--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I always want to be the best at what I…" description: "\"I always want to be the best at what I do. That doesn't mean compared to other people, but just in what you do.\" — Derek Hough" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/eae/derek-hough-17631_being-the-best_i-always-want-to-be-the-best-at-what-i-d_2955745.png" --- # I always want to be the best at what I do. That doesn't… ![“I always want to be the best at what I do. That doesn't mean compared to other people, but just in what you do.” quote by Derek Hough](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/eae/derek-hough-17631_being-the-best_i-always-want-to-be-the-best-at-what-i-d_2955745.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/eae/derek-hough-17631_being-the-best_i-always-want-to-be-the-best-at-what-i-d_2955745.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/eae/derek-hough-17631_being-the-best_i-always-want-to-be-the-best-at-what-i-d_2955745.png) > “I always want to be the best at what I do. That doesn't mean compared to other people, but just in what you do.” [Derek Hough](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/derek-hough/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Striving for personal excellence, not relative superiority, drives growth and fulfillment. **In simple terms:** Aim to be your best, not better than others. Key Takeaway Focus on self‑improvement. Themes personal growth excellence self‑discipline Mood determined optimistic Type motivational inspirational When to use this quote - career development - sports training - artistic performance - daily work Key Concepts mindset intrinsic motivation Questions to Reflect On - How do you measure personal progress? - What habits support continual improvement? A Different Perspective May lead to unhealthy competition with self if not balanced. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Being the best](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/being-the-best/) [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) [Work hard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/work-hard/) ## Related quotes > [I want to be the best, it's not about the ranking, it's about being consistent.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/saina-nehwal/i-want-to-be-the-best-it-s-not-about-the-ranking-it-s-about-being/) [Saina Nehwal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/saina-nehwal/) > [I haven't done anything yet, but I want to be the best in the world.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/freddy-adu/i-haven-t-done-anything-yet-but-i-want-to-be-the-best-in-the-world/) [Freddy Adu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/freddy-adu/) > [Sometimes you just give everything you have, and you do your absolute best, and it doesn't stack up.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tim-howard/sometimes-you-just-give-everything-you-have-and-you-do-your-absolute/) [Tim Howard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tim-howard/) > [If he cant have you at your best, he doesn't deserve you at your best](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author-name/if-he-cant-have-you-at-your-best-he-doesn-t-deserve-you-at-your-best/) Author Name > [Knowing what's best doesn't always mean it's what's easiest...](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nishan-panwar/knowing-what-s-best-doesn-t-always-mean-it-s-what-s-easiest/) [Nishan Panwar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nishan-panwar/) > [“Give your best. It doesn't mean you'll get back best. Rather that doesn't mean you give up giving your best.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vikrmn/give-your-best-it-doesn-t-mean-you-ll-get-back-best-rather-that-doesn/) Vikrmn > [I can flirt with the best of them, but only when it doesn't matter.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-levithan/i-can-flirt-with-the-best-of-them-but-only-when-it-doesn-t-matter/) [David Levithan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-levithan/) > [“The world's best doesn't necessarily mean God's best.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christel-lim/the-world-s-best-doesn-t-necessarily-mean-god-s-best/) Christel Lim > [I want to do the best job I can.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lucas-till/i-want-to-do-the-best-job-i-can/) [Lucas Till](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lucas-till/) > [I've been compared to people since the beginning. When you're starting out, you need a comparison so people will understand you right away.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jason-mraz/i-ve-been-compared-to-people-since-the-beginning-when-you-re-starting/) [Jason Mraz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jason-mraz/) > [I don't care if you think my problems are smaller compared to other people's, it doesn't mean I don't suffer as much.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/i-don-t-care-if-you-think-my-problems-are-smaller-compared-to-other/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Compared to other people, I am not that narcissistic. Sometimes, I don't even plan all that I wear.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/varun-dhawan/compared-to-other-people-i-am-not-that-narcissistic-sometimes-i-don-t/) [Varun Dhawan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/varun-dhawan/) > [There is no bitterness to be compared with that between two people who once loved.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/euripides/there-is-no-bitterness-to-be-compared-with-that-between-two-people/) [Euripides](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/euripides/) > [I am very different in real life as compared to whatever people have seen of me on the big screen.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zeenat-aman/i-am-very-different-in-real-life-as-compared-to-whatever-people-have/) [Zeenat Aman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zeenat-aman/) > [All my life I've felt weak compared to other people. If they want to crush me then they can. But I know I can…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richey-edwards/all-my-life-i-ve-felt-weak-compared-to-other-people-if-they-want-to/) [Richey Edwards](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richey-edwards/) ## More by Derek Hough > [Bullying can be physical, verbal or emotional. Words and threats are just as painful as fists, especially with social media these days. For those…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/derek-hough/bullying-can-be-physical-verbal-or-emotional-words-and-threats-are/) [Derek Hough](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/derek-hough/) > [I feel fairly certain that my painting skills might not be best shown on 'Dancing with the Stars.' I'll have to come up with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/derek-hough/i-feel-fairly-certain-that-my-painting-skills-might-not-be-best-shown/) [Derek Hough](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/derek-hough/) > [In school, some of my favorite subjects... I mean, art was my favorite subject. I loved art! I used to go during lunch time…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/derek-hough/in-school-some-of-my-favorite-subjects-i-mean-art-was-my-favorite/) [Derek Hough](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/derek-hough/) > [It's such a cliche thing to say. I want to choreograph, I want to direct, I want to act, I want to write music,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/derek-hough/it-s-such-a-cliche-thing-to-say-i-want-to-choreograph-i-want-to/) [Derek Hough](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/derek-hough/) > [I think models in general have a certain insecurity about themselves because they're known for being beautiful, so they have to prove to everybody…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/derek-hough/i-think-models-in-general-have-a-certain-insecurity-about-themselves/) [Derek Hough](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/derek-hough/) > [Pressure doesn't exist. We create it for ourselves.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/derek-hough/pressure-doesn-t-exist-we-create-it-for-ourselves/) [Derek Hough](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/derek-hough/) > [I want to choreograph, I want to direct, I want to act, I want to write music, I want to play music, I want…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/derek-hough/i-want-to-choreograph-i-want-to-direct-i-want-to-act-i-want-to-write/) [Derek Hough](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/derek-hough/) > [When you're a choreographer and you put so much into a routine that's emotionally driven, those are like my ideas and my little babies…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/derek-hough/when-you-re-a-choreographer-and-you-put-so-much-into-a-routine-that-s/) [Derek Hough](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/derek-hough/) > [For me, there's nothing more masculine than when I'm completely in control of my body and can call upon my body to do whatever…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/derek-hough/for-me-there-s-nothing-more-masculine-than-when-i-m-completely-in/) [Derek Hough](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/derek-hough/) > [Can someone's true value really be estimated? Maybe there needs to be an Edmunds.com for people on TV. That would be funny and possibly…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/derek-hough/can-someone-s-true-value-really-be-estimated-maybe-there-needs-to-be/) [Derek Hough](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/derek-hough/) > [My character Jack in the New York Spring Spectacular is a lot of fun. He's playful, he's full of life. He can make things…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/derek-hough/my-character-jack-in-the-new-york-spring-spectacular-is-a-lot-of-fun/) [Derek Hough](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/derek-hough/) > [The key for me is really just to stay in a child-like state in the rehearsal studio. I'm really goofy and really silly and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/derek-hough/the-key-for-me-is-really-just-to-stay-in-a-child-like-state-in-the/) [Derek Hough](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/derek-hough/) > [My type, which I didn't realize until somebody pointed out to me, apparently is brunettes with darker skin tones, but that is about it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/derek-hough/my-type-which-i-didn-t-realize-until-somebody-pointed-out-to-me/) [Derek Hough](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/derek-hough/) > [Whether I'm doing a routine where I want to move people, or if I want to feel moved myself, I definitely tap into those…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/derek-hough/whether-i-m-doing-a-routine-where-i-want-to-move-people-or-if-i-want/) [Derek Hough](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/derek-hough/) > [I come from a theatrical background, where, if you're working on a movie or a play, you always respect the people you work with.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/derek-hough/i-come-from-a-theatrical-background-where-if-you-re-working-on-a/) [Derek Hough](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/derek-hough/) [Explore all 36 Derek Hough quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/derek-hough/) ## More Being the best quotes > [High school sucked. It was a universal truth, and whoever said these were supposed to be the best years of your life was probably…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kami-garcia/high-school-sucked-it-was-a-universal-truth-and-whoever-said-these/) [Kami Garcia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kami-garcia/) > [I think my days of trying outrageous things are over. I'm not looking for trends, I just want to be the best version of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gwyneth-paltrow/i-think-my-days-of-trying-outrageous-things-are-over-i-m-not-looking/) [Gwyneth Paltrow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gwyneth-paltrow/) > [I want to be the best, it's not about the ranking, it's about being consistent.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/saina-nehwal/i-want-to-be-the-best-it-s-not-about-the-ranking-it-s-about-being/) [Saina Nehwal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/saina-nehwal/) > [Ah simple laughter that you trewing on my face. Is a simple karma that you will get for tomorrow.. Ah big clap from my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leodonessiony/ah-simple-laughter-that-you-trewing-on-my-face-is-a-simple-karma-that/) [Leodonessiony](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leodonessiony/) > [To be tested is good. The challenged life may be the best therapist.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gail-sheehy/to-be-tested-is-good-the-challenged-life-may-be-the-best-therapist/) [Gail Sheehy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gail-sheehy/) > [There's no guarantee for the future; might as well be HAPPY now, and give my BEST in everything I do! In that way I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/london-mond/there-s-no-guarantee-for-the-future-might-as-well-be-happy-now-and/) [London Mond](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/london-mond/) > [Success lies not in the result but in the effort. BEING the Best is not at all important. DOING the Best is all that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/prabin-shrestha/success-lies-not-in-the-result-but-in-the-effort-being-the-best-is/) [Prabin Shrestha](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/prabin-shrestha/) > [Sometimes you choose the wrong actor, he could be the best actor ever, but hes not cast in the right part then it doesnt…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sophie-marceau/sometimes-you-choose-the-wrong-actor-he-could-be-the-best-actor-ever/) [Sophie Marceau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sophie-marceau/) > [I am not impressed with what people own. But I’m impressed with what they achieve. I’m proud to be a physician. Always strive to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-j-stanley/i-am-not-impressed-with-what-people-own-but-i-m-impressed-with-what/) [Thomas J. Stanley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-j-stanley/) > [You have to love your country like an adult loves somebody, not like a child loves its mommy. And right-wing Republicans tend to love…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/al-franken/you-have-to-love-your-country-like-an-adult-loves-somebody-not-like-a/) [Al Franken](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/al-franken/) > [My role is to think about tennis and to help Serena Williams be the best she can be and do what she wants to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patrick-mouratoglou/my-role-is-to-think-about-tennis-and-to-help-serena-williams-be-the/) [Patrick Mouratoglou](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patrick-mouratoglou/) > [One of my mom's best lines is... You're not training to be the best in the world, you're training to be the best in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ronda-rousey/one-of-my-mom-s-best-lines-is-you-re-not-training-to-be-the-best-in/) [Ronda Rousey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ronda-rousey/) > [I've learned a simple principle: all I have to do is be the best 'me' that I can be. One day when I read…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joel-osteen/i-ve-learned-a-simple-principle-all-i-have-to-do-is-be-the-best-me/) [Joel Osteen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joel-osteen/) > [We have to consider who is going to be the best prime minister to take on a "one nation" agenda.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/damian-green/we-have-to-consider-who-is-going-to-be-the-best-prime-minister-to/) [Damian Green](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/damian-green/) > [Every day the sun rises is a new day to be your best](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anthony-vargas/every-day-the-sun-rises-is-a-new-day-to-be-your-best/) [Anthony Vargas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anthony-vargas/) [Browse all 1,358 Being the best quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/being-the-best/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "I always want to be the best at what I do. 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