--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I thought I wanted a career, turns out I…" description: "\"I thought I wanted a career, turns out I just wanted paychecks.\" — Anonymous" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c93/anonymous-1_bad-mood_i-thought-i-wanted-a-career-turns-out-i_1460740.jpg" --- # I thought I wanted a career, turns out I just wanted… ![“I thought I wanted a career, turns out I just wanted paychecks.” quote by Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c93/anonymous-1_bad-mood_i-thought-i-wanted-a-career-turns-out-i_1460740.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c93/anonymous-1_bad-mood_i-thought-i-wanted-a-career-turns-out-i_1460740.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c93/anonymous-1_bad-mood_i-thought-i-wanted-a-career-turns-out-i_1460740.jpg) > “I thought I wanted a career, turns out I just wanted paychecks.” [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The desire for a job can be mistaken for a desire for regular income, obscuring deeper career motivations. **In simple terms:** Wanted a job, got paychecks. Key Takeaway Identify what truly motivates you beyond money. Themes career motivation money identity Mood reflective questioning Type personal philosophical When to use this quote - job search - career planning - financial budgeting - skill development Key Concepts intrinsic vs extrinsic rewards self‑discovery goal alignment Questions to Reflect On - What would you pursue if money were not a factor? - How do you differentiate between need and want? A Different Perspective May overlook long‑term fulfillment and personal growth. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Bad mood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/bad-mood/) [Career](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/career/) [Career Turns](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/career-turns-5276358/) [Job](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/job/) [Just Wanted](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/just-wanted/) [Paychecks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/paychecks/) [Wanted Career](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wanted-career-467708/) [Wanted Paychecks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wanted-paychecks-5276357/) [Work](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/work/) ## Related quotes > [There was just a part of me that just wanted to lie back in my bed, close my eyes, and find myself waking up…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/there-was-just-a-part-of-me-that-just-wanted-to-lie-back-in-my-bed/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I never wanted to be different; I just wanted to be me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/i-never-wanted-to-be-different-i-just-wanted-to-be-me/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I'm not trying to rush you, I just wanted to let you know that I have a crush on you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/i-m-not-trying-to-rush-you-i-just-wanted-to-let-you-know-that-i-have/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Just wanted to let you know... You're in my thoughts... all the time!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/just-wanted-to-let-you-know-you-re-in-my-thoughts-all-the-time/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Well I just always wanted to be a newspaper reporter.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/well-i-just-always-wanted-to-be-a-newspaper-reporter/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I miss the time when you just wanted to spend every second of your life with me...](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/i-miss-the-time-when-you-just-wanted-to-spend-every-second-of-your/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [You a cutie , but I just wanted some booty .](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/you-a-cutie-but-i-just-wanted-some-booty/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I just wanted to be love.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/i-just-wanted-to-be-love/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [You didnt wanna take it slow, you just wanted to take me home.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/you-didnt-wanna-take-it-slow-you-just-wanted-to-take-me-home/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [A good job is more than just a paycheck. A good job fosters independence and discipline, and contributes to the health of the community.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/a-good-job-is-more-than-just-a-paycheck-a-good-job-fosters/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [My mom and dad - they were always there. They were always on the set. They focused on our family life. The entertainment business…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/my-mom-and-dad-they-were-always-there-they-were-always-on-the-set/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [If facebook was a job, we'll all end up with fat paychecks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/if-facebook-was-a-job-we-ll-all-end-up-with-fat-paychecks/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [A man's respect for law and order exists in precise relationship to the size of his paycheck.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/a-man-s-respect-for-law-and-order-exists-in-precise-relationship-to/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [No matter how well you behave with people around you, THEY will treat YOU according to their NEED & MOOD.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/no-matter-how-well-you-behave-with-people-around-you-they-will-treat/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Take a deep breath. It,s just a bad day not a bad life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/take-a-deep-breath-it-s-just-a-bad-day-not-a-bad-life/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) ## More by Anonymous > [And a tear rolled down her cheek, as she said goodbye; because she's walking away, and she's never looking back](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/and-a-tear-rolled-down-her-cheek-as-she-said-goodbye-because-she-s/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Life is full of change. That's how we learn and grow.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/life-is-full-of-change-that-s-how-we-learn-and-grow/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [You'll seldom experience regret for anything that you've done. It is what you haven't done that will torment you. The message, therefore, is clear.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/you-ll-seldom-experience-regret-for-anything-that-you-ve-done-it-is/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Scrabble - The game is available in Braille. That’s a nice fact. This makes me feel better about humanity for some reason. I can’t…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/scrabble-the-game-is-available-in-braille-that-s-a-nice-fact-this/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Everyone needs someone to love, and I choose you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/everyone-needs-someone-to-love-and-i-choose-you/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“THIS tale of my sore-troubled life I write,    To thank the God of nature, who conveyed    My soul to me, and with such care…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/this-tale-of-my-sore-troubled-life-i-write-to-thank-the-god-of-nature/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Put on my J's and dance the whole night away Im naughty by nature like Im hip-hop hooray With my hands in the sky,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/put-on-my-j-s-and-dance-the-whole-night-away-im-naughty-by-nature/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Me.. I have been through a lot, but I still manage to have a smile on my face. Im not worried about the past…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/me-i-have-been-through-a-lot-but-i-still-manage-to-have-a-smile-on-my/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Distance is a test of love. many will fail for those who can't withstand it, but for those who can, theres only one answer…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/distance-is-a-test-of-love-many-will-fail-for-those-who-can-t/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Im sorry I ever tried...](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/im-sorry-i-ever-tried/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Being betrayed by the one you love is the worst feeling in the world...](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/being-betrayed-by-the-one-you-love-is-the-worst-feeling-in-the-world/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Let children support their parents or be imprisoned.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/let-children-support-their-parents-or-be-imprisoned/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [The only person I've ever purposely caused pain here is myself...By simply sharing, caring too much.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/the-only-person-i-ve-ever-purposely-caused-pain-here-is-myself-by/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“Start a business, not a startup”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/start-a-business-not-a-startup/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [The truth is, of course, that the curtness of the Ten Commandments is an evidence, not of the gloom and narrowness of a religion,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/the-truth-is-of-course-that-the-curtness-of-the-ten-commandments-is/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) [Explore all 162,899 Anonymous quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) ## More Bad mood quotes > [Sometimes I'm in a bad mood, sometimes I'm in a good mood. It's like everyone else.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tricky/sometimes-i-m-in-a-bad-mood-sometimes-i-m-in-a-good-mood-it-s-like/) [Tricky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tricky/) > [Revenge is a dish better severed cold.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sushan/revenge-is-a-dish-better-severed-cold/) [Sushan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sushan/) > [You say I have a bad attitude. But have you ever stopped to check yours?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tasha-marie/you-say-i-have-a-bad-attitude-but-have-you-ever-stopped-to-check-yours/) [Tasha Marie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tasha-marie/) > [No music + Bad TV = Bad mood & no pages.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hunter-s-thompson/no-music-bad-tv-bad-mood-no-pages/) [Hunter S. Thompson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hunter-s-thompson/) > [Take a deep breath. It,s just a bad day not a bad life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/take-a-deep-breath-it-s-just-a-bad-day-not-a-bad-life/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“Nina said, “Have regular facial expressions.” That was a command from their inventory of facetious devices they used to josh one another out of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/norman-rush/nina-said-have-regular-facial-expressions-that-was-a-command-from/) [Norman Rush](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/norman-rush/) > [“She then laid more aggressively into her ex-partner and his philosophy, which she felt was disconnected from the reality that she had just experienced:…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/beno-t-peeters/she-then-laid-more-aggressively-into-her-ex-partner-and-his/) [Benoît Peeters](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/beno-t-peeters/) > [No matter how well you behave with people around you, THEY will treat YOU according to their NEED & MOOD.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/no-matter-how-well-you-behave-with-people-around-you-they-will-treat/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [My middle finger is used when words aren't enough for people to understand that they're annoying.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/my-middle-finger-is-used-when-words-aren-t-enough-for-people-to/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“A shrug. “I wasn’t sent to you until now.” “Are you serious?” Incredulity sharpened my tone. “Is your boss in a bad mood, or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeaniene-frost/a-shrug-i-wasn-t-sent-to-you-until-now-are-you-serious-incredulity/) [Jeaniene Frost](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeaniene-frost/) > [Temporary anger is okay, but permanent anger will make you bitter and ruin your chance at happiness.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sonya-parker/temporary-anger-is-okay-but-permanent-anger-will-make-you-bitter-and/) [Sonya Parker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sonya-parker/) > [I don't often get into a bad mood, since it does not help anything and clouds my judgment, but I can certainly see that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matthieu-ricard/i-don-t-often-get-into-a-bad-mood-since-it-does-not-help-anything-and/) [Matthieu Ricard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matthieu-ricard/) > [This is all about the awesome TILLU!! (: If u know this kidd then u know ur not living a boring life... some might…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/death-calls-her-name/this-is-all-about-the-awesome-tillu-if-u-know-this-kidd-then-u-know/) [Death Calls Her Name](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/death-calls-her-name/) > [The grumpier you are, the more assholes you meet.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/banksy/the-grumpier-you-are-the-more-assholes-you-meet/) [Banksy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/banksy/) > [Have a good sense of perspective and be able to snap yourself out of bad moods, as we often wind ourselves up about the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nicola-roberts/have-a-good-sense-of-perspective-and-be-able-to-snap-yourself-out-of/) [Nicola Roberts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nicola-roberts/) [Browse all 416 Bad mood quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/bad-mood/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "I thought I wanted a career, turns out I just wanted paychecks.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Anonymous" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/i-thought-i-wanted-a-career-turns-out-i-just-wanted-paychecks/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Bad mood" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/i-thought-i-wanted-a-career-turns-out-i-just-wanted-paychecks/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c93/anonymous-1_bad-mood_i-thought-i-wanted-a-career-turns-out-i_1460740.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c93/anonymous-1_bad-mood_i-thought-i-wanted-a-career-turns-out-i_1460740.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c93/anonymous-1_bad-mood_i-thought-i-wanted-a-career-turns-out-i_1460740.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“I thought I wanted a career, turns out I just wanted paychecks.” — Anonymous", "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": "Anonymous", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "I thought I wanted a career,...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/i-thought-i-wanted-a-career-turns-out-i-just-wanted-paychecks/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/i-thought-i-wanted-a-career-turns-out-i-just-wanted-paychecks/#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 } } ] } ```