--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The only thing that motivates me is to…" description: "\"The only thing that motivates me is to become better.\" — Shawn Kemp" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f42/shawn-kemp-6170_become_the-only-thing-that-motivates-me-is-to-b_3205344.jpg" --- # The only thing that motivates me is to become better. ![“The only thing that motivates me is to become better.” quote by Shawn Kemp](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f42/shawn-kemp-6170_become_the-only-thing-that-motivates-me-is-to-b_3205344.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f42/shawn-kemp-6170_become_the-only-thing-that-motivates-me-is-to-b_3205344.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f42/shawn-kemp-6170_become_the-only-thing-that-motivates-me-is-to-b_3205344.jpg) > “The only thing that motivates me is to become better.” [Shawn Kemp](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shawn-kemp/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Motivation comes from personal improvement rather than external rewards. **In simple terms:** Improvement drives me. Key Takeaway Focus on self‑growth. Themes motivation self‑improvement competition Mood determined focused Type inspirational motivational When to use this quote - sports training - career development - personal goals Key Concepts growth mindset intrinsic drive Questions to Reflect On - What personal metric will you improve? - How do you measure progress? A Different Perspective External praise may not sustain long‑term drive. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Become](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/become/) [Better](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/better/) [Me](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/me/) [Motivates](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/motivates/) [Motivates Better](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/motivates-better-3739438/) [Motivation](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/motivation/) [Only](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/only/) [The only thing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/the-only-thing/) [Thing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thing/) [Thing Motivates](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thing-motivates-1191600/) [Work hard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/work-hard/) ## Related quotes > [As for what motivates me to better myself, I would say the friends that I keep around me and also my family. They constantly…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-tan/as-for-what-motivates-me-to-better-myself-i-would-say-the-friends/) [Elizabeth Tan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-tan/) > [“Always be kind and love a little more, people may try to discourage you, some may have the very worst intentions about you and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jyoti-patel/always-be-kind-and-love-a-little-more-people-may-try-to-discourage/) [Jyoti Patel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jyoti-patel/) > [The main thing that motivates me is laughter, and colors, and music, and dancing! And I do all of the above every day.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rupaul/the-main-thing-that-motivates-me-is-laughter-and-colors-and-music-and/) [RuPaul](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rupaul/) > [Money is not the only thing that motivates employees. It's about making them happy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barbara-corcoran/money-is-not-the-only-thing-that-motivates-employees-it-s-about/) [Barbara Corcoran](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barbara-corcoran/) > [The thing that motivates me most in my workouts is when I can learn something new.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erin-heatherton/the-thing-that-motivates-me-most-in-my-workouts-is-when-i-can-learn/) [Erin Heatherton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erin-heatherton/) > [You're the only thing that motivates me to get up in the morning.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/you-re-the-only-thing-that-motivates-me-to-get-up-in-the-morning/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I heard a lot of things: 'I'm not a leader, I'm not this or that.' It wounds you, but after that it's also the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thiago-silva/i-heard-a-lot-of-things-i-m-not-a-leader-i-m-not-this-or-that-it/) [Thiago Silva](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thiago-silva/) > [The best thing you can do is think about your loved ones. That's the thing that motivates me the most. I want to be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rev-run/the-best-thing-you-can-do-is-think-about-your-loved-ones-that-s-the/) [Rev. Run](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rev-run/) > [The thing that motivates me is a very common form of motivation. And that is, with other folks counting on me, it's so easy…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeff-bezos/the-thing-that-motivates-me-is-a-very-common-form-of-motivation-and/) [Jeff Bezos](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeff-bezos/) > [“One thing motivates creativity. It is having well defined objectives. The Lord does not call without giving a specific commission.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-o-oyedepo/one-thing-motivates-creativity-it-is-having-well-defined-objectives/) [David O. Oyedepo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-o-oyedepo/) > [There is one thing that motivates me. It is the global glory of God. I am first and foremost a missionary. I am an…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rick-warren/there-is-one-thing-that-motivates-me-it-is-the-global-glory-of-god-i/) [Rick Warren](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rick-warren/) > [My wife says I'm only comfortable when there's a fight. And it's true. The thing that motivates me is struggle.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-frey/my-wife-says-i-m-only-comfortable-when-there-s-a-fight-and-it-s-true/) [James Frey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-frey/) > [We're in a very competitive industry, and sometimes the bigger Hollywood things are not so risk takey. I find myself mostly existing in this…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/addison-timlin/we-re-in-a-very-competitive-industry-and-sometimes-the-bigger/) [Addison Timlin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/addison-timlin/) > [I think the biggest thing that motivates me when I'm choosing a part is a role that will help me continue to grow as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/forest-whitaker/i-think-the-biggest-thing-that-motivates-me-when-i-m-choosing-a-part/) [Forest Whitaker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/forest-whitaker/) > [Vision motivates, sustains and dispels doubt.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-young/vision-motivates-sustains-and-dispels-doubt/) [Thomas Young](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-young/) ## More by Shawn Kemp > [I'm relentlessly aggressive.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shawn-kemp/i-m-relentlessly-aggressive/) [Shawn Kemp](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shawn-kemp/) > [I played so many years without having a big contract, to have the big contract and not win and not have the appreciation, it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shawn-kemp/i-played-so-many-years-without-having-a-big-contract-to-have-the-big/) [Shawn Kemp](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shawn-kemp/) > [I love Karl Malone.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shawn-kemp/i-love-karl-malone/) [Shawn Kemp](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shawn-kemp/) > [I was known for a lot of dunks, but my first big dunk really came here in New York. I had some others back…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shawn-kemp/i-was-known-for-a-lot-of-dunks-but-my-first-big-dunk-really-came-here/) [Shawn Kemp](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shawn-kemp/) > [I'm not U.S.A. Olympic image. I didn't go to college. I came from a different route.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shawn-kemp/i-m-not-u-s-a-olympic-image-i-didn-t-go-to-college-i-came-from-a/) [Shawn Kemp](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shawn-kemp/) > [Anytime you struggle, people are always going to say something.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shawn-kemp/anytime-you-struggle-people-are-always-going-to-say-something/) [Shawn Kemp](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shawn-kemp/) > [I've always thought I could shoot from the outside.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shawn-kemp/i-ve-always-thought-i-could-shoot-from-the-outside/) [Shawn Kemp](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shawn-kemp/) > [Most of the time when you're going for a championship, unless you have guys who are willing to sacrifice, you're not going to win…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shawn-kemp/most-of-the-time-when-you-re-going-for-a-championship-unless-you-have/) [Shawn Kemp](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shawn-kemp/) > [Anytime you're playing with a team that's losing, the main guy is going to take a lot of the heat.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shawn-kemp/anytime-you-re-playing-with-a-team-that-s-losing-the-main-guy-is/) [Shawn Kemp](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shawn-kemp/) > [When you lose you try to learn from your mistakes and build on them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shawn-kemp/when-you-lose-you-try-to-learn-from-your-mistakes-and-build-on-them/) [Shawn Kemp](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shawn-kemp/) > [I wasn't in the right place at Kentucky, and I don't think I ever would have been comfortable in college.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shawn-kemp/i-wasn-t-in-the-right-place-at-kentucky-and-i-don-t-think-i-ever/) [Shawn Kemp](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shawn-kemp/) > [I started jogging, jogging and jogging. I ran this weight off.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shawn-kemp/i-started-jogging-jogging-and-jogging-i-ran-this-weight-off/) [Shawn Kemp](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shawn-kemp/) > [You won't see me doing a lot of talking, but you'll see me doing a lot of playing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shawn-kemp/you-won-t-see-me-doing-a-lot-of-talking-but-you-ll-see-me-doing-a-lot/) [Shawn Kemp](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shawn-kemp/) > [You know, I'm not going to be on a losing team. That's just not going to happen.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shawn-kemp/you-know-i-m-not-going-to-be-on-a-losing-team-that-s-just-not-going/) [Shawn Kemp](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shawn-kemp/) > [If I read an article and believed everything a guy said about me, I'd believe I was the best person in the world or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shawn-kemp/if-i-read-an-article-and-believed-everything-a-guy-said-about-me-i-d/) [Shawn Kemp](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shawn-kemp/) [Explore all 99 Shawn Kemp quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shawn-kemp/) ## More Become quotes > [When you step out and do a song in a musical, the easier thing to do is make it funny. But when those transitions…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kelli-o-hara/when-you-step-out-and-do-a-song-in-a-musical-the-easier-thing-to-do/) [Kelli O'Hara](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kelli-o-hara/) > [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/) > [A strong, responsible Israel can become a stabilizer in such a turbulent region.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ehud-barak/a-strong-responsible-israel-can-become-a-stabilizer-in-such-a/) [Ehud Barak](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ehud-barak/) > [If someone has the opportunity to become a model, I would say, 'Do it.'](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cameron-russell/if-someone-has-the-opportunity-to-become-a-model-i-would-say-do-it/) [Cameron Russell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cameron-russell/) > [I had a talent for copying the signatures of dignitaries like Indira Gandhi, Amitabh Bachchan and so on. So, I wanted to become someone…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sanjay-mishra/i-had-a-talent-for-copying-the-signatures-of-dignitaries-like-indira/) [Sanjay Mishra](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sanjay-mishra/) > [In the Tea Party era, it is the restless conservative Republican who has become passion's plaything, the toy of impetuous romance, an erotomania only…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-wolcott/in-the-tea-party-era-it-is-the-restless-conservative-republican-who/) [James Wolcott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-wolcott/) > [You can never tell when a commercial space venture will suddenly become viable.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/buzz-aldrin/you-can-never-tell-when-a-commercial-space-venture-will-suddenly/) [Buzz Aldrin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/buzz-aldrin/) > [Food as a hobby used to be an elite pastime, and it has become something that is totally ordinary for people of every background.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dana-goodyear/food-as-a-hobby-used-to-be-an-elite-pastime-and-it-has-become/) [Dana Goodyear](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dana-goodyear/) > ['Inequality' has become the political theme/slogan of our time in both Europe and the U.S., yet political leaders do not even bother to consider…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-singer/inequality-has-become-the-political-theme-slogan-of-our-time-in-both/) [Paul Singer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-singer/) > [My first bill to become law repeals regulations to make everyday life easier and more affordable for Americans.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jon-husted/my-first-bill-to-become-law-repeals-regulations-to-make-everyday-life/) [Jon Husted](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jon-husted/) > [At one point when I was very young, when I was first starting out, I thought, 'Well, one day I'll be able to put…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bo-burnham/at-one-point-when-i-was-very-young-when-i-was-first-starting-out-i/) [Bo Burnham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bo-burnham/) > [For many of us, work is the one place where we feel appreciated. The things that we long to experience at home - pride…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arlie-russell-hochschild/for-many-of-us-work-is-the-one-place-where-we-feel-appreciated-the/) [Arlie Russell Hochschild](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arlie-russell-hochschild/) > [With every interview you feel like you lose a piece of yourself, and with every bad review you become just that little bit more…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jane-march/with-every-interview-you-feel-like-you-lose-a-piece-of-yourself-and/) [Jane March](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jane-march/) > [Canada has become such a staging area for Chinese money.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kevin-kwan/canada-has-become-such-a-staging-area-for-chinese-money/) [Kevin Kwan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kevin-kwan/) > [Sometimes when you're in different countries, everything has become so homogenised and there's a Starbucks and McDonald's everywhere, and you could feel like you're…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/will-yun-lee/sometimes-when-you-re-in-different-countries-everything-has-become-so/) [Will Yun Lee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/will-yun-lee/) [Browse all 4,184 Become quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/become/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "The only thing that motivates me is to become better.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Shawn Kemp" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shawn-kemp/the-only-thing-that-motivates-me-is-to-become-better/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Become" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shawn-kemp/the-only-thing-that-motivates-me-is-to-become-better/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f42/shawn-kemp-6170_become_the-only-thing-that-motivates-me-is-to-b_3205344.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f42/shawn-kemp-6170_become_the-only-thing-that-motivates-me-is-to-b_3205344.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f42/shawn-kemp-6170_become_the-only-thing-that-motivates-me-is-to-b_3205344.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“The only thing that motivates me is to become better.” — Shawn Kemp", "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": "Shawn Kemp", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shawn-kemp/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "The only thing that motivates me...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shawn-kemp/the-only-thing-that-motivates-me-is-to-become-better/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shawn-kemp/the-only-thing-that-motivates-me-is-to-become-better/#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 } } ] } ```