--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Instead of setting goals, seek defining…" description: "\"Instead of setting goals, seek defining moments. Those are the real tests, because you have to be willing to fail in a pressure situation in front of o..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/72f/hugh-jackman-1847_defining_instead-of-setting-goals-seek-defining-m_1768303.jpg" --- # Instead of setting goals, seek defining moments. Those are… ![“Instead of setting goals, seek defining moments. Those are the real tests, because you have to be willing to fail in a pressure situation in front of other people.” quote by Hugh Jackman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/72f/hugh-jackman-1847_defining_instead-of-setting-goals-seek-defining-m_1768303.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/72f/hugh-jackman-1847_defining_instead-of-setting-goals-seek-defining-m_1768303.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/72f/hugh-jackman-1847_defining_instead-of-setting-goals-seek-defining-m_1768303.jpg) > “Instead of setting goals, seek defining moments. Those are the real tests, because you have to be willing to fail in a pressure situation in front of other people.” [Hugh Jackman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hugh-jackman/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Instead of merely setting goals, focus on creating defining moments that test character under pressure and public scrutiny. **In simple terms:** Seek moments that define you, not just goals. Key Takeaway Embrace challenges that reveal your true self. Themes growth challenge authenticity Mood motivational inspirational Type self-help philosophical When to use this quote - public speaking - sports competition - career milestones - creative projects Key Concepts psychology performance theory Questions to Reflect On - What defining moment are you avoiding? - How do you handle failure in front of others? A Different Perspective Defining moments can be stressful and may lead to burnout if not balanced. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Defining moment](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/defining-moment/) [Defining moments](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/defining-moments/) [Goal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/goal/) [Goals](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/goals/) [Moments](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/moments/) [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) [Pressure](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/pressure/) [Setting](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/setting/) [Setting Goal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/setting-goal/) [Setting goals](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/setting-goals/) [Tests](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/tests/) [Time](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/time/) ## Related quotes > [The pressure on me is nothing compared to Ravindra Jadeja. Jadeja, like Ram Gopal Verma, must always fail. The crowd always expects him to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jacques-kallis/the-pressure-on-me-is-nothing-compared-to-ravindra-jadeja-jadeja-like/) Jacques Kallis > [“my career in public life, I have had the rare privilege of being a participant in many of the defining moments of our country’s…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pranab-mukherjee/my-career-in-public-life-i-have-had-the-rare-privilege-of-being-a/) [Pranab Mukherjee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pranab-mukherjee/) > [I did it through our ministries. We had ordination and basically understanding there ought - to be ordained that God has set apart, for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paula-white/i-did-it-through-our-ministries-we-had-ordination-and-basically/) [Paula White](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paula-white/) > [“I think that perhaps there are no such defining moments at all. Beginnings and ends are fluid, long chains of events where some links…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/linda-olsson/i-think-that-perhaps-there-are-no-such-defining-moments-at-all/) [Linda Olsson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/linda-olsson/) > [There was a race that I was running in Mexico City and I was the only high school athlete running against grown women. It…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/allyson-felix/there-was-a-race-that-i-was-running-in-mexico-city-and-i-was-the-only/) [Allyson Felix](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/allyson-felix/) > [The men I idolized built their bodies and became somebody - like Sylvester Stallone and Arnold Schwarzenegger - and I thought, 'That can be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dwayne-johnson/the-men-i-idolized-built-their-bodies-and-became-somebody-like/) [Dwayne Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dwayne-johnson/) > [I think that for many of us, the years of the Civil Rights movements - Martin Luther King, Bobby Kennedy running for president in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-f-kerry/i-think-that-for-many-of-us-the-years-of-the-civil-rights-movements/) [John F. Kerry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-f-kerry/) > [Abraham is trying to obey God, but not to kill. I feel that moment is one of the defining moments of Jewish faith.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elie-wiesel/abraham-is-trying-to-obey-god-but-not-to-kill-i-feel-that-moment-is/) [Elie Wiesel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elie-wiesel/) > [Our lives will be full of defining moments, but those moments don't have to define us.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/our-lives-will-be-full-of-defining-moments-but-those-moments-don-t/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Our lives a series of defining moments, strung together by passing time. Surrender fully to this moment, because it is not the moment...](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/our-lives-a-series-of-defining-moments-strung-together-by-passing/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“These are defining moments, while the pain maybe great, the joy maybe greater.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/these-are-defining-moments-while-the-pain-maybe-great-the-joy-maybe/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [ Grads need to remember that it's \[showcases\] just a jumping off point for their career, not the defining moment. ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rachel-hoffman/grads-need-to-remember-that-it-s-showcases-just-a-jumping-off-point/) [Rachel Hoffman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rachel-hoffman/) > [Hold'em - like life itself - has its defining moment. It's the flop. When you see the flop, you're looking at 71 percent of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lou-krieger/hold-em-like-life-itself-has-its-defining-moment-it-s-the-flop-when/) Lou Krieger > [I think this is really a defining moment for the Arab world. The problem is, it is all going to be about blood, sweat…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/i-think-this-is-really-a-defining-moment-for-the-arab-world-the/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“There are no defining moments. There are only your moments to define.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-b-dowd/there-are-no-defining-moments-there-are-only-your-moments-to-define/) Thomas B Dowd ## More by Hugh Jackman > [Coming to terms with our true natures and who we really are has always been a fascination to humans. I know it fascinates me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hugh-jackman/coming-to-terms-with-our-true-natures-and-who-we-really-are-has/) [Hugh Jackman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hugh-jackman/) > [Meditation has changed my life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hugh-jackman/meditation-has-changed-my-life/) [Hugh Jackman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hugh-jackman/) > [If you never fall in love with your character, you'll never be able to do that character justice. No matter who it is, no…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hugh-jackman/if-you-never-fall-in-love-with-your-character-you-ll-never-be-able-to/) [Hugh Jackman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hugh-jackman/) > [One of the Canadian customs guards got suspicious and said 'Haven't you been coming and going across the border a lot lately?' I finally…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hugh-jackman/one-of-the-canadian-customs-guards-got-suspicious-and-said-haven-t/) [Hugh Jackman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hugh-jackman/) > [I'm lucky to have worked in theater all over the world, but there's something magical about Broadway. The audiences are smart, they're educated. They…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hugh-jackman/i-m-lucky-to-have-worked-in-theater-all-over-the-world-but-there-s/) [Hugh Jackman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hugh-jackman/) > [There is anxiety, but it comes after you've finished filming because it's out of your hands; people are editing it, they're cutting it, marketing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hugh-jackman/there-is-anxiety-but-it-comes-after-you-ve-finished-filming-because/) [Hugh Jackman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hugh-jackman/) > [I have done many movies that people hadn't seen. 'The Fountain,' I spent a year on that. 'The Prestige' with Chris Nolan, and 'Australia.'…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hugh-jackman/i-have-done-many-movies-that-people-hadn-t-seen-the-fountain-i-spent/) [Hugh Jackman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hugh-jackman/) > [When you dance, your body just wants to find its natural weight. I'm naturally a lot more Tommy Tune than I am Wolverine.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hugh-jackman/when-you-dance-your-body-just-wants-to-find-its-natural-weight-i-m/) [Hugh Jackman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hugh-jackman/) > [If I meet someone at a bus stop, I want to really meet that person. I don't want to be 'Hugh Jackman, the famous…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hugh-jackman/if-i-meet-someone-at-a-bus-stop-i-want-to-really-meet-that-person-i/) [Hugh Jackman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hugh-jackman/) > [I'm an actor. Never trust an actor, whatever their energy is. I suppose you guys see that side of me, but I'm sure there's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hugh-jackman/i-m-an-actor-never-trust-an-actor-whatever-their-energy-is-i-suppose/) [Hugh Jackman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hugh-jackman/) > [What I respect as far as in myself and in others is the spirit of just doing it. For better or worse, it may…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hugh-jackman/what-i-respect-as-far-as-in-myself-and-in-others-is-the-spirit-of/) [Hugh Jackman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hugh-jackman/) > [Write down five things you love to do. Next, write down five things that you're really good at. Then just try to match them…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hugh-jackman/write-down-five-things-you-love-to-do-next-write-down-five-things/) [Hugh Jackman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hugh-jackman/) > [I just love making a fool out of myself. I made my living as a clown at kids' parties for about three years.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hugh-jackman/i-just-love-making-a-fool-out-of-myself-i-made-my-living-as-a-clown/) [Hugh Jackman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hugh-jackman/) > [Now I meditate twice a day for half an hour. In meditation, I can let go of everything. I'm not Hugh Jackman. I'm not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hugh-jackman/now-i-meditate-twice-a-day-for-half-an-hour-in-meditation-i-can-let/) [Hugh Jackman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hugh-jackman/) > [The word philosophy sounds high-minded, but it simply means the love of wisdom. If you love something, you don't just read about it; you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hugh-jackman/the-word-philosophy-sounds-high-minded-but-it-simply-means-the-love/) [Hugh Jackman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hugh-jackman/) [Explore all 204 Hugh Jackman quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hugh-jackman/) ## More Defining quotes > [One defining symptom of decadence is a fondness for vast and nonsensical extravagance.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-silverberg/one-defining-symptom-of-decadence-is-a-fondness-for-vast-and/) [Robert Silverberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-silverberg/) > [Good history is a question of survival. Without any past, we will deprive ourselves of the defining impression of our being.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ken-burns/good-history-is-a-question-of-survival-without-any-past-we-will/) [Ken Burns](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ken-burns/) > [ I never left my roots. You can identify me as someone that didn't become high and mighty. Humility is a defining \[trait\] all of… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/serena-williams/i-never-left-my-roots-you-can-identify-me-as-someone-that-didn-t/) [Serena Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/serena-williams/) > [I think the word 'soul' - it depends on what you define by 'soul.' If you're defining it as a mystical aura that is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/miguel-nicolelis/i-think-the-word-soul-it-depends-on-what-you-define-by-soul-if-you-re/) [Miguel Nicolelis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/miguel-nicolelis/) > [“There are no defining moments. There are only your moments to define.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-b-dowd/there-are-no-defining-moments-there-are-only-your-moments-to-define/) Thomas B Dowd > [My journey has been a long one and has still got a long way to go. I think we are so used to defining…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emma-corrin/my-journey-has-been-a-long-one-and-has-still-got-a-long-way-to-go-i/) [Emma Corrin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emma-corrin/) > [“Defining the Renaissance Man “A man can do all that he will.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scott-griffiths-and-eric-elfman/defining-the-renaissance-man-a-man-can-do-all-that-he-will/) Scott Griffiths and Eric Elfman > [The defining aspects of westerns are still pretty much in place - namely landscape and conflict. In other books the conflict can be internal,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-crook/the-defining-aspects-of-westerns-are-still-pretty-much-in-place/) [Elizabeth Crook](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-crook/) > [Our concepts structure what we perceive, how we get around in the world and how we relate to other people. Our conceptual system thus…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-lakoff/our-concepts-structure-what-we-perceive-how-we-get-around-in-the/) [George Lakoff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-lakoff/) > [It's imprecise and insufficient, defining the homosexual as a person whose gender expression is at odds with his or her sex.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alison-bechdel/it-s-imprecise-and-insufficient-defining-the-homosexual-as-a-person/) [Alison Bechdel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alison-bechdel/) > [Modern societies accepted the treasures and the power offered them by science. But they have not accepted - they have scarcely even heard -…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jacques-monod/modern-societies-accepted-the-treasures-and-the-power-offered-them-by/) [Jacques Monod](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jacques-monod/) > [I met people on college campuses who were defining themselves as genderqueer to express revolutionary feelings, or to communicate their individuality; they were gender…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-solomon/i-met-people-on-college-campuses-who-were-defining-themselves-as/) [Andrew Solomon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-solomon/) > [Using less of the Earth’s resources more efficiently and productively in a circular economy and making the transition from carbon-based fuels to renewable energies…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeremy-rifkin/using-less-of-the-earth-s-resources-more-efficiently-and-productively/) [Jeremy Rifkin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeremy-rifkin/) > [Autonomy means women defining themselves and the values by which they will live, and beginning to think of institutional arrangements which will order their…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gerda-lerner/autonomy-means-women-defining-themselves-and-the-values-by-which-they/) [Gerda Lerner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gerda-lerner/) > [I think TARP was the most defining vote since I've been in Congress. It was wrong. You don't nationalize private - it was wrong.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/louie-gohmert/i-think-tarp-was-the-most-defining-vote-since-i-ve-been-in-congress/) [Louie Gohmert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/louie-gohmert/) Browse all 544 Defining quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Instead of setting goals, seek defining moments. 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