-ligt/) > [Don't get too attached to someone you know you can't be together with.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anurag-prakash-ray/don-t-get-too-attached-to-someone-you-know-you-can-t-be-together-with/) [Anurag Prakash Ray](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anurag-prakash-ray/) > [A low-minded person should not be given good advice.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chanakya/a-low-minded-person-should-not-be-given-good-advice/) [Chanakya](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chanakya/) > [The worst advice? 'Don't listen to the critics.' I think that you really ought to listen to the critics, because sometimes they're telling you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-king/the-worst-advice-don-t-listen-to-the-critics-i-think-that-you-really/) [Stephen King](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-king/) > [When I was in my twenties and just so sexually prolific, the first time I went to Machu Picchu, this guy, a spiritual teacher,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/woody-harrelson/when-i-was-in-my-twenties-and-just-so-sexually-prolific-the-first/) [Woody Harrelson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/woody-harrelson/) > [The best way to succeed in this world is to act on the advice you give to others.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/napoleon-hill/the-best-way-to-succeed-in-this-world-is-to-act-on-the-advice-you/) [Napoleon Hill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/napoleon-hill/) > [Time is priceless. You have it, but you don't own it. You spend it, but you can't keep it. And once it's gone, there's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/time-is-priceless-you-have-it-but-you-don-t-own-it-you-spend-it-but/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [You don't need to take a persons advice to make him feel good, just ask him for it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laurence-j-peter/you-don-t-need-to-take-a-persons-advice-to-make-him-feel-good-just/) [Laurence J. Peter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laurence-j-peter/) > [Some of the things that we hold onto the most, are the things that we need to let go of.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ryaj-ablando-catayas/some-of-the-things-that-we-hold-onto-the-most-are-the-things-that-we/) [Ryaj Ablando Catayas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ryaj-ablando-catayas/) > [“If your clothes are enough to drive would-be friends away, they're not the kind of friends you want." Typical mother advice. Sweet, honest, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aprilynne-pike/if-your-clothes-are-enough-to-drive-would-be-friends-away-they-re-not/) [Aprilynne Pike](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aprilynne-pike/) > [“My kingdom not for a horse, but for a good piece of advice!”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mehmet-murat-ildan/my-kingdom-not-for-a-horse-but-for-a-good-piece-of-advice/) [Mehmet Murat ildan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mehmet-murat-ildan/) > [I always advise people not to act upon the advice that I give them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vikrant-parsai/i-always-advise-people-not-to-act-upon-the-advice-that-i-give-them/) [Vikrant Parsai](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vikrant-parsai/) > [ \[A\]s you partake of the world's bill of fare, that's darned good advice to follow. Do a lot of spitting out the hot air.… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dr-seuss/a-s-you-partake-of-the-world-s-bill-of-fare-that-s-darned-good-advice/) [Dr. Seuss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dr-seuss/) > [My relationship with Ibrahimovic was completely neutral. He is not the type of player to approach the younger players and give them advice. He…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kingsley-coman/my-relationship-with-ibrahimovic-was-completely-neutral-he-is-not-the/) [Kingsley Coman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kingsley-coman/) [Browse all 8,535 Advice quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/advice/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "When I was really little, I wanted to be a wrestler so I could be like the girls I looked up to. My brother then told me that 'You don't want to be like your idols; you want to grow up and be better than them.' 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