--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Before, it came easy for me. I don't have…" description: "\"Before, it came easy for me. I don't have two speeds anymore. I need to focus on the small things that I once took for granted.\" — Michael Phelps" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/bb1/michael-phelps-2388_easy_before-it-came-easy-for-me-i-don-t-have_912919.jpg" --- # Before, it came easy for me. I don't have two speeds… ![“Before, it came easy for me. I don't have two speeds anymore. I need to focus on the small things that I once took for granted.” quote by Michael Phelps](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/bb1/michael-phelps-2388_easy_before-it-came-easy-for-me-i-don-t-have_912919.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/bb1/michael-phelps-2388_easy_before-it-came-easy-for-me-i-don-t-have_912919.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/bb1/michael-phelps-2388_easy_before-it-came-easy-for-me-i-don-t-have_912919.jpg) > “Before, it came easy for me. I don't have two speeds anymore. I need to focus on the small things that I once took for granted.” [Michael Phelps](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-phelps/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Highlights the need to focus on details after losing previous ease, emphasizing mindfulness. **In simple terms:** Pay attention to small, often ignored details. Key Takeaway Mindfulness improves performance. Themes focus mindfulness attention to detail growth self-awareness Mood thoughtful motivational Type philosophical inspirational When to use this quote - training routines - daily habits - professional tasks Key Concepts cognitive focus performance improvement Questions to Reflect On - What small things can you improve today? - How does focusing on details affect your confidence? A Different Perspective May cause over‑analysis. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Came Easy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/came-easy-1353047/) [Easy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/easy/) [Focus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/focus/) [Focus Small](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/focus-small-1353048/) [Granted](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/granted/) [Need Focus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/need-focus-294449/) [Needs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/needs/) [Small things](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/small-things/) [Speed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/speed/) [Speeds Anymore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/speeds-anymore-1353049/) [Took for granted](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/took-for-granted/) [Took Granted](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/took-granted-318818/) [Two](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/two/) ## Related quotes > [He took you for granted.. No matter how much you tried, it was never enough. 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The years in which one demanded much of life…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-goudge/there-was-a-good-deal-to-be-said-hilary-decided-for-middle-age-and/) [Elizabeth Goudge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-goudge/) > [I was never used to being happy, so that wasn't something I ever took for granted. I did sort of think, you know, marriage…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/i-was-never-used-to-being-happy-so-that-wasn-t-something-i-ever-took-2/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [The way I approached a question, my habit of mind, the way I looked at things, what I took for granted - all this…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/simone-de-beauvoir/the-way-i-approached-a-question-my-habit-of-mind-the-way-i-looked-at/) [Simone de Beauvoir](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/simone-de-beauvoir/) > [Beginning to create again was something that I took for granted but I never will take it for granted again.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lou-gramm/beginning-to-create-again-was-something-that-i-took-for-granted-but-i/) [Lou Gramm](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lou-gramm/) > [...also took for granted that secret services were the only real measure of a nations political health, the only real expression of its subconscious.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-le-carre/also-took-for-granted-that-secret-services-were-the-only-real-measure/) [John le Carre](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-le-carre/) > [In prison, I fell in love with my country. I had loved her before then, but like most young people, my affection was little…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-mccain/in-prison-i-fell-in-love-with-my-country-i-had-loved-her-before-then/) [John McCain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-mccain/) > [My goals have gone from being an all-star to just being able to play basketball. I always took for granted that I could play.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rebecca-lobo/my-goals-have-gone-from-being-an-all-star-to-just-being-able-to-play/) [Rebecca Lobo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rebecca-lobo/) > [I was never used to being happy, so that wasn't something I ever took for granted.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marilyn-monroe/i-was-never-used-to-being-happy-so-that-wasn-t-something-i-ever-took/) [Marilyn Monroe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marilyn-monroe/) > [To live and breathe with an exclusive focus on one's small self, disconnected from the whole, is the definition of egotism.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sharon-gannon/to-live-and-breathe-with-an-exclusive-focus-on-one-s-small-self/) [Sharon Gannon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sharon-gannon/) > [“Focus on the small things life already has offered you, else you may turn your boundless blessings to countless disappointments.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shihab-kazi/focus-on-the-small-things-life-already-has-offered-you-else-you-may/) [SHIHAB KAZI](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shihab-kazi/) > [You have to find what you're really passionate about, throw yourself into it, and focus on those small wins.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lauren-gibbs/you-have-to-find-what-you-re-really-passionate-about-throw-yourself/) [Lauren Gibbs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lauren-gibbs/) > [Nothing great ever came easy. No stopping us now.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/justin-bieber/nothing-great-ever-came-easy-no-stopping-us-now/) [Justin Bieber](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/justin-bieber/) ## More by Michael Phelps > [The support I've received from my sponsors has enabled me to raise the bar in swimming.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-phelps/the-support-i-ve-received-from-my-sponsors-has-enabled-me-to-raise/) [Michael Phelps](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-phelps/) > [I'm definitely ahead of the schedule where I thought I was going to be at. I'm really happy. I was excited to race and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-phelps/i-m-definitely-ahead-of-the-schedule-where-i-thought-i-was-going-to/) [Michael Phelps](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-phelps/) > [You can't put a limit on anything. The more you dream, the farther you get.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-phelps/you-can-t-put-a-limit-on-anything-the-more-you-dream-the-farther-you/) [Michael Phelps](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-phelps/) > [I think with practice, you can being whatever you want to be, and with a goal you can go in any direction that you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-phelps/i-think-with-practice-you-can-being-whatever-you-want-to-be-and-with/) [Michael Phelps](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-phelps/) > [I learned how fast you can go from being an international hero to being a reference in a joke on a late night talk…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-phelps/i-learned-how-fast-you-can-go-from-being-an-international-hero-to/) [Michael Phelps](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-phelps/) > [I'm the same kind of guy before all this happened.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-phelps/i-m-the-same-kind-of-guy-before-all-this-happened/) [Michael Phelps](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-phelps/) > [The only reason I started swimming was for water safety. Then, once I started falling in love with sports, I got more comfortable with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-phelps/the-only-reason-i-started-swimming-was-for-water-safety-then-once-i/) [Michael Phelps](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-phelps/) > [I don't like to be second in anything. I was trying, I just wasn't going anywhere.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-phelps/i-don-t-like-to-be-second-in-anything-i-was-trying-i-just-wasn-t/) [Michael Phelps](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-phelps/) > [Every day, there's always something to be worried about; you turn on the news and see something different every day, and it's terrible. Hopefully,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-phelps/every-day-there-s-always-something-to-be-worried-about-you-turn-on/) [Michael Phelps](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-phelps/) > [I want to test my maximum and see how much I can do. And I want to change the world of swimming.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-phelps/i-want-to-test-my-maximum-and-see-how-much-i-can-do-and-i-want-to/) [Michael Phelps](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-phelps/) > [You can't put a limit anything.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-phelps/you-can-t-put-a-limit-anything/) [Michael Phelps](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-phelps/) > [I haven't swam in any of the rivers outside of Baltimore. I try to keep it in the pool.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-phelps/i-haven-t-swam-in-any-of-the-rivers-outside-of-baltimore-i-try-to/) [Michael Phelps](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-phelps/) > [This is my 20th year in the sport. I've known swimming and that's it. I don't want to swim past age 30; if I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-phelps/this-is-my-20th-year-in-the-sport-i-ve-known-swimming-and-that-s-it-i/) [Michael Phelps](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-phelps/) > [Anything is possible as long as you want it, you work for it. Doesn't matter what anyone else thinks, the only person that can…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-phelps/anything-is-possible-as-long-as-you-want-it-you-work-for-it-doesn-t/) [Michael Phelps](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-phelps/) > [Nothing is impossible. With so many people saying it couldn't be done, all it takes is an imagination.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-phelps/nothing-is-impossible-with-so-many-people-saying-it-couldn-t-be-done/) [Michael Phelps](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-phelps/) [Explore all 169 Michael Phelps quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-phelps/) ## More Easy quotes > [Public infrastructure around the world is facing unprecedented stress, with hurricanes, cyclones, floods and forest fires all increasing in frequency and intensity. It's easy…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/naomi-klein/public-infrastructure-around-the-world-is-facing-unprecedented-stress/) [Naomi Klein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/naomi-klein/) > [I don't want easy success. 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