--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: It's always about staying competitive…" description: "\"It's always about staying competitive with myself... Popularity is something that may happen from time to time, and I don't trust it and I don't think ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/324/ezra-furman-4439_always_it-s-always-about-staying-competitive-wi_2849153.jpg" --- # It's always about staying competitive with myself… ![“It's always about staying competitive with myself... Popularity is something that may happen from time to time, and I don't trust it and I don't think it means too much. I'm going for greatness.” quote by Ezra Furman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/324/ezra-furman-4439_always_it-s-always-about-staying-competitive-wi_2849153.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/324/ezra-furman-4439_always_it-s-always-about-staying-competitive-wi_2849153.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/324/ezra-furman-4439_always_it-s-always-about-staying-competitive-wi_2849153.jpg) > “It's always about staying competitive with myself... Popularity is something that may happen from time to time, and I don't trust it and I don't think it means too much. I'm going for greatness.” [Ezra Furman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ezra-furman/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The quote emphasizes self-competition over external validation, warning against relying on popularity and focusing on personal greatness. **In simple terms:** Compete with yourself, not popularity. Key Takeaway Prioritize personal excellence. Themes self-improvement authenticity competition greatness Mood determined confident introspective Type motivational philosophical inspirational When to use this quote - career development - artistic pursuits - personal goals - skill mastery - mental health Key Concepts self-determination intrinsic motivation identity creative integrity Questions to Reflect On - What does greatness look like for you personally? - How can you measure progress without external metrics? A Different Perspective It may ignore the practical benefits of visibility. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Always](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/always/) [Competitive Popularity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/competitive-popularity-3780356/) [Going Greatness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/going-greatness-3036611/) [Greatness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/greatness/) [Myself](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/myself/) [Popularity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/popularity/) [Popularity Happen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/popularity-happen-3780357/) [Staying Competitive](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/staying-competitive-429561/) [Time](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/time/) [Trust](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/trust/) ## Related quotes > [I want to be in the big show, and to be in the big show, you have to practice. I have this attitude now…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-adler/i-want-to-be-in-the-big-show-and-to-be-in-the-big-show-you-have-to/) [Steven Adler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-adler/) > [“You talk here about greatness. I just wanted to ask if you could understand what it was we were going for. That there is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/liza-palmer/you-talk-here-about-greatness-i-just-wanted-to-ask-if-you-could/) [Liza Palmer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/liza-palmer/) > [“The secret to staying competitive is not necessarily in growing your business in the traditional sense, but in using technology to innovate.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fast-company/the-secret-to-staying-competitive-is-not-necessarily-in-growing-your/) [Fast Company](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fast-company/) > [“Core competence, as it is used by many managers, is a dangerously inward-looking notion. Competitiveness is far more about doing what customers value than…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/clayton-m-christensen/core-competence-as-it-is-used-by-many-managers-is-a-dangerously/) [Clayton M. Christensen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/clayton-m-christensen/) > [If you put on your business hat, you can't maintain competitiveness by staying at a competitive disadvantage. I mean, you just can't. The odds…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/heather-bresch/if-you-put-on-your-business-hat-you-can-t-maintain-competitiveness-by/) [Heather Bresch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/heather-bresch/) > [Most people define greatness through wealth and popularity and position in the corner office. But what I call everyday greatness comes from character and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-covey/most-people-define-greatness-through-wealth-and-popularity-and/) [Stephen Covey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-covey/) > [“Posting dramatic charts or funny pictures is good and giving people smart reasons to believe what they already think is great.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/derek-thompson/posting-dramatic-charts-or-funny-pictures-is-good-and-giving-people/) [Derek Thompson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/derek-thompson/) > [If sexuality is beginning in such a skewed way: that boys expect to receive sexual pleasure and girls are expected to give it without…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cris-mazza/if-sexuality-is-beginning-in-such-a-skewed-way-that-boys-expect-to/) [Cris Mazza](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cris-mazza/) > [I think it's good to, especially when you start to get to achieve certain levels of success and start doing a lot of interviews…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-prowse/i-think-it-s-good-to-especially-when-you-start-to-get-to-achieve/) [David Prowse](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-prowse/) > [As his former chief of staff, I can't imagine Boris Johnson felt very comfortable telling the British people to 'stay at home.' But when…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nick-boles/as-his-former-chief-of-staff-i-can-t-imagine-boris-johnson-felt-very/) [Nick Boles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nick-boles/) > [He cast off his friends as a huntsman his pack, For he knew when he pleas'd he could whistle them back.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oliver-goldsmith/he-cast-off-his-friends-as-a-huntsman-his-pack-for-he-knew-when-he/) [Oliver Goldsmith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oliver-goldsmith/) > [“One of the eternal verities of human life is that if you make the same choices as other people, they will think you are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-hammond/one-of-the-eternal-verities-of-human-life-is-that-if-you-make-the/) [George Hammond](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-hammond/) > [Popularity isn't just something that happens. You have to give something in exchange for it, and that's the dangerous part of the process.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-bringhurst/popularity-isn-t-just-something-that-happens-you-have-to-give/) [Robert Bringhurst](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-bringhurst/) > [“Alles Populäre ist falsch.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oscar-wilde/alles-popul-re-ist-falsch/) [Oscar Wilde](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oscar-wilde/) > [ The social \[media channel\] isn't about beauty contests and popularity contests. They're a distortion, a caricature of the real thing. It's about trust, connection,… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/umair-haque/the-social-media-channel-isn-t-about-beauty-contests-and-popularity/) [Umair Haque](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/umair-haque/) ## More by Ezra Furman > [I'm just grateful to people who are willing to admit how bad things feel for them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ezra-furman/i-m-just-grateful-to-people-who-are-willing-to-admit-how-bad-things/) [Ezra Furman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ezra-furman/) > [I've always been drawn to ambiguity in pop music.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ezra-furman/i-ve-always-been-drawn-to-ambiguity-in-pop-music/) [Ezra Furman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ezra-furman/) > [I love obsessive fandom because I'm an obsessive fan who flips out over music.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ezra-furman/i-love-obsessive-fandom-because-i-m-an-obsessive-fan-who-flips-out/) [Ezra Furman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ezra-furman/) > [I believe an authentic Judaism would legislate total equality for queer people.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ezra-furman/i-believe-an-authentic-judaism-would-legislate-total-equality-for/) [Ezra Furman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ezra-furman/) > [Listening to songs is like eating and writing songs is like vomiting. You're putting a ton of stuff in, it combines in unpredictable ways,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ezra-furman/listening-to-songs-is-like-eating-and-writing-songs-is-like-vomiting/) [Ezra Furman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ezra-furman/) > [I was thinking very carefully about going into education, becoming a teacher, maybe becoming a rabbi.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ezra-furman/i-was-thinking-very-carefully-about-going-into-education-becoming-a/) [Ezra Furman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ezra-furman/) > [I'm an amateur at music and an amateur at most things. I like the idea of offering some music and some records and a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ezra-furman/i-m-an-amateur-at-music-and-an-amateur-at-most-things-i-like-the-idea/) [Ezra Furman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ezra-furman/) > [I first got into music when I heard punk, and it was saying maybe it's OK if you don't live up to the expectations…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ezra-furman/i-first-got-into-music-when-i-heard-punk-and-it-was-saying-maybe-it-s/) [Ezra Furman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ezra-furman/) > [We music fans go to shows for transcendence; it's like being called to prayer.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ezra-furman/we-music-fans-go-to-shows-for-transcendence-it-s-like-being-called-to/) [Ezra Furman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ezra-furman/) > [I heard the Velvet Underground and that changed things when I was like, 15.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ezra-furman/i-heard-the-velvet-underground-and-that-changed-things-when-i-was/) [Ezra Furman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ezra-furman/) > [We need a lot more visibility of queer people in public life. People gotta get used to it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ezra-furman/we-need-a-lot-more-visibility-of-queer-people-in-public-life-people/) [Ezra Furman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ezra-furman/) > [I could write a joke song really easily, but I think something that might be true for my generation is that there's a certain…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ezra-furman/i-could-write-a-joke-song-really-easily-but-i-think-something-that/) [Ezra Furman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ezra-furman/) > [Far from being a showbiz gimmick, for me dressing as I please has signalled the end of a lifelong performance of straightforward masculinity.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ezra-furman/far-from-being-a-showbiz-gimmick-for-me-dressing-as-i-please-has/) [Ezra Furman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ezra-furman/) > [The Bible was so revolutionary and against all that came before it. It was a force for siding with the oppressed and a rebellion…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ezra-furman/the-bible-was-so-revolutionary-and-against-all-that-came-before-it-it/) [Ezra Furman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ezra-furman/) > [Not only am I a shy person, I take a little while to say what I mean, especially in a social situation, and usually…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ezra-furman/not-only-am-i-a-shy-person-i-take-a-little-while-to-say-what-i-mean/) [Ezra Furman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ezra-furman/) [Explore all 111 Ezra Furman quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ezra-furman/) ## 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 ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/always/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "It's always about staying competitive with myself... 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