--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: After my second-to-last record, 'The…" description: "\"After my second-to-last record, 'The Greatest', I had gone on tour for a while, and I didn't play an instrument for about five years. And I got kind of..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a64/cat-power-19278_challenges_after-my-second-to-last-record-the-great_1344932.jpg" --- # After my second-to-last record, 'The Greatest', I had gone… ![“After my second-to-last record, 'The Greatest', I had gone on tour for a while, and I didn't play an instrument for about five years. And I got kind of - it's not self-esteem or whatever, or anger toward myself - but disappointed in myself that I hadn't been challenging myself to learn musically.” quote by Cat Power](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a64/cat-power-19278_challenges_after-my-second-to-last-record-the-great_1344932.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a64/cat-power-19278_challenges_after-my-second-to-last-record-the-great_1344932.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a64/cat-power-19278_challenges_after-my-second-to-last-record-the-great_1344932.jpg) > “After my second-to-last record, 'The Greatest', I had gone on tour for a while, and I didn't play an instrument for about five years. And I got kind of - it's not self-esteem or whatever, or anger toward myself - but disappointed in myself that I hadn't been challenging myself to learn musically.” [Cat Power](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cat-power/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The artist expresses regret over stagnation, feeling disappointment for not challenging herself musically after a hiatus. **In simple terms:** She felt she stopped growing artistically. Key Takeaway Seek continual artistic challenges. Themes self‑development creativity career reflection artistic integrity Mood introspective motivational Type personal creative When to use this quote - songwriting workshops - instrument practice - collaborative projects - creative retreats Key Concepts growth mindset self‑critique musical evolution Questions to Reflect On - What new skills can reignite artistic passion? - How does vulnerability fuel creative growth? A Different Perspective Self‑criticism can hinder confidence if not balanced with support. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Challenges](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/challenges/) [Disappointed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/disappointed/) [Esteem](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/esteem/) [Music making](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/music-making/) [Play](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/play/) [Self](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/self/) [Self esteem](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/self-esteem/) ## Related quotes > [Musically, I didn't relate to Berlin. There seemed to be a lot of machine music made there - I don't think I saw a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/feist/musically-i-didn-t-relate-to-berlin-there-seemed-to-be-a-lot-of/) [Feist](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/feist/) > [He's done enough for me. He didn't make my career or anything. I was never close with Chris Rock. We went on tour together,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/janelle-james/he-s-done-enough-for-me-he-didn-t-make-my-career-or-anything-i-was/) [Janelle James](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/janelle-james/) > [Juggling the U.S. Tour and the European Tour didn't suit me at all.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shane-lowry/juggling-the-u-s-tour-and-the-european-tour-didn-t-suit-me-at-all/) [Shane Lowry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shane-lowry/) > [I knew I had to take my ambition more seriously, so I enrolled at the Art Institute of Chicago. Then, in the fall, I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/claes-oldenburg/i-knew-i-had-to-take-my-ambition-more-seriously-so-i-enrolled-at-the/) [Claes Oldenburg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/claes-oldenburg/) > [When my grandfather died, I was on tour, and I didn't go to the funeral. I never got to say goodbye, and this is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dolores-o-riordan/when-my-grandfather-died-i-was-on-tour-and-i-didn-t-go-to-the-funeral/) [Dolores O'Riordan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dolores-o-riordan/) > [In my early years on tour, I didn't bother with physio. But I now find it hugely beneficial.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shane-lowry/in-my-early-years-on-tour-i-didn-t-bother-with-physio-but-i-now-find/) [Shane Lowry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shane-lowry/) > [I've been putting out records for so long, but I didn't want to tour because I didn't think anybody really cared.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-5/i-ve-been-putting-out-records-for-so-long-but-i-didn-t-want-to-tour/) [John 5](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-5/) > [Back in the day people made music to go on tour. They didn't make music to make a video.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/raphael-saadiq/back-in-the-day-people-made-music-to-go-on-tour-they-didn-t-make/) [Raphael Saadiq](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/raphael-saadiq/) > [When we did the 'Skin and Bones' tour I didn't even own an acoustic guitar, I had to borrow one from my friend.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pat-smear/when-we-did-the-skin-and-bones-tour-i-didn-t-even-own-an-acoustic/) [Pat Smear](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pat-smear/) > [I think The Big Picture was such a huge shift from my second record.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-w-smith/i-think-the-big-picture-was-such-a-huge-shift-from-my-second-record/) [Michael W. Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-w-smith/) > [Whenever I approach a record, I don't really have a science to it. I approach every record differently. First record was in a home…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matisyahu/whenever-i-approach-a-record-i-don-t-really-have-a-science-to-it-i/) [Matisyahu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matisyahu/) > [At my second record label, they told me and other female artists that some of us were going on the chopping block. I was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/katy-perry/at-my-second-record-label-they-told-me-and-other-female-artists-that/) [Katy Perry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/katy-perry/) > [For my second record I had gotten ProTools (program) and started to familiar myself with hard disc recording.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/duncan-sheik/for-my-second-record-i-had-gotten-protools-program-and-started-to/) [Duncan Sheik](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/duncan-sheik/) > [I never really paid attention to sales until the second record.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-johns/i-never-really-paid-attention-to-sales-until-the-second-record/) [Daniel Johns](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-johns/) > [My second record was all about big ideas - I was trying to make big statements about the culture, about life. I think in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/duncan-sheik/my-second-record-was-all-about-big-ideas-i-was-trying-to-make-big/) [Duncan Sheik](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/duncan-sheik/) ## More by Cat Power > [Usually, I'll just sit down at a piano or with a guitar, and I'll just be relaxed and playing music. Because that's what relaxes…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cat-power/usually-i-ll-just-sit-down-at-a-piano-or-with-a-guitar-and-i-ll-just/) [Cat Power](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cat-power/) > [People tend to think I'm insane, and I'm really tired of it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cat-power/people-tend-to-think-i-m-insane-and-i-m-really-tired-of-it/) [Cat Power](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cat-power/) > [There's just a lot of stuff that really moves me, and I don't know how to express it, and I just want to try…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cat-power/there-s-just-a-lot-of-stuff-that-really-moves-me-and-i-don-t-know-how/) [Cat Power](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cat-power/) > [I used to want to be a war photographer, and I used to want to be a ballerina and a comedian. I used to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cat-power/i-used-to-want-to-be-a-war-photographer-and-i-used-to-want-to-be-a/) [Cat Power](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cat-power/) > [I need to be able to face things.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cat-power/i-need-to-be-able-to-face-things/) [Cat Power](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cat-power/) > [Playing the guitar, you kind of lock into a rhythm and a groove, and then it relaxes me to make up lyrics and sing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cat-power/playing-the-guitar-you-kind-of-lock-into-a-rhythm-and-a-groove-and/) [Cat Power](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cat-power/) > [I got more guts than brains, and that's my problem.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cat-power/i-got-more-guts-than-brains-and-that-s-my-problem/) [Cat Power](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cat-power/) > [From folk to tribal to Cab Calloway, Cole Porter, Gershwin to the Rolling Stones, whose first record was all covers, to country-western, bebop, blues,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cat-power/from-folk-to-tribal-to-cab-calloway-cole-porter-gershwin-to-the/) [Cat Power](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cat-power/) > [For me, the moment the mic is on and it's rolling, it's impossible to vocally relax for some reason. But one day, I'm going…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cat-power/for-me-the-moment-the-mic-is-on-and-it-s-rolling-it-s-impossible-to/) [Cat Power](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cat-power/) > [Never give up, no, never give up If you're looking for something easy You might as well give it up.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cat-power/never-give-up-no-never-give-up-if-you-re-looking-for-something-easy/) [Cat Power](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cat-power/) > [Everybody tends to think I'm crazy, which is the biggest problem in my life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cat-power/everybody-tends-to-think-i-m-crazy-which-is-the-biggest-problem-in-my/) [Cat Power](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cat-power/) > [I still haven't been able to capture the joy of what it's like when I sing - you know, when I'm by myself, or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cat-power/i-still-haven-t-been-able-to-capture-the-joy-of-what-it-s-like-when-i/) [Cat Power](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cat-power/) > [I moved to Los Angeles to be with a man I loved.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cat-power/i-moved-to-los-angeles-to-be-with-a-man-i-loved/) [Cat Power](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cat-power/) > [If your parents gave you fire to play with when you were two, you'd be standing in fire by the time you were an…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cat-power/if-your-parents-gave-you-fire-to-play-with-when-you-were-two-you-d-be/) [Cat Power](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cat-power/) > [I've always dressed like a dude.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cat-power/i-ve-always-dressed-like-a-dude/) [Cat Power](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cat-power/) [Explore all 33 Cat Power quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cat-power/) ## More Challenges quotes > [I know for my wife and I, we always loved the idea of being young parents. It is an incredibly inspiring and challenging job…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/taylor-hanson/i-know-for-my-wife-and-i-we-always-loved-the-idea-of-being-young/) [Taylor Hanson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/taylor-hanson/) > [Our biggest challenge is to eliminate the popular perception that economists don't have anything useful to say.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-zandi/our-biggest-challenge-is-to-eliminate-the-popular-perception-that/) [Mark Zandi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-zandi/) > [I think books in which people are really happy and things are going well are probably the most challenging novels there are to write,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anna-quindlen/i-think-books-in-which-people-are-really-happy-and-things-are-going/) [Anna Quindlen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anna-quindlen/) > [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/) > [“Doing the work to transform your dreams into reality is like walking across the earth. It can be that hard, and it can take…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dragos-bratasanu/doing-the-work-to-transform-your-dreams-into-reality-is-like-walking/) [Dragos Bratasanu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dragos-bratasanu/) > [I want to be perceived as a guy who played his best in all facets, not just scoring. A guy who loved challenges.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-jordan/i-want-to-be-perceived-as-a-guy-who-played-his-best-in-all-facets-not/) [Michael Jordan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-jordan/) > [People in great groups have blinders on. Their work is all they see. They value failures as learning opportunities. They are optimistic, not realistic,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/warren-g-bennis/people-in-great-groups-have-blinders-on-their-work-is-all-they-see/) [Warren G. Bennis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/warren-g-bennis/) > [If, as I anticipate, a wide array of personal, portable information/communication devices becomes increasingly important and widespread for information-intensive users, it will be a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-peters/if-as-i-anticipate-a-wide-array-of-personal-portable-information/) [Tom Peters](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-peters/) > [“Two powerful, little words I've learned to use when facing challenges, fears, and doubts— so what? ”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richelle-e-goodrich/two-powerful-little-words-i-ve-learned-to-use-when-facing-challenges/) [Richelle E. Goodrich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richelle-e-goodrich/) > [It's a challenge to work a character's arc into a format in which you only have a very limited amount of time to grow…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ginnifer-goodwin/it-s-a-challenge-to-work-a-character-s-arc-into-a-format-in-which-you/) [Ginnifer Goodwin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ginnifer-goodwin/) > [I personally think if something's not a challenge, there's no point doing it, because you're not gonna learn much.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/i-personally-think-if-something-s-not-a-challenge-there-s-no-point/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Men want a challenge, but they want a challenge they can win.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/whitney-gaskell/men-want-a-challenge-but-they-want-a-challenge-they-can-win/) Whitney Gaskell > [Growing up with a parent in the army, I saw firsthand the challenges our service members face when transitioning to new jobs after time…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sharice-davids/growing-up-with-a-parent-in-the-army-i-saw-firsthand-the-challenges/) [Sharice Davids](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sharice-davids/) > [Nobody challenges me. I challenge myself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shakuntala-devi/nobody-challenges-me-i-challenge-myself/) [Shakuntala Devi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shakuntala-devi/) > [Challenging is good, like good conversation, yes? Who wants to have dinner with the same old easy listening music sounding friends all the time?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hilton-als/challenging-is-good-like-good-conversation-yes-who-wants-to-have/) [Hilton Als](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hilton-als/) [Browse all 8,851 Challenges quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/challenges/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "After my second-to-last record, 'The Greatest', I had gone on tour for a while, and I didn't play an instrument for about five years. 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