--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Nobody thought that I could become a…" description: "\"Nobody thought that I could become a professional. I was not that good. It was really just one thing I had fun doing. But it was never realistic for me..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/65a/mats-hummels-8783_fun_nobody-thought-that-i-could-become-a-pro_10311.jpg" --- # Nobody thought that I could become a professional. I was… ![“Nobody thought that I could become a professional. I was not that good. It was really just one thing I had fun doing. But it was never realistic for me to become a professional until I became 17 or maybe 18.” quote by Mats Hummels](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/65a/mats-hummels-8783_fun_nobody-thought-that-i-could-become-a-pro_10311.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/65a/mats-hummels-8783_fun_nobody-thought-that-i-could-become-a-pro_10311.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/65a/mats-hummels-8783_fun_nobody-thought-that-i-could-become-a-pro_10311.jpg) > “Nobody thought that I could become a professional. I was not that good. It was really just one thing I had fun doing. But it was never realistic for me to become a professional until I became 17 or maybe 18.” [Mats Hummels](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mats-hummels/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Realizing that passion and consistent practice can transform a hobby into a professional skill, even when early self‑assessment doubts it. **In simple terms:** Passion + practice = professional growth Key Takeaway Enjoyment fuels expertise Themes self‑belief growth mindset skill development late bloomers sports Mood inspired determined Type personal anecdote motivational When to use this quote - starting a new sport - pursuing a hobby - career transition - overcoming self‑doubt Key Concepts confidence dedication Practical Applications - coaching youth - motivational speaking Questions to Reflect On - What hobby could you turn professional? - How does enjoyment influence mastery? ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Fun](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fun/) ## Related quotes > [I left my home when I was 13 years old, I was a professional at 17, and I've been playing basketball since.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jose-calderon/i-left-my-home-when-i-was-13-years-old-i-was-a-professional-at-17-and/) [Jose Calderon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jose-calderon/) > [I've been a professional since I was a 17-year-old, over 200 league games from Conference all the way up to the Premier League now,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jordan-pickford/i-ve-been-a-professional-since-i-was-a-17-year-old-over-200-league/) [Jordan Pickford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jordan-pickford/) > [I grew up in south London and spent most of my adolescence in the snooker halls of the area, turning professional at 17.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jimmy-white/i-grew-up-in-south-london-and-spent-most-of-my-adolescence-in-the/) [Jimmy White](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jimmy-white/) > [ I did \[heroin\] maybe when I was 18 but I got over that pretty quickly. ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nan-goldin/i-did-heroin-maybe-when-i-was-18-but-i-got-over-that-pretty-quickly/) [Nan Goldin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nan-goldin/) > [Maybe when you're 18, 19, 20, you could have a bit of a wobble if you're going on live TV and playing guitar. But…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/katie-melua/maybe-when-you-re-18-19-20-you-could-have-a-bit-of-a-wobble-if-you-re/) [Katie Melua](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/katie-melua/) > [I was never attracted to women until around maybe 18.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/da-brat/i-was-never-attracted-to-women-until-around-maybe-18/) [Da Brat](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/da-brat/) > [I didn't associate playing tennis with making a living until I was maybe 18 or 19.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johanna-konta/i-didn-t-associate-playing-tennis-with-making-a-living-until-i-was/) [Johanna Konta](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johanna-konta/) > [What's the meaning of "giornalista professionista"? I have always thought a professional to be a good prostitute!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-c-brown/what-s-the-meaning-of-giornalista-professionista-i-have-always/) [William C. Brown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-c-brown/) > [I just like when I work with people that are professional and good.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/taraji-p-henson/i-just-like-when-i-work-with-people-that-are-professional-and-good/) [Taraji P. Henson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/taraji-p-henson/) > [Doesn't matter if it's personal or professional, a good partnership takes work.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-k-vaughan/doesn-t-matter-if-it-s-personal-or-professional-a-good-partnership/) [Brian K. Vaughan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-k-vaughan/) > [I try to always step up to the plate, be professional, be good at what I'm doing and deliver on the character. In Hollywood,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-lawrence/i-try-to-always-step-up-to-the-plate-be-professional-be-good-at-what/) [Martin Lawrence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-lawrence/) > [It's important to be professional and do a good job for Al Ain, because I have had a good time in the club. And…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcus-berg/it-s-important-to-be-professional-and-do-a-good-job-for-al-ain/) [Marcus Berg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcus-berg/) > [I've never thought of myself as a professional. I very rarely do something I don't enjoy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stellan-skarsgard/i-ve-never-thought-of-myself-as-a-professional-i-very-rarely-do/) [Stellan Skarsgard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stellan-skarsgard/) > [I was 17 when I made my first record in 1949. I never thought about being professional.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fats-domino/i-was-17-when-i-made-my-first-record-in-1949-i-never-thought-about/) [Fats Domino](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fats-domino/) > [When I thought my professional career was over, it hadn't even started yet.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ina-garten/when-i-thought-my-professional-career-was-over-it-hadn-t-even-started/) [Ina Garten](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ina-garten/) ## More by Mats Hummels > [I watch all our games again at home and I know when I have made a mistake and when I haven't.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mats-hummels/i-watch-all-our-games-again-at-home-and-i-know-when-i-have-made-a/) [Mats Hummels](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mats-hummels/) > [The first half of the 2014-15 season was a disaster for me in relation to my weight.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mats-hummels/the-first-half-of-the-2014-15-season-was-a-disaster-for-me-in/) [Mats Hummels](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mats-hummels/) > [I don't think it's my duty to dismiss rumours which other people invent.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mats-hummels/i-don-t-think-it-s-my-duty-to-dismiss-rumours-which-other-people/) [Mats Hummels](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mats-hummels/) > [Sometimes you can get into a fight but you know everything the next day will be okay.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mats-hummels/sometimes-you-can-get-into-a-fight-but-you-know-everything-the-next/) [Mats Hummels](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mats-hummels/) > [I've never measured success in terms of trophies. I would never say, 'If I have never won the Champions League, I am not happy…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mats-hummels/i-ve-never-measured-success-in-terms-of-trophies-i-would-never-say-if/) [Mats Hummels](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mats-hummels/) > [You often got the feeling that teams had already given up before the game against Bayern had started.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mats-hummels/you-often-got-the-feeling-that-teams-had-already-given-up-before-the/) [Mats Hummels](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mats-hummels/) > [The Spanish and the English leagues are the strongest.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mats-hummels/the-spanish-and-the-english-leagues-are-the-strongest/) [Mats Hummels](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mats-hummels/) > [For me personally, nothing ever changes. When I go out onto the pitch, I always want to win. All the other circumstances, whether we're…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mats-hummels/for-me-personally-nothing-ever-changes-when-i-go-out-onto-the-pitch-i/) [Mats Hummels](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mats-hummels/) > [I can't say I am a Liverpool fan. I don't have a club in England. I just want Klopp to win. If he was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mats-hummels/i-can-t-say-i-am-a-liverpool-fan-i-don-t-have-a-club-in-england-i/) [Mats Hummels](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mats-hummels/) > [I tend to comfort eat when I am frustrated.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mats-hummels/i-tend-to-comfort-eat-when-i-am-frustrated/) [Mats Hummels](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mats-hummels/) > [I know how strong Klopp's teams are.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mats-hummels/i-know-how-strong-klopp-s-teams-are/) [Mats Hummels](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mats-hummels/) > [I don't know anyone who is more self-critical than me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mats-hummels/i-don-t-know-anyone-who-is-more-self-critical-than-me/) [Mats Hummels](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mats-hummels/) > [Not everyone can win the European Championship.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mats-hummels/not-everyone-can-win-the-european-championship/) [Mats Hummels](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mats-hummels/) > [Everybody can win things with 25 superstars in the squad.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mats-hummels/everybody-can-win-things-with-25-superstars-in-the-squad/) [Mats Hummels](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mats-hummels/) > [With Ronaldo, I think I've identified a few patterns; there are certain striking things. I will try to utilise this knowledge to my advantage.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mats-hummels/with-ronaldo-i-think-i-ve-identified-a-few-patterns-there-are-certain/) [Mats Hummels](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mats-hummels/) [Explore all 78 Mats Hummels quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mats-hummels/) ## More Fun quotes > [It's really fun and challenging to build things that have never been built before.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hilary-mason/it-s-really-fun-and-challenging-to-build-things-that-have-never-been/) [Hilary Mason](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hilary-mason/) > [My first ever job after college was as a flight attendant. I wanted to travel and could not afford it, so I decided to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jacqueline-winspear/my-first-ever-job-after-college-was-as-a-flight-attendant-i-wanted-to/) [Jacqueline Winspear](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jacqueline-winspear/) > [I think a business guy is different from an artist. They walk different paths. Artists create the best outputs when they're having fun. And…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/g-dragon/i-think-a-business-guy-is-different-from-an-artist-they-walk/) [G-Dragon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/g-dragon/) > [I think taking a hookline of a hit song and making a new song is fun.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tulsi-kumar/i-think-taking-a-hookline-of-a-hit-song-and-making-a-new-song-is-fun/) [Tulsi Kumar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tulsi-kumar/) > [I enjoy upsetting the right people. I love poking fun at earnest censors. I want to push the bounds of what can be said…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/milo-yiannopoulos/i-enjoy-upsetting-the-right-people-i-love-poking-fun-at-earnest/) [Milo Yiannopoulos](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/milo-yiannopoulos/) > [I really like John McCain. He's an awesome dude and was a lot of fun when he hosted "SNL." I'd love to see a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tina-fey/i-really-like-john-mccain-he-s-an-awesome-dude-and-was-a-lot-of-fun/) [Tina Fey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tina-fey/) > [Actors don't hate acting. Most people don't hate acting! Whether you're a child mucking around with your friends or a grown up being paid…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/liv-hewson/actors-don-t-hate-acting-most-people-don-t-hate-acting-whether-you-re/) [Liv Hewson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/liv-hewson/) > [I guess I'm attracted to things that are fun. I guess what is fun about this role in 'Suburgatory' is that there's a lot…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-tudyk/i-guess-i-m-attracted-to-things-that-are-fun-i-guess-what-is-fun/) [Alan Tudyk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-tudyk/) > [We did an episode where she goes out to get a job and she gets fired because she's not good. They hire a babysitter…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patricia-heaton/we-did-an-episode-where-she-goes-out-to-get-a-job-and-she-gets-fired/) [Patricia Heaton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patricia-heaton/) > [I have no physical genius about me. I can't dribble a ball and run at the same time, I can't do lay-ups - I'm…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rich-mullins/i-have-no-physical-genius-about-me-i-can-t-dribble-a-ball-and-run-at/) [Rich Mullins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rich-mullins/) > [I can't imagine not working, really. I just think work's more fun than fun.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-quant/i-can-t-imagine-not-working-really-i-just-think-work-s-more-fun-than/) [Mary Quant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-quant/) > [The work, the work, the work. This is what the business is all about. This is the fun, the glory, the pleasure. It's the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/phil-dusenberry/the-work-the-work-the-work-this-is-what-the-business-is-all-about/) [Phil Dusenberry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/phil-dusenberry/) > [It ain't because lovers are so sensitive that they quarrel so often; it is because there is so much fun n the making up.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/josh-billings/it-ain-t-because-lovers-are-so-sensitive-that-they-quarrel-so-often/) [Josh Billings](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/josh-billings/) > [It's great when you can write a meaningful song that touches people, but sometimes you just wanna have fun and sing a silly song…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carrie-underwood/it-s-great-when-you-can-write-a-meaningful-song-that-touches-people/) [Carrie Underwood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carrie-underwood/) > [I loved duping my parents; I liked manipulating them. It was a way for me to stand out. It was fun.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lupita-nyong-o/i-loved-duping-my-parents-i-liked-manipulating-them-it-was-a-way-for/) [Lupita Nyong'o](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lupita-nyong-o/) [Browse all 15,947 Fun quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fun/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Nobody thought that I could become a professional. I was not that good. It was really just one thing I had fun doing. 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