Clue in to your true calling: Laila Ali, daughter of the famous fighter Muhammad Ali, never thought she'd be a boxer. Here, she explains how it became a longing she couldn't deny. (On My Mind).(Brief Article)

Like many young girls, I first dreamed of being a model. But that stage didn't last very long. Next, I wanted to be an architect, but when I found out that you had to use math (my worst subject), I quickly gave up on that idea.

Today, of course, I'm known for being a professional female boxer. People are always saying to me, "You're so pretty. Why do you want to box?" The answer is that I like feeling strong, being competitive, and outwitting my opponents. But despite the fact that my father was a legendary fighter, realizing that boxing was right for me didn't exactly come easily. Everyone has a gift, but the struggle is in finding that gift, believing in it, and allowing it to shape your life. Here's how it happened to me.

I was 18 years old when the idea of getting into the ring first entered my head. At the time, I was running my own nail salon and taking college courses--my plan was to expand the salon and become an entrepreneur. My parents had gotten a divorce when I was young, and my dad and I lived 2,000 miles away from each other, so as strange as it sounds, I hardly knew anything about boxing.

Then one night in 1996, I was over at a friend's house. Her father had ordered a Mike Tyson fight on pay-per-view, but before the main event, they broadcast a bout between two women. I had never even thought it possible for females to fight professionally, but something deep inside me responded intensely to what I was seeing onscreen. It was an incredibly focused feeling: I was actually envious, and I wanted to be in the ring as well. Months passed before I acted on that instinct--sometimes seeds of inspiration need time to grow--but from that very moment, I wanted to become a professional fighter.

First, I needed to find out if I actually had any talent. No matter how much you want to pursue ...