---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: In order to do something you've never…"
description: "\"In order to do something you've never done, you've got to become someone you've never been. I think that all of us have great potential within us, but ..."
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/111/les-brown-1868_choices_in-order-to-do-something-you-ve-never-do_466735.png"
---

#  In order to do something you've never done, you've got to…

![“In order to do something you've never done, you've got to become someone you've never been. I think that all of us have great potential within us, but greatness is a choice; it's not our destiny. And in the pursuit of our dreams we are introduced to trials, failures and disappointments , which…” quote by Les Brown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/111/les-brown-1868_choices_in-order-to-do-something-you-ve-never-do_466735.png)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/111/les-brown-1868_choices_in-order-to-do-something-you-ve-never-do_466735.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/111/les-brown-1868_choices_in-order-to-do-something-you-ve-never-do_466735.png)

> “In order to do something you've never done, you've got to become someone you've never been. I think that all of us have great potential within us, but greatness is a choice; it's not our destiny. And in the pursuit of our dreams we are introduced to trials, failures and disappointments , which take us to the door of discovery and greatness.”

[Les Brown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/les-brown/)

## About This Quote

This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.

Greatness requires becoming a new self, choosing it, and enduring trials that lead to discovery.

**In simple terms:** Greatness is a choice, requiring growth and perseverance.

Key Takeaway

Choose growth, embrace challenges.

Themes

potential choice growth resilience discovery

Mood

inspirational hopeful

Type

advice philosophical

When to use this quote

- career change
- personal development
- overcoming setbacks
- skill acquisition

Key Concepts

self‑transformation goal pursuit

Questions to Reflect On

- What new identity will you adopt to achieve your dream?
- How do failures guide you toward discovery?

A Different Perspective

May overlook external factors influencing outcomes.

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[Choices](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/choices/) [Destiny](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/destiny/) [Disappointment](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/disappointment/) [Discovery](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/discovery/) [Dream](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/dream/) [Failure](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/failure/) [Greatness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/greatness/) [Order](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/order/) [Our destiny](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/our-destiny/) [Our dreams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/our-dreams/) [Pursuit](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/pursuit/) [Thinking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thinking/) [Trials](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/trials/)

## Related quotes

> [“Have you decided how great you want to be? It’s really up to you. Greatness is a choice.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mensah-oteh/have-you-decided-how-great-you-want-to-be-it-s-really-up-to-you/)

[Mensah Oteh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mensah-oteh/)

> [The potential for greatness lives within us all.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wilma-rudolph/the-potential-for-greatness-lives-within-us-all/)

[Wilma Rudolph](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wilma-rudolph/)

> [It is only with united effort and faith in our destiny that we shall be able to translate the Pakistan of our dreams into…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/muhammad-ali-jinnah/it-is-only-with-united-effort-and-faith-in-our-destiny-that-we-shall/)

[Muhammad Ali Jinnah](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/muhammad-ali-jinnah/)

> [We have weathered the worst storms and the safety of the shore, though distant, is in sight. We can look to the future with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/muhammad-ali-jinnah/we-have-weathered-the-worst-storms-and-the-safety-of-the-shore-though/)

[Muhammad Ali Jinnah](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/muhammad-ali-jinnah/)

> [Everyone has a potential for greatness.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/khalil-gibran-muhammad/everyone-has-a-potential-for-greatness/)

[Khalil Gibran Muhammad](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/khalil-gibran-muhammad/)

> [“Because we have a sense of completion within us, and because we have the will and desire to reach that state of completion, human…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ilchi-lee/because-we-have-a-sense-of-completion-within-us-and-because-we-have/)

[Ilchi Lee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ilchi-lee/)

> [Believe in your own potential for greatness.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/evan-tanner/believe-in-your-own-potential-for-greatness/)

[Evan Tanner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/evan-tanner/)

> [The greatest truth must be recognition that in every man, in every child is the potential for greatness.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-kennedy/the-greatest-truth-must-be-recognition-that-in-every-man-in-every/)

[Robert Kennedy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-kennedy/)

> [Seeking approval of others is typically a good indication that we've been shortchanging our potential for greatness.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/seeking-approval-of-others-is-typically-a-good-indication-that-we-ve/)

[Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/)

> [“We all have potential for greatness in ourselves. The only thing we need to do is to find it.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniyal-akram/we-all-have-potential-for-greatness-in-ourselves-the-only-thing-we/)

Daniyal Akram

> [In your hands you hold the seeds of failure - or the potential for greatness.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zig-ziglar/in-your-hands-you-hold-the-seeds-of-failure-or-the-potential-for/)

[Zig Ziglar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zig-ziglar/)

> [Complacency is the last hurdle standing between any team and its potential greatness.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pat-riley/complacency-is-the-last-hurdle-standing-between-any-team-and-its/)

[Pat Riley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pat-riley/)

> [Appreciate your flaws to reach the potential of your greatness.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/behdad-sami/appreciate-your-flaws-to-reach-the-potential-of-your-greatness/)

[Behdad Sami](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/behdad-sami/)

> [The potential for greatness lives within each of us.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wilma-rudolph/the-potential-for-greatness-lives-within-each-of-us/)

[Wilma Rudolph](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wilma-rudolph/)

> [Every human being has the potential for greatness.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-foster-bennett/every-human-being-has-the-potential-for-greatness/)

[Robert Foster Bennett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-foster-bennett/)

## More by Les Brown

> [All of us need to grow continuously in our lives.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/les-brown/all-of-us-need-to-grow-continuously-in-our-lives/)

[Les Brown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/les-brown/)

> [When a show fails to destroy the competition-and it can fail while attracting 20 million viewers-it is itself destroyed.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/les-brown/when-a-show-fails-to-destroy-the-competition-and-it-can-fail-while/)

[Les Brown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/les-brown/)

> [There is nothing more powerful than a changed mind.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/les-brown/there-is-nothing-more-powerful-than-a-changed-mind/)

[Les Brown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/les-brown/)

> [It's not over until I (you) win.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/les-brown/it-s-not-over-until-i-you-win/)

[Les Brown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/les-brown/)

> [There are winners, there are losers and there are people who have not yet learned how to win.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/les-brown/there-are-winners-there-are-losers-and-there-are-people-who-have-not/)

[Les Brown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/les-brown/)

> [If you are not willing to risk, you cannot become your best, and if you cannot become your best, you cannot be happy. If…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/les-brown/if-you-are-not-willing-to-risk-you-cannot-become-your-best-and-if-you/)

[Les Brown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/les-brown/)

> [We have the responsibility to put our gifts to work.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/les-brown/we-have-the-responsibility-to-put-our-gifts-to-work/)

[Les Brown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/les-brown/)

> [If you do what is easy, your life will be hard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/les-brown/if-you-do-what-is-easy-your-life-will-be-hard/)

[Les Brown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/les-brown/)

> [Failure is not a destination; it’s an invitation to unforeseen VICTORIES.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/les-brown/failure-is-not-a-destination-it-s-an-invitation-to-unforeseen/)

[Les Brown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/les-brown/)

> [Avoid head trash. Don't be a garbage can for anything that does not feed your intellect, stimulate your imagination, or make you a more…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/les-brown/avoid-head-trash-don-t-be-a-garbage-can-for-anything-that-does-not/)

[Les Brown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/les-brown/)

> [Too many of us are not living our dreams because we are living our fears.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/les-brown/too-many-of-us-are-not-living-our-dreams-because-we-are-living-our/)

[Les Brown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/les-brown/)

> [Practice only makes for improvement.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/les-brown/practice-only-makes-for-improvement/)

[Les Brown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/les-brown/)

> [“Shoot for the moon and even if you miss you'll land among the stars.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/les-brown/shoot-for-the-moon-and-even-if-you-miss-you-ll-land-among-the-stars/)

[Les Brown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/les-brown/)

> [If you run around with 9 losers pretty soon you'll be the 10th loser.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/les-brown/if-you-run-around-with-9-losers-pretty-soon-you-ll-be-the-10th-loser/)

[Les Brown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/les-brown/)

> [Don't confuse who you are with the results that you produce.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/les-brown/don-t-confuse-who-you-are-with-the-results-that-you-produce/)

[Les Brown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/les-brown/)

[Explore all 201 Les Brown quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/les-brown/)

## More Choices quotes

> [Of all the people who have affected my life and influenced the choices I've made, none has been more important than my father. I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/teddy-atlas/of-all-the-people-who-have-affected-my-life-and-influenced-the/)

[Teddy Atlas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/teddy-atlas/)

> [“Don’t allow anyone to pressure you into taking a job in a field that doesn’t feel right in your gut. You are the one…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alison-james/don-t-allow-anyone-to-pressure-you-into-taking-a-job-in-a-field-that/)

Alison James

> [When you have a choice, choose happy!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pancho-barnes/when-you-have-a-choice-choose-happy/)

Pancho Barnes

> [By making conscious choices in our behavior and where we focus our attention, we can transform our experience of our body, decrease our biological…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/deepak-chopra/by-making-conscious-choices-in-our-behavior-and-where-we-focus-our/)

[Deepak Chopra](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/deepak-chopra/)

> [Movies have power. Power to impact society and the choices we make. I want to entertain, but I also want to say something to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gina-prince-bythewood/movies-have-power-power-to-impact-society-and-the-choices-we-make-i/)

[Gina Prince-Bythewood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gina-prince-bythewood/)

> [If you have a different mindset, you will have a different outcome: if you make different choices from your peers, your life will then…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-ma/if-you-have-a-different-mindset-you-will-have-a-different-outcome-if/)

[Jack Ma](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-ma/)

> [Personally, I prefer contemporary films, but the market calls for more period choices, especially since China opened up a cinema market in Hong Kong.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donnie-yen/personally-i-prefer-contemporary-films-but-the-market-calls-for-more/)

[Donnie Yen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donnie-yen/)

> [Clarissa," he said, "here with the vampire, I see. When things have settled a bit, we really must discuss you choice in pets..](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cassandra-clare/clarissa-he-said-here-with-the-vampire-i-see-when-things-have-settled/)

[Cassandra Clare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cassandra-clare/)

> [Change is inevitable but personal growth is a choice.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bob-proctor/change-is-inevitable-but-personal-growth-is-a-choice/)

[Bob Proctor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bob-proctor/)

> [Time hath not yet so dried this blood of mine, Nor age so eat up my invention, Nor fortune made such havoc of my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-shakespeare/time-hath-not-yet-so-dried-this-blood-of-mine-nor-age-so-eat-up-my/)

[William Shakespeare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-shakespeare/)

> [If you choose to draw from the inner well of free will, then you can make choices that are outside your current karmic patterns.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-lenz/if-you-choose-to-draw-from-the-inner-well-of-free-will-then-you-can/)

[Frederick Lenz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-lenz/)

> [Act always so as to increase the number of choices](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/heinz-von-foerster/act-always-so-as-to-increase-the-number-of-choices/)

[Heinz von Foerster](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/heinz-von-foerster/)

> [Give me a platter of choice finnan haddie, freshly cooked in its bath of water and milk, add melted butter, a slice or two…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/craig-claiborne/give-me-a-platter-of-choice-finnan-haddie-freshly-cooked-in-its-bath/)

[Craig Claiborne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/craig-claiborne/)

> [I don't know that any woman could ever not think about that at some point - even making the choice not to do it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/naomi-watts/i-don-t-know-that-any-woman-could-ever-not-think-about-that-at-some/)

[Naomi Watts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/naomi-watts/)

> [In this choice of inheritance we have given to our frame of polity the image of a relation in blood; binding up the constitution…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edmund-burke/in-this-choice-of-inheritance-we-have-given-to-our-frame-of-polity/)

[Edmund Burke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edmund-burke/)

[Browse all 11,466 Choices quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/choices/)

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