--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I want to be the best on the biggest…" description: "\"I want to be the best on the biggest stage possible, [but] I obviously do not get to decide where that is.\" — Tom Shields" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/49f/tom-shields-66752_being-the-best_i-want-to-be-the-best-on-the-biggest-sta_2757548.png" --- # I want to be the best on the biggest stage possible, \[but\]… ![“I want to be the best on the biggest stage possible, [but] I obviously do not get to decide where that is.” quote by Tom Shields](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/49f/tom-shields-66752_being-the-best_i-want-to-be-the-best-on-the-biggest-sta_2757548.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/49f/tom-shields-66752_being-the-best_i-want-to-be-the-best-on-the-biggest-sta_2757548.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/49f/tom-shields-66752_being-the-best_i-want-to-be-the-best-on-the-biggest-sta_2757548.png) > “I want to be the best on the biggest stage possible, \[but\] I obviously do not get to decide where that is.” Tom Shields ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Ambition to excel on the largest platform, yet the venue is beyond personal control. **In simple terms:** Wanting greatness but not choosing the stage. Key Takeaway Focus on excellence regardless of venue. Themes ambition career control uncertainty Mood determined reflective Type motivational philosophical When to use this quote - career planning - performance preparation - industry networking - adaptability Key Concepts Self-determination external factors goal setting Questions to Reflect On - How do you adapt when the stage is unknown? - What defines a “big stage” for you? A Different Perspective External constraints can limit opportunities. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Being the best](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/being-the-best/) [Stage](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/stage/) [Theatre](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/theatre/) ## Related quotes > [I like to spend as much time on the stage as possible. I don't do a regular TV series because I don't want to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-katt/i-like-to-spend-as-much-time-on-the-stage-as-possible-i-don-t-do-a/) [William Katt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-katt/) > [Especially in the Champions League games - it's the biggest stage, for me - and to have that pressure is really enjoyable.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jude-bellingham/especially-in-the-champions-league-games-it-s-the-biggest-stage-for/) [Jude Bellingham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jude-bellingham/) > [All I ever wanted to do was be on stage, if possible acting in Shakespeare. And to be as good as I could be.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patrick-stewart/all-i-ever-wanted-to-do-was-be-on-stage-if-possible-acting-in-2/) [Patrick Stewart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patrick-stewart/) > [I thought I used to be as 'me' on stage as it's possible to be, but on the radio show I found it's possible…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frank-skinner/i-thought-i-used-to-be-as-me-on-stage-as-it-s-possible-to-be-but-on/) [Frank Skinner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frank-skinner/) > [UFC is the biggest stage in the world.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kelvin-gastelum/ufc-is-the-biggest-stage-in-the-world/) [Kelvin Gastelum](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kelvin-gastelum/) > [We want to be on the biggest stage.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-odegaard/we-want-to-be-on-the-biggest-stage/) [Martin Odegaard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-odegaard/) > [What appealed to me about the whole production is how big it is. 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This is where you make your name.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/phil-hellmuth/everybody-knows-the-world-series-of-poker-is-the-biggest-stage-in-the/) [Phil Hellmuth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/phil-hellmuth/) > [If any player has the desire to be the best and perform on the biggest stage, then England's a place that you have to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jozy-altidore/if-any-player-has-the-desire-to-be-the-best-and-perform-on-the/) [Jozy Altidore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jozy-altidore/) > [I've had many fights, but this is the biggest stage I've ever fought in. The UFC is the best.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-thompson/i-ve-had-many-fights-but-this-is-the-biggest-stage-i-ve-ever-fought/) [Stephen Thompson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-thompson/) > [The Olympics is by far the biggest stage of them all for any sportsperson, so I'm looking forward to it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neeraj-chopra/the-olympics-is-by-far-the-biggest-stage-of-them-all-for-any/) [Neeraj Chopra](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neeraj-chopra/) ## More by Tom Shields > [Old texts, myths, and religions have always fascinated me, though I prefer learning about them to writing papers and trying to make thoughts and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-shields/old-texts-myths-and-religions-have-always-fascinated-me-though-i/) Tom Shields > [Moving on after a break up is a great way to get back on your feet and start feeling happy again.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-shields/moving-on-after-a-break-up-is-a-great-way-to-get-back-on-your-feet/) Tom Shields > [In pubs across the land, the customers speak of little else but lunar nutation, especially since the moon is nutating at this very moment.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-shields/in-pubs-across-the-land-the-customers-speak-of-little-else-but-lunar/) Tom Shields Explore all 4 Tom Shields quotes ## More Being the best quotes > [High school sucked. 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