--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: People make a mistake when they think…" description: "\"People make a mistake when they think that if you just accumulate a set number of things on your resume, it's going to lead you to a particular place -..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e0a/ben-rhodes-7180_climb_people-make-a-mistake-when-they-think-th_3203600.jpg" --- # People make a mistake when they think that if you just… ![“People make a mistake when they think that if you just accumulate a set number of things on your resume, it's going to lead you to a particular place - the pattern of essentially compiling credentials to climb your way up a ladder. That may work, but that's not at all what happened to me.” quote by Ben Rhodes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e0a/ben-rhodes-7180_climb_people-make-a-mistake-when-they-think-th_3203600.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e0a/ben-rhodes-7180_climb_people-make-a-mistake-when-they-think-th_3203600.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e0a/ben-rhodes-7180_climb_people-make-a-mistake-when-they-think-th_3203600.jpg) > “People make a mistake when they think that if you just accumulate a set number of things on your resume, it's going to lead you to a particular place - the pattern of essentially compiling credentials to climb your way up a ladder. That may work, but that's not at all what happened to me.” [Ben Rhodes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ben-rhodes/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. He argues that merely accumulating credentials does not guarantee success; personal experience shows alternative pathways matter. **In simple terms:** Credentials alone don’t ensure success. Key Takeaway Seek experiences beyond résumé building. Themes career education authism Mood thoughtful inspirational Type political career When to use this quote - job interviews - career planning - entrepreneurship Key Concepts networking skill development luck Questions to Reflect On - What experiences have shaped your path? - How can you balance credentials with real-world skills? A Different Perspective Overemphasis on credentials can overlook talent. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Climb](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/climb/) [Credentials Climb](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/credentials-climb-5957213/) [Failure](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/failure/) [Just Accumulate](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/just-accumulate-3204892/) [Ladder Work](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ladder-work-5957214/) [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) [Place](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/place/) [Resume](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/resume/) [Resume Going](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/resume-going-5957215/) [Way](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/way/) [Work](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/work/) ## Related quotes > [The question becomes not just how to accumulate more, but how to covet less.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shane-claiborne/the-question-becomes-not-just-how-to-accumulate-more-but-how-to-covet/) [Shane Claiborne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shane-claiborne/) > [In other words, If you don't take action, you won't get any results You are not your resume, you are your work](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/seth-godin/in-other-words-if-you-don-t-take-action-you-won-t-get-any-results-you/) [Seth Godin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/seth-godin/) > [Where I came from, the idea of going into show business was just ridiculous; in fact I didn't tell anybody because I knew people…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michelle-pfeiffer/where-i-came-from-the-idea-of-going-into-show-business-was-just/) [Michelle Pfeiffer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michelle-pfeiffer/) > [That accolade, to be the best at your position in your conference, you want that on your resume.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/travis-kelce/that-accolade-to-be-the-best-at-your-position-in-your-conference-you/) [Travis Kelce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/travis-kelce/) > [“ The Resume Your resume is like an advertisement for you as a job candidate. It should present you in the best possible light.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-berent/the-resume-your-resume-is-like-an-advertisement-for-you-as-a-job/) [Jonathan Berent](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-berent/) > [“Your education is important because with only a few words you can show an employer the depth of your potential.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matthew-t-cross/your-education-is-important-because-with-only-a-few-words-you-can/) [Matthew T. Cross](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matthew-t-cross/) > [Do You Put I'm Heterosexual On Your Resume'? So If You're Homosexual Why Is It So Important ?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marquez-brown/do-you-put-i-m-heterosexual-on-your-resume-so-if-you-re-homosexual/) [Marquez Brown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marquez-brown/) > [Working with Hirani sir is a big thing for me. At least in my resume, I'll have a mention of his name in my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karishma-tanna/working-with-hirani-sir-is-a-big-thing-for-me-at-least-in-my-resume-i/) [Karishma Tanna](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karishma-tanna/) > [“My resume is worthless—it turns out that managing a now-defunct video store in your twenties while solving monster crimes qualifies you for absolutely nothing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-wong/my-resume-is-worthless-it-turns-out-that-managing-a-now-defunct-video/) [David Wong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-wong/) > [I had done a couple of plays, but I was a clueless boob. 'Cosby' allowed me to have something on my resume that was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-weatherly/i-had-done-a-couple-of-plays-but-i-was-a-clueless-boob-cosby-allowed/) [Michael Weatherly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-weatherly/) > [I don't have to pad my resume. Normal people are astounded by my resume, because normal people never let their dreams get beyond their…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-layfield/i-don-t-have-to-pad-my-resume-normal-people-are-astounded-by-my/) [John Layfield](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-layfield/) > [Especially in the first 10-15 years, your regular resume is not an authentic representation of you - you don't really have that many notches…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/caroline-ghosn/especially-in-the-first-10-15-years-your-regular-resume-is-not-an/) [Caroline Ghosn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/caroline-ghosn/) > [I'd update my resume so you're ready for any outcome.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bob-weinstein/i-d-update-my-resume-so-you-re-ready-for-any-outcome/) [Bob Weinstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bob-weinstein/) > [Whatever the job you are asked to do at whatever level, do a good job because your reputation is your resume.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/madeleine-albright/whatever-the-job-you-are-asked-to-do-at-whatever-level-do-a-good-job/) [Madeleine Albright](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/madeleine-albright/) > [When my main character in 'Heat' climbs the tower, the highest diving platform, hoping to resume competitive diving after an injury, I am there…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-cadnum/when-my-main-character-in-heat-climbs-the-tower-the-highest-diving/) [Michael Cadnum](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-cadnum/) ## More by Ben Rhodes > [As people who know me know, probably to a fault, I am usually not without thoughts and words.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-rhodes/as-people-who-know-me-know-probably-to-a-fault-i-am-usually-not/) [Ben Rhodes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ben-rhodes/) > [Following one of the most violent conflicts in human history, the United States and Japan built a deep and abiding friendship - an alliance…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-rhodes/following-one-of-the-most-violent-conflicts-in-human-history-the/) [Ben Rhodes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ben-rhodes/) > [Our Cuba policy was a major obstacle to getting things done in the hemisphere and a source of tension around the world.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-rhodes/our-cuba-policy-was-a-major-obstacle-to-getting-things-done-in-the/) [Ben Rhodes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ben-rhodes/) > [Americans will forever be proud of the brave men and women of our armed forces who served in World War II, and we will…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-rhodes/americans-will-forever-be-proud-of-the-brave-men-and-women-of-our/) [Ben Rhodes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ben-rhodes/) > [I found people I really wanted to work for; I made myself available to do whatever I could with the skills I had; I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-rhodes/i-found-people-i-really-wanted-to-work-for-i-made-myself-available-to/) [Ben Rhodes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ben-rhodes/) > [Irrespective of our foreign policies, for decades, other nations and peoples could see, in the United States, a strong democracy that could maintain social…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-rhodes/irrespective-of-our-foreign-policies-for-decades-other-nations-and/) [Ben Rhodes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ben-rhodes/) > ['Make America great again,' is not that different from Putin's nostalgia for the Soviet Union or tsarist Russia.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-rhodes/make-america-great-again-is-not-that-different-from-putin-s-nostalgia/) [Ben Rhodes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ben-rhodes/) > [The Benghazi attack was one of the more confusing, chaotic days that we had at work because you had these multiple violent protests taking…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-rhodes/the-benghazi-attack-was-one-of-the-more-confusing-chaotic-days-that/) [Ben Rhodes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ben-rhodes/) > [Our basic assessment was that if America keeps going down these rabbit holes in the Middle East, we're just going to put ourselves out…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-rhodes/our-basic-assessment-was-that-if-america-keeps-going-down-these/) [Ben Rhodes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ben-rhodes/) > [To be sure, the United States will be eternally proud of our civilian leaders and the men and women of our armed forces who…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-rhodes/to-be-sure-the-united-states-will-be-eternally-proud-of-our-civilian/) [Ben Rhodes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ben-rhodes/) > [Since taking office, President Obama has pursued a policy that focused more American resources and engagement in the Asia-Pacific, a region that will increasingly…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-rhodes/since-taking-office-president-obama-has-pursued-a-policy-that-focused/) [Ben Rhodes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ben-rhodes/) > [The fact that there were discreet channels of communication established with Iran in 2012 is something that we confirmed publicly. However, we did not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-rhodes/the-fact-that-there-were-discreet-channels-of-communication/) [Ben Rhodes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ben-rhodes/) > [Downturns in migration almost always prove temporary, as people adjust to changes in American enforcement. What doesn't change is the basic human impulse to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-rhodes/downturns-in-migration-almost-always-prove-temporary-as-people-adjust/) [Ben Rhodes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ben-rhodes/) > [When I think of the things that Trump has done, ironically, everything is sort of - we care so much about Cuba and the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-rhodes/when-i-think-of-the-things-that-trump-has-done-ironically-everything/) [Ben Rhodes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ben-rhodes/) > [I think one of the critiques of me is that I thought I knew it all. But I was learning from the enormous resources…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-rhodes/i-think-one-of-the-critiques-of-me-is-that-i-thought-i-knew-it-all/) [Ben Rhodes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ben-rhodes/) [Explore all 94 Ben Rhodes quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ben-rhodes/) ## More Climb quotes > [Normally, it's more efficient to climb fast.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adam-ondra/normally-it-s-more-efficient-to-climb-fast/) [Adam Ondra](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adam-ondra/) > [Our ape legs make us great generalists - we can walk, run and climb. But when you try to do too many things at…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alice-roberts/our-ape-legs-make-us-great-generalists-we-can-walk-run-and-climb-but/) [Alice Roberts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alice-roberts/) > [“Climb aboard, Jonesy. I'm going to send you up where the air is rare and the view is much more than fair.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-king/climb-aboard-jonesy-i-m-going-to-send-you-up-where-the-air-is-rare/) [Stephen King](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-king/) > [Sometimes you climb the mountain, and you fall and fail. Maybe there is a different path that will take you up. Sometimes a different…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/caterina-fake/sometimes-you-climb-the-mountain-and-you-fall-and-fail-maybe-there-is/) [Caterina Fake](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/caterina-fake/) > [The bumps are what you climb on.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/warren-w-wiersbe/the-bumps-are-what-you-climb-on/) [Warren W. Wiersbe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/warren-w-wiersbe/) > [Life is a climb and it's a struggle getting to the top but the drop to the bottom can be quick and so I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/miley-cyrus/life-is-a-climb-and-it-s-a-struggle-getting-to-the-top-but-the-drop/) [Miley Cyrus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/miley-cyrus/) > [Some day I'm going to climb Everest.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edmund-hillary/some-day-i-m-going-to-climb-everest/) [Edmund Hillary](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edmund-hillary/) > [A part of me will always be unflyable, stuck in the climb.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-wein/a-part-of-me-will-always-be-unflyable-stuck-in-the-climb/) [Elizabeth Wein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-wein/) > [Face your fears or they will climb over your back.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frank-herbert/face-your-fears-or-they-will-climb-over-your-back/) [Frank Herbert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frank-herbert/) > [It is sometimes a mistake to climb. It is always a mistake never even to make the attempt.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/it-is-sometimes-a-mistake-to-climb-it-is-always-a-mistake-never-even/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [You have to climb a mountain before you can enjoy the view.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ritu-ghatourey/you-have-to-climb-a-mountain-before-you-can-enjoy-the-view/) [Ritu Ghatourey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ritu-ghatourey/) > [“Where I'm is one of those stair climbing machines the agent has installed. You climb and climb forever and never get off the ground.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chuck-palahniuk/where-i-m-is-one-of-those-stair-climbing-machines-the-agent-has/) [Chuck Palahniuk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chuck-palahniuk/) > [“There are points in your life where you find yourself going nowhere reaching nowhere, standing nowhere. You feel yourself a mess occupied in nothing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aquib-ali/there-are-points-in-your-life-where-you-find-yourself-going-nowhere/) [Aquib Ali](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aquib-ali/) > [“Don't be afraid to start at the bottom of the ladder. And have the courage to climb to the top.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/levi-hr-rosenthal/don-t-be-afraid-to-start-at-the-bottom-of-the-ladder-and-have-the/) [Levi HR Rosenthal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/levi-hr-rosenthal/) > [Dude, I just watched you climb up a f\*cking building!-Lace](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scott-westerfeld/dude-i-just-watched-you-climb-up-a-f-cking-building-lace/) [Scott Westerfeld](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scott-westerfeld/) [Browse all 797 Climb quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/climb/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "People make a mistake when they think that if you just accumulate a set number of things on your resume, it's going to lead you to a particular place - the pattern of essentially compiling credentials to climb your way up a ladder. 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