--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I'm always trying to challenge everyone…" description: "\"I'm always trying to challenge everyone to raise the game on the artistic level. We are supposed to be the best. Make sure we don't get complacent or c..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f06/michael-w-smith-13084_always-trying_i-m-always-trying-to-challenge-everyone_2595690.png" --- # I'm always trying to challenge everyone to raise the game… ![“I'm always trying to challenge everyone to raise the game on the artistic level. We are supposed to be the best. Make sure we don't get complacent or comfortable, and always trying to push the limit on trying to write great songs. At the end of the day it's why we do what we do.” quote by Michael W. Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f06/michael-w-smith-13084_always-trying_i-m-always-trying-to-challenge-everyone_2595690.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f06/michael-w-smith-13084_always-trying_i-m-always-trying-to-challenge-everyone_2595690.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f06/michael-w-smith-13084_always-trying_i-m-always-trying-to-challenge-everyone_2595690.png) > “I'm always trying to challenge everyone to raise the game on the artistic level. We are supposed to be the best. Make sure we don't get complacent or comfortable, and always trying to push the limit on trying to write great songs. At the end of the day it's why we do what we do.” [Michael W. Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-w-smith/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. He urges artists to continually push creative boundaries and avoid complacency in their work. **In simple terms:** Artists should constantly strive for higher artistic standards. Key Takeaway Commit to ongoing artistic growth and challenge. Themes creativity artistic excellence self‑improvement Mood inspirational motivational Type artistic personal development When to use this quote - songwriting - performance - studio work - career development Key Concepts innovation discipline musical composition Questions to Reflect On - What limits your artistic growth? - How do you measure artistic progress? A Different Perspective Creative stagnation can limit impact. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Always trying](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/always-trying/) [Art](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/art/) [Artistic](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/artistic/) [Being the best](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/being-the-best/) [Challenges](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/challenges/) [End of the day](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/end-of-the-day/) [Games](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/games/) [Limits](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/limits/) [Music](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/music/) [Song](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/song/) [Why we do what we do](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/why-we-do-what-we-do/) [Writing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/writing/) ## Related quotes > [I think I'm always trying to challenge myself. I'm definitely going a new direction and trying to write more concisely, but that's the toughest…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stacey-king/i-think-i-m-always-trying-to-challenge-myself-i-m-definitely-going-a/) [Stacey King](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stacey-king/) > [I think you're always trying to challenge yourself to do new things and not repeat yourself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-hornsby/i-think-you-re-always-trying-to-challenge-yourself-to-do-new-things/) David Hornsby > [I'm trying to challenge all my players. I'm going to do that how I see fit.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-flores/i-m-trying-to-challenge-all-my-players-i-m-going-to-do-that-how-i-see/) [Brian Flores](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-flores/) > [In 'Space Dandy,' I'm trying to challenge myself and do stuff I haven't done before. I'm aiming for a really funny, cool, and crazy…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shinichiro-watanabe/in-space-dandy-i-m-trying-to-challenge-myself-and-do-stuff-i-haven-t/) [Shinichiro Watanabe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shinichiro-watanabe/) > [I am still a person with a sense of superficiality that I'm trying to challenge.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gwendoline-christie/i-am-still-a-person-with-a-sense-of-superficiality-that-i-m-trying-to/) [Gwendoline Christie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gwendoline-christie/) > [BMX is never over until the finish line, and I am always trying to challenge myself for that world stage.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/caroline-buchanan/bmx-is-never-over-until-the-finish-line-and-i-am-always-trying-to/) [Caroline Buchanan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/caroline-buchanan/) > [“Miss Remy, I don't know what kind of signals you are trying to give me, but the more you challenge me, the sexier I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/magan-vernon/miss-remy-i-don-t-know-what-kind-of-signals-you-are-trying-to-give-me/) [Magan Vernon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/magan-vernon/) > [I'm not giving up on my work. I'm still trying to challenge people's aesthetics and myself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/guido-palau/i-m-not-giving-up-on-my-work-i-m-still-trying-to-challenge-people-s/) [Guido Palau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/guido-palau/) > [Begin doing what you want to do now.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marie-beynon-lyons-ray/begin-doing-what-you-want-to-do-now/) [Marie Beynon Lyons Ray](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marie-beynon-lyons-ray/) > [Do your best with what you have where you are.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lucy-punch/do-your-best-with-what-you-have-where-you-are/) [Lucy Punch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lucy-punch/) > [“How is it so easy to push a person you pulled towards you? Why a person with heartache is being considered as an emotional…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jyoti-patel/how-is-it-so-easy-to-push-a-person-you-pulled-towards-you-why-a/) [Jyoti Patel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jyoti-patel/) > [It is time for us to take off our masks, to step out from behind our personas - whatever they might be: educators, activists,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-tempest-williams/it-is-time-for-us-to-take-off-our-masks-to-step-out-from-behind-our/) [Terry Tempest Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terry-tempest-williams/) > [“I was never really about the money. Every business I've ever started has been more of a curiosity and a kind of "What if...”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/blake-mycoskie/i-was-never-really-about-the-money-every-business-i-ve-ever-started/) [Blake Mycoskie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/blake-mycoskie/) > [Do what you can, with what you have and do it now!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-washington-carver/do-what-you-can-with-what-you-have-and-do-it-now/) [George Washington Carver](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-washington-carver/) > [But we have to understand why we do what we do, not just do what we do. Vision without action is a daydream. Action…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pinball-clemons/but-we-have-to-understand-why-we-do-what-we-do-not-just-do-what-we-do/) Pinball Clemons ## More by Michael W. Smith > [Love will fan the flame, and that flame will warm the heart that's waiting.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-w-smith/love-will-fan-the-flame-and-that-flame-will-warm-the-heart-that-s/) [Michael W. Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-w-smith/) > [I'm really passionate about the song Sky Spills Over. It was fun creating it in the studio and I've been overwhelmed at the response…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-w-smith/i-m-really-passionate-about-the-song-sky-spills-over-it-was-fun/) [Michael W. Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-w-smith/) > [For some reason, and for a time such as this, God has given me favor with kings and princes.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-w-smith/for-some-reason-and-for-a-time-such-as-this-god-has-given-me-favor/) [Michael W. Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-w-smith/) > [Friends are friends forever. If the Lord's the Lord of them, a friend will not say never 'cause the welcome will not end. Although…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-w-smith/friends-are-friends-forever-if-the-lord-s-the-lord-of-them-a-friend/) [Michael W. Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-w-smith/) > [Not everyone can lead worship.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-w-smith/not-everyone-can-lead-worship/) [Michael W. Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-w-smith/) > [This Is Your Time, This Is Your Dance. Live Every Moment, Leave Nothing To Chance. Swim In The Sea. Drink Of The Deep, Embrace…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-w-smith/this-is-your-time-this-is-your-dance-live-every-moment-leave-nothing/) [Michael W. Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-w-smith/) > [“... each one of us will face a moment when eternity whispers into our hearts, This is your time.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-w-smith/each-one-of-us-will-face-a-moment-when-eternity-whispers-into-our/) [Michael W. Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-w-smith/) > [There are a lot of bad worship songs, in my opinion, but there are a lot of good ones, too](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-w-smith/there-are-a-lot-of-bad-worship-songs-in-my-opinion-but-there-are-a/) [Michael W. Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-w-smith/) > [With faith and love God's given, springing from the hope we know. We will pray the joy you'll live in, is the strength that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-w-smith/with-faith-and-love-god-s-given-springing-from-the-hope-we-know-we/) [Michael W. Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-w-smith/) > [I think The Big Picture was such a huge shift from my second record.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-w-smith/i-think-the-big-picture-was-such-a-huge-shift-from-my-second-record/) [Michael W. Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-w-smith/) > [Friends are friends forever, if the Lord's the Lord of them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-w-smith/friends-are-friends-forever-if-the-lord-s-the-lord-of-them/) [Michael W. Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-w-smith/) > [I think one of my greatest gifts is leading worship.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-w-smith/i-think-one-of-my-greatest-gifts-is-leading-worship/) [Michael W. Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-w-smith/) > [Even though we were all celebrities to a certain extent, we all looked at each other as family.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-w-smith/even-though-we-were-all-celebrities-to-a-certain-extent-we-all-looked/) [Michael W. Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-w-smith/) > [More love, more power, more of You in my life. I will worship You with all of my heart, I will worship You with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-w-smith/more-love-more-power-more-of-you-in-my-life-i-will-worship-you-with/) [Michael W. Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-w-smith/) > [I sure love Ireland. The first trip I ever made was last year when I did this record in Dublin.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-w-smith/i-sure-love-ireland-the-first-trip-i-ever-made-was-last-year-when-i/) [Michael W. Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-w-smith/) [Explore all 52 Michael W. Smith quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-w-smith/) ## More Always trying quotes > [I'm always trying to have a good time on set because that's when things happen. That's when you're playful.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susan-sarandon/i-m-always-trying-to-have-a-good-time-on-set-because-that-s-when/) [Susan Sarandon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susan-sarandon/) > [I think we're always trying to push ourselves to do new things.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jaime-preciado/i-think-we-re-always-trying-to-push-ourselves-to-do-new-things/) [Jaime Preciado](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jaime-preciado/) > [I'm always trying to remember that kindness goes a long, long way. I think that's something that people will definitely take out of this…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-stuhlbarg/i-m-always-trying-to-remember-that-kindness-goes-a-long-long-way-i/) [Michael Stuhlbarg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-stuhlbarg/) > [I like embracing kind of normal forms but am always trying to approach them as if no one's ever done that before. As if…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/miranda-july/i-like-embracing-kind-of-normal-forms-but-am-always-trying-to/) [Miranda July](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/miranda-july/) > [I'm always trying to change things - change my character, change my look, change my hair, change my facial hair, change my costumes, or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-jericho/i-m-always-trying-to-change-things-change-my-character-change-my-look/) [Chris Jericho](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-jericho/) > [I believe in believing. My coach John Kavanagh is a big atheist, and he is always trying to persuade people to his way of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/conor-mcgregor/i-believe-in-believing-my-coach-john-kavanagh-is-a-big-atheist-and-he/) [Conor McGregor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/conor-mcgregor/) > [My body and its condition are a barometer that is always trying to tell me which direction to go for my maximum creativity, health…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christiane-northrup/my-body-and-its-condition-are-a-barometer-that-is-always-trying-to/) [Christiane Northrup](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christiane-northrup/) > [I'm always trying to do something active because I love it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nina-agdal/i-m-always-trying-to-do-something-active-because-i-love-it/) [Nina Agdal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nina-agdal/) > [ Innovation is not a big breakthrough invention every time. Innovation is a constant thing. But if you don't have an innovative company \[team\], coming… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-welch/innovation-is-not-a-big-breakthrough-invention-every-time-innovation/) [Jack Welch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-welch/) > [I'm always trying to encourage people not to limit themselves in the same way that many of our parents stayed with one job forever.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carrie-brownstein/i-m-always-trying-to-encourage-people-not-to-limit-themselves-in-the/) [Carrie Brownstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carrie-brownstein/) > [My thing was always trying to do as much as I possibly could do. I wanted to do all the things the other kids…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stevie-wonder/my-thing-was-always-trying-to-do-as-much-as-i-possibly-could-do-i/) [Stevie Wonder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stevie-wonder/) > [I think those of us who use language are always trying for this, trying to keep everything from floating away by trying to write…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martha-ronk/i-think-those-of-us-who-use-language-are-always-trying-for-this/) [Martha Ronk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martha-ronk/) > [Your parents were always trying to get you to be careful when you were a kid, and that's all pervasive in this society.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bob-weir/your-parents-were-always-trying-to-get-you-to-be-careful-when-you/) [Bob Weir](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bob-weir/) > [I would not call myself an optimist, even though I would aspire to be. I am innately a skeptic. There's kind of an incessant…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carrie-brownstein/i-would-not-call-myself-an-optimist-even-though-i-would-aspire-to-be/) [Carrie Brownstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carrie-brownstein/) > [They say that to be a writer you must first have an unhappy childhood. I don't know if unhappiness is necessary, but I think…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cynthia-rylant/they-say-that-to-be-a-writer-you-must-first-have-an-unhappy-childhood/) [Cynthia Rylant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cynthia-rylant/) [Browse all 232 Always trying quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/always-trying/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "I'm always trying to challenge everyone to raise the game on the artistic level. We are supposed to be the best. Make sure we don't get complacent or comfortable, and always trying to push the limit on trying to write great songs. 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