--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: When I was growing up, I said to my…" description: "\"When I was growing up, I said to my ex-girlfriend, 'I will not be successful until everyone in Holland knows my name.' And it worked.\" — Afrojack" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/59f/afrojack-10221_everyone_when-i-was-growing-up-i-said-to-my-ex-gi_1176876.jpg" --- # When I was growing up, I said to my ex-girlfriend, 'I will… ![“When I was growing up, I said to my ex-girlfriend, 'I will not be successful until everyone in Holland knows my name.' And it worked.” quote by Afrojack](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/59f/afrojack-10221_everyone_when-i-was-growing-up-i-said-to-my-ex-gi_1176876.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/59f/afrojack-10221_everyone_when-i-was-growing-up-i-said-to-my-ex-gi_1176876.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/59f/afrojack-10221_everyone_when-i-was-growing-up-i-said-to-my-ex-gi_1176876.jpg) > “When I was growing up, I said to my ex-girlfriend, 'I will not be successful until everyone in Holland knows my name.' And it worked.” [Afrojack](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/afrojack/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Ambition can be driven by fame, but success often follows confidence in one's goals. **In simple terms:** Fame fuels ambition, leading to success. Key Takeaway Leverage bold goals to motivate achievement. Themes ambition confidence success Mood determined optimistic Type motivational inspirational When to use this quote - career planning - personal branding - marketing campaigns Key Concepts self‑fulfilling prophecy social validation Questions to Reflect On - What personal values support sustainable success? - How do you balance fame‑driven goals with authentic purpose? A Different Perspective Success may rely on external validation rather than intrinsic merit. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Everyone](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/everyone/) [Girlfriend Successful](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/girlfriend-successful-3435158/) [Growing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/growing/) [Growing up](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/growing-up/) [Holland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/holland/) [Holland Knows](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/holland-knows-3435157/) [Knows](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/knows/) [Knows Worked](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/knows-worked-3435159/) [Name](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/name/) [Said](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/said/) [Said Ex](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/said-ex-3020929/) [Successful](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/successful/) [Successful Holland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/successful-holland-3435156/) [Until](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/until/) [Up](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/up/) [Will](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/will/) [Worked](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/worked/) ## Related quotes > [“What exactly did Tristan tell you?”   “Oh, so you do know him?  Not much.  He just kind of…warned me off, in a vague…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/r-k-lilley/what-exactly-did-tristan-tell-you-oh-so-you-do-know-him-not-much-he/) [R.K. Lilley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/r-k-lilley/) > [I texted this guy and I said it was his ex girlfriend even though I never dated him. He won't really talk to me…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cowgirl-haley/i-texted-this-guy-and-i-said-it-was-his-ex-girlfriend-even-though-i/) [Cowgirl\_Haley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cowgirl-haley/) > [“Did you hear what I said? She's ex-Mob. Her gun probably eats guns like that for breakfast.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anna-banks/did-you-hear-what-i-said-she-s-ex-mob-her-gun-probably-eats-guns-like/) [Anna Banks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anna-banks/) > [One of my mother's friends said to me, 'Your ex-boyfriends didn't stand a chance with you and your mother.' And I think I probably…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lily-rabe/one-of-my-mother-s-friends-said-to-me-your-ex-boyfriends-didn-t-stand/) [Lily Rabe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lily-rabe/) > [In my divorce, I stood up and said to my ex-wife, 'Hey, I messed up. This had nothing to do with you. I didn't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kevin-hart/in-my-divorce-i-stood-up-and-said-to-my-ex-wife-hey-i-messed-up-this/) [Kevin Hart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kevin-hart/) > [Most music that comes out of Holland is basically the harder part of dance music - hip-hop, drum'n'bass.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/afrojack/most-music-that-comes-out-of-holland-is-basically-the-harder-part-of/) [Afrojack](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/afrojack/) > [Holland is a really small country, but with a very strong club and festival scene. Dance music has been huge in Holland since the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/afrojack/holland-is-a-really-small-country-but-with-a-very-strong-club-and/) [Afrojack](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/afrojack/) > [Holland is to dance music what Nashville is to country.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/afrojack/holland-is-to-dance-music-what-nashville-is-to-country/) [Afrojack](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/afrojack/) > [I just went off for two months traveling around Europe on a motorcycle and pretty much turned my phone off. I did 5,000 miles…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-fassbender/i-just-went-off-for-two-months-traveling-around-europe-on-a/) [Michael Fassbender](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-fassbender/) > [In Holland, they have come to precisely the same conclusion. There they have adopted a system of secular education, because they have found it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-cobden/in-holland-they-have-come-to-precisely-the-same-conclusion-there-they/) [Richard Cobden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-cobden/) > [Authorities in New York City have foiled a plot by terrorists to blow up the Holland Tunnel. There was one awkward moment when officials…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jay-leno/authorities-in-new-york-city-have-foiled-a-plot-by-terrorists-to-blow/) [Jay Leno](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jay-leno/) > [My idol was always Romario. He was playing in Holland at the time and I loved him. His skills, technique, I loved him he…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rafael-van-der-vaart/my-idol-was-always-romario-he-was-playing-in-holland-at-the-time-and/) [Rafael van der Vaart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rafael-van-der-vaart/) > [I just think we've got a really good club life there in Holland with a lot of parties. And I think Dutch people just…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hardwell/i-just-think-we-ve-got-a-really-good-club-life-there-in-holland-with/) [Hardwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hardwell/) > [In Holland I have seen well-meaning, principled people blinded by multiculturalism, overwhelmed by the imperative to be sensitive and respectful of immigrant culture, while…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ayaan-hirsi-ali/in-holland-i-have-seen-well-meaning-principled-people-blinded-by/) [Ayaan Hirsi Ali](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ayaan-hirsi-ali/) > [How could you justify giving Holland twice the amount of money that you gave Belgium? Well, finally, I put it up to them. They…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/w-averell-harriman/how-could-you-justify-giving-holland-twice-the-amount-of-money-that/) [W. Averell Harriman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/w-averell-harriman/) ## More by Afrojack > [So, what do you want now? Take a picture, make a show. 'Cause nobody has to know. All the ways that we get down.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/afrojack/so-what-do-you-want-now-take-a-picture-make-a-show-cause-nobody-has/) [Afrojack](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/afrojack/) > [For me, it's a great thing to tell people anything is possible. When I was 15, people told me 'You're not going to be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/afrojack/for-me-it-s-a-great-thing-to-tell-people-anything-is-possible-when-i/) [Afrojack](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/afrojack/) > [I think the most important thing about dance music is the connection. If you put 80,000 people together, no one knows each other, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/afrojack/i-think-the-most-important-thing-about-dance-music-is-the-connection/) [Afrojack](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/afrojack/) > [I studied psychology for a couple of years as a personal hobby, so you start learning about people and listening to your intuition, like…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/afrojack/i-studied-psychology-for-a-couple-of-years-as-a-personal-hobby-so-you/) [Afrojack](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/afrojack/) > [Every song, every form of art, clothing, shoes, it has to be special.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/afrojack/every-song-every-form-of-art-clothing-shoes-it-has-to-be-special/) [Afrojack](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/afrojack/) > [I have a good connection with people from America that come to my shows. It's more the American culture. I like the culture, so…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/afrojack/i-have-a-good-connection-with-people-from-america-that-come-to-my/) [Afrojack](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/afrojack/) > [When someone has a booger hanging should u tell them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/afrojack/when-someone-has-a-booger-hanging-should-u-tell-them/) [Afrojack](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/afrojack/) > [When you're walking down the street or in the car just listening to the radio, and you're, like , 'Oh, that's my song.' You…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/afrojack/when-you-re-walking-down-the-street-or-in-the-car-just-listening-to/) [Afrojack](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/afrojack/) > [If you really want to be a music producer, stop watching 'Friends' when you get home from school. Start trying to make music. If…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/afrojack/if-you-really-want-to-be-a-music-producer-stop-watching-friends-when/) [Afrojack](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/afrojack/) > [We can't stop rockin, the body is on the blockin. I'm gonna do my dance on the floor .](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/afrojack/we-can-t-stop-rockin-the-body-is-on-the-blockin-i-m-gonna-do-my-dance/) [Afrojack](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/afrojack/) > [I was in school - I was a good learner; if I wanted to get something done, I could get it done. I was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/afrojack/i-was-in-school-i-was-a-good-learner-if-i-wanted-to-get-something/) [Afrojack](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/afrojack/) > [Where's the bathroom at cause I really really gotta pee.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/afrojack/where-s-the-bathroom-at-cause-i-really-really-gotta-pee/) [Afrojack](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/afrojack/) > [The only thing you can do to lead a crowd is prove your passion to them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/afrojack/the-only-thing-you-can-do-to-lead-a-crowd-is-prove-your-passion-to/) [Afrojack](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/afrojack/) > [At a festival, a lot of people came to see other artists, so you have to put on a signature set and performance: 'This…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/afrojack/at-a-festival-a-lot-of-people-came-to-see-other-artists-so-you-have/) [Afrojack](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/afrojack/) > [When I started producing, I was just making music under all different names. 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