--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: It's not so much what do I want to be…" description: "\"It's not so much what do I want to be doing in 15 years, it's how I want to be in 15 years.\" — Ali MacGraw" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c4c/ali-macgraw-16570_want_it-s-not-so-much-what-do-i-want-to-be-do_367942.png" --- # It's not so much what do I want to be doing in 15 years… ![“It's not so much what do I want to be doing in 15 years, it's how I want to be in 15 years.” quote by Ali MacGraw](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c4c/ali-macgraw-16570_want_it-s-not-so-much-what-do-i-want-to-be-do_367942.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c4c/ali-macgraw-16570_want_it-s-not-so-much-what-do-i-want-to-be-do_367942.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c4c/ali-macgraw-16570_want_it-s-not-so-much-what-do-i-want-to-be-do_367942.png) > “It's not so much what do I want to be doing in 15 years, it's how I want to be in 15 years.” [Ali MacGraw](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ali-macgraw/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Personal growth is defined by character development over time, not by specific achievements or titles. **In simple terms:** Being who you become matters more than what you do. Key Takeaway Focus on evolving character, not just goals. Themes personal development identity future self Mood inspirational thoughtful Type philosophical motivational When to use this quote - career planning - relationship building - health habits - skill acquisition - volunteering Key Concepts self‑reflection goal setting lifelong learning mindset shift Questions to Reflect On - What qualities do you want to embody in 15 years? - How can daily habits shape your future self? A Different Perspective Overemphasis on outcomes can neglect inner growth. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet ## Related quotes > [Finally 21, and legally able to do everything I've been doing since 15.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/finally-21-and-legally-able-to-do-everything-i-ve-been-doing-since-15/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [When you turn 21, you can legally do all the things you've been doing since you were 15.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/when-you-turn-21-you-can-legally-do-all-the-things-you-ve-been-doing/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“When I have children I want an even number of boys and girls, and that’s why I want 15 kids—7 boys, 7 girls, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jarod-kintz/when-i-have-children-i-want-an-even-number-of-boys-and-girls-and-that/) [Jarod Kintz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jarod-kintz/) > [People want their 15 minutes and are willing to do anything to get it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/people-want-their-15-minutes-and-are-willing-to-do-anything-to-get-it/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Football is what, 15 years? I want to invest 100% of my life into the game, so when it's all said and done, I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/romelu-lukaku/football-is-what-15-years-i-want-to-invest-100-of-my-life-into-the/) [Romelu Lukaku](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/romelu-lukaku/) > [For me, you have to prove yourself over 10, 12 or 15 years if you want to be among the best. Do that and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/franck-ribery/for-me-you-have-to-prove-yourself-over-10-12-or-15-years-if-you-want/) [Franck Ribery](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/franck-ribery/) > [When I write my autobiography after 20-25 years, I want 2014 to be the weakest year of my life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sajid-nadiadwala/when-i-write-my-autobiography-after-20-25-years-i-want-2014-to-be-the/) [Sajid Nadiadwala](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sajid-nadiadwala/) > [“Reed lifts his lips from mine, and looking into my eyes, he murmurs, “I want those thousand years with you, Evie, you have no…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amy-a-bartol/reed-lifts-his-lips-from-mine-and-looking-into-my-eyes-he-murmurs-i/) [Amy A. Bartol](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amy-a-bartol/) > [Realistically speaking, I don't know how many more years I will want to be acting or will be invited to be.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jennifer-aniston/realistically-speaking-i-don-t-know-how-many-more-years-i-will-want/) [Jennifer Aniston](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jennifer-aniston/) > [I just really want to continue on the same intensity of work ethic, I don't want to slow now. I'm 21-year's old and I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jason-derulo/i-just-really-want-to-continue-on-the-same-intensity-of-work-ethic-i/) [Jason Derulo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jason-derulo/) > [I don't want to be with you for days , months or years...!! I want to be with you for ages and ages...!!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/i-don-t-want-to-be-with-you-for-days-months-or-years-i-want-to-be/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I know that I'm in the minority to be able to keep working all these years. But I want more!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carol-kane/i-know-that-i-m-in-the-minority-to-be-able-to-keep-working-all-these/) [Carol Kane](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carol-kane/) > [Those are such difficult years, and I would never want to be a teenager again for all the money in the world.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-michelle-gellar/those-are-such-difficult-years-and-i-would-never-want-to-be-a/) [Sarah Michelle Gellar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-michelle-gellar/) > [I want more children but for the next three years I want to act.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anna-friel/i-want-more-children-but-for-the-next-three-years-i-want-to-act/) [Anna Friel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anna-friel/) > [Babies are great but I am not ready to have one. Maybe ten years from now but not yet. I want to keep my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lady-gaga/babies-are-great-but-i-am-not-ready-to-have-one-maybe-ten-years-from/) [Lady Gaga](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lady-gaga/) ## More by Ali MacGraw > [I can't remember when I wasn't an animal rights activist.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ali-macgraw/i-can-t-remember-when-i-wasn-t-an-animal-rights-activist/) [Ali MacGraw](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ali-macgraw/) > [My ex-husband happens to be one of the most gifted moviemakers. And what is so bizarre about working with someone like that? I guess…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ali-macgraw/my-ex-husband-happens-to-be-one-of-the-most-gifted-moviemakers-and/) [Ali MacGraw](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ali-macgraw/) > [I think something will soon have to be done to protect people from hacking and blogging and lying and spreading rumors and chasing you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ali-macgraw/i-think-something-will-soon-have-to-be-done-to-protect-people-from/) [Ali MacGraw](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ali-macgraw/) > [Here's what I had: I had the arrogance of saying I'd like to be in a 'good' movie, so in fact, when I was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ali-macgraw/here-s-what-i-had-i-had-the-arrogance-of-saying-i-d-like-to-be-in-a/) [Ali MacGraw](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ali-macgraw/) > [If you want to be watched 24 hours a day in everything you do, you can't turn that around. You can't wake up three…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ali-macgraw/if-you-want-to-be-watched-24-hours-a-day-in-everything-you-do-you-can/) [Ali MacGraw](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ali-macgraw/) > [I'm in total awe of the technique of great film people. Because if you get your emotional life up to perfection by miracle on…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ali-macgraw/i-m-in-total-awe-of-the-technique-of-great-film-people-because-if-you/) [Ali MacGraw](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ali-macgraw/) > [Cruelty to animals can become violence to humans.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ali-macgraw/cruelty-to-animals-can-become-violence-to-humans/) [Ali MacGraw](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ali-macgraw/) > [I've always loved animals and I always thought that they were, if not better, then the absolute equal of any two legged creature that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ali-macgraw/i-ve-always-loved-animals-and-i-always-thought-that-they-were-if-not/) [Ali MacGraw](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ali-macgraw/) > [I'm much more famous than I am rich, but I'm able to scale back my lifestyle. 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I had…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ali-macgraw/i-think-that-i-was-lucky-that-i-was-30-when-i-did-love-story-which/) [Ali MacGraw](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ali-macgraw/) [Explore all 39 Ali MacGraw quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ali-macgraw/) ## More Want quotes > [I always say there are two things to be successful. The first is decide exactly what you want - set your goals - and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-tracy/i-always-say-there-are-two-things-to-be-successful-the-first-is/) [Brian Tracy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-tracy/) > [Women still, when they have breast cancer, go to work; they still lead their lives. They have to. I just did what I was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/monica-potter/women-still-when-they-have-breast-cancer-go-to-work-they-still-lead/) [Monica Potter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/monica-potter/) > [We do not want nowadays temples of worship and outward rites and ceremonies. 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I'm shaking my ass because I want…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/miley-cyrus/when-you-go-to-a-club-it-s-not-about-being-black-or-white-or-heavy-or/) [Miley Cyrus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/miley-cyrus/) > [Never underestimate the power of the human mind to believe what it wants to believe, no matter the conflicting evidence.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-herbert/never-underestimate-the-power-of-the-human-mind-to-believe-what-it/) [Brian Herbert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-herbert/) > [When you're scared - and I mean really scared, not just hearing a noise in the night, or standing toe to toe with someone…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-gordon-smith/when-you-re-scared-and-i-mean-really-scared-not-just-hearing-a-noise/) [Alexander Gordon Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexander-gordon-smith/) > [I received a beautiful welcome to the world of music. 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