---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Once you look back on your career when…"
description: "\"Once you look back on your career when it's over, you can say, 'This is what I achieved,' or, 'This is what I'm driving.'\" — Ashley Young"
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6de/ashley-young-8358_achieved_once-you-look-back-on-your-career-when-i_2708545.jpg"
---

#  Once you look back on your career when it's over, you can…

![“Once you look back on your career when it's over, you can say, 'This is what I achieved,' or, 'This is what I'm driving.'” quote by Ashley Young](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6de/ashley-young-8358_achieved_once-you-look-back-on-your-career-when-i_2708545.jpg)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6de/ashley-young-8358_achieved_once-you-look-back-on-your-career-when-i_2708545.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6de/ashley-young-8358_achieved_once-you-look-back-on-your-career-when-i_2708545.jpg)

> “Once you look back on your career when it's over, you can say, 'This is what I achieved,' or, 'This is what I'm driving.'”

[Ashley Young](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ashley-young/)

## About This Quote

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

Reflecting on a career, one can view achievements as a list of accomplishments or as a personal journey of purpose.

**In simple terms:** Career can be seen as achievements or purpose.

Key Takeaway

Define success by personal fulfillment.

Themes

career reflection purpose

Mood

inspirational reflective

Type

motivational career

When to use this quote

- retirement planning
- coaching
- personal journaling

Key Concepts

self‑assessment life planning

Questions to Reflect On

- What defines success for you?
- How will you align work with purpose?

A Different Perspective

Focus on achievements may neglect wellbeing.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Career](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/career/) [Driving](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/driving/) [Lucky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/lucky/)

## Related quotes

> [I can't say I have achieved everything but I am satisfied with the kind of roles I am getting.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sanjay-mishra/i-can-t-say-i-have-achieved-everything-but-i-am-satisfied-with-the/)

[Sanjay Mishra](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sanjay-mishra/)

> [You are dead when you say that you have achieved enough.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jatin-tanwer/you-are-dead-when-you-say-that-you-have-achieved-enough/)

[Jatin Tanwer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jatin-tanwer/)

> [I want people to look back at my career and say, 'That guy never backed down from anyone.'](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mikey-garcia/i-want-people-to-look-back-at-my-career-and-say-that-guy-never-backed/)

[Mikey Garcia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mikey-garcia/)

> [I don't want to look back on my career and say, 'I wish I'd averaged this or that.'](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-stokes/i-don-t-want-to-look-back-on-my-career-and-say-i-wish-i-d-averaged/)

[Ben Stokes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ben-stokes/)

> [I would be hard-pressed to look back at anything that I have done in my career and not say, 'I would have done that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sam-huntington/i-would-be-hard-pressed-to-look-back-at-anything-that-i-have-done-in/)

[Sam Huntington](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sam-huntington/)

> [When it's all said and done, I want to look back on my career and say I did numerous things.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fat-joe/when-it-s-all-said-and-done-i-want-to-look-back-on-my-career-and-say/)

[Fat Joe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fat-joe/)

> [That was probably one of the things that if I look back at my career and say what is something I would try and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/warren-moon/that-was-probably-one-of-the-things-that-if-i-look-back-at-my-career/)

[Warren Moon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/warren-moon/)

> [From my experience of having served for 3000 days, I can say that anything can be achieved.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/narendra-modi/from-my-experience-of-having-served-for-3000-days-i-can-say-that/)

[Narendra Modi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/narendra-modi/)

> [I think most players would love, at one stage in their career, to say, 'I've been No. 1 in the world.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andy-murray/i-think-most-players-would-love-at-one-stage-in-their-career-to-say-i/)

[Andy Murray](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andy-murray/)

> [If anybody asks me what I attribute the longevity of my career to, then I say it's because I was never satisfied with being…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/clint-eastwood/if-anybody-asks-me-what-i-attribute-the-longevity-of-my-career-to/)

[Clint Eastwood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/clint-eastwood/)

> [At the very worst, if I have a short-lived career, at least I could say I sparked a change—that I inspired some leniency in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/iggy-azalea/at-the-very-worst-if-i-have-a-short-lived-career-at-least-i-could-say/)

[Iggy Azalea](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/iggy-azalea/)

> [When people ask what my ambitions are for the rest of my career, I always say that I live in the present.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roberto-firmino/when-people-ask-what-my-ambitions-are-for-the-rest-of-my-career-i/)

[Roberto Firmino](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roberto-firmino/)

> [Sometimes, you have to stop your life or your career and say 'What is the best for my family, for me?'](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carlos-vela/sometimes-you-have-to-stop-your-life-or-your-career-and-say-what-is/)

[Carlos Vela](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carlos-vela/)

> [When I started my career, I can say my interviewing skills were not my strong suit.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/doris-burke/when-i-started-my-career-i-can-say-my-interviewing-skills-were-not-my/)

[Doris Burke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/doris-burke/)

> [The last thing I'd learn, well into my career, was how to get on, how to say hello, how to get in with the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/phyllis-diller/the-last-thing-i-d-learn-well-into-my-career-was-how-to-get-on-how-to/)

[Phyllis Diller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/phyllis-diller/)

## More by Ashley Young

> [I'm not a cheat. I'm not a diver.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ashley-young/i-m-not-a-cheat-i-m-not-a-diver/)

[Ashley Young](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ashley-young/)

> [Things happen on football pitches. Once the game is finished, you don't need to talk afterwards. That's just how it is.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ashley-young/things-happen-on-football-pitches-once-the-game-is-finished-you-don-t/)

[Ashley Young](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ashley-young/)

> [I like to spend time on freekicks after training.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ashley-young/i-like-to-spend-time-on-freekicks-after-training/)

[Ashley Young](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ashley-young/)

> [I'm confident in my own ability, and if I'm called upon to play on the right, the left, or as the main striker, then…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ashley-young/i-m-confident-in-my-own-ability-and-if-i-m-called-upon-to-play-on-the/)

[Ashley Young](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ashley-young/)

> [Everything that moved, I was kicking it. You can ask my mum and dad. A stone, a can, whatever.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ashley-young/everything-that-moved-i-was-kicking-it-you-can-ask-my-mum-and-dad-a/)

[Ashley Young](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ashley-young/)

> [In modern day football, you've got to play in different positions. I've played in numerous positions, apart from centre-back and goalkeeper, I think.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ashley-young/in-modern-day-football-you-ve-got-to-play-in-different-positions-i-ve/)

[Ashley Young](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ashley-young/)

> [I've always had to fight. Throughout my life, it's been a fight to get to where I am now.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ashley-young/i-ve-always-had-to-fight-throughout-my-life-it-s-been-a-fight-to-get/)

[Ashley Young](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ashley-young/)

> [As players, we have to concentrate with what happens on the pitch, not off it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ashley-young/as-players-we-have-to-concentrate-with-what-happens-on-the-pitch-not/)

[Ashley Young](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ashley-young/)

> [I've always said that when you pull on an England shirt, it's a proud moment, and it's an honour to play for and represent…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ashley-young/i-ve-always-said-that-when-you-pull-on-an-england-shirt-it-s-a-proud/)

[Ashley Young](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ashley-young/)

> [I'm enjoying playing football, and as a footballer, that's what you want to do, and that is exactly what I've been doing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ashley-young/i-m-enjoying-playing-football-and-as-a-footballer-that-s-what-you/)

[Ashley Young](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ashley-young/)

> [I have my heart set on being unhappy so dont try and change my mind.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ashley-young/i-have-my-heart-set-on-being-unhappy-so-dont-try-and-change-my-mind/)

[Ashley Young](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ashley-young/)

> [I've been watching 'Power.' I've been hooked on it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ashley-young/i-ve-been-watching-power-i-ve-been-hooked-on-it/)

[Ashley Young](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ashley-young/)

> [I've played at a European Championship; to represent your country at a World Cup is every boy's dream, and for me, it would definitely…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ashley-young/i-ve-played-at-a-european-championship-to-represent-your-country-at-a/)

[Ashley Young](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ashley-young/)

> [I was at Watford and got a knock-back when I was 16 and didn't get a YTS contract. They said I could find another…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ashley-young/i-was-at-watford-and-got-a-knock-back-when-i-was-16-and-didn-t-get-a/)

[Ashley Young](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ashley-young/)

> [It is always disappointing to obviously concede.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ashley-young/it-is-always-disappointing-to-obviously-concede/)

[Ashley Young](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ashley-young/)

[Explore all 81 Ashley Young quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ashley-young/)

## More Achieved quotes

> [By the time you have no difficulties in your life, you have achieved Heaven.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-brown/by-the-time-you-have-no-difficulties-in-your-life-you-have-achieved/)

[Charles Brown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-brown/)

> [To achieve something you've never achieved before, you must become someone you've never been before.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shubham-joshi/to-achieve-something-you-ve-never-achieved-before-you-must-become/)

[Shubham Joshi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shubham-joshi/)

> [My decision was that after nearly three years at Celtic - with everything we'd achieved and the success we'd had on the pitch, the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brendan-rodgers/my-decision-was-that-after-nearly-three-years-at-celtic-with/)

[Brendan Rodgers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brendan-rodgers/)

> [Now when I watch my films after 10 years, I realise what have I achieved? Nothing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rimi-sen/now-when-i-watch-my-films-after-10-years-i-realise-what-have-i/)

[Rimi Sen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rimi-sen/)

> [Justice is not cheap. Justice is not quick. It is not ever finally achieved.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marian-wright-edelman/justice-is-not-cheap-justice-is-not-quick-it-is-not-ever-finally/)

[Marian Wright Edelman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marian-wright-edelman/)

> [No doubt the ridiculous politicians are right to like politics. They have found careers in which success can be achieved by being ridiculous. Imagine…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/p-j-o-rourke/no-doubt-the-ridiculous-politicians-are-right-to-like-politics-they/)

[P. J. O'Rourke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/p-j-o-rourke/)

> [If I can achieve for Celtic what I have achieved for Hibs, then I feel I will have done well for them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jock-stein/if-i-can-achieve-for-celtic-what-i-have-achieved-for-hibs-then-i-feel/)

[Jock Stein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jock-stein/)

> [I can only thank Manchester City for everything they have done for me. What we have achieved in such a short space of time…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/toni-duggan/i-can-only-thank-manchester-city-for-everything-they-have-done-for-me/)

[Toni Duggan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/toni-duggan/)

> [The victory will be only entirely and finally achieved when the whole world is free of Jews.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julius-streicher/the-victory-will-be-only-entirely-and-finally-achieved-when-the-whole/)

[Julius Streicher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julius-streicher/)

> [Nothing great is ever achieved without much enduring.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/st-catherine-of-siena/nothing-great-is-ever-achieved-without-much-enduring/)

[St. Catherine of Siena](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/st-catherine-of-siena/)

> [You've got to admire Sir Richard Branson. He is a completely different style of businessman to me, but you have got to admire what…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-sugar/you-ve-got-to-admire-sir-richard-branson-he-is-a-completely-different/)

[Alan Sugar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-sugar/)

> [In the end, individual titles are achieved with the help of all your team-mates.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sergio-ramos/in-the-end-individual-titles-are-achieved-with-the-help-of-all-your/)

[Sergio Ramos](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sergio-ramos/)

> [Success is not found in what you have achieved but rather in who you have become](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ziad-k-abdelnour/success-is-not-found-in-what-you-have-achieved-but-rather-in-who-you/)

[Ziad K. Abdelnour](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ziad-k-abdelnour/)

> [Gender equality cannot be achieved by cutting programs that allow girls to get the same chance to compete, learn, and play. The United States…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/linda-sanchez/gender-equality-cannot-be-achieved-by-cutting-programs-that-allow/)

[Linda Sanchez](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/linda-sanchez/)

> [It is only through religion that communism can be achieved, and has been achieved over and over.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dorothy-day/it-is-only-through-religion-that-communism-can-be-achieved-and-has/)

[Dorothy Day](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dorothy-day/)

Browse all 410 Achieved quotes

```json
{
    "@context": "https://schema.org",
    "@graph": [
        {
            "@type": "Quotation",
            "text": "Once you look back on your career when it's over, you can say, 'This is what I achieved,' or, 'This is what I'm driving.'",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "Ashley Young"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ashley-young/once-you-look-back-on-your-career-when-it-s-over-you-can-say-this-is/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "Achieved"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ashley-young/once-you-look-back-on-your-career-when-it-s-over-you-can-say-this-is/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6de/ashley-young-8358_achieved_once-you-look-back-on-your-career-when-i_2708545.jpg",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6de/ashley-young-8358_achieved_once-you-look-back-on-your-career-when-i_2708545.jpg",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6de/ashley-young-8358_achieved_once-you-look-back-on-your-career-when-i_2708545.jpg",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“Once you look back on your career when it's over, you can say, 'This is what I achieved,' or, 'This is what…” — Ashley Young",
                "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": "Ashley Young",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ashley-young/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 4,
                    "name": "Once you look back on your...",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ashley-young/once-you-look-back-on-your-career-when-it-s-over-you-can-say-this-is/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ashley-young/once-you-look-back-on-your-career-when-it-s-over-you-can-say-this-is/#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
            }
        }
    ]
}
```
