---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I had that laser focus, identified what I…"
description: "\"I had that laser focus, identified what I wanted when I was a kid, and never let anything get in my way. If you look on paper at who I am and what I so..."
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d61/ross-mathews-13914_am_i-had-that-laser-focus-identified-what-i_2473574.png"
---

#  I had that laser focus, identified what I wanted when I…

![“I had that laser focus, identified what I wanted when I was a kid, and never let anything get in my way. If you look on paper at who I am and what I sound like, and what I look like, you wouldn't say, 'Go into broadcasting.' It's just what I wanted to do - I knew that I could do it, and I never…” quote by Ross Mathews](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d61/ross-mathews-13914_am_i-had-that-laser-focus-identified-what-i_2473574.png)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d61/ross-mathews-13914_am_i-had-that-laser-focus-identified-what-i_2473574.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d61/ross-mathews-13914_am_i-had-that-laser-focus-identified-what-i_2473574.png)

> “I had that laser focus, identified what I wanted when I was a kid, and never let anything get in my way. If you look on paper at who I am and what I sound like, and what I look like, you wouldn't say, 'Go into broadcasting.' It's just what I wanted to do - I knew that I could do it, and I never let anyone tell me that I couldn't.”

[Ross Mathews](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ross-mathews/)

## About This Quote

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

He maintained unwavering determination from childhood, ignoring external expectations to pursue broadcasting.

**In simple terms:** Focused determination despite doubts.

Key Takeaway

Stay true to your vision.

Themes

determination career selfbelief

Mood

confident driven

Type

motivational personal

When to use this quote

- career planning
- creative projects
- personal branding
- overcoming doubt

Key Concepts

goal setting resilience self‑efficacy

Questions to Reflect On

- What core belief drives your persistence?
- How do you balance confidence with openness to feedback?

A Different Perspective

May overlook alternative paths that could enrich growth.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Am](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/am/) [Anyone](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/anyone/) [Anything](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/anything/) [Broadcasting](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/broadcasting/) [Broadcasting Just](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/broadcasting-just-786264/) [Could](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/could/) [Focus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/focus/) [Focus Identified](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/focus-identified-786262/) [Get](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/get/) [Go](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/go/) [Had](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/had/) [I am](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/i-am/) [Identified](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/identified/) [Just](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/just/) [Kid](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/kid/) [Knew](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/knew/) [Knew Let](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/knew-let-786263/) [Laser](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/laser/) [Laser focus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/laser-focus/) [Like](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/like/) [Look](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/look/) [Me](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/me/) [Never](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/never/) [Paper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/paper/) [Say](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/say/) [Sound](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sound/) [Tell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/tell/) [Wanted](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wanted/) [Wanted Knew](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wanted-knew-653519/) [Way](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/way/) [Who](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/who/) [You](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/you/)

## Related quotes

> [I am always able to keep a laser focus on one thing at a time without getting distracted. It helps that I try to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/luis-von-ahn/i-am-always-able-to-keep-a-laser-focus-on-one-thing-at-a-time-without/)

[Luis von Ahn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/luis-von-ahn/)

> [We need to conceptualize; we need to articulate conservative domestic policy with a laser focus on opportunity, on easing the means of ascent up…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ted-cruz/we-need-to-conceptualize-we-need-to-articulate-conservative-domestic/)

[Ted Cruz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ted-cruz/)

> [It was weird that most people knew me as someone let go from 'SNL.' I had the best time there, and in retrospect, it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michaela-watkins/it-was-weird-that-most-people-knew-me-as-someone-let-go-from-snl-i/)

[Michaela Watkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michaela-watkins/)

> [“I knew my name. So I let him know I knew it. 'Yeah,' I said in a voice very like mine. Mine but hollow,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carrie-fisher/i-knew-my-name-so-i-let-him-know-i-knew-it-yeah-i-said-in-a-voice/)

[Carrie Fisher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carrie-fisher/)

> [“He knew he would never let her down, but he also knew that he would not move until the time was right, no matter…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-allyn/he-knew-he-would-never-let-her-down-but-he-also-knew-that-he-would/)

[John Allyn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-allyn/)

> [“I knew I had to let you go, but I didn’t know how. I could barely go a week without you, so how the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/allie-everhart/i-knew-i-had-to-let-you-go-but-i-didn-t-know-how-i-could-barely-go-a/)

[Allie Everhart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/allie-everhart/)

> [“I am a very possessive woman. But I knew that if I were to keep you, I would have to let go of you.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kiran-nagarkar/i-am-a-very-possessive-woman-but-i-knew-that-if-i-were-to-keep-you-i/)

[Kiran Nagarkar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kiran-nagarkar/)

> [“I knew that if I let the darkness take me now then I´d never see the light again.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-gordon-smith/i-knew-that-if-i-let-the-darkness-take-me-now-then-i-d-never-see-the/)

[Alexander Gordon Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexander-gordon-smith/)

> [“Just because they knew it was lost didn’t mean they knew how to let it go.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ransom-riggs/just-because-they-knew-it-was-lost-didn-t-mean-they-knew-how-to-let/)

[Ransom Riggs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ransom-riggs/)

> [When scouts evaluate players for power, they are not simply watching to see if the ball clears the wall. They're laser focused on the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gabe-kapler/when-scouts-evaluate-players-for-power-they-are-not-simply-watching/)

[Gabe Kapler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gabe-kapler/)

> [The top principle for disruptive and sustaining innovation is that it has to have a laser focus on customers. Innovation begins with their needs…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/denise-morrison/the-top-principle-for-disruptive-and-sustaining-innovation-is-that-it/)

[Denise Morrison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/denise-morrison/)

> [Athletes are extremists. When they're training, it's laser focus.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hope-solo/athletes-are-extremists-when-they-re-training-it-s-laser-focus/)

[Hope Solo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hope-solo/)

> [Work ethic, confidence, a laser focus and commitment to accomplish a goal that most people can never imagine.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-cormier/work-ethic-confidence-a-laser-focus-and-commitment-to-accomplish-a/)

[Daniel Cormier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-cormier/)

> [Along with a strong belief in your own inner voice, you also need laser-like focus combined with unwavering determination.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/larry-flynt/along-with-a-strong-belief-in-your-own-inner-voice-you-also-need/)

[Larry Flynt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/larry-flynt/)

> [As liberals are puppets in Donald Trump's show right now, all he needs to do is create any distraction and all of a sudden,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sam-rasoul/as-liberals-are-puppets-in-donald-trump-s-show-right-now-all-he-needs/)

[Sam Rasoul](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sam-rasoul/)

## More by Ross Mathews

> [There are two industry secrets to surviving a long day on camera on the red carpet: First, no drinking the night before - ever.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ross-mathews/there-are-two-industry-secrets-to-surviving-a-long-day-on-camera-on/)

[Ross Mathews](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ross-mathews/)

> [I actually quite love following Lisa Rinna on Twitter, because she tweets like I tweet, which is like, 'Just dropped off the kids!' Or,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ross-mathews/i-actually-quite-love-following-lisa-rinna-on-twitter-because-she/)

[Ross Mathews](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ross-mathews/)

> [I remember watching Regis and Kathie Lee interview celebrities, and my mom looked so happy. I just did the math. I wanted to make…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ross-mathews/i-remember-watching-regis-and-kathie-lee-interview-celebrities-and-my/)

[Ross Mathews](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ross-mathews/)

> [I played football in eighth grade, and even though I had a passion for it, it turned out I'm no good at playing it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ross-mathews/i-played-football-in-eighth-grade-and-even-though-i-had-a-passion-for/)

[Ross Mathews](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ross-mathews/)

> [When you struggle with weight, it's not an internal struggle... it's literally an external struggle, and everyone sees it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ross-mathews/when-you-struggle-with-weight-it-s-not-an-internal-struggle-it-s/)

[Ross Mathews](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ross-mathews/)

> [Since I was 8 years old, I wanted to be a talk show host.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ross-mathews/since-i-was-8-years-old-i-wanted-to-be-a-talk-show-host/)

[Ross Mathews](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ross-mathews/)

> [What I love most about achieving whatever I've achieved is that the Seattle Seahawks follow me on Twitter!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ross-mathews/what-i-love-most-about-achieving-whatever-i-ve-achieved-is-that-the/)

[Ross Mathews](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ross-mathews/)

> [There were times I was told, 'You are too gay.' I turned down a lot of things because producers said they wanted me to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ross-mathews/there-were-times-i-was-told-you-are-too-gay-i-turned-down-a-lot-of/)

[Ross Mathews](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ross-mathews/)

> [“Instead, play it cool, heed the advice of Wilson Phillips, and "Hold on for one more day…”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ross-mathews/instead-play-it-cool-heed-the-advice-of-wilson-phillips-and-hold-on/)

[Ross Mathews](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ross-mathews/)

> [Celebrities know I'm not looking for a 'gotcha' moment. I don't want to be Barbara Walters who you come to when you first check…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ross-mathews/celebrities-know-i-m-not-looking-for-a-gotcha-moment-i-don-t-want-to/)

[Ross Mathews](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ross-mathews/)

> [I learned from my father how to swear right and how to string it together for optimum effect/affect. I use it like karate. I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ross-mathews/i-learned-from-my-father-how-to-swear-right-and-how-to-string-it/)

[Ross Mathews](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ross-mathews/)

> [If you haven't seen me lasso, you haven't lived.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ross-mathews/if-you-haven-t-seen-me-lasso-you-haven-t-lived/)

[Ross Mathews](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ross-mathews/)

> [My DVR, like, sees inside my soul, and inside my soul is a 65-year-old retired woman. So there's Food Network, HGTV and 'Golden Girls'…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ross-mathews/my-dvr-like-sees-inside-my-soul-and-inside-my-soul-is-a-65-year-old/)

[Ross Mathews](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ross-mathews/)

> [I've met Oprah Winfrey twice, but I want to spend some quality time with her. I want to sit her down and talk at…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ross-mathews/i-ve-met-oprah-winfrey-twice-but-i-want-to-spend-some-quality-time/)

[Ross Mathews](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ross-mathews/)

> [I'll talk to Howard Stern about anything. I listen to him every day. I love him. When you go on his show, you kind…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ross-mathews/i-ll-talk-to-howard-stern-about-anything-i-listen-to-him-every-day-i/)

[Ross Mathews](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ross-mathews/)

[Explore all 48 Ross Mathews quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ross-mathews/)

## More Am quotes

> [I don't own designer clothes, or a sports car, or a huge house, but I am seeing the world, experiencing amazing things, and I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roz-savage/i-don-t-own-designer-clothes-or-a-sports-car-or-a-huge-house-but-i-am/)

[Roz Savage](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roz-savage/)

> [I think I am against stereotype. Generally, Asian guys are more quiet - they study and have a good work ethic. Generally, I have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bobby-lee/i-think-i-am-against-stereotype-generally-asian-guys-are-more-quiet/)

[Bobby Lee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bobby-lee/)

> [I am not a depressive person at all, but I reflect a lot on my life, and life in general, from the perspective of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alejandro-gonzalez-inarritu/i-am-not-a-depressive-person-at-all-but-i-reflect-a-lot-on-my-life/)

[Alejandro Gonzalez Inarritu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alejandro-gonzalez-inarritu/)

> [Any incarnation of 'Batman' I am delighted to do.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adam-west/any-incarnation-of-batman-i-am-delighted-to-do/)

[Adam West](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adam-west/)

> [I am tired of our characters being so incomplete. When do we ever save the day in a film? When does a Latino actor…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/esai-morales/i-am-tired-of-our-characters-being-so-incomplete-when-do-we-ever-save/)

[Esai Morales](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/esai-morales/)

> [I am confident when I take the penalty otherwise I would pass for somebody else.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bruno-fernandes/i-am-confident-when-i-take-the-penalty-otherwise-i-would-pass-for/)

[Bruno Fernandes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bruno-fernandes/)

> [I am on sabbatical as of right now, been too busy to think of about my OWN needs as of late.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-diamond/i-am-on-sabbatical-as-of-right-now-been-too-busy-to-think-of-about-my/)

[Jim Diamond](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-diamond/)

> [I am strongly opposed to any form of amnesty, including, especially, executive amnesty.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-scalise/i-am-strongly-opposed-to-any-form-of-amnesty-including-especially/)

[Steve Scalise](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-scalise/)

> [I am no different from a lot of people. I am concerned for the future of my children and concerned for the future of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-barnes/i-am-no-different-from-a-lot-of-people-i-am-concerned-for-the-future/)

[John Barnes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-barnes/)

> [I won't be managing the Mets. I am closing the door on managing the Mets and probably everybody else.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-torre/i-won-t-be-managing-the-mets-i-am-closing-the-door-on-managing-the/)

[Joe Torre](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-torre/)

> [I know who I am. I know what I represent.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alex-cora/i-know-who-i-am-i-know-what-i-represent/)

[Alex Cora](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alex-cora/)

> [I am fortunate.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ruth-westheimer/i-am-fortunate/)

[Ruth Westheimer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ruth-westheimer/)

> [I will support my party when they are right on an issue, but am not afraid to stand up to party bosses who are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/darlene-senger/i-will-support-my-party-when-they-are-right-on-an-issue-but-am-not/)

[Darlene Senger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/darlene-senger/)

> [Acting is what I do with who I am.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harriet-walter/acting-is-what-i-do-with-who-i-am/)

[Harriet Walter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harriet-walter/)

> [I am a big outliner. For my adult book, 'The Visibles,' I did not outline, and it took me two years to write because…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sara-shepard/i-am-a-big-outliner-for-my-adult-book-the-visibles-i-did-not-outline/)

[Sara Shepard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sara-shepard/)

[Browse all 9,589 Am quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/am/)

```json
{
    "@context": "https://schema.org",
    "@graph": [
        {
            "@type": "Quotation",
            "text": "I had that laser focus, identified what I wanted when I was a kid, and never let anything get in my way. If you look on paper at who I am and what I sound like, and what I look like, you wouldn't say, 'Go into broadcasting.' It's just what I wanted to do - I knew that I could do it, and I never let anyone tell me that I couldn't.",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "Ross Mathews"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ross-mathews/i-had-that-laser-focus-identified-what-i-wanted-when-i-was-a-kid-and/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "Am"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ross-mathews/i-had-that-laser-focus-identified-what-i-wanted-when-i-was-a-kid-and/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d61/ross-mathews-13914_am_i-had-that-laser-focus-identified-what-i_2473574.png",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d61/ross-mathews-13914_am_i-had-that-laser-focus-identified-what-i_2473574.png",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d61/ross-mathews-13914_am_i-had-that-laser-focus-identified-what-i_2473574.png",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“I had that laser focus, identified what I wanted when I was a kid, and never let anything get in my way. If…” — Ross Mathews",
                "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
                "creator": {
                    "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization"
                }
            }
        },
        {
            "@type": "BreadcrumbList",
            "itemListElement": [
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 1,
                    "name": "Home",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 2,
                    "name": "Quotes",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 3,
                    "name": "Ross Mathews",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ross-mathews/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 4,
                    "name": "I had that laser focus, identified...",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ross-mathews/i-had-that-laser-focus-identified-what-i-wanted-when-i-was-a-kid-and/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ross-mathews/i-had-that-laser-focus-identified-what-i-wanted-when-i-was-a-kid-and/#breadcrumb"
        },
        {
            "@type": "WebSite",
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website",
            "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/",
            "publisher": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization"
            }
        },
        {
            "@type": "Organization",
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization",
            "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/",
            "logo": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png",
                "width": 512,
                "height": 512
            }
        }
    ]
}
```
