--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I've been a guy who's never really been…" description: "\"I've been a guy who's never really been satisfied. Work hard, try to figure out ways to improve, try to figure out ways to sustain a certain level of p..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/74a/c-j-mccollum-5656_hard_i-ve-been-a-guy-who-s-never-really-been_2568779.jpg" --- # I've been a guy who's never really been satisfied. Work… ![“I've been a guy who's never really been satisfied. Work hard, try to figure out ways to improve, try to figure out ways to sustain a certain level of play.” quote by C. J. McCollum](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/74a/c-j-mccollum-5656_hard_i-ve-been-a-guy-who-s-never-really-been_2568779.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/74a/c-j-mccollum-5656_hard_i-ve-been-a-guy-who-s-never-really-been_2568779.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/74a/c-j-mccollum-5656_hard_i-ve-been-a-guy-who-s-never-really-been_2568779.jpg) > “I've been a guy who's never really been satisfied. Work hard, try to figure out ways to improve, try to figure out ways to sustain a certain level of play.” [C. J. McCollum](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/c-j-mccollum/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The speaker feels chronic dissatisfaction despite effort, seeking constant improvement and sustained performance. **In simple terms:** Never satisfied, always striving for more. Key Takeaway Embrace growth, but also reflect on contentment. Themes ambition self‑improvement performance Mood determined reflective Type motivational philosophical When to use this quote - career development - sports training - personal goals - creative projects Key Concepts psychology motivation burnout Questions to Reflect On - What does true satisfaction look like for you? - How can you balance ambition with wellbeing? A Different Perspective Constant striving can lead to burnout and loss of joy. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Play](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/play/) [Work](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/work/) [Work hard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/work-hard/) ## Related quotes > [To learn, you have to listen. To improve, you have to try.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-jefferson/to-learn-you-have-to-listen-to-improve-you-have-to-try/) [Thomas Jefferson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-jefferson/) > [The only way you improve is to try new things.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-koch/the-only-way-you-improve-is-to-try-new-things/) [Charles Koch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-koch/) > [Well, the problem is, it's not easy for me to think of ways to improve myself, because I'm pretty much one of the best…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeff-kinney/well-the-problem-is-it-s-not-easy-for-me-to-think-of-ways-to-improve/) [Jeff Kinney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeff-kinney/) > [“We need to uncover better ways to improve and retrospectives can provide the solution.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-linders/we-need-to-uncover-better-ways-to-improve-and-retrospectives-can/) [Ben Linders](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ben-linders/) > [There's always ways to improve.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/connor-mcdavid/there-s-always-ways-to-improve/) [Connor McDavid](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/connor-mcdavid/) > [I can always see ways to improve what I've done. At the same time, knowing it's all an ongoing life's work allows me to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/grant-morrison/i-can-always-see-ways-to-improve-what-i-ve-done-at-the-same-time/) [Grant Morrison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/grant-morrison/) > [Every party I do go to, all I'm thinking about is ways to improve it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emily-hampshire/every-party-i-do-go-to-all-i-m-thinking-about-is-ways-to-improve-it/) [Emily Hampshire](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emily-hampshire/) > [I can't just sit around and feel sorry for myself. I have to find ways to improve.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/katy-o-brian/i-can-t-just-sit-around-and-feel-sorry-for-myself-i-have-to-find-ways/) [Katy O'Brian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/katy-o-brian/) > [You will find that the mere resolve not to be useless, and the honest desire to help other people, will, in the quickest and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-ruskin/you-will-find-that-the-mere-resolve-not-to-be-useless-and-the-honest/) [John Ruskin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-ruskin/) > [For me it is about always trying to find ways to improve and get better.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-stokes/for-me-it-is-about-always-trying-to-find-ways-to-improve-and-get/) [Ben Stokes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ben-stokes/) > [I'm always looking for new ways to improve my skills.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gennady-golovkin/i-m-always-looking-for-new-ways-to-improve-my-skills/) [Gennady Golovkin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gennady-golovkin/) > [It's not that the system is broken, but clearly there are ways to improve the system, strengthen it, to make sure that we can…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-o-brennan/it-s-not-that-the-system-is-broken-but-clearly-there-are-ways-to/) [John O. Brennan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-o-brennan/) > [There are two ways to improve your service, and yourself: maximize your strengths and minimize your weaknesses.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ron-kaufman/there-are-two-ways-to-improve-your-service-and-yourself-maximize-your/) [Ron Kaufman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ron-kaufman/) > [Any time you add something to your game, you still have to find ways to improve, so I'm still studying the game and trying…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/blake-griffin/any-time-you-add-something-to-your-game-you-still-have-to-find-ways/) [Blake Griffin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/blake-griffin/) > [One of the most effective ways to improve is to learn from other peoples mistakes.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ritu-ghatourey/one-of-the-most-effective-ways-to-improve-is-to-learn-from-other/) [Ritu Ghatourey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ritu-ghatourey/) ## More by C. J. McCollum > [Offensively, Lowry is a great catch-and-shoot player from deep, and he's very comfortable shooting the trey off the bounce in isolations and pick-and-roll.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/c-j-mccollum/offensively-lowry-is-a-great-catch-and-shoot-player-from-deep-and-he/) [C. J. McCollum](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/c-j-mccollum/) > [It's been a part of my game for life. It's tougher to finish in the lane so you've got to find different areas to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/c-j-mccollum/it-s-been-a-part-of-my-game-for-life-it-s-tougher-to-finish-in-the/) [C. J. McCollum](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/c-j-mccollum/) > [In college, the line is so close that you can kind of half-heartedly shoot the ball off-balance and fading away. To shoot an NBA…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/c-j-mccollum/in-college-the-line-is-so-close-that-you-can-kind-of-half-heartedly/) [C. J. McCollum](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/c-j-mccollum/) > [The intensity and importance of each possession. That's the thing about the NBA that doesn't always translate to television.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/c-j-mccollum/the-intensity-and-importance-of-each-possession-that-s-the-thing/) [C. J. McCollum](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/c-j-mccollum/) > [You have to learn how to win in this league. It's a process.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/c-j-mccollum/you-have-to-learn-how-to-win-in-this-league-it-s-a-process/) [C. J. McCollum](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/c-j-mccollum/) > [As players we're held accountable for poor performance, I think the same should be said for journalists.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/c-j-mccollum/as-players-we-re-held-accountable-for-poor-performance-i-think-the/) [C. J. McCollum](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/c-j-mccollum/) > [Being able to go to someone's house and have dinner with them and their family, being able to go see a movie with them,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/c-j-mccollum/being-able-to-go-to-someone-s-house-and-have-dinner-with-them-and/) [C. J. McCollum](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/c-j-mccollum/) > [I've said it before and I'll say it again: Portland basketball fans are the best basketball fans in the world.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/c-j-mccollum/i-ve-said-it-before-and-i-ll-say-it-again-portland-basketball-fans/) [C. J. McCollum](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/c-j-mccollum/) > [One thing I love about guards in this league is that you can be a 5-foot-9 pit bull or a methodical 6-foot-7 jump-shooter, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/c-j-mccollum/one-thing-i-love-about-guards-in-this-league-is-that-you-can-be-a-5/) [C. J. McCollum](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/c-j-mccollum/) > [As a kid growing up in Canton, Ohio, you never see yourself in a position to play in the NBA, much less have somebody…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/c-j-mccollum/as-a-kid-growing-up-in-canton-ohio-you-never-see-yourself-in-a/) [C. J. McCollum](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/c-j-mccollum/) > [Life happens fast. You have to have a Plan B, a backup plan and really figure out a way to have different avenues of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/c-j-mccollum/life-happens-fast-you-have-to-have-a-plan-b-a-backup-plan-and-really/) [C. J. McCollum](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/c-j-mccollum/) > [Growing up I was a Cleveland Browns fan and my mood would change based on how they were playing. If they were losing I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/c-j-mccollum/growing-up-i-was-a-cleveland-browns-fan-and-my-mood-would-change/) [C. J. McCollum](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/c-j-mccollum/) > [Kyrie is the ultimate versatility weapon. He's good in isos, he's good in pick-and-rolls, he's good in transition. He got game.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/c-j-mccollum/kyrie-is-the-ultimate-versatility-weapon-he-s-good-in-isos-he-s-good/) [C. J. McCollum](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/c-j-mccollum/) > [If I could go back in time and give Rookie C.J one piece of wisdom, it would be that sometimes less is more. Off…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/c-j-mccollum/if-i-could-go-back-in-time-and-give-rookie-c-j-one-piece-of-wisdom-it/) [C. J. McCollum](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/c-j-mccollum/) > [When games get tight in the playoffs, especially in the Finals, there's no space. There's no clean looks.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/c-j-mccollum/when-games-get-tight-in-the-playoffs-especially-in-the-finals-there-s/) [C. J. McCollum](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/c-j-mccollum/) [Explore all 100 C. J. McCollum quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/c-j-mccollum/) ## More Hard quotes > [You'd be surprised how hard it can often be to translate an action into an idea.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karl-kraus/you-d-be-surprised-how-hard-it-can-often-be-to-translate-an-action/) [Karl Kraus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karl-kraus/) > [Making the right decision is hard,telling someone your decision is even harder.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abhishek-tiwari/making-the-right-decision-is-hard-telling-someone-your-decision-is/) [Abhishek Tiwari](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abhishek-tiwari/) > [It is hard to admit to someone that you love him..](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/misherie/it-is-hard-to-admit-to-someone-that-you-love-him/) [Misherie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/misherie/) > [It's a hard thing to describe. It's just this sense that you got something to say.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonah-lehrer/it-s-a-hard-thing-to-describe-it-s-just-this-sense-that-you-got/) [Jonah Lehrer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonah-lehrer/) > [There Was Many Time I Had Wanted To Give Up In Life On So Many Things…But Naw F\*\*\* That...I'm Not Going To Never Give…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/out-spoken/there-was-many-time-i-had-wanted-to-give-up-in-life-on-so-many-things/) Out Spoken > [I think you can get, as a player, stuck in the mindset of trying too hard to prove yourself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/trinity-rodman/i-think-you-can-get-as-a-player-stuck-in-the-mindset-of-trying-too/) [Trinity Rodman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/trinity-rodman/) > [America is a democracy and has no Hitler, but I am afraid for her future; there are hard times ahead for the American people,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-einstein/america-is-a-democracy-and-has-no-hitler-but-i-am-afraid-for-her/) [Albert Einstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-einstein/) > [One of the worst things to come out of the Consumer Protection Board's misleading claims is the impression that government resources are to hard…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matthew-lesko/one-of-the-worst-things-to-come-out-of-the-consumer-protection-board/) [Matthew Lesko](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matthew-lesko/) > [In our society we have hard nerds and soft nerds. The hard nerds are the ones who used to have the slide rules at…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-kay/in-our-society-we-have-hard-nerds-and-soft-nerds-the-hard-nerds-are/) [Alan Kay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-kay/) > [I think the next 50 years are going to present the human race with challenges that so far exceed the limitations of geopolitical boundaries…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zachary-quinto/i-think-the-next-50-years-are-going-to-present-the-human-race-with/) [Zachary Quinto](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zachary-quinto/) > [Don't be afraid of hard work. Nothing worthwhile comes easily. Don't let others discourage you or tell you that you can't do it. In…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gertrude-b-elion/don-t-be-afraid-of-hard-work-nothing-worthwhile-comes-easily-don-t/) [Gertrude B. Elion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gertrude-b-elion/) > [High school, going into my junior year, I kind of had the idea I was going to be the starting running back. 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So…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-caro/it-s-very-easy-to-fool-yourself-that-you-re-working-you-know-when-you/) [Robert Caro](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-caro/) > [If I had to speak in front of a Korean audience, I would be hard pressed to sound other than a little girl.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/an-na/if-i-had-to-speak-in-front-of-a-korean-audience-i-would-be-hard/) [An Na](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/an-na/) > [It took me 20 years of hard training to get the physique I have today. what you need is what i had - BELIEF…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/branch-warren/it-took-me-20-years-of-hard-training-to-get-the-physique-i-have-today/) [Branch Warren](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/branch-warren/) Browse all 29,826 Hard quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "I've been a guy who's never really been satisfied. 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