---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I always kind of struggled a little bit…"
description: "\"I always kind of struggled a little bit with being captain sometimes, because sometimes you feel like you have to be someone that you're not.\" — Clint ..."
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e61/clint-dempsey-4960_always_i-always-kind-of-struggled-a-little-bit_184009.png"
---

#  I always kind of struggled a little bit with being captain…

![“I always kind of struggled a little bit with being captain sometimes, because sometimes you feel like you have to be someone that you're not.” quote by Clint Dempsey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e61/clint-dempsey-4960_always_i-always-kind-of-struggled-a-little-bit_184009.png)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e61/clint-dempsey-4960_always_i-always-kind-of-struggled-a-little-bit_184009.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e61/clint-dempsey-4960_always_i-always-kind-of-struggled-a-little-bit_184009.png)

> “I always kind of struggled a little bit with being captain sometimes, because sometimes you feel like you have to be someone that you're not.”

[Clint Dempsey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/clint-dempsey/)

## About This Quote

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

Leadership can feel like pretending, causing inner conflict between authenticity and role expectations.

**In simple terms:** Being a leader may feel like acting.

Key Takeaway

Align leadership with your true self.

Themes

leadership authenticity identity

Mood

reflective empathetic

Type

advice philosophical

When to use this quote

- team captaincy
- project management
- public speaking
- volunteer leadership

Key Concepts

Self‑concept role pressure

Questions to Reflect On

- When do you feel most authentic?
- How can you integrate your true self into leadership?

A Different Perspective

Pressure to conform can erode confidence.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Being](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/being/)

## Related quotes

> [I certainly struggled when I was little and didn't have an easy time, so I try to put that stuff in my work.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/molly-shannon/i-certainly-struggled-when-i-was-little-and-didn-t-have-an-easy-time/)

[Molly Shannon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/molly-shannon/)

> [I had some struggles later in my teenage years. I moved away from home and struggled a little bit being on my home and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-fisher/i-had-some-struggles-later-in-my-teenage-years-i-moved-away-from-home/)

[Mike Fisher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-fisher/)

> [I definitely, when I was younger, struggled a little to understand my identity and who I wanted to be.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chloe-kim/i-definitely-when-i-was-younger-struggled-a-little-to-understand-my/)

[Chloe Kim](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chloe-kim/)

> [The idea that Americans favor politicians who either remind them of themselves or can imagine what their selves are like because they too have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walter-kirn/the-idea-that-americans-favor-politicians-who-either-remind-them-of/)

[Walter Kirn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walter-kirn/)

> [One thing I struggled with the most was my brother started playing football, AFL and I remember I went down and wanted to get…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dylan-alcott/one-thing-i-struggled-with-the-most-was-my-brother-started-playing/)

[Dylan Alcott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dylan-alcott/)

> [I struggled with each of these studies and I was uncertain about what they meant, and often confused, and then I tried to put…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-jay-lifton/i-struggled-with-each-of-these-studies-and-i-was-uncertain-about-what/)

[Robert Jay Lifton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-jay-lifton/)

> [I have to certainly stand for life. I know that there are some who disagree, and I respect their point of view. But I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-mourdock/i-have-to-certainly-stand-for-life-i-know-that-there-are-some-who/)

[Richard Mourdock](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-mourdock/)

> [Both my parents were actors and they struggled, so I was raised with that. Being raised in this industry from a young age definitely…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/camila-morrone/both-my-parents-were-actors-and-they-struggled-so-i-was-raised-with/)

[Camila Morrone](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/camila-morrone/)

> [“She picked up her book and tried to read but it was heavy in her hands. She struggled to hold it, wanting to finish…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/louise-penny/she-picked-up-her-book-and-tried-to-read-but-it-was-heavy-in-her/)

[Louise Penny](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/louise-penny/)

> [I have made mistakes, but I didn't make them again. Even when I struggled, I promised myself never to submit in life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jan-blachowicz/i-have-made-mistakes-but-i-didn-t-make-them-again-even-when-i/)

[Jan Blachowicz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jan-blachowicz/)

> [I wanted to set 'Heading Out' in a real world, a concept I originally struggled with, as I don't have a proper job.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sue-perkins/i-wanted-to-set-heading-out-in-a-real-world-a-concept-i-originally/)

[Sue Perkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sue-perkins/)

> [I was just a toddler when my dad died in a car crash. With my mum, Eunice, being a young widow with a large…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bob-mortimer/i-was-just-a-toddler-when-my-dad-died-in-a-car-crash-with-my-mum/)

[Bob Mortimer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bob-mortimer/)

> [“While my friends struggled and calculated, I reached a solution by a set of floating steps that were partly visual, partly just a feeling…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ian-mcewan/while-my-friends-struggled-and-calculated-i-reached-a-solution-by-a/)

[Ian McEwan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ian-mcewan/)

> [Like many teens, I struggled with my body and looks, but my despair was amplified by the expectations of cisnormativity and the gender binary…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/janet-mock/like-many-teens-i-struggled-with-my-body-and-looks-but-my-despair-was/)

[Janet Mock](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/janet-mock/)

> [I struggled and I did theater for 10 years, for 15 years, I tried to get little parts here and there in TV shows.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-tupper/i-struggled-and-i-did-theater-for-10-years-for-15-years-i-tried-to/)

[James Tupper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-tupper/)

## More by Clint Dempsey

> [Pressure brings the best out of people, or it can bring the worst out. It's just how you use it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/clint-dempsey/pressure-brings-the-best-out-of-people-or-it-can-bring-the-worst-out/)

[Clint Dempsey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/clint-dempsey/)

> [Every year is a roller coaster. I've enjoyed the struggle of having new coaches and having to prove myself over again. Being able to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/clint-dempsey/every-year-is-a-roller-coaster-i-ve-enjoyed-the-struggle-of-having/)

[Clint Dempsey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/clint-dempsey/)

> [As I've become a professional, I just feel more pressure to produce, to score goals and get assists. I know I'm a good player,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/clint-dempsey/as-i-ve-become-a-professional-i-just-feel-more-pressure-to-produce-to/)

[Clint Dempsey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/clint-dempsey/)

> [I would like to thank all of the fans who have supported me throughout my career with the New England Revolution, Fulham, Tottenham, Seattle…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/clint-dempsey/i-would-like-to-thank-all-of-the-fans-who-have-supported-me/)

[Clint Dempsey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/clint-dempsey/)

> [Maybe the law don't always handle things, but that doesn't mean things don't get handled.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/clint-dempsey/maybe-the-law-don-t-always-handle-things-but-that-doesn-t-mean-things/)

[Clint Dempsey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/clint-dempsey/)

> [I remember, growing up, losing a sister, and - life is short. Make the most of your opportunities.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/clint-dempsey/i-remember-growing-up-losing-a-sister-and-life-is-short-make-the-most/)

[Clint Dempsey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/clint-dempsey/)

> [The more games you get, the more confidence you gain. I started to set the bar high for myself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/clint-dempsey/the-more-games-you-get-the-more-confidence-you-gain-i-started-to-set/)

[Clint Dempsey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/clint-dempsey/)

> [I loved playing with friends and talking trash over 'FIFA' and 'Mario Kart.' Then, in the early stages of my professional career, I got…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/clint-dempsey/i-loved-playing-with-friends-and-talking-trash-over-fifa-and-mario/)

[Clint Dempsey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/clint-dempsey/)

> [I was a mama's boy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/clint-dempsey/i-was-a-mama-s-boy/)

[Clint Dempsey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/clint-dempsey/)

> [Any goal is a good goal.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/clint-dempsey/any-goal-is-a-good-goal/)

[Clint Dempsey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/clint-dempsey/)

> [The most important thing is making sure that we survive because Fulham deserves to be in the Premier League - it's a great club…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/clint-dempsey/the-most-important-thing-is-making-sure-that-we-survive-because/)

[Clint Dempsey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/clint-dempsey/)

> [I have a lot of great memories of playing in Dallas as a kid, and I'm proud to represent Nacogdoches.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/clint-dempsey/i-have-a-lot-of-great-memories-of-playing-in-dallas-as-a-kid-and-i-m/)

[Clint Dempsey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/clint-dempsey/)

> [I'm a kid from Nacogdoches.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/clint-dempsey/i-m-a-kid-from-nacogdoches/)

[Clint Dempsey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/clint-dempsey/)

> [You're just grateful for every day, grateful for every game you get to play in because you never know when it's going to be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/clint-dempsey/you-re-just-grateful-for-every-day-grateful-for-every-game-you-get-to/)

[Clint Dempsey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/clint-dempsey/)

> [The most important thing is qualifying for the World Cup.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/clint-dempsey/the-most-important-thing-is-qualifying-for-the-world-cup/)

[Clint Dempsey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/clint-dempsey/)

[Explore all 104 Clint Dempsey quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/clint-dempsey/)

## More Always quotes

> [I think performing has pretty much always been a part of me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/isa-briones/i-think-performing-has-pretty-much-always-been-a-part-of-me/)

[Isa Briones](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/isa-briones/)

> [I always thought if I was born 2000 years earlier, I would be a monk, probably carving a monastery or some giant pantheon buildings.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jenova-chen/i-always-thought-if-i-was-born-2000-years-earlier-i-would-be-a-monk/)

[Jenova Chen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jenova-chen/)

> [I always like a character who makes me laugh.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rachael-stirling/i-always-like-a-character-who-makes-me-laugh/)

[Rachael Stirling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rachael-stirling/)

> [It's always great to see old friends, especially those I have not been able to see in 15 months.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-regal/it-s-always-great-to-see-old-friends-especially-those-i-have-not-been/)

[William Regal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-regal/)

> [When you step out and do a song in a musical, the easier thing to do is make it funny. But when those transitions…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kelli-o-hara/when-you-step-out-and-do-a-song-in-a-musical-the-easier-thing-to-do/)

[Kelli O'Hara](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kelli-o-hara/)

> [I have really good lateral movement. I've always had quick lateral movement.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/austin-rivers/i-have-really-good-lateral-movement-i-ve-always-had-quick-lateral/)

[Austin Rivers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/austin-rivers/)

> [There is something magical about being able to feel somebody. And that is something that has always moved me with music.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maria-brink/there-is-something-magical-about-being-able-to-feel-somebody-and-that/)

[Maria Brink](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maria-brink/)

> [Mythology is something that always has opportunities to explore. 'It' has been on Earth for millions of years. He's been in contact with humans…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andy-muschietti/mythology-is-something-that-always-has-opportunities-to-explore-it/)

[Andy Muschietti](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andy-muschietti/)

> [It's not writing in the traditional sense, but I've always said that the writing process continues on the set and even into the editing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-b-weide/it-s-not-writing-in-the-traditional-sense-but-i-ve-always-said-that/)

[Robert B. Weide](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-b-weide/)

> [I always watch my matches back 100 times afterwards because that's how I improve. This is something I've always done, even in NXT.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mandy-rose/i-always-watch-my-matches-back-100-times-afterwards-because-that-s/)

[Mandy Rose](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mandy-rose/)

> [I've always been of the idea that is doesn't really matter where you are geographically - with 'Lonerism,' we made half the album in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kevin-parker/i-ve-always-been-of-the-idea-that-is-doesn-t-really-matter-where-you/)

[Kevin Parker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kevin-parker/)

> [It's very easy to fool yourself that you're working, you know, when you're really not working very hard. I mean, I'm very lazy. 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/)

> [Whether it was Little League or playing with your brothers or sisters, that was always a problem. If I would lose - because I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cal-ripken-jr/whether-it-was-little-league-or-playing-with-your-brothers-or-sisters/)

[Cal Ripken, Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cal-ripken-jr/)

> [I always say if you put someone from a small town into a big city for ten years, then when they go back, they'll…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-colter/i-always-say-if-you-put-someone-from-a-small-town-into-a-big-city-for/)

[Mike Colter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-colter/)

> [Bayern is always a team that can win the Champions League title in Europe.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lothar-matthaus/bayern-is-always-a-team-that-can-win-the-champions-league-title-in/)

[Lothar Matthaus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lothar-matthaus/)

Browse all 36,048 Always quotes

```json
{
    "@context": "https://schema.org",
    "@graph": [
        {
            "@type": "Quotation",
            "text": "I always kind of struggled a little bit with being captain sometimes, because sometimes you feel like you have to be someone that you're not.",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "Clint Dempsey"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/clint-dempsey/i-always-kind-of-struggled-a-little-bit-with-being-captain-sometimes/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "Always"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/clint-dempsey/i-always-kind-of-struggled-a-little-bit-with-being-captain-sometimes/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e61/clint-dempsey-4960_always_i-always-kind-of-struggled-a-little-bit_184009.png",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e61/clint-dempsey-4960_always_i-always-kind-of-struggled-a-little-bit_184009.png",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e61/clint-dempsey-4960_always_i-always-kind-of-struggled-a-little-bit_184009.png",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“I always kind of struggled a little bit with being captain sometimes, because sometimes you feel like you…” — Clint Dempsey",
                "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": "Clint Dempsey",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/clint-dempsey/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 4,
                    "name": "I always kind of struggled a...",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/clint-dempsey/i-always-kind-of-struggled-a-little-bit-with-being-captain-sometimes/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/clint-dempsey/i-always-kind-of-struggled-a-little-bit-with-being-captain-sometimes/#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
            }
        }
    ]
}
```