--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I wanted to do something nobody ever did…" description: "\"I wanted to do something nobody ever did. This goes hand in hand with my goal of changing swimming.\" — Michael Phelps" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e97/michael-phelps-2388_goal_i-wanted-to-do-something-nobody-ever-did_3010106.jpg" --- # I wanted to do something nobody ever did. This goes hand… ![“I wanted to do something nobody ever did. This goes hand in hand with my goal of changing swimming.” quote by Michael Phelps](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e97/michael-phelps-2388_goal_i-wanted-to-do-something-nobody-ever-did_3010106.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e97/michael-phelps-2388_goal_i-wanted-to-do-something-nobody-ever-did_3010106.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e97/michael-phelps-2388_goal_i-wanted-to-do-something-nobody-ever-did_3010106.jpg) > “I wanted to do something nobody ever did. This goes hand in hand with my goal of changing swimming.” [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. Aiming to achieve unprecedented feats drives the desire to transform the sport itself. **In simple terms:** Wanting to do the unprecedented pushes change. Key Takeaway Seek to innovate beyond existing limits. Themes innovation achievement sports Mood determined optimistic Type philosophical inspirational When to use this quote - coaching - sports technology - personal ambition - team dynamics Key Concepts goal setting legacy building Questions to Reflect On - What “first” do you want to accomplish? - How can you inspire others to break norms? A Different Perspective Innovation may face resistance from tradition. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Goal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/goal/) [Goals](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/goals/) [Hand in hand](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hand-in-hand/) ## Related quotes > [We're not on a journey to a goal, the goal is with us changing with us.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/antony-gormley/we-re-not-on-a-journey-to-a-goal-the-goal-is-with-us-changing-with-us/) [Antony Gormley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/antony-gormley/) > [We are not moving towards some kind of goal. We are at the goal, and it is changing with us. If art has any…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/antony-gormley/we-are-not-moving-towards-some-kind-of-goal-we-are-at-the-goal-and-it/) [Antony Gormley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/antony-gormley/) > [“Pivoting does not mean changing your goal but rather changing your strategy to realize that goal.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-pemberton/pivoting-does-not-mean-changing-your-goal-but-rather-changing-your/) [Steve Pemberton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-pemberton/) > [We're always thinking of different things to be on the cutting edge of what's entertaining or what's hot on Twitter or social media or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kofi-kingston/we-re-always-thinking-of-different-things-to-be-on-the-cutting-edge/) [Kofi Kingston](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kofi-kingston/) > [“Did they want what I wanted? Did they want to understand, to unlock it? To decode it? To glean, to touch, to learn, to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chip-kidd/did-they-want-what-i-wanted-did-they-want-to-understand-to-unlock-it/) [Chip Kidd](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chip-kidd/) > [“I explained, winefully, how we did not do the things we wanted to; we never did such things.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ernest-hemingway/i-explained-winefully-how-we-did-not-do-the-things-we-wanted-to-we/) [Ernest Hemingway](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ernest-hemingway/) > [“Because I wanted to do, I did. Where I wanted to feed, I fed.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ray-bradbury/because-i-wanted-to-do-i-did-where-i-wanted-to-feed-i-fed/) [Ray Bradbury](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ray-bradbury/) > [A somebody was once a nobody who wanted to and did.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-burroughs/a-somebody-was-once-a-nobody-who-wanted-to-and-did/) [John Burroughs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-burroughs/) > [“We wanted to do it, and we did it and we don't give a damn",”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joan-rivers/we-wanted-to-do-it-and-we-did-it-and-we-don-t-give-a-damn/) [Joan Rivers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joan-rivers/) > [Just like multiplex theatres, the industry had become divided, making films that alienated one kind of audience or another. It was really time to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/boney-kapoor/just-like-multiplex-theatres-the-industry-had-become-divided-making/) [Boney Kapoor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/boney-kapoor/) > [“Excuse me, but if God wanted to do everything himself, what did he make us for in the first place?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/orson-scott-card/excuse-me-but-if-god-wanted-to-do-everything-himself-what-did-he-make/) [Orson Scott Card](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/orson-scott-card/) > [It was Milan who proved they wanted me and they did everything to get me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thiago-silva/it-was-milan-who-proved-they-wanted-me-and-they-did-everything-to-get/) [Thiago Silva](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thiago-silva/) > [I always knew what I wanted to do and I did it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philip-glass/i-always-knew-what-i-wanted-to-do-and-i-did-it/) [Philip Glass](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philip-glass/) > [I adored my brother when I was younger, so I wanted to do everything he did.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lucy-bronze/i-adored-my-brother-when-i-was-younger-so-i-wanted-to-do-everything/) [Lucy Bronze](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lucy-bronze/) > [Of Adam and Eve: They had what they wanted. That they did not like it when they got it does not alter the fact…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-williams/of-adam-and-eve-they-had-what-they-wanted-that-they-did-not-like-it/) [Charles Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-williams/) ## 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 Goal quotes > [I always say there are two things to be successful. The first is decide exactly what you want - set your goals - and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-tracy/i-always-say-there-are-two-things-to-be-successful-the-first-is/) [Brian Tracy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-tracy/) > [The costs of the Bush-Obama wars in Iraq and Afghanistan are now estimated to run as high as $4.4 trillion - a major victory…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/noam-chomsky/the-costs-of-the-bush-obama-wars-in-iraq-and-afghanistan-are-now/) [Noam Chomsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/noam-chomsky/) > [The goal of spiritual practice is full recovery, and the only thing you need to recover from is a fractured sense of self.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marianne-williamson/the-goal-of-spiritual-practice-is-full-recovery-and-the-only-thing/) [Marianne Williamson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marianne-williamson/) > [According to the best research, less than 3% of Americans have written goals, and less than 1% review and rewrite their goals on a daily basis.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-tracy/according-to-the-best-research-less-than-3-of-americans-have-written/) [Brian Tracy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-tracy/) > [When you have accomplished your goal simply walk away. This is the path way to Heaven.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laozi/when-you-have-accomplished-your-goal-simply-walk-away-this-is-the/) [Laozi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laozi/) > [“my role my goal my dream my life not yours -all mine”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emi-sisk/my-role-my-goal-my-dream-my-life-not-yours-all-mine/) Emi Sisk > [Eugenic goals are most likely to be attained under another name than eugenics.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-osborn/eugenic-goals-are-most-likely-to-be-attained-under-another-name-than/) [Frederick Osborn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-osborn/) > [The Only cure for nihilism is for liberal democratic societies - their electorates, their judiciary, and their political leadership- to insist that force is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-ignatieff/the-only-cure-for-nihilism-is-for-liberal-democratic-societies-their/) [Michael Ignatieff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-ignatieff/) > [Everybody tries to score a great goal, and I am lucky I have netted a few.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zlatan-ibrahimovic/everybody-tries-to-score-a-great-goal-and-i-am-lucky-i-have-netted-a/) [Zlatan Ibrahimovic](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zlatan-ibrahimovic/) > [However, however, if the goal is to abandon America's free enterprise economy, if the goal is to convert America into a submissive member of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marco-rubio/however-however-if-the-goal-is-to-abandon-america-s-free-enterprise/) [Marco Rubio](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marco-rubio/) > [If your only goal is to become rich, you will never achieve it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-d-rockefeller/if-your-only-goal-is-to-become-rich-you-will-never-achieve-it/) [John D. Rockefeller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-d-rockefeller/) > [When you look around the room during meetings and practice, you see that everyone has the same goal. It's obvious by the way that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-kendricks/when-you-look-around-the-room-during-meetings-and-practice-you-see/) Eric Kendricks > [I like to wake up and just feel gratitude. Gratitude for waking up, for my health, for my kids, for my family. A lot…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barbara-corcoran/i-like-to-wake-up-and-just-feel-gratitude-gratitude-for-waking-up-for/) [Barbara Corcoran](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barbara-corcoran/) > [“Dreams will come true as long as you give some effort towards your goal”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dayana/dreams-will-come-true-as-long-as-you-give-some-effort-towards-your/) Dayana > [“There are two kinds of people: goal-oriented and ego-oriented. Goal-oriented people work together and get things gone. Ego-oriented people don’t work.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charbel-tadros/there-are-two-kinds-of-people-goal-oriented-and-ego-oriented-goal/) [Charbel Tadros](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charbel-tadros/) [Browse all 9,890 Goal quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/goal/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "I wanted to do something nobody ever did. 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