--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: It wasn't like I was self-motivated. My…" description: "\"It wasn't like I was self-motivated. My dad started me. It was his dream before it was mine.\" — Venus Williams" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a3b/venus-williams-1365_dad_it-wasn-t-like-i-was-self-motivated-my-d_736701.png" --- # It wasn't like I was self-motivated. My dad started me. It… ![“It wasn't like I was self-motivated. My dad started me. It was his dream before it was mine.” quote by Venus Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a3b/venus-williams-1365_dad_it-wasn-t-like-i-was-self-motivated-my-d_736701.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a3b/venus-williams-1365_dad_it-wasn-t-like-i-was-self-motivated-my-d_736701.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a3b/venus-williams-1365_dad_it-wasn-t-like-i-was-self-motivated-my-d_736701.png) > “It wasn't like I was self-motivated. My dad started me. It was his dream before it was mine.” [Venus Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/venus-williams/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Parental ambition can ignite a child's drive, turning a parent's dream into a shared pursuit. **In simple terms:** Dad's dream became my motivation. Key Takeaway Channel family expectations into personal goals. Themes family motivation legacy Mood determined inspirational Type motivational philosophical When to use this quote - sports training - career planning - family dynamics Key Concepts psychology goal setting Questions to Reflect On - How do you balance personal desire with family expectations? - When does external pressure become harmful? A Different Perspective Relying on external pressure may limit intrinsic motivation. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Dad](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/dad/) [Dream](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/dream/) [Dreams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/dreams/) [Self motivated](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/self-motivated/) ## Related quotes > [“If you have the right people on the bus, they will be self-motivated. The real question then becomes: How do you manage in such…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-c-collins/if-you-have-the-right-people-on-the-bus-they-will-be-self-motivated/) [James C. Collins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-c-collins/) > [By the time I was 14, I had become self-motivated. Whatever raced inside me was more demanding than any pressure applied by parents or teachers.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-bradley/by-the-time-i-was-14-i-had-become-self-motivated-whatever-raced/) [Bill Bradley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-bradley/) > [Keep yourself motivated. You've got to be motivated, you've got to wake up every day and understand what that day is about; you've got…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gary-cohn/keep-yourself-motivated-you-ve-got-to-be-motivated-you-ve-got-to-wake/) [Gary Cohn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gary-cohn/) > [If you are self-motivated, wow, this world is tailored for you. The boundaries are all gone. But if you're not self-motivated, this world will…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-friedman/if-you-are-self-motivated-wow-this-world-is-tailored-for-you-the/) [Thomas Friedman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-friedman/) > [I feel like I was born and bred to stay self-motivated. I'm not one of those people who ho-hums and feels sorry for himself…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dane-cook/i-feel-like-i-was-born-and-bred-to-stay-self-motivated-i-m-not-one-of/) [Dane Cook](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dane-cook/) > [I'm self-motivated. I'm motivated for myself to be the best I can be - for me to do that, I have to have my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/deshaun-watson/i-m-self-motivated-i-m-motivated-for-myself-to-be-the-best-i-can-be/) [Deshaun Watson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/deshaun-watson/) > [Some people are just self-motivated - my husband was. I also believe there are many children for whom parental involvement is key.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amy-chua/some-people-are-just-self-motivated-my-husband-was-i-also-believe/) [Amy Chua](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amy-chua/) > [I'm an only child, so I am a very self-motivated and driven person.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ti-west/i-m-an-only-child-so-i-am-a-very-self-motivated-and-driven-person/) [Ti West](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ti-west/) > [Homeschoolers are the ultimate do-it-yourselfers. They are self-motivated and self-directed, independent-minded and creative. They are not content to turn their education of their children…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nancy-pearcey/homeschoolers-are-the-ultimate-do-it-yourselfers-they-are-self/) [Nancy Pearcey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nancy-pearcey/) > [When you want something desperately and you lose it, no matter how hard you try to get yourself motivated, it's always difficult.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jay-jay-okocha/when-you-want-something-desperately-and-you-lose-it-no-matter-how/) [Jay-Jay Okocha](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jay-jay-okocha/) > [I've always been self-motivated, but I can't take a ton of credit for any success I've had.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-billingsley/i-ve-always-been-self-motivated-but-i-can-t-take-a-ton-of-credit-for/) [Peter Billingsley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-billingsley/) > [“I’m very self-motivated,” she’d state with an assertiveness that she didn’t quite feel in her gut, and the HR guy would look down at…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dexter-palmer/i-m-very-self-motivated-she-d-state-with-an-assertiveness-that-she/) [Dexter Palmer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dexter-palmer/) > [You started as my dream. You became my reality. You are now only a memory](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/you-started-as-my-dream-you-became-my-reality-you-are-now-only-a/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Make motivation manta of life as it get you started for the dream you have cherished. In the process make yourself strong & determined…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dranil-kr-sinha/make-motivation-manta-of-life-as-it-get-you-started-for-the-dream-you/) [DrAnil Kr Sinha](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dranil-kr-sinha/) > [Started from there bottom now we here, had a dream about a car and went and got it in a year.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wiz-khalifa/started-from-there-bottom-now-we-here-had-a-dream-about-a-car-and/) [Wiz Khalifa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wiz-khalifa/) ## More by Venus Williams > [I love seeing people be successful! I love that. It's wonderful. There's enough room for everybody.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/venus-williams/i-love-seeing-people-be-successful-i-love-that-it-s-wonderful-there-s/) [Venus Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/venus-williams/) > [Rain is good for me. I feel like I achieve clarity actually when it rains. The longer I have to sit and wait, the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/venus-williams/rain-is-good-for-me-i-feel-like-i-achieve-clarity-actually-when-it/) [Venus Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/venus-williams/) > [It is very important not to think about losing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/venus-williams/it-is-very-important-not-to-think-about-losing/) [Venus Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/venus-williams/) > [I feel a little more tired than usual, ... Ive had to recover from everything, my illnesses and things this summer. Its not perfect…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/venus-williams/i-feel-a-little-more-tired-than-usual-ive-had-to-recover-from/) [Venus Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/venus-williams/) > [Just always believe in yourself. "Champions adjust." It's a line I learned from Billie Jean King, and sometimes your dream adjusts. Be willing to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/venus-williams/just-always-believe-in-yourself-champions-adjust-it-s-a-line-i/) [Venus Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/venus-williams/) > [Win pretty, win ugly, just win.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/venus-williams/win-pretty-win-ugly-just-win/) [Venus Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/venus-williams/) > [The message I like to convey to women and girls across the globe is that there is no glass ceiling.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/venus-williams/the-message-i-like-to-convey-to-women-and-girls-across-the-globe-is/) [Venus Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/venus-williams/) > [I feel amazing right now. I just feel like dancing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/venus-williams/i-feel-amazing-right-now-i-just-feel-like-dancing/) [Venus Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/venus-williams/) > [To stay interested in tennis, I have to mix it up with other things.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/venus-williams/to-stay-interested-in-tennis-i-have-to-mix-it-up-with-other-things/) [Venus Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/venus-williams/) > [Grand Slam losses are hard. I treat myself after losses though, I usually go to McDonald's and I have a hamburger and you know,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/venus-williams/grand-slam-losses-are-hard-i-treat-myself-after-losses-though-i/) [Venus Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/venus-williams/) > [It's a nice bonus but, you know, I have to pay taxes too. (after winning the Grand Slam Cup.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/venus-williams/it-s-a-nice-bonus-but-you-know-i-have-to-pay-taxes-too-after-winning/) [Venus Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/venus-williams/) > [It's easy to stand back, but to move forward and take a chance, that takes a little more guts, a little more courage.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/venus-williams/it-s-easy-to-stand-back-but-to-move-forward-and-take-a-chance-that/) [Venus Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/venus-williams/) > [Everyone is always working on their body and trying to make it the best that they possibly can. That's what I do every single…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/venus-williams/everyone-is-always-working-on-their-body-and-trying-to-make-it-the/) [Venus Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/venus-williams/) > [For me, being part of the WTA tour is a privilege. Every day I wake up, it's a privilege to be able to go…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/venus-williams/for-me-being-part-of-the-wta-tour-is-a-privilege-every-day-i-wake-up/) [Venus Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/venus-williams/) > [Tennis is definitely a star for women in sports.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/venus-williams/tennis-is-definitely-a-star-for-women-in-sports/) [Venus Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/venus-williams/) [Explore all 250 Venus Williams quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/venus-williams/) ## More Dad quotes > [Grandma, please. It’s okay. Dad’s doing a great job. I give him kudos for at least being calm and rational, and not losing his…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sherrilyn-kenyon/grandma-please-it-s-okay-dad-s-doing-a-great-job-i-give-him-kudos-for/) [Sherrilyn Kenyon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sherrilyn-kenyon/) > [As a family, we all loved the Flyers. To me, rooting for the Flyers were how I bonded with my dad especially.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adam-f-goldberg/as-a-family-we-all-loved-the-flyers-to-me-rooting-for-the-flyers-were/) [Adam F. Goldberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adam-f-goldberg/) > [My greatest memories as a kid were playing sports with my dad and watching sports with my dad.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-teixeira/my-greatest-memories-as-a-kid-were-playing-sports-with-my-dad-and/) [Mark Teixeira](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-teixeira/) > [Here I am, 11 years old, and these grown men have to give it everything they have to beat me. In one part of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karch-kiraly/here-i-am-11-years-old-and-these-grown-men-have-to-give-it-everything/) [Karch Kiraly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karch-kiraly/) > [I always remember what my dad told me when I decided to turn into an actor. He was emphatic that whatever I do, I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karthi/i-always-remember-what-my-dad-told-me-when-i-decided-to-turn-into-an/) [Karthi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karthi/) > [My mom and dad had the relationship that I want, and they were teammates. They were always equal 50/50.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/becca-kufrin/my-mom-and-dad-had-the-relationship-that-i-want-and-they-were/) [Becca Kufrin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/becca-kufrin/) > [The child who ran weeping to you with a cut finger is now brought home, smiling gamely, with a broken collarbone and incredible contusions-…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pam-brown/the-child-who-ran-weeping-to-you-with-a-cut-finger-is-now-brought/) [Pam Brown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pam-brown/) > [My father was the role model I looked up. My dad was an entertainer, too. I patterned my life after him. He wanted me…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tracy-morgan/my-father-was-the-role-model-i-looked-up-my-dad-was-an-entertainer/) [Tracy Morgan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tracy-morgan/) > [Most people are sensitized to animals through their cats and dogs, but for me it was a flounder. I used to go fishing with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-mathews/most-people-are-sensitized-to-animals-through-their-cats-and-dogs-but/) [Dan Mathews](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dan-mathews/) > [I saw this anti-drug commercial that showed a kid smoking pot in his dad's room with his friend. This kid finds a gun, the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-maher/i-saw-this-anti-drug-commercial-that-showed-a-kid-smoking-pot-in-his/) [Bill Maher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-maher/) > [It's something he used to say when he was happy. It could be a very, very simple day. We might be sitting out on…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jennifer-grant/it-s-something-he-used-to-say-when-he-was-happy-it-could-be-a-very/) [Jennifer Grant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jennifer-grant/) > [I talk to my dad all the time, he's more like my buddy than my father, and he's not happy that I use him…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-spade/i-talk-to-my-dad-all-the-time-he-s-more-like-my-buddy-than-my-father/) [David Spade](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-spade/) > [This week I realized my dad will make you cry in the store if you make him mad. Also when your crossing the street…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/this-week-i-realized-my-dad-will-make-you-cry-in-the-store-if-you/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I was just putting way too much pressure on myself. I was just trying to get that validation from my dad. It got so…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ken-griffey-jr/i-was-just-putting-way-too-much-pressure-on-myself-i-was-just-trying/) [Ken Griffey Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ken-griffey-jr/) > [Some article called me the most feared man in Silicon Valley. Good Lord! Why? My teenage boys got a kick out of it: 'Dad,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nathan-myhrvold/some-article-called-me-the-most-feared-man-in-silicon-valley-good/) [Nathan Myhrvold](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nathan-myhrvold/) [Browse all 9,737 Dad quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/dad/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "It wasn't like I was self-motivated. My dad started me. 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