---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I think every album you have, especially…"
description: "\"I think every album you have, especially if it's done well, you feel like you're competing with yourself.\" — Alan Jackson"
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/bb6/alan-jackson-4968_albums_i-think-every-album-you-have-especially_1312906.png"
---

#  I think every album you have, especially if it's done…

![“I think every album you have, especially if it's done well, you feel like you're competing with yourself.” quote by Alan Jackson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/bb6/alan-jackson-4968_albums_i-think-every-album-you-have-especially_1312906.png)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/bb6/alan-jackson-4968_albums_i-think-every-album-you-have-especially_1312906.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/bb6/alan-jackson-4968_albums_i-think-every-album-you-have-especially_1312906.png)

> “I think every album you have, especially if it's done well, you feel like you're competing with yourself.”

[Alan Jackson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-jackson/)

## About This Quote

This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.

Artists should view each new work as a personal challenge to surpass their own previous standards.

**In simple terms:** Competing with oneself drives artistic growth.

Key Takeaway

Aim to outdo your past work.

Themes

creativity self-improvement music competition

Mood

inspirational reflective

Type

artistic motivational

When to use this quote

- songwriting
- album production
- studio sessions
- live performances
- career development

Key Concepts

Artistic evolution personal standards self-competition

Questions to Reflect On

- What motivates you to improve?
- How do you measure personal progress?

A Different Perspective

Risk of stagnation if self-competition becomes unhealthy.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Albums](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/albums/) [Competing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/competing/) [Song](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/song/) [Thinking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thinking/)

## Related quotes

> [Most every album - and especially metal albums these days - are made in a way that you can grow tired of them very…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mat-mcnerney/most-every-album-and-especially-metal-albums-these-days-are-made-in-a/)

[Mat McNerney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mat-mcnerney/)

> [I competed every day as a professional football player... You've got to like competing. That's how your team gets better, when you have competition…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/herm-edwards/i-competed-every-day-as-a-professional-football-player-you-ve-got-to/)

[Herm Edwards](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/herm-edwards/)

> [I like competing. Just going out there and battling. Having a game plan and going out there and executing it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jennifer-brady/i-like-competing-just-going-out-there-and-battling-having-a-game-plan/)

[Jennifer Brady](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jennifer-brady/)

> [I just like competing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brad-stevens/i-just-like-competing/)

[Brad Stevens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brad-stevens/)

> [I like competing against the very best.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rex-ryan/i-like-competing-against-the-very-best/)

[Rex Ryan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rex-ryan/)

> [The book industry is all about community, and it never really feels like anyone is competing against anyone, thankfully.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adam-silvera/the-book-industry-is-all-about-community-and-it-never-really-feels/)

[Adam Silvera](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adam-silvera/)

> [“Competing without software is like competing without electricity.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/naval-ravikant/competing-without-software-is-like-competing-without-electricity/)

[Naval Ravikant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/naval-ravikant/)

> [Sometimes, I think, as women especially, we feel like well that's a sign of weakness if we ask for help and to me, it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kendra-scott/sometimes-i-think-as-women-especially-we-feel-like-well-that-s-a-sign/)

[Kendra Scott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kendra-scott/)

> [If you are just having unusual experiences and feeling special–especially if you feel better than everybody else–I think that is a dangerous thing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-tart/if-you-are-just-having-unusual-experiences-and-feeling-special/)

[Charles Tart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-tart/)

> [“I feel like my old self. Especially since I feel like I’m developing dementia.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jarod-kintz/i-feel-like-my-old-self-especially-since-i-feel-like-i-m-developing/)

[Jarod Kintz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jarod-kintz/)

> [There's a lot of trials and tribulations you have to go through to get what you want, especially if you feel like it belongs…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/keyshia-cole/there-s-a-lot-of-trials-and-tribulations-you-have-to-go-through-to/)

[Keyshia Cole](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/keyshia-cole/)

> [“A true friend is someone who lets you have total freedom to be yourself - and especially to feel.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-rebell/a-true-friend-is-someone-who-lets-you-have-total-freedom-to-be/)

John Rebell

> [I don't like to hold back. Especially with who I am and what I do, it's all me. Everything's my name; it's what I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sharon-van-etten/i-don-t-like-to-hold-back-especially-with-who-i-am-and-what-i-do-it-s/)

[Sharon Van Etten](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sharon-van-etten/)

> [Our Lady is always close to us, especially when we feel the weight of life with all its problems](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pope-francis/our-lady-is-always-close-to-us-especially-when-we-feel-the-weight-of/)

[Pope Francis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pope-francis/)

> [You know what? If I am always around you, act like you, and somewhat annoy you, then be glad. That means I want to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/naquitta-faith/you-know-what-if-i-am-always-around-you-act-like-you-and-somewhat/)

[Naquitta Faith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/naquitta-faith/)

## More by Alan Jackson

> [My mother kept asking me, 'When are you going to do a gospel album?' And I've always wanted to do a gospel album. Everybody…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-jackson/my-mother-kept-asking-me-when-are-you-going-to-do-a-gospel-album-and/)

[Alan Jackson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-jackson/)

> [Wind it up, or I can slow it way down In the woods or right uptown.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-jackson/wind-it-up-or-i-can-slow-it-way-down-in-the-woods-or-right-uptown/)

[Alan Jackson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-jackson/)

> [Remember when old ones died and new were born and life was changed, disassembled, rearranged?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-jackson/remember-when-old-ones-died-and-new-were-born-and-life-was-changed/)

[Alan Jackson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-jackson/)

> [For a good time I need a good time.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-jackson/for-a-good-time-i-need-a-good-time/)

[Alan Jackson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-jackson/)

> [Do what's in your heart and don't let people change you. Do what you want to do.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-jackson/do-what-s-in-your-heart-and-don-t-let-people-change-you-do-what-you/)

[Alan Jackson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-jackson/)

> [I'm hooked on my baby's love, there ain't nothing in the jug this strong.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-jackson/i-m-hooked-on-my-baby-s-love-there-ain-t-nothing-in-the-jug-this/)

[Alan Jackson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-jackson/)

> [Remember when I was young and so were you and time stood still and love was all we knew?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-jackson/remember-when-i-was-young-and-so-were-you-and-time-stood-still-and/)

[Alan Jackson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-jackson/)

> [A lot of times when songwriters get together and write a song... somebody will come in with a hook and a lot of times…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-jackson/a-lot-of-times-when-songwriters-get-together-and-write-a-song/)

[Alan Jackson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-jackson/)

> [We came together, fell apart and broke each other's hearts.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-jackson/we-came-together-fell-apart-and-broke-each-other-s-hearts/)

[Alan Jackson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-jackson/)

> [That's the way I like it: people who still know who they are.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-jackson/that-s-the-way-i-like-it-people-who-still-know-who-they-are/)

[Alan Jackson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-jackson/)

> [I've always stood up for country music.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-jackson/i-ve-always-stood-up-for-country-music/)

[Alan Jackson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-jackson/)

> [I mean, my voice has gotten a little deeper sounding as I've gotten older, I think. I noticed that.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-jackson/i-mean-my-voice-has-gotten-a-little-deeper-sounding-as-i-ve-gotten/)

[Alan Jackson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-jackson/)

> [Flesh is weak, but love is strong.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-jackson/flesh-is-weak-but-love-is-strong/)

[Alan Jackson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-jackson/)

> [Excuse me ma'am, I saw you walk in I turned around, I'm not a stalker.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-jackson/excuse-me-ma-am-i-saw-you-walk-in-i-turned-around-i-m-not-a-stalker/)

[Alan Jackson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-jackson/)

> [It's a scary word, 'cancer.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-jackson/it-s-a-scary-word-cancer/)

[Alan Jackson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-jackson/)

[Explore all 104 Alan Jackson quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-jackson/)

## More Albums quotes

> [Check out the albums, ... Check out the live performances. That's the reality of it all. Music is such an energizing thing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-mayall/check-out-the-albums-check-out-the-live-performances-that-s-the/)

[John Mayall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-mayall/)

> [It's been really fun to see with each album when I change to see the fans of the show emulate my style and with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/avril-lavigne/it-s-been-really-fun-to-see-with-each-album-when-i-change-to-see-the/)

[Avril Lavigne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/avril-lavigne/)

> [It's my intention to make something stand outside the realm of album art, but it also feels comfortable to me to be in it.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-dyer-baizley/it-s-my-intention-to-make-something-stand-outside-the-realm-of-album/)

[John Dyer Baizley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-dyer-baizley/)

> [The weird thing was that Soft Cell was supposed to have come and gone before I started the album.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marc-almond/the-weird-thing-was-that-soft-cell-was-supposed-to-have-come-and-gone/)

[Marc Almond](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marc-almond/)

> [I believe in full albums, and whatever comes out of those full albums will come.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roddy-ricch/i-believe-in-full-albums-and-whatever-comes-out-of-those-full-albums/)

[Roddy Ricch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roddy-ricch/)

> [Doing my own album provided me the opportunity to say whatever I wanted.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-marx/doing-my-own-album-provided-me-the-opportunity-to-say-whatever-i/)

[Richard Marx](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-marx/)

> [The album is a definite departure. I haven't written original material before, except for one song on my first album, but Elvis and I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/diana-krall/the-album-is-a-definite-departure-i-haven-t-written-original-material/)

[Diana Krall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/diana-krall/)

> [I never do any album to beat it. I do it to extend it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-j-blige/i-never-do-any-album-to-beat-it-i-do-it-to-extend-it/)

[Mary J. Blige](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-j-blige/)

> [I love Katy Perry! She gave me a song for my second album.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/selena-gomez/i-love-katy-perry-she-gave-me-a-song-for-my-second-album/)

[Selena Gomez](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/selena-gomez/)

> [If you're going to reach for it, reach all the way for it. Albums like 'Purple Rain' and 'Thriller' and those kind of records,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dave-sitek/if-you-re-going-to-reach-for-it-reach-all-the-way-for-it-albums-like/)

[Dave Sitek](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dave-sitek/)

> [I'll put out an album, and people review it, and some people love it, and some people tear it apart. By nature of the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/girl-talk/i-ll-put-out-an-album-and-people-review-it-and-some-people-love-it/)

[Girl Talk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/girl-talk/)

> [I've been connected to the most culturally important albums of the past four years, the most influential artists of the past ten years. You…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kanye-west/i-ve-been-connected-to-the-most-culturally-important-albums-of-the/)

[Kanye West](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kanye-west/)

> [George Winston piano albums have been my go-to since junior high.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-sacca/george-winston-piano-albums-have-been-my-go-to-since-junior-high/)

[Chris Sacca](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-sacca/)

> [Someone told me once that Lucinda Williams takes six years between albums, and that's what stuck to me; it's like, you really are a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/beth-ditto/someone-told-me-once-that-lucinda-williams-takes-six-years-between/)

[Beth Ditto](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/beth-ditto/)

> [Now I'm having to live with sales of around 50,000 per album - but I'm pretty content with my place in the general scheme…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-knopfler/now-i-m-having-to-live-with-sales-of-around-50-000-per-album-but-i-m/)

[David Knopfler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-knopfler/)

[Browse all 2,275 Albums quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/albums/)

```json
{
    "@context": "https://schema.org",
    "@graph": [
        {
            "@type": "Quotation",
            "text": "I think every album you have, especially if it's done well, you feel like you're competing with yourself.",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "Alan Jackson"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-jackson/i-think-every-album-you-have-especially-if-it-s-done-well-you-feel/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "Albums"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-jackson/i-think-every-album-you-have-especially-if-it-s-done-well-you-feel/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/bb6/alan-jackson-4968_albums_i-think-every-album-you-have-especially_1312906.png",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/bb6/alan-jackson-4968_albums_i-think-every-album-you-have-especially_1312906.png",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/bb6/alan-jackson-4968_albums_i-think-every-album-you-have-especially_1312906.png",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“I think every album you have, especially if it's done well, you feel like you're competing with yourself.” — Alan Jackson",
                "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
                "creator": {
                    "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization"
                }
            }
        },
        {
            "@type": "BreadcrumbList",
            "itemListElement": [
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 1,
                    "name": "Home",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 2,
                    "name": "Quotes",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 3,
                    "name": "Alan Jackson",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-jackson/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 4,
                    "name": "I think every album you have,...",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-jackson/i-think-every-album-you-have-especially-if-it-s-done-well-you-feel/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-jackson/i-think-every-album-you-have-especially-if-it-s-done-well-you-feel/#breadcrumb"
        },
        {
            "@type": "WebSite",
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website",
            "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/",
            "publisher": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization"
            }
        },
        {
            "@type": "Organization",
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization",
            "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/",
            "logo": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png",
                "width": 512,
                "height": 512
            }
        }
    ]
}
```
