--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: If I'm not prepared, I don't feel…" description: "\"If I'm not prepared, I don't feel confident. It's something that you can have control of. You deserve what it is you're going after as long as you've d..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/011/laila-ali-29054_confidence_if-i-m-not-prepared-i-don-t-feel-confide_354564.jpg" --- # If I'm not prepared, I don't feel confident. It's… ![“If I'm not prepared, I don't feel confident. It's something that you can have control of. You deserve what it is you're going after as long as you've done the work that needs to be done to prepare for it. You can't just have your hand out!” quote by Laila Ali](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/011/laila-ali-29054_confidence_if-i-m-not-prepared-i-don-t-feel-confide_354564.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/011/laila-ali-29054_confidence_if-i-m-not-prepared-i-don-t-feel-confide_354564.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/011/laila-ali-29054_confidence_if-i-m-not-prepared-i-don-t-feel-confide_354564.jpg) > “If I'm not prepared, I don't feel confident. It's something that you can have control of. You deserve what it is you're going after as long as you've done the work that needs to be done to prepare for it. You can't just have your hand out!” [Laila Ali](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laila-ali/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Confidence stems from preparation; you earn outcomes by doing the necessary work before acting. **In simple terms:** Preparation builds confidence and earns success. Key Takeaway Prepare thoroughly before seeking results. Themes confidence preparation earned success Mood determined optimistic Type motivational inspirational When to use this quote - job interviews - sports competition - public speaking - academic exams - entrepreneurial ventures Key Concepts self-efficacy agency responsibility Questions to Reflect On - What areas of your life need more preparation? - How does preparation affect your self‑trust? A Different Perspective If preparation is insufficient, overconfidence can lead to failure. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Confidence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/confidence/) [Confident](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/confident/) ## Related quotes > [For women to comment on other women is making it a lot harder for us all to feel confident. And it's hard enough to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frankie-bridge/for-women-to-comment-on-other-women-is-making-it-a-lot-harder-for-us/) [Frankie Bridge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frankie-bridge/) > [Onstage was where I felt the most confident and in control and free, and as I've gotten older, it's gotten more and more daunting.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ari-graynor/onstage-was-where-i-felt-the-most-confident-and-in-control-and-free/) [Ari Graynor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ari-graynor/) > [I may be on set acting, I may be in the studio recording, I might be teaching dance class all in the same day…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alyson-stoner/i-may-be-on-set-acting-i-may-be-in-the-studio-recording-i-might-be/) [Alyson Stoner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alyson-stoner/) > [Each man has to work out his own understanding of what needs to be done, and then prepare himself to take advantage of the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-s-clason/each-man-has-to-work-out-his-own-understanding-of-what-needs-to-be/) [George S. Clason](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-s-clason/) > [I'm massively inspired by 'True Blue'-era Madonna, but she is absolutely confident and in control of the situation.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shura/i-m-massively-inspired-by-true-blue-era-madonna-but-she-is-absolutely/) Shura > [We should all feel confident in our intelligence. By the way, intelligence to me isn't just being book-smart or having a college degree; it's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tabatha-coffey/we-should-all-feel-confident-in-our-intelligence-by-the-way/) [Tabatha Coffey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tabatha-coffey/) > [My mum always encouraged me that less is more, make-up wise. I think that's why I feel more confident when I have a fresh…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maia-mitchell/my-mum-always-encouraged-me-that-less-is-more-make-up-wise-i-think/) [Maia Mitchell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maia-mitchell/) > [“Hard to feel confident when you’re surrounded by horse-sized wolves. - Emmett Cullen”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephenie-meyer/hard-to-feel-confident-when-you-re-surrounded-by-horse-sized-wolves/) [Stephenie Meyer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephenie-meyer/) > [A Tom Ford three-piece makes you feel so confident, it's bananas.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dwyane-wade/a-tom-ford-three-piece-makes-you-feel-so-confident-it-s-bananas/) [Dwyane Wade](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dwyane-wade/) > [I always want black girls to feel confident in who they are, and in their skin.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bree-runway/i-always-want-black-girls-to-feel-confident-in-who-they-are-and-in/) [Bree Runway](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bree-runway/) > [Acting was the place where I could be free and feel confident.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ari-graynor/acting-was-the-place-where-i-could-be-free-and-feel-confident/) [Ari Graynor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ari-graynor/) > [You have to feel confident. If you don't, then you're going to be hesitant and defensive, and there'll be a lot of things working…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/clint-eastwood/you-have-to-feel-confident-if-you-don-t-then-you-re-going-to-be/) [Clint Eastwood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/clint-eastwood/) > [I hope women feel confident with themselves and realize that we don't all have to look alike or be the same size to be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/janelle-monae/i-hope-women-feel-confident-with-themselves-and-realize-that-we-don-t/) [Janelle Monae](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/janelle-monae/) > [I feel good with my slider a lot. When I'm far behind the count I use it ... so I feel confident with that.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ubaldo-jimenez/i-feel-good-with-my-slider-a-lot-when-i-m-far-behind-the-count-i-use/) Ubaldo Jimenez > [Every single pore - not on the men, but on the women - is scrutinized, so I am really grateful that I feel very…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cate-blanchett/every-single-pore-not-on-the-men-but-on-the-women-is-scrutinized-so-i/) [Cate Blanchett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cate-blanchett/) ## More by Laila Ali > [I am thrilled and honored to have a seat at the table for meaningful conversation with so many accomplished women in the sports world.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laila-ali/i-am-thrilled-and-honored-to-have-a-seat-at-the-table-for-meaningful/) [Laila Ali](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laila-ali/) > [Sometimes your worst hits in life wind up being your best advantage. If only you could believe that when you're getting hit.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laila-ali/sometimes-your-worst-hits-in-life-wind-up-being-your-best-advantage/) [Laila Ali](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laila-ali/) > [There's so many women that need to be inspired, encouraged to go after their dreams, their goals, their aspirations. Because we all have that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laila-ali/there-s-so-many-women-that-need-to-be-inspired-encouraged-to-go-after/) [Laila Ali](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laila-ali/) > [My dad is my dad. I love him, and I realize that he's as famous as he is. Of course, I don't look at…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laila-ali/my-dad-is-my-dad-i-love-him-and-i-realize-that-he-s-as-famous-as-he/) [Laila Ali](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laila-ali/) > [I was one of those people who wasn't getting a lot of milk, so I had to pump forever to just get two ounces…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laila-ali/i-was-one-of-those-people-who-wasn-t-getting-a-lot-of-milk-so-i-had/) [Laila Ali](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laila-ali/) > [Thinking about the women that you know: your friends, sisters, mothers, we know that we are kind of stereotyped. You like sports, you're a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laila-ali/thinking-about-the-women-that-you-know-your-friends-sisters-mothers/) [Laila Ali](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laila-ali/) > [Maybe if I completely shaved my head and get the frost out of my moustache, maybe I could get one of those serious acting…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laila-ali/maybe-if-i-completely-shaved-my-head-and-get-the-frost-out-of-my/) [Laila Ali](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laila-ali/) > [Sometimes if you don't physically attempt something, you don't realize how sick to your stomach or how hard it is.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laila-ali/sometimes-if-you-don-t-physically-attempt-something-you-don-t-realize/) [Laila Ali](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laila-ali/) > [I don't get the action... well, I never did get the big action hero parts. I was always locked into making the kids movies,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laila-ali/i-don-t-get-the-action-well-i-never-did-get-the-big-action-hero-parts/) [Laila Ali](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laila-ali/) > [The wrestling, even though I would only wrestle for 15 or 20 or 30 minutes at a time, and it would look like that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laila-ali/the-wrestling-even-though-i-would-only-wrestle-for-15-or-20-or-30/) [Laila Ali](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laila-ali/) > [I'm inspired on a daily basis by my personal goals. I make it a habit to write down what it is that I want…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laila-ali/i-m-inspired-on-a-daily-basis-by-my-personal-goals-i-make-it-a-habit/) [Laila Ali](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laila-ali/) > [For me, I like to imagine being successful. I like to imagine the end, which is success. I envision it, where I can actually…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laila-ali/for-me-i-like-to-imagine-being-successful-i-like-to-imagine-the-end/) [Laila Ali](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laila-ali/) > [If you're having a bad day the main thing on the mental side is realizing that I'm having a bad day and thinking about…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laila-ali/if-you-re-having-a-bad-day-the-main-thing-on-the-mental-side-is/) [Laila Ali](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laila-ali/) > [I've always like watching competition and athleticism. Just seeing the average person going up against Gladiators, is always something I enjoy. I'm not really…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laila-ali/i-ve-always-like-watching-competition-and-athleticism-just-seeing-the/) [Laila Ali](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laila-ali/) > [Everyone wouldn't just accept that I wanted to be a fighter - because I wasn't someone that they envisioned could or would be a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laila-ali/everyone-wouldn-t-just-accept-that-i-wanted-to-be-a-fighter-because-i/) [Laila Ali](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laila-ali/) [Explore all 18 Laila Ali quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laila-ali/) ## More Confidence quotes > [The CIA has concluded in a secret assessment that Russia intervened in the 2016 election to help Donald Trump win the presidency rather than…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rachel-maddow/the-cia-has-concluded-in-a-secret-assessment-that-russia-intervened/) [Rachel Maddow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rachel-maddow/) > [I was just confident my work was good.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bunny-yeager/i-was-just-confident-my-work-was-good/) [Bunny Yeager](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bunny-yeager/) > [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 started out dancing on a reality TV show, but always with the intention of making my way over to film. I transitioned into…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julianne-hough/i-started-out-dancing-on-a-reality-tv-show-but-always-with-the/) [Julianne Hough](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julianne-hough/) > [One of the ways that I discovered my confidence and my ability to overpower is becoming a mother. Suddenly, my world wasn't about myself…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lights/one-of-the-ways-that-i-discovered-my-confidence-and-my-ability-to/) [Lights](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lights/) > [My friend made me a leather dress for the MTV awards. It gives you confidence, wearing something you love.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cat-deeley/my-friend-made-me-a-leather-dress-for-the-mtv-awards-it-gives-you/) [Cat Deeley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cat-deeley/) > [Confidence comes from cutting yourself some slack.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tess-daly/confidence-comes-from-cutting-yourself-some-slack/) [Tess Daly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tess-daly/) > [I would rather regret the things that I have done than the things that I have not.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lucille-ball/i-would-rather-regret-the-things-that-i-have-done-than-the-things/) [Lucille Ball](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lucille-ball/) > [You want to remain hungry and stay in a good place as a competitor; at the same time, you want to be confident but…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lamar-odom/you-want-to-remain-hungry-and-stay-in-a-good-place-as-a-competitor-at/) [Lamar Odom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lamar-odom/) > [Get to know yourself well enough to not only expect, but also control, your response to the unexpected challenges in life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/senoraroy/get-to-know-yourself-well-enough-to-not-only-expect-but-also-control/) Senoraroy > [The four Cs of making dreams come true: Curiosity, Courage, Consistency, Confidence.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walt-disney/the-four-cs-of-making-dreams-come-true-curiosity-courage-consistency/) [Walt Disney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walt-disney/) > [I look for someone who has confidence. Also someone whose energetic, cause I'm NOT that energetic.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nick-jonas/i-look-for-someone-who-has-confidence-also-someone-whose-energetic/) [Nick Jonas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nick-jonas/) > [Why shouldn't I be confident? I'm well educated, I can deliver a line, and I have more than three expressions. That's good right?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sonakshi-sinha/why-shouldn-t-i-be-confident-i-m-well-educated-i-can-deliver-a-line/) [Sonakshi Sinha](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sonakshi-sinha/) > [I was very confident on the stage, and I stood out in a red gown.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nicole-johnson/i-was-very-confident-on-the-stage-and-i-stood-out-in-a-red-gown/) [Nicole Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nicole-johnson/) > [If you go to any nunnery and ask them what the main obstacle is, they'll always say low self-esteem and lack of confidence. It…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tenzin-palmo/if-you-go-to-any-nunnery-and-ask-them-what-the-main-obstacle-is-they/) [Tenzin Palmo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tenzin-palmo/) [Browse all 11,290 Confidence quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/confidence/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "If I'm not prepared, I don't feel confident. It's something that you can have control of. You deserve what it is you're going after as long as you've done the work that needs to be done to prepare for it. 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