--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Good or bad, the reality is most people…" description: "\"“Good or bad, the reality is most people become ‘famous’ or get ‘great jobs’ after a very, very long tenure shoveling shit and not because they handed ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/26d/amy-poehler-1084_great-job_good-or-bad-the-reality-is-most-people-b_1728697.jpg" --- # Good or bad, the reality is most people become ‘famous’ or… ![“Good or bad, the reality is most people become ‘famous’ or get ‘great jobs’ after a very, very long tenure shoveling shit and not because they handed their script to someone on the street.” quote by Amy Poehler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/26d/amy-poehler-1084_great-job_good-or-bad-the-reality-is-most-people-b_1728697.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/26d/amy-poehler-1084_great-job_good-or-bad-the-reality-is-most-people-b_1728697.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/26d/amy-poehler-1084_great-job_good-or-bad-the-reality-is-most-people-b_1728697.jpg) > ““Good or bad, the reality is most people become ‘famous’ or get ‘great jobs’ after a very, very long tenure shoveling shit and not because they handed their script to someone on the street.”” [Amy Poehler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amy-poehler/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Fame and great jobs often result from long, unglamorous work, not from a single lucky encounter. **In simple terms:** Success usually follows years of hard work. Key Takeaway Embrace the grind for lasting success. Themes career hard work humility success Mood humorous realistic Type inspirational career When to use this quote - career advancement - skill development - networking Key Concepts long‑term dedication industry perseverance Questions to Reflect On - What “shoveling” tasks have you endured? - How do you stay motivated during long tenures? A Different Perspective Quick fame can be fleeting; hard work builds resilience. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Fame](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fame/) ## Related quotes > [I won my husband. I won my kids. I've won a lot of really great jobs. I've won a lot of friendships. I've been…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/renee-elise-goldsberry/i-won-my-husband-i-won-my-kids-i-ve-won-a-lot-of-really-great-jobs-i/) [Renee Elise Goldsberry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/renee-elise-goldsberry/) > [I've always been able to work as an actor and support my family and did great jobs, and more often than not, I got…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christoph-waltz/i-ve-always-been-able-to-work-as-an-actor-and-support-my-family-and/) [Christoph Waltz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christoph-waltz/) > [For me, there's a lot of great jobs, great opportunities I know in coaching but, for me, the Michigan job was the best job…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-harbaugh/for-me-there-s-a-lot-of-great-jobs-great-opportunities-i-know-in/) [Jim Harbaugh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-harbaugh/) > [“There are no longer any great jobs where someone else tells you precisely what to do”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/seth-godin/there-are-no-longer-any-great-jobs-where-someone-else-tells-you/) [Seth Godin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/seth-godin/) > [I didn't have a lot of great jobs. I was a third-shift legal proofreader. I did office work for people where a friend might…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-bock/i-didn-t-have-a-lot-of-great-jobs-i-was-a-third-shift-legal/) [Charles Bock](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-bock/) > [“If you work with great people, it will be a great experience. Even if you're shoveling shit.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jen-sincero/if-you-work-with-great-people-it-will-be-a-great-experience-even-if/) [Jen Sincero](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jen-sincero/) > [I started in the restaurant industry when I was 22, so I've had quite a long tenure, if you will.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lidia-bastianich/i-started-in-the-restaurant-industry-when-i-was-22-so-i-ve-had-quite/) [Lidia Bastianich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lidia-bastianich/) > [These days, to be seven years in one spot in any pro sport is a pretty long tenure.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-bogut/these-days-to-be-seven-years-in-one-spot-in-any-pro-sport-is-a-pretty/) [Andrew Bogut](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-bogut/) > [If you get the government off our back, there's no economy in the world that can create more jobs in the long-term for everybody.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ryan-zinke/if-you-get-the-government-off-our-back-there-s-no-economy-in-the/) [Ryan Zinke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ryan-zinke/) > [My family, for generations, has struggled through the effects of working blue-collar jobs long past the age of retirement.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephanie-land/my-family-for-generations-has-struggled-through-the-effects-of/) [Stephanie Land](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephanie-land/) > [It's a considerable source of tragedy in the world that people stay in powerful jobs long past the point where they're a spent force.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-keller/it-s-a-considerable-source-of-tragedy-in-the-world-that-people-stay/) [Bill Keller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-keller/) > [When I lived in London, I worked three jobs and had such long work days.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hannah-simone/when-i-lived-in-london-i-worked-three-jobs-and-had-such-long-work-days/) [Hannah Simone](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hannah-simone/) > [There are 30 great jobs in the NBA, and I've got one of them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scott-brooks/there-are-30-great-jobs-in-the-nba-and-i-ve-got-one-of-them/) [Scott Brooks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scott-brooks/) > [I'm a big believer in picking your boss, not the job. Great people create great jobs.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nancy-dubuc/i-m-a-big-believer-in-picking-your-boss-not-the-job-great-people/) [Nancy Dubuc](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nancy-dubuc/) > [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/) ## More by Amy Poehler > [When youre a stay-at-home mother you have to pretend its really boring, but its not. Its enriching and fulfilling, and an amazing experience. And…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amy-poehler/when-youre-a-stay-at-home-mother-you-have-to-pretend-its-really/) [Amy Poehler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amy-poehler/) > [I hope and assume that every good comedy writer, no matter the age, has a moment where they discover how great Cheers is.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amy-poehler/i-hope-and-assume-that-every-good-comedy-writer-no-matter-the-age-has/) [Amy Poehler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amy-poehler/) > [I also think if you're an actor and you can improvise, when you go on an audition and you can improvise you're just a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amy-poehler/i-also-think-if-you-re-an-actor-and-you-can-improvise-when-you-go-on/) [Amy Poehler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amy-poehler/) > [It seems a strange thing, but once I was able to get past that kind of self-image problem, I was able to open up…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amy-poehler/it-seems-a-strange-thing-but-once-i-was-able-to-get-past-that-kind-of/) [Amy Poehler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amy-poehler/) > [Sleep can completely change your entire outlook on life. One good night's sleep can help you realize that you shouldn't break up with someone,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amy-poehler/sleep-can-completely-change-your-entire-outlook-on-life-one-good/) [Amy Poehler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amy-poehler/) > [Career is the stringing together of opportunities and jobs. Mix in public opinion and past regrets. Add a dash of future panic and a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amy-poehler/career-is-the-stringing-together-of-opportunities-and-jobs-mix-in/) [Amy Poehler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amy-poehler/) > [As you navigate through the rest of your life, be open to collaboration. Other people and other people's ideas are often better than your…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amy-poehler/as-you-navigate-through-the-rest-of-your-life-be-open-to/) [Amy Poehler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amy-poehler/) > [I like hard work and I don’t like pretending things are perfect.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amy-poehler/i-like-hard-work-and-i-don-t-like-pretending-things-are-perfect/) [Amy Poehler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amy-poehler/) > [The pressure of 'what are you going to do?' makes everyone feel like they haven't done anything yet.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amy-poehler/the-pressure-of-what-are-you-going-to-do-makes-everyone-feel-like/) [Amy Poehler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amy-poehler/) > [I ate two waffles, a banana and cereal with blueberries. And that whas between my two breakfasts.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amy-poehler/i-ate-two-waffles-a-banana-and-cereal-with-blueberries-and-that-whas/) [Amy Poehler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amy-poehler/) > [ “\[On getting older\]: You can witness young people embarrassing themselves and get a thrill--that it's not you. You can watch them throw around their… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amy-poehler/on-getting-older-you-can-witness-young-people-embarrassing-themselves/) [Amy Poehler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amy-poehler/) > [Too often we women try to tackle chaos that is not ours to fix.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amy-poehler/too-often-we-women-try-to-tackle-chaos-that-is-not-ours-to-fix/) [Amy Poehler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amy-poehler/) > [Try to keep your mind open to possibilities and your mouth closed on matters that you don't know about. Limit your 'always' and your…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amy-poehler/try-to-keep-your-mind-open-to-possibilities-and-your-mouth-closed-on/) [Amy Poehler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amy-poehler/) > [All we do is watch The Wire and go out to dinner with our friends. I wish I could tell you that we had…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amy-poehler/all-we-do-is-watch-the-wire-and-go-out-to-dinner-with-our-friends-i/) [Amy Poehler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amy-poehler/) > [I have these meetings with really powerful men and they ask me all the time, 'Where are your kids? Are your kids here?' It's such…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amy-poehler/i-have-these-meetings-with-really-powerful-men-and-they-ask-me-all/) [Amy Poehler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amy-poehler/) [Explore all 296 Amy Poehler quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amy-poehler/) ## More Fame quotes > [Most celebrated men live in a condition of prostitution.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-augustin-sainte-beuve/most-celebrated-men-live-in-a-condition-of-prostitution/) [Charles Augustin Sainte-Beuve](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-augustin-sainte-beuve/) > [I don't want to be famous famous. I'm happy on the second tier, where I have autonomy on a professional level but I can…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gabrielle-reece/i-don-t-want-to-be-famous-famous-i-m-happy-on-the-second-tier-where-i/) [Gabrielle Reece](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gabrielle-reece/) > [Some people say that 'Drag Race' is about glory and immortalizing yourself in the Hall of Fame. For me, it's about shaking RuPaul down…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/trixie-mattel/some-people-say-that-drag-race-is-about-glory-and-immortalizing/) [Trixie Mattel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/trixie-mattel/) > [The News of the World made me more famous than being in Atomic Kitten.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kerry-katona/the-news-of-the-world-made-me-more-famous-than-being-in-atomic-kitten/) [Kerry Katona](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kerry-katona/) > [Becoming famous is a really shocking thing, especially when you don't have aspirations to it. It got to the point where I would try…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alison-moyet/becoming-famous-is-a-really-shocking-thing-especially-when-you-don-t/) [Alison Moyet](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alison-moyet/) > [Five World Series rings, 3000-plus hits, the fame, the fortune and playing for the second most historic franchise in baseball... These are just some…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mookie-betts/five-world-series-rings-3000-plus-hits-the-fame-the-fortune-and/) [Mookie Betts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mookie-betts/) > [There's nothing like getting feedback that's positive and supportive. That's what I'm all about. I'm really just genuinely doing good music. I'm not looking…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tiffany-villarreal/there-s-nothing-like-getting-feedback-that-s-positive-and-supportive/) [Tiffany Villarreal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tiffany-villarreal/) > [Don't crave fame, do what you do and just apply. I don't think many of them here today are that interested in fashion. Perhaps…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/louise-wilson/don-t-crave-fame-do-what-you-do-and-just-apply-i-don-t-think-many-of/) [Louise Wilson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/louise-wilson/) > [If I had never gotten famous or rich, I think I'd be equally neurotic.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ray-romano/if-i-had-never-gotten-famous-or-rich-i-think-i-d-be-equally-neurotic/) [Ray Romano](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ray-romano/) > [Unfortunately, celebrity is a powerful thing. It can influence people, but if it can influence people in a good way, then that's a great…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-furnish/unfortunately-celebrity-is-a-powerful-thing-it-can-influence-people/) [David Furnish](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-furnish/) > [I think you either live a real life or you live a weird celebrity pseudolife.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-michelle-gellar/i-think-you-either-live-a-real-life-or-you-live-a-weird-celebrity/) [Sarah Michelle Gellar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-michelle-gellar/) > [I am uninterested in Jennifer Aniston's take on anything.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tim-dillon/i-am-uninterested-in-jennifer-aniston-s-take-on-anything/) [Tim Dillon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tim-dillon/) > [The Baseball Hall of Fame is something every player dreams about, but being a member of God's Hall of Fame is the greatest achievement…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gary-carter/the-baseball-hall-of-fame-is-something-every-player-dreams-about-but/) [Gary Carter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gary-carter/) > [I don't want to have anything to do with that: just the fame without personal respect for your privacy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lucas-till/i-don-t-want-to-have-anything-to-do-with-that-just-the-fame-without/) [Lucas Till](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lucas-till/) > [I wanted to have money; I wanted to be special; I wanted people to like me; I wanted to be famous.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ellen-degeneres/i-wanted-to-have-money-i-wanted-to-be-special-i-wanted-people-to-like/) [Ellen DeGeneres](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ellen-degeneres/) [Browse all 6,971 Fame quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fame/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“Good or bad, the reality is most people become ‘famous’ or get ‘great jobs’ after a very, very long tenure shoveling shit and not because they handed their script to someone on the street.”", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Amy Poehler" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amy-poehler/good-or-bad-the-reality-is-most-people-become-famous-or-get-great/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Fame" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amy-poehler/good-or-bad-the-reality-is-most-people-become-famous-or-get-great/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/26d/amy-poehler-1084_great-job_good-or-bad-the-reality-is-most-people-b_1728697.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/26d/amy-poehler-1084_great-job_good-or-bad-the-reality-is-most-people-b_1728697.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/26d/amy-poehler-1084_great-job_good-or-bad-the-reality-is-most-people-b_1728697.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Good or bad, the reality is most people become ‘famous’ or get ‘great jobs’ after a very, very long tenure…” — Amy Poehler", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Amy Poehler", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amy-poehler/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "“Good or bad, the reality is...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amy-poehler/good-or-bad-the-reality-is-most-people-become-famous-or-get-great/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amy-poehler/good-or-bad-the-reality-is-most-people-become-famous-or-get-great/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```