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When my father was 17, he went to Montreal and found these…

“When my father was 17, he went to Montreal and found these submarine sandwich shops that were really successful, and weren't in Toronto [his home town]. So he went to my grandparents and said: "Look, you have to give me the seed money to open up one of these places. We'll make a fortune. They've…” quote by Jason Reitman
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““When my father was 17, he went to Montreal and found these submarine sandwich shops that were really successful, and weren't in Toronto [his home town]. So he went to my grandparents and said: "Look, you have to give me the seed money to open up one of these places. We'll make a fortune. They've got lines going round the block. There's nothing like that here." And my grandfather's response was: "Look, I'm sure these sandwiches are really good, and if we scraped the money together we could make a lot of money and your mother and I would be really proud of you, but you need to find something that has *magic* in it for you." It was off of that conversation that my father went to college on a music scholarship, started a film club and became one of the most successful directors of all time.””

Jason Reitman

About This Quote

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

A father’s entrepreneurial drive, tempered by a grandfather’s advice to pursue passion, led to a successful film career, emphasizing purpose over profit.

In simple terms: Follow passion, not just profit.

Key Takeaway

Seek work that feels magical.

Themes

purpose entrepreneurship family advice career passion

Mood

reflective inspired

Type

advice motivational

When to use this quote

  • startup planning
  • career counseling
  • creative industries
  • family business

Key Concepts

motivation risk legacy creativity

Questions to Reflect On

  • What does “magic” mean to you in work?
  • How can you balance passion with realistic goals?
A Different Perspective

Passion may not guarantee financial success; practical constraints exist.

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