--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I am not competing to be an athlete. I…" description: "\"I am not competing to be an athlete. I make music.\" — Craig David" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/41f/craig-david-4655_am_i-am-not-competing-to-be-an-athlete-i-ma_2779769.jpg" --- # I am not competing to be an athlete. I make music. ![“I am not competing to be an athlete. I make music.” quote by Craig David](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/41f/craig-david-4655_am_i-am-not-competing-to-be-an-athlete-i-ma_2779769.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/41f/craig-david-4655_am_i-am-not-competing-to-be-an-athlete-i-ma_2779769.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/41f/craig-david-4655_am_i-am-not-competing-to-be-an-athlete-i-ma_2779769.jpg) > “I am not competing to be an athlete. I make music.” [Craig David](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/craig-david/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. He defines himself as a musician, not a competitor in sports. **In simple terms:** Identify by your art, not external standards. Key Takeaway Focus on your own craft. Themes identity music self‑definition Mood determined hopeful Type philosophical inspirational When to use this quote - performing - songwriting - studio work Key Concepts artistic purpose personal branding career focus Questions to Reflect On - What defines success for you? - How do you stay true to your musical identity? A Different Perspective Comparing to athletes may create unnecessary pressure. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Competing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/competing/) [Music](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/music/) [Sports](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sports/) ## Related quotes > [When you get off five or six months, and you're not competing as an athlete, you want to get back out on the field.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rob-gronkowski/when-you-get-off-five-or-six-months-and-you-re-not-competing-as-an/) [Rob Gronkowski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rob-gronkowski/) > [When you reach that elite level, 90 percent is mental and 10 percent is physical. You are competing against yourself. Not against the other athlete.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dick-fosbury/when-you-reach-that-elite-level-90-percent-is-mental-and-10-percent/) Dick Fosbury > [I had to play for a soccer team, I had to be an athlete, I had to make straight As. I was very hard…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/demi-leigh-nel-peters/i-had-to-play-for-a-soccer-team-i-had-to-be-an-athlete-i-had-to-make/) [Demi-Leigh Nel-Peters](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/demi-leigh-nel-peters/) > [I absolutely think I have the ability to be a world-class athlete and make a team. But even if I never make another world…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-cain/i-absolutely-think-i-have-the-ability-to-be-a-world-class-athlete-and/) [Mary Cain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-cain/) > [The athlete must make a devotion of his specialty.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paavo-nurmi/the-athlete-must-make-a-devotion-of-his-specialty/) [Paavo Nurmi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paavo-nurmi/) > [I am always available to share my experiences. I am happy to talk to people in Indian sports administration, maybe teach them a few…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abhinav-bindra/i-am-always-available-to-share-my-experiences-i-am-happy-to-talk-to/) [Abhinav Bindra](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abhinav-bindra/) > [I will always make music with Stone Sour. Stone Sour will always be here.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/corey-taylor/i-will-always-make-music-with-stone-sour-stone-sour-will-always-be/) [Corey Taylor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/corey-taylor/) > [That's what I care about is the people I work with and representing them and helping to make their music apparent for the rest…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/diplo/that-s-what-i-care-about-is-the-people-i-work-with-and-representing/) [Diplo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/diplo/) > [I don't make music for TikTok.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lola-young/i-don-t-make-music-for-tiktok/) [Lola Young](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lola-young/) > [I've always wanted to make music for films.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anirudh-ravichander/i-ve-always-wanted-to-make-music-for-films/) [Anirudh Ravichander](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anirudh-ravichander/) > [I want to make my music and be a happy woman, a good wife, a good mom and one day hopefully have a child…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leann-rimes/i-want-to-make-my-music-and-be-a-happy-woman-a-good-wife-a-good-mom/) [LeAnn Rimes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leann-rimes/) > [I don't think anyone went the polls and said, 'I am casting my vote to make sure that Wall Street has better chances to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-warren/i-don-t-think-anyone-went-the-polls-and-said-i-am-casting-my-vote-to/) [Elizabeth Warren](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-warren/) > [I am not concerned about getting reelected. I can make the unpopular but necessary decision. Your focus from day one is on your legacy…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benigno-aquino-iii/i-am-not-concerned-about-getting-reelected-i-can-make-the-unpopular/) [Benigno Aquino III](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benigno-aquino-iii/) > [We have started to make music at age seven. That was a hard work.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-kaulitz/we-have-started-to-make-music-at-age-seven-that-was-a-hard-work/) [Bill Kaulitz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-kaulitz/) > [I feel very grateful to be alive and well enough to make music.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adam-ant/i-feel-very-grateful-to-be-alive-and-well-enough-to-make-music/) Adam Ant ## More by Craig David > [It's like a god-given gift that I've actually been able to go out and sing my songs.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/craig-david/it-s-like-a-god-given-gift-that-i-ve-actually-been-able-to-go-out-and/) [Craig David](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/craig-david/) > [I'm an only child, so I got spoilt a lot. Which was a good thing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/craig-david/i-m-an-only-child-so-i-got-spoilt-a-lot-which-was-a-good-thing/) [Craig David](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/craig-david/) > [Writing for others is great cos you can tailor it for them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/craig-david/writing-for-others-is-great-cos-you-can-tailor-it-for-them/) [Craig David](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/craig-david/) > ['Born to Do It' took a kid out of a council estate and put my mum into a home of her own. It changed…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/craig-david/born-to-do-it-took-a-kid-out-of-a-council-estate-and-put-my-mum-into/) [Craig David](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/craig-david/) > [I wanna have a positive impact and bring in artists on the come-up. It gets me hyped!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/craig-david/i-wanna-have-a-positive-impact-and-bring-in-artists-on-the-come-up-it/) [Craig David](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/craig-david/) > [As much as money is important for security, for me, it is worth nothing without music.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/craig-david/as-much-as-money-is-important-for-security-for-me-it-is-worth-nothing/) [Craig David](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/craig-david/) > [When I was 16, I didn't really know what intuition was as a word, even. 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They've got the hit songs, but it's the presence in the performance and the attitude with it that I love.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/craig-david/kasabian-are-wicked-they-ve-got-the-hit-songs-but-it-s-the-presence/) [Craig David](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/craig-david/) > [I'm a big fan of Usher, and I'd love for us to record together.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/craig-david/i-m-a-big-fan-of-usher-and-i-d-love-for-us-to-record-together/) [Craig David](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/craig-david/) > [I bought a dodgy gold ring off a guy in Southampton. He told me to check it was real gold by heating it up…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/craig-david/i-bought-a-dodgy-gold-ring-off-a-guy-in-southampton-he-told-me-to/) [Craig David](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/craig-david/) > [Everything around me is surreal. I get picked up in cars and go to celebrity bashes, and I get sponsorship on clothes, and it's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/craig-david/everything-around-me-is-surreal-i-get-picked-up-in-cars-and-go-to/) [Craig David](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/craig-david/) > ['Fill Me In' went to number one at the same time Destiny's Child released 'Say My Name.' Having a number one over Destiny's Child…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/craig-david/fill-me-in-went-to-number-one-at-the-same-time-destiny-s-child/) [Craig David](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/craig-david/) > [I'd love to reach the pinnacle where you just can't wait to get the new album by Craig David.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/craig-david/i-d-love-to-reach-the-pinnacle-where-you-just-can-t-wait-to-get-the/) [Craig David](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/craig-david/) [Explore all 108 Craig David quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/craig-david/) ## More Am quotes > [I don't own designer clothes, or a sports car, or a huge house, but I am seeing the world, experiencing amazing things, and I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roz-savage/i-don-t-own-designer-clothes-or-a-sports-car-or-a-huge-house-but-i-am/) [Roz Savage](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roz-savage/) > [I think I am against stereotype. Generally, Asian guys are more quiet - they study and have a good work ethic. Generally, I have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bobby-lee/i-think-i-am-against-stereotype-generally-asian-guys-are-more-quiet/) [Bobby Lee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bobby-lee/) > [I am not a depressive person at all, but I reflect a lot on my life, and life in general, from the perspective of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alejandro-gonzalez-inarritu/i-am-not-a-depressive-person-at-all-but-i-reflect-a-lot-on-my-life/) [Alejandro Gonzalez Inarritu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alejandro-gonzalez-inarritu/) > [Any incarnation of 'Batman' I am delighted to do.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adam-west/any-incarnation-of-batman-i-am-delighted-to-do/) [Adam West](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adam-west/) > [I am tired of our characters being so incomplete. When do we ever save the day in a film? When does a Latino actor…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/esai-morales/i-am-tired-of-our-characters-being-so-incomplete-when-do-we-ever-save/) [Esai Morales](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/esai-morales/) > [I am confident when I take the penalty otherwise I would pass for somebody else.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bruno-fernandes/i-am-confident-when-i-take-the-penalty-otherwise-i-would-pass-for/) [Bruno Fernandes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bruno-fernandes/) > [I am on sabbatical as of right now, been too busy to think of about my OWN needs as of late.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-diamond/i-am-on-sabbatical-as-of-right-now-been-too-busy-to-think-of-about-my/) [Jim Diamond](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-diamond/) > [I am strongly opposed to any form of amnesty, including, especially, executive amnesty.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-scalise/i-am-strongly-opposed-to-any-form-of-amnesty-including-especially/) [Steve Scalise](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-scalise/) > [I am no different from a lot of people. I am concerned for the future of my children and concerned for the future of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-barnes/i-am-no-different-from-a-lot-of-people-i-am-concerned-for-the-future/) [John Barnes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-barnes/) > [I won't be managing the Mets. I am closing the door on managing the Mets and probably everybody else.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-torre/i-won-t-be-managing-the-mets-i-am-closing-the-door-on-managing-the/) [Joe Torre](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-torre/) > [I know who I am. I know what I represent.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alex-cora/i-know-who-i-am-i-know-what-i-represent/) [Alex Cora](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alex-cora/) > [I am fortunate.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ruth-westheimer/i-am-fortunate/) [Ruth Westheimer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ruth-westheimer/) > [I will support my party when they are right on an issue, but am not afraid to stand up to party bosses who are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/darlene-senger/i-will-support-my-party-when-they-are-right-on-an-issue-but-am-not/) Darlene Senger > [Acting is what I do with who I am.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harriet-walter/acting-is-what-i-do-with-who-i-am/) [Harriet Walter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harriet-walter/) > [I am a big outliner. For my adult book, 'The Visibles,' I did not outline, and it took me two years to write because…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sara-shepard/i-am-a-big-outliner-for-my-adult-book-the-visibles-i-did-not-outline/) [Sara Shepard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sara-shepard/) Browse all 9,589 Am quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "I am not competing to be an athlete. 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