--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: It was hard for me to take competitive…" description: "\"It was hard for me to take competitive eating serious at first. When I made people happy, I became addicted to that. It's been a fun, fun ride.\" — Joey..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ead/joey-chestnut-6700_fun_it-was-hard-for-me-to-take-competitive-e_990714.jpg" --- # It was hard for me to take competitive eating serious at… ![“It was hard for me to take competitive eating serious at first. When I made people happy, I became addicted to that. It's been a fun, fun ride.” quote by Joey Chestnut](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ead/joey-chestnut-6700_fun_it-was-hard-for-me-to-take-competitive-e_990714.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ead/joey-chestnut-6700_fun_it-was-hard-for-me-to-take-competitive-e_990714.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ead/joey-chestnut-6700_fun_it-was-hard-for-me-to-take-competitive-e_990714.jpg) > “It was hard for me to take competitive eating serious at first. When I made people happy, I became addicted to that. It's been a fun, fun ride.” [Joey Chestnut](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joey-chestnut/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Initially skeptical, he found purpose in making others happy, which turned into a rewarding, addictive pursuit. **In simple terms:** Finding joy in others' happiness sparked a lasting passion. Key Takeaway Pursue what brings joy to others. Themes joy competition addiction purpose Mood enthusiastic inspirational Type personal motivational When to use this quote - career choice - personal branding - public events - media exposure Key Concepts motivation habit formation community engagement Questions to Reflect On - What drives your commitment? - How to balance joy and burnout? A Different Perspective Addiction to approval can obscure personal limits. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Eating](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/eating/) [Food](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/food/) [Fun](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fun/) [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) ## Related quotes > [Competitive eating is something I can control. I know I can control, and if I push hard, I can win.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joey-chestnut/competitive-eating-is-something-i-can-control-i-know-i-can-control/) [Joey Chestnut](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joey-chestnut/) > [There have always been a lot of critics of competitive eating. You can be a critic of anything. It's easy to be a critic.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joey-chestnut/there-have-always-been-a-lot-of-critics-of-competitive-eating-you-can/) [Joey Chestnut](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joey-chestnut/) > [I'm really normal except for the competitive eating.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joey-chestnut/i-m-really-normal-except-for-the-competitive-eating/) [Joey Chestnut](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joey-chestnut/) > [There's nothing pretty about competitive eating. It might be uncouth, but it is fun, and it is lighthearted.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joey-chestnut/there-s-nothing-pretty-about-competitive-eating-it-might-be-uncouth/) [Joey Chestnut](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joey-chestnut/) > [I'm a very competitive person. I always have been. And it's hard to be competitive about something as amorphous as acting. But you can…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-newman/i-m-a-very-competitive-person-i-always-have-been-and-it-s-hard-to-be/) [Paul Newman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-newman/) > [If you can't stretch the floor in the NBA, it's hard for you to be competitive or even have a chance.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jared-dudley/if-you-can-t-stretch-the-floor-in-the-nba-it-s-hard-for-you-to-be/) [Jared Dudley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jared-dudley/) > [I like when things are hard; I'm very competitive. If something seems difficult or impossible, it interests me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jennifer-lawrence/i-like-when-things-are-hard-i-m-very-competitive-if-something-seems/) [Jennifer Lawrence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jennifer-lawrence/) > [It's a very hard and competitive business in which you have to fight every day in order to impose yourself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karolina-kurkova/it-s-a-very-hard-and-competitive-business-in-which-you-have-to-fight/) [Karolina Kurkova](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karolina-kurkova/) > [I did a little bit of 'FIFA' when I was younger but I'm so competitive about tennis, I find it hard to be competitive…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-draper/i-did-a-little-bit-of-fifa-when-i-was-younger-but-i-m-so-competitive/) [Jack Draper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-draper/) > [I think many people think competitive eating is a really disgusting sport, so people think they look bad normally. But I care about what…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/takeru-kobayashi/i-think-many-people-think-competitive-eating-is-a-really-disgusting/) [Takeru Kobayashi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/takeru-kobayashi/) > [But my point is that competitive eating is a real sport, and I considered taking it up. But when I thought about what this…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dave-barry/but-my-point-is-that-competitive-eating-is-a-real-sport-and-i/) [Dave Barry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dave-barry/) > [When I'm eating I try to make sure I can breathe through my nose the entire time. If I have to breathe through my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joey-chestnut/when-i-m-eating-i-try-to-make-sure-i-can-breathe-through-my-nose-the/) [Joey Chestnut](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joey-chestnut/) > [It's very rare that you get that period of time to hang out with your best buddy and ride motorbikes.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charley-boorman/it-s-very-rare-that-you-get-that-period-of-time-to-hang-out-with-your/) [Charley Boorman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charley-boorman/) > [Everything I write is highly personal, but put in such a way that it's not dropping everything in someone's lap. Although sometimes I think…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jane-siberry/everything-i-write-is-highly-personal-but-put-in-such-a-way-that-it-s/) [Jane Siberry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jane-siberry/) > [I just think that things should be allowed to run their course, and not turned into a Disney ride.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fiona-shaw/i-just-think-that-things-should-be-allowed-to-run-their-course-and/) [Fiona Shaw](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fiona-shaw/) ## More by Joey Chestnut > [Military caregivers play an essential role in the recovery process of our veterans and are more than deserving of our support.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joey-chestnut/military-caregivers-play-an-essential-role-in-the-recovery-process-of/) [Joey Chestnut](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joey-chestnut/) > [The way I see it, I love to eat more than anybody.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joey-chestnut/the-way-i-see-it-i-love-to-eat-more-than-anybody/) [Joey Chestnut](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joey-chestnut/) > [It's pretty rare for them to not be in our fridge, I have usually a good supply of all-beef hot dogs.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joey-chestnut/it-s-pretty-rare-for-them-to-not-be-in-our-fridge-i-have-usually-a/) [Joey Chestnut](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joey-chestnut/) > [I think Peter King... he's kind of narrow-minded.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joey-chestnut/i-think-peter-king-he-s-kind-of-narrow-minded/) [Joey Chestnut](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joey-chestnut/) > [Pretty much all I'm doing during an eating contest is being uncomfortable and not forgetting to breathe.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joey-chestnut/pretty-much-all-i-m-doing-during-an-eating-contest-is-being/) [Joey Chestnut](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joey-chestnut/) > [I've signed babies' arms. I wanted to pull a 'Ricky Bobby' and sign a baby's forehead.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joey-chestnut/i-ve-signed-babies-arms-i-wanted-to-pull-a-ricky-bobby-and-sign-a/) [Joey Chestnut](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joey-chestnut/) > [When I'm eating I try to make sure I can breathe through my nose the entire time. If I have to breathe through my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joey-chestnut/when-i-m-eating-i-try-to-make-sure-i-can-breathe-through-my-nose-the/) [Joey Chestnut](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joey-chestnut/) > [I'd like to go out on top, preferably breaking a new world record on the Fourth of July.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joey-chestnut/i-d-like-to-go-out-on-top-preferably-breaking-a-new-world-record-on/) [Joey Chestnut](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joey-chestnut/) > [Competitive eating is something I can control. I know I can control, and if I push hard, I can win.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joey-chestnut/competitive-eating-is-something-i-can-control-i-know-i-can-control/) [Joey Chestnut](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joey-chestnut/) > [Kobayashi won't talk to me. He hates me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joey-chestnut/kobayashi-won-t-talk-to-me-he-hates-me/) [Joey Chestnut](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joey-chestnut/) > [I'm getting paid to eat. It's not too bad of a life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joey-chestnut/i-m-getting-paid-to-eat-it-s-not-too-bad-of-a-life/) [Joey Chestnut](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joey-chestnut/) > [I love Italian food, such as pasta or lasagna.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joey-chestnut/i-love-italian-food-such-as-pasta-or-lasagna/) [Joey Chestnut](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joey-chestnut/) > [I'm lucky. My parents are, like, super hippies. They were just happy I was going to school and I wasn't getting in trouble.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joey-chestnut/i-m-lucky-my-parents-are-like-super-hippies-they-were-just-happy-i/) [Joey Chestnut](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joey-chestnut/) > [I love king crab a lot. I love good Mexican food, good tacos, and chile rellenos.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joey-chestnut/i-love-king-crab-a-lot-i-love-good-mexican-food-good-tacos-and-chile/) [Joey Chestnut](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joey-chestnut/) > [Winning tastes pretty good.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joey-chestnut/winning-tastes-pretty-good/) [Joey Chestnut](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joey-chestnut/) [Explore all 98 Joey Chestnut quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joey-chestnut/) ## More Eating quotes > [By eating many fruits and vegetables in place of fast food and junk food, people could avoid obesity.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-h-murdock/by-eating-many-fruits-and-vegetables-in-place-of-fast-food-and-junk/) [David H. Murdock](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-h-murdock/) > [I don't wear a watch because I want my arms to weigh the same. So if somebody asks me what time it is, I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mitch-hedberg/i-don-t-wear-a-watch-because-i-want-my-arms-to-weigh-the-same-so-if/) [Mitch Hedberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mitch-hedberg/) > [Most people are sensitized to animals through their cats and dogs, but for me it was a flounder. I used to go fishing with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-mathews/most-people-are-sensitized-to-animals-through-their-cats-and-dogs-but/) [Dan Mathews](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dan-mathews/) > [I have my meals delivered... you know what I like? Chicken and rice... But the problem with being a defensive lineman is, if we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hugh-douglas/i-have-my-meals-delivered-you-know-what-i-like-chicken-and-rice-but/) [Hugh Douglas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hugh-douglas/) > [I do not believe in eating fish hot. People always insist on hot fish, but that leaves it dried out.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/geoffrey-zakarian/i-do-not-believe-in-eating-fish-hot-people-always-insist-on-hot-fish/) [Geoffrey Zakarian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/geoffrey-zakarian/) > [One things guys have to remember is consistency... You can't make up for three years of eating poorly in just one workout.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/apolo-ohno/one-things-guys-have-to-remember-is-consistency-you-can-t-make-up-for/) [Apolo Ohno](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/apolo-ohno/) > [My mom cares that I tweeted a picture of my breakfast. She's knows I'm eating and I'm safe.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-dorsey/my-mom-cares-that-i-tweeted-a-picture-of-my-breakfast-she-s-knows-i-m/) [Jack Dorsey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-dorsey/) > [There is an idea that you can take the spiritual teachings of a religion outside of a religion and practice them; these ideas are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/seyyed-hossein-nasr/there-is-an-idea-that-you-can-take-the-spiritual-teachings-of-a/) [Seyyed Hossein Nasr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/seyyed-hossein-nasr/) > [I have an intense dislike of doctrines, because you will always end up eating your words.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/yotam-ottolenghi/i-have-an-intense-dislike-of-doctrines-because-you-will-always-end-up/) [Yotam Ottolenghi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/yotam-ottolenghi/) > [The worst thing for me is to not taste what I'm eating, to not know what I'm eating. It upsets me to no avail.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joel-robuchon/the-worst-thing-for-me-is-to-not-taste-what-i-m-eating-to-not-know/) [Joel Robuchon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joel-robuchon/) > [The heaviest I've ever been is 65 kilos. That was during my Leaving Cert when I was just studying and eating chocolate.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/katie-taylor/the-heaviest-i-ve-ever-been-is-65-kilos-that-was-during-my-leaving/) [Katie Taylor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/katie-taylor/) > [For fear of causing terror to living beings, Mahamati, let the Bodhisattva who is disciplining himself to attain compassion, refrain from eating flesh.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gautama-buddha/for-fear-of-causing-terror-to-living-beings-mahamati-let-the/) [Gautama Buddha](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gautama-buddha/) > [The good Bishop of Assisi expressed a sort of horror at the hard life which the Little Brothers lived at the Portiuncula, without comforts,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/the-good-bishop-of-assisi-expressed-a-sort-of-horror-at-the-hard-life/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I think the best Thanksgiving we ever had was one where we didn't even have a turkey. Mom and Dad sat us kids down…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-handey/i-think-the-best-thanksgiving-we-ever-had-was-one-where-we-didn-t/) [Jack Handey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-handey/) > [I have a great time cooking and eating Thai green chicken curry.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/akshay-kumar/i-have-a-great-time-cooking-and-eating-thai-green-chicken-curry/) [Akshay Kumar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/akshay-kumar/) [Browse all 4,153 Eating quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/eating/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "It was hard for me to take competitive eating serious at first. When I made people happy, I became addicted to that. 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