--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: People make a big mistake when they say…" description: "\"People make a big mistake when they say, 'I need to be motivated.' You motivate yourself. I might inspire somebody, but that person has to be motivated..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fbd/billy-mills-38783_believe_people-make-a-big-mistake-when-they-say_744315.png" --- # People make a big mistake when they say, 'I need to be… ![“People make a big mistake when they say, 'I need to be motivated.' You motivate yourself. I might inspire somebody, but that person has to be motivated within themselves first. Look inside yourself, believe in yourself, put in the hard work, and your dreams will unfold.” quote by Billy Mills](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fbd/billy-mills-38783_believe_people-make-a-big-mistake-when-they-say_744315.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fbd/billy-mills-38783_believe_people-make-a-big-mistake-when-they-say_744315.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fbd/billy-mills-38783_believe_people-make-a-big-mistake-when-they-say_744315.png) > “People make a big mistake when they say, 'I need to be motivated.' You motivate yourself. I might inspire somebody, but that person has to be motivated within themselves first. Look inside yourself, believe in yourself, put in the hard work, and your dreams will unfold.” [Billy Mills](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/billy-mills/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Motivation must come from within; external inspiration can spark it, but personal drive is essential. **In simple terms:** Motivation is internal. Key Takeaway Cultivate inner drive. Themes motivation self-reliance hard work Mood practical encouraging Type self-help motivational When to use this quote - career - athletics - personal projects Key Concepts self-efficacy goal setting discipline Questions to Reflect On - How do you ignite your own motivation? - What habits support self-discipline? A Different Perspective External motivators may not sustain long-term effort. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Dream](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/dream/) [Dreams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/dreams/) [Failure](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/failure/) [Hard work](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hard-work/) [Look inside yourself](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/look-inside-yourself/) [Mistake](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mistake/) [Motivate yourself](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/motivate-yourself/) [Motivation](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/motivation/) [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) [Your dreams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/your-dreams/) ## Related quotes > [“In order to stay focused, you need to be motivated. In order to stay motivated, you need to know your why!”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcel-riemer/in-order-to-stay-focused-you-need-to-be-motivated-in-order-to-stay/) [Marcel Riemer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcel-riemer/) > [I am aware of the crowd, the need to get them motivated and involved.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/judd-trump/i-am-aware-of-the-crowd-the-need-to-get-them-motivated-and-involved/) [Judd Trump](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/judd-trump/) > [I'm highly critical of myself. There's not something someone else might say that makes me feel I need to be motivated in a different…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nnamdi-asomugha/i-m-highly-critical-of-myself-there-s-not-something-someone-else/) [Nnamdi Asomugha](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nnamdi-asomugha/) > [I don't need to be motivated by anybody. Never have.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-marino/i-don-t-need-to-be-motivated-by-anybody-never-have/) [Dan Marino](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dan-marino/) > [I never need to be motivated to be on the court. That's the one thing that comes very naturally to me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/diana-taurasi/i-never-need-to-be-motivated-to-be-on-the-court-that-s-the-one-thing/) [Diana Taurasi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/diana-taurasi/) > [Creative people rarely need to be motivated-they have their own inner drive that refuses to be bored. They refuse to be complacent. They live…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donald-trump/creative-people-rarely-need-to-be-motivated-they-have-their-own-inner/) [Donald Trump](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donald-trump/) > [Most of us are not pure self-starters; most people need role models, they need coaches, they need exemplars, they maybe need some discipline or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tyler-cowen/most-of-us-are-not-pure-self-starters-most-people-need-role-models/) [Tyler Cowen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tyler-cowen/) > [I try to motivate and inspire people by showing them how much I love this sport and love this organization.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-waltrip/i-try-to-motivate-and-inspire-people-by-showing-them-how-much-i-love/) [Michael Waltrip](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-waltrip/) > [“Surround yourself with people who are going to motivate and inspire you.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-m-marcus/surround-yourself-with-people-who-are-going-to-motivate-and-inspire/) Charles M. Marcus > [The job of president is to motivate, to inspire, to be side by side with people making sure that they develop all their capacities…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vicente-fox/the-job-of-president-is-to-motivate-to-inspire-to-be-side-by-side/) [Vicente Fox](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vicente-fox/) > [“If your actions don't excite, motivate or inspire others to do better, you're doing it wrong.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peprah-boasiako/if-your-actions-don-t-excite-motivate-or-inspire-others-to-do-better/) [Peprah Boasiako](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peprah-boasiako/) > [It is very hard to enroll people in anything. And there is a very big difference between the words motivate and inspire.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wayne-dyer/it-is-very-hard-to-enroll-people-in-anything-and-there-is-a-very-big/) [Wayne Dyer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wayne-dyer/) > [Just wanted to thank you for always being there for me. You motivate & inspire me every day. I'll never forget that.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/just-wanted-to-thank-you-for-always-being-there-for-me-you-motivate/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [To succeed, you need to find something to hold on to, something to motivate you, something to inspire you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tony-dorsett/to-succeed-you-need-to-find-something-to-hold-on-to-something-to/) [Tony Dorsett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tony-dorsett/) > [I like to motivate and inspire people.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-allen/i-like-to-motivate-and-inspire-people/) [George Allen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-allen/) ## More by Billy Mills > [Your life is a gift from the Creator. Your gift back to the Creator is what you do with your life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/billy-mills/your-life-is-a-gift-from-the-creator-your-gift-back-to-the-creator-is/) [Billy Mills](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/billy-mills/) > [You can get defeated, just as long as you don't fail.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/billy-mills/you-can-get-defeated-just-as-long-as-you-don-t-fail/) [Billy Mills](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/billy-mills/) > [“My life is a gift from the Creator. What I do with it is my gift to the Creator.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/billy-mills/my-life-is-a-gift-from-the-creator-what-i-do-with-it-is-my-gift-to/) [Billy Mills](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/billy-mills/) > [The ultimate is not to win, but to reach within the depths of your capabilities and to compete against yourself to the greatest extent…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/billy-mills/the-ultimate-is-not-to-win-but-to-reach-within-the-depths-of-your/) [Billy Mills](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/billy-mills/) > [Every passion has its destiny.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/billy-mills/every-passion-has-its-destiny/) [Billy Mills](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/billy-mills/) > [Coming off the last turn, my thoughts changed from 'One more try...one more try...one more try...' to 'I can win! I can win! I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/billy-mills/coming-off-the-last-turn-my-thoughts-changed-from-one-more-try-one/) [Billy Mills](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/billy-mills/) > [I was constantly told and challenged to live my life as a warrior. As a warrior, you assume responsibility for yourself. The warrior humbles…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/billy-mills/i-was-constantly-told-and-challenged-to-live-my-life-as-a-warrior-as/) [Billy Mills](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/billy-mills/) > [I haven't seen too many American distance men on the international scene willing to take risks. I saw some U.S. women in Barcelona willing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/billy-mills/i-haven-t-seen-too-many-american-distance-men-on-the-international/) [Billy Mills](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/billy-mills/) > [The ultimate is not to win, but to reach within the depths of your capabilities and to compete against yourself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/billy-mills/the-ultimate-is-not-to-win-but-to-reach-within-the-depths-of-your-2/) [Billy Mills](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/billy-mills/) > [God has given me the ability. The rest is up to me. Believe. Believe. Believe.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/billy-mills/god-has-given-me-the-ability-the-rest-is-up-to-me-believe-believe/) [Billy Mills](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/billy-mills/) [Explore all 11 Billy Mills quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/billy-mills/) ## More Believe quotes > [I actually think acting is a form of self-hypnosis. You have to be hyper, hyper aware of what's going on around you. You have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julianne-moore/i-actually-think-acting-is-a-form-of-self-hypnosis-you-have-to-be/) [Julianne Moore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julianne-moore/) > [Some people still believe you should just fall in line with what's going on - and that's scary. It makes a mockery of freedom…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emily-robison/some-people-still-believe-you-should-just-fall-in-line-with-what-s/) [Emily Robison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emily-robison/) > [The truth seems to be that propaganda on its own cannot force its way into unwilling minds; neither can it inculcate something wholly new;…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-hoffer/the-truth-seems-to-be-that-propaganda-on-its-own-cannot-force-its-way/) [Eric Hoffer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-hoffer/) > [Resist discouragement by speaking His Word over your future. Keep standing. Keep hoping; keep believing because He is working behind the scenes. He's going…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joel-osteen/resist-discouragement-by-speaking-his-word-over-your-future-keep/) [Joel Osteen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joel-osteen/) > [I can't believe that I'm sitting in meetings with Steven Spielberg, Tom Hanks, and Annette Bening. I want to take on that responsibility to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roger-ross-williams/i-can-t-believe-that-i-m-sitting-in-meetings-with-steven-spielberg/) [Roger Ross Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roger-ross-williams/) > [There is no such word as item girl in the dictionary. People have created this word and I don't believe that I am an…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shefali-zariwala/there-is-no-such-word-as-item-girl-in-the-dictionary-people-have/) [Shefali Zariwala](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shefali-zariwala/) > [I understand that it's the music that keeps me alive... That's my lifeblood. And to give that up for, like, the TV, the cars,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bruce-springsteen/i-understand-that-it-s-the-music-that-keeps-me-alive-that-s-my/) [Bruce Springsteen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bruce-springsteen/) > [I don't really like too much credit. I know nobody's going to believe this, but I'd rather be able to score goals and nobody…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bradley-wright-phillips/i-don-t-really-like-too-much-credit-i-know-nobody-s-going-to-believe/) [Bradley Wright-Phillips](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bradley-wright-phillips/) > [“What I have a problem with is not so much religion or god, but faith. When you say you believe something in your heart…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/penn-jillette/what-i-have-a-problem-with-is-not-so-much-religion-or-god-but-faith/) [Penn Jillette](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/penn-jillette/) > [Bush reiterated his stand to conservatives opposing his decision on stem cell research. He said today he believes life begins at conception and ends…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jay-leno/bush-reiterated-his-stand-to-conservatives-opposing-his-decision-on/) [Jay Leno](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jay-leno/) > [Never underestimate the power of the human mind to believe what it wants to believe, no matter the conflicting evidence.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-herbert/never-underestimate-the-power-of-the-human-mind-to-believe-what-it/) [Brian Herbert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-herbert/) > [To believe in love, to be ready to give up anything for it, to be willing to risk your life for it, is the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leonardo-dicaprio/to-believe-in-love-to-be-ready-to-give-up-anything-for-it-to-be/) [Leonardo DiCaprio](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leonardo-dicaprio/) > [That's why I don't generally talk about endorsements because I don't believe we have to tell people who to vote for.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-luther-king-iii/that-s-why-i-don-t-generally-talk-about-endorsements-because-i-don-t/) [Martin Luther King III](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-luther-king-iii/) > [Mankind have been slow to believe that order reigns in the universe-that the world is a cosmos and a chaos.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-a-garfield/mankind-have-been-slow-to-believe-that-order-reigns-in-the-universe/) [James A. Garfield](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-a-garfield/) > [We instantly believe everything we think. Isn't that insane? It's good for us to explore the depravity of our minds, so we know we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/krishna-das/we-instantly-believe-everything-we-think-isn-t-that-insane-it-s-good/) [Krishna Das](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/krishna-das/) Browse all 47,704 Believe quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "People make a big mistake when they say, 'I need to be motivated.' You motivate yourself. I might inspire somebody, but that person has to be motivated within themselves first. 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