--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: A job is not a career. I think I started…" description: "\"A job is not a career. I think I started out with a job. It turned into a career and changed my life.\" — Barbara Walters" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8e7/barbara-walters-7622_career_a-job-is-not-a-career-i-think-i-started_615292.jpg" --- # A job is not a career. I think I started out with a job… ![“A job is not a career. I think I started out with a job. It turned into a career and changed my life.” quote by Barbara Walters](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8e7/barbara-walters-7622_career_a-job-is-not-a-career-i-think-i-started_615292.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8e7/barbara-walters-7622_career_a-job-is-not-a-career-i-think-i-started_615292.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8e7/barbara-walters-7622_career_a-job-is-not-a-career-i-think-i-started_615292.jpg) > “A job is not a career. I think I started out with a job. It turned into a career and changed my life.” [Barbara Walters](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barbara-walters/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. A job can evolve into a career that transforms one's life. **In simple terms:** Jobs can become life‑changing careers. Key Takeaway Embrace growth opportunities. Themes career development personal growth transformation Mood motivational hopeful Type career self‑improvement When to use this quote - career changes - skill development - long‑term goals Key Concepts employment life planning Questions to Reflect On - What steps turn a job into a career? - How do you recognize a transformative opportunity? A Different Perspective Not all jobs lead to fulfilling careers. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Career](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/career/) [Changed my life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/changed-my-life/) [Jobs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/jobs/) [Life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/life/) [Thinking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thinking/) [Work](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/work/) ## Related quotes > [We do not wait for inspiration. We work because we've jolly well got to. But when all is said and done, we toil at…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ngaio-marsh/we-do-not-wait-for-inspiration-we-work-because-we-ve-jolly-well-got/) [Ngaio Marsh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ngaio-marsh/) > [The dream of having one's dream job turned into "Oh my God, I'll take any job. I've been out of work for two years…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/suze-orman/the-dream-of-having-one-s-dream-job-turned-into-oh-my-god-i-ll-take/) [Suze Orman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/suze-orman/) > [I used to work at a movie theater and sold hams at Honey Baked Ham during the holidays. I sold a ton of hams,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tika-sumpter/i-used-to-work-at-a-movie-theater-and-sold-hams-at-honey-baked-ham/) [Tika Sumpter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tika-sumpter/) > [Well, it was strange, because the phone rang and a teaching job turned up that sounded interesting. And I always did my own work.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/garry-winogrand/well-it-was-strange-because-the-phone-rang-and-a-teaching-job-turned/) [Garry Winogrand](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/garry-winogrand/) > [I did something a lot of people will have to do in this economy if they want to eventually land their dream job. I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mika-brzezinski/i-did-something-a-lot-of-people-will-have-to-do-in-this-economy-if/) [Mika Brzezinski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mika-brzezinski/) > [When I was in Chicago, I was working as a carpenter while I was doing plays. I thought it'd be a fun set construction…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/timothy-simons/when-i-was-in-chicago-i-was-working-as-a-carpenter-while-i-was-doing/) [Timothy Simons](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/timothy-simons/) > [Ten days before I started my job at ABC News, I checked myself into a mental health hospital.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ginger-zee/ten-days-before-i-started-my-job-at-abc-news-i-checked-myself-into-a/) [Ginger Zee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ginger-zee/) > [I started this job in 1995, and I felt the same pressure in my first day, with my first team, Reggiana, in the Second…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carlo-ancelotti/i-started-this-job-in-1995-and-i-felt-the-same-pressure-in-my-first/) [Carlo Ancelotti](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carlo-ancelotti/) > [“The road to medical school started with a job mowing lawns I was far from sure I could handle.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-vonnegut/the-road-to-medical-school-started-with-a-job-mowing-lawns-i-was-far/) [Mark Vonnegut](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-vonnegut/) > [“Two days later, I started my job. My job involved typing friendly letters full of happy lies to dying children. I wasn't allowed to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tim-rogers/two-days-later-i-started-my-job-my-job-involved-typing-friendly/) [Tim Rogers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tim-rogers/) > [Everything I thought about acting and having a movie career has changed from what I thought when I started.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rebecca-de-mornay/everything-i-thought-about-acting-and-having-a-movie-career-has/) [Rebecca De Mornay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rebecca-de-mornay/) > [I started at the top. My first job was the cover of 'Italian Vogue,' which is the equivalent essentially of winning an Academy Award.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lydia-hearst/i-started-at-the-top-my-first-job-was-the-cover-of-italian-vogue/) [Lydia Hearst](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lydia-hearst/) > [I had a shoulder problem during my career when I changed my service action and needed an operation.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tim-henman/i-had-a-shoulder-problem-during-my-career-when-i-changed-my-service/) [Tim Henman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tim-henman/) > [I always started a job with the feeling that I'd soon quit or be fired, and this gave ma a relaxex manner that was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-bukowski/i-always-started-a-job-with-the-feeling-that-i-d-soon-quit-or-be/) [Charles Bukowski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-bukowski/) > [“But I was 22 when I started this job, and you know what? Sometimes it really is okay to just have a fucking job.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samantha-irby/but-i-was-22-when-i-started-this-job-and-you-know-what-sometimes-it/) [Samantha Irby](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samantha-irby/) ## More by Barbara Walters > [Wait for those unguarded moments. Relax the mood and, like the child dropping off to sleep, the subject often reveals his truest self.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barbara-walters/wait-for-those-unguarded-moments-relax-the-mood-and-like-the-child/) [Barbara Walters](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barbara-walters/) > [When you're interviewing someone, you're in control. When you're being interviewed, you think you're in control, but you're not.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barbara-walters/when-you-re-interviewing-someone-you-re-in-control-when-you-re-being/) [Barbara Walters](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barbara-walters/) > [ \[On being indecisive and changeable:\] On my gravestone I want inscribed: 'On the other hand, maybe I should have lived. ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barbara-walters/on-being-indecisive-and-changeable-on-my-gravestone-i-want-inscribed/) [Barbara Walters](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barbara-walters/) > [I was the kind nobody thought could make it. I had a funny Boston accent. I couldn't pronounce my R's. I wasn't a beauty.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barbara-walters/i-was-the-kind-nobody-thought-could-make-it-i-had-a-funny-boston/) [Barbara Walters](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barbara-walters/) > [ A man cannot be comfortable \[or cannot be made comfortable\] without his own approval. ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barbara-walters/a-man-cannot-be-comfortable-or-cannot-be-made-comfortable-without-his/) [Barbara Walters](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barbara-walters/) > [But for Muslims, everything that they don't have on earth is what they get in heaven. They can drink, they can have sex. All…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barbara-walters/but-for-muslims-everything-that-they-don-t-have-on-earth-is-what-they/) [Barbara Walters](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barbara-walters/) > [Motherhood is tough. If you just want a wonderful little creature to love, you can get a puppy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barbara-walters/motherhood-is-tough-if-you-just-want-a-wonderful-little-creature-to/) [Barbara Walters](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barbara-walters/) > [And I really do believe that the most important thing is the way you live your life on earth. But I think it's enormously…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barbara-walters/and-i-really-do-believe-that-the-most-important-thing-is-the-way-you/) [Barbara Walters](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barbara-walters/) > [If it's a woman it's caustic, if it's a man it's authority, If it's a woman it's too pushy, if it's a man it's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barbara-walters/if-it-s-a-woman-it-s-caustic-if-it-s-a-man-it-s-authority-if-it-s-a/) [Barbara Walters](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barbara-walters/) > [I was trying to do everything I possibly could,up until this morning, when I was betrayed, to protect her. We gave her time to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barbara-walters/i-was-trying-to-do-everything-i-possibly-could-up-until-this-morning/) [Barbara Walters](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barbara-walters/) > [Just do your job. Get in early. Stay late, and don’t complain. Fight the big fights.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barbara-walters/just-do-your-job-get-in-early-stay-late-and-don-t-complain-fight-the/) [Barbara Walters](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barbara-walters/) > [I think most working relationships could benefit by excluding personal matters from the office chatter.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barbara-walters/i-think-most-working-relationships-could-benefit-by-excluding/) [Barbara Walters](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barbara-walters/) > [Don't confuse being stimulating with being blunt.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barbara-walters/don-t-confuse-being-stimulating-with-being-blunt/) [Barbara Walters](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barbara-walters/) > [Après ski is my favorite sport.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barbara-walters/apr-s-ski-is-my-favorite-sport/) [Barbara Walters](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barbara-walters/) > [I have affected the way women are regarded, and that's important to me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barbara-walters/i-have-affected-the-way-women-are-regarded-and-that-s-important-to-me/) [Barbara Walters](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barbara-walters/) [Explore all 89 Barbara Walters quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barbara-walters/) ## More Career quotes > [“Don’t allow anyone to pressure you into taking a job in a field that doesn’t feel right in your gut. You are the one…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alison-james/don-t-allow-anyone-to-pressure-you-into-taking-a-job-in-a-field-that/) Alison James > [In every province, the chief occupations, in order of importance, are lovemaking, malicious gossip, and talking nonsense.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/voltaire/in-every-province-the-chief-occupations-in-order-of-importance-are/) [Voltaire](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/voltaire/) > [I think I've had the longest career of strength, focus, and still being able to sell records. I think I'm that guy. I'm still…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nas/i-think-i-ve-had-the-longest-career-of-strength-focus-and-still-being/) [Nas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nas/) > [One needs more than ambition and talent to make a success of anything, really. There must be love and a vocation.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jessye-norman/one-needs-more-than-ambition-and-talent-to-make-a-success-of-anything/) [Jessye Norman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jessye-norman/) > [There are so many things you can do with your life, you can go to school and study toward your career, you can become…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/simphiwe-scientist-dumi/there-are-so-many-things-you-can-do-with-your-life-you-can-go-to/) [Simphiwe Scientist Dumi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/simphiwe-scientist-dumi/) > [I always knew I wanted to have a good career, so I made it happen.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chord-overstreet/i-always-knew-i-wanted-to-have-a-good-career-so-i-made-it-happen/) [Chord Overstreet](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chord-overstreet/) > [I am a very big fan of Brian Eno, of his work as an artist and making his music, and as a producer. In…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rostam-batmanglij/i-am-a-very-big-fan-of-brian-eno-of-his-work-as-an-artist-and-making/) [Rostam Batmanglij](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rostam-batmanglij/) > [If I can beat a proven champion like Canelo, that will take my career to a different level.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gennady-golovkin/if-i-can-beat-a-proven-champion-like-canelo-that-will-take-my-career/) [Gennady Golovkin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gennady-golovkin/) > [My non-career. My excuse for a career? Honestly, I never think about the word 'career.' I've had managers, the minute they say it to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-verlaine/my-non-career-my-excuse-for-a-career-honestly-i-never-think-about-the/) [Tom Verlaine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-verlaine/) > [“The vocation of a man lies in his vision.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lailah-gifty-akita/the-vocation-of-a-man-lies-in-his-vision/) [Lailah Gifty Akita](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lailah-gifty-akita/) > [I started off as a model maker, so the first part of my career was a model maker and then a motion control camera…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-knoll/i-started-off-as-a-model-maker-so-the-first-part-of-my-career-was-a/) [John Knoll](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-knoll/) > [Growing up I did commercials and things like that, but nothing serious. As I got older, my family is really hardcore into academics. They…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/portia-doubleday/growing-up-i-did-commercials-and-things-like-that-but-nothing-serious/) [Portia Doubleday](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/portia-doubleday/) > [You can have a career and kids who love you. But you have to nurture yourself and find a way to be fulfilled so…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/catherine-reitman/you-can-have-a-career-and-kids-who-love-you-but-you-have-to-nurture/) [Catherine Reitman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/catherine-reitman/) > [As for doing good; that is one of the professions which is full. Moreover I have tried it fairly and, strange as it may…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-david-thoreau/as-for-doing-good-that-is-one-of-the-professions-which-is-full/) [Henry David Thoreau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-david-thoreau/) > [Even though I'm already successful and have a career, it is always good to have your eggs in more than one basket.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/farrah-abraham/even-though-i-m-already-successful-and-have-a-career-it-is-always/) [Farrah Abraham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/farrah-abraham/) [Browse all 11,387 Career quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/career/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "A job is not a career. I think I started out with a job. It turned into a career and changed my life.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Barbara Walters" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barbara-walters/a-job-is-not-a-career-i-think-i-started-out-with-a-job-it-turned-into/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Career" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barbara-walters/a-job-is-not-a-career-i-think-i-started-out-with-a-job-it-turned-into/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8e7/barbara-walters-7622_career_a-job-is-not-a-career-i-think-i-started_615292.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8e7/barbara-walters-7622_career_a-job-is-not-a-career-i-think-i-started_615292.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8e7/barbara-walters-7622_career_a-job-is-not-a-career-i-think-i-started_615292.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“A job is not a career. I think I started out with a job. It turned into a career and changed my life.” — Barbara Walters", "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": "Barbara Walters", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barbara-walters/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "A job is not a career....", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barbara-walters/a-job-is-not-a-career-i-think-i-started-out-with-a-job-it-turned-into/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barbara-walters/a-job-is-not-a-career-i-think-i-started-out-with-a-job-it-turned-into/#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 } } ] } ```